Your Personal Style: What Just Isn’t “You”?

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Your personal style is made up of many preferences and habits — your work style vs. your off-the-clock style, how conservative or edgy your wardrobe is, the accessories you choose to complement your look, your opinions on what's office-friendly and what isn't, and the styles/colors/trends that you've decided you just don't wear, ever.

Many moons ago, I had a purple t-shirt with a teensy flower stuck on it, right at the base of the jewel neck. I was in college — and wearing primarily black — and one of my new best friends (ah, freshman year) took one look at me in the shirt and said, “WHAT ARE YOU WEARING? YOU DON'T WEAR FLOWERS!” At the time, the comment really irked me — I hated that it was such a blanket statement, and I hated feeling pigeon-holed. Like I was giving up my right to wear flowers simply because I primarily wore something else all the time.

It's been a looong time since then, but I found myself thinking back on that conversation recently when my mother was in town visiting and helping me sort my closet into things to give away and things to wear. Because you know what? My friend was right. I don't wear flowers. I sometimes really like floral patterns, but I just never wear them. I don't wear flowers.

Since then I've started thinking about how funny this is. With certain styles and cuts of clothes — and even with certain colors — the main reason I've avoided them has been because they weren't flattering on me, either because of some aspect of my figure, or my skin tone, or whatever. But with many prints, it just comes down to a personality thing — my personal style. Granted, some prints I won't wear because of color or scale (too big, too small), or because I don't like the way the pattern is laid out or stitched together or whatnot. But a blanket statement that I really just don't wear anything floral? No matter what color or size? That was a new one to me. I can't quite put my finger on why — it isn't that it's too girly, or because it's too patterny (of the patterns above, I would wear all but the stripes — apparently I also don't wear stripes). I just… don't wear flowers.

For our morning TPS reports, I've noticed similar things — I'll suggest a piece (such as, ahem, a leopard print), and there will be massive pushback from some commenters because they just don't wear that pattern. So I thought we'd discuss — which styles do you never wear? Which pieces stay in your closet, unworn, or always end up in your giveaway pile? What sorts of things do you find yourself buying over and over? (And how do you know when you're stuck in a fashion rut?) What do you WISH you could wear but feel like you just can't?

Pictured above, clockwise from the big image:

114 Comments

  1. I hate orange. It’s a horrible color on me. I look like a giant traffic cone. Therefore, I eliminated all orange from my wardrobe (I also don’t really own any yellow or brown either–except for brown leather shoes and bags). Warm colors just don’t look good on me, I don’t feel confident in them, so I just don’t wear them. I also won’t buy anything that had a shoulder embellishment (poofy or ruffles or anything that makes the shoulders look more pronounced). Makes me look like a linebacker.

  2. I always feel weird in any type of pants that aren’t jeans. I’m just a skirt/dress girl.
    Wish I could wear: menswear styles, including button down shirts and pants. I love Katharine Hepburn but those types of styles never flatter my figure.
    I also hate any neckline that fits close and any long sleeves I own will invariably be pushed up to around 3/4 length.

  3. Here are my no-ways

    Big prints, especially if they are geometric or abstract
    Animal prints
    Bright reds, oranges or yellows
    Skinny pants
    White pants
    “Statement” jewelry – like large stones or rocks, or heavy looking metal pieces

    My go-tos
    Plain black slacks
    Solid or small print blouses
    Muted florals
    Simple A-line dresses
    Basic jewelry – diamond studs, silver or gold hoops, pendant on a chain

    I would like to be a little more adventurous, but I find myself drawn to things that feel too “girly” for office wear (lace, florals, fuller skirts), so I stick with the basics. Pretty boring, actually.

  4. Never Wear –

    sheaths… I’m an extreme hourglass
    button front shirts/blouses — the gaping and tailoring to reduce the shirt volume for my waist
    ankle strap shoes
    flat dress shoes (yes to sneakers and flip flops at home) – I have virtually no arches and an injury caused bunion
    plaid — too many many years in parochial schools
    jumpsuits – see hourglass commentary
    capri pants — cuts off my leg length
    maxi skirts — DH would like to see my legs; from the knees down, one of my best assets
    kitten heel shoes
    tunics
    skinny pants, jeans, shorts, anything skinny there
    nude nail polish
    platform shoes with >1/2 platform — too “clompy” when I walk
    sling back shoes … they just flap flap flap when I walk
    peep toes at work … I wear hosiery and the readers here frown heartily on that combination
    wristlets, clutch purses … I run my own biz; need “stuff” in my purse, even just the office keys are like those for the Tower of London!
    yellows, greens, oranges … clash with my skin
    pastels — wash me out

    Always –

    silver
    polka dots
    red red red
    primary and saturated/jewel tone colors
    florals, medium scale
    cardis/blazers in the office
    skirts
    belts
    skirt suits
    hoop/lever back earrings
    frameless prescription glasses
    red/pink nail polish
    high heels (3-4 inches)
    hosiery
    full makeup
    a smile …

  5. no:

    anything pink
    anything with buttons (which basically means no cardigans, button down tops, decorative buttons on anything, etc.)
    ruffles
    hearts
    anything especially girlie/super feminine
    non-clean lines at neck or hem (no scalloped edges)
    sheath dresses
    white dresses/skirts
    fitted skirts
    heels over 2 inches
    drop waist

    yes:
    jewel tones
    classic small jewelry
    comfortable pieces
    classic/solid color tops/pants

  6. This is fun!
    Never wear:
    Prints that are only one one side of the fabric
    Florals, paisley, “abstract” prints (to steal from another poster), twee prints (like little watering cans or something silly)
    Scoop necks, necklines with gathers (also stolen from Cat above), peter pan collars
    Capri pants. Any length, any style, no no no no no no.
    Bracelets (at least not to work)
    Maxi dresses
    Khakis
    Polo shirts
    Brown

    Couldn’t dress myself without:
    Ballet, v, and crew neck t-shirts
    Pencil skirts
    Blazers
    Belts
    Pins
    Jeans
    Stripes
    Ponte dresses
    Navy/black

    Thinks I don’t wear but would like to
    Animal prints
    Polka dots
    Tie front shirts

  7. I have a short torso (and a high hip…so my waist is really high), so I never wear:
    – Things that cinch at the waist (dresses are sometimes ok, but I never belt a cardigan or wear a shirt/dress that gathers at the waist)
    – Blues (except for denim and navy)
    – Dangly or hoop earrings (studs only!)
    – Maxi dresses (I think they look sloppy and don’t like the feeling; evening dresses are ok)
    – Bodycon anything/tight pencil skirts (my high hip makes them look really weird)
    – Skirts w/elastic instead of a zipper/button (again, they just ride up my hip and look weird)
    – Bootcut jeans
    – Peter pan collars, babydoll dresses, anything that makes me look younger than I am
    – Pleather
    – Rompers (peeing is an issue)
    – Sandals with just the one band going across the toes (my feet are too wide in the toebox for that)
    – Silver
    – Wrap dresses

    I could go on and on.

    I really love:
    – Sheath dresses
    – Tailored, yet blousy shirts (does that make sense?)
    – Architectural detailing
    – Drapey t-shirts, sweaters, etc.
    – Flat ankle boots
    – Corals, reds, fuschia…bright warm tones work best with my complexion
    – Skinny or legging jeans
    – Ankle pants (but finding ones that are long enough are sometimes a challenge)
    – Loafers. Love me some loafers.
    – Ballet flats

  8. My college had a dress code: skirts/dresses for women, coat and tie for men. It was very helpful in a way, because you got used to “dressing for class” and learning the nuances: church, football games, formals, kegs and receptions all had their own unwritten dress code. When I started working in offices, I already had the background for dressing for work, and so there was very little difference in my shopping.

    I’m preppy/conservative, with sweaters in fine wool or cashmere, plain blouses, wool or linen bottoms. I have a bit of an hourglass figure, so pencil skirts and sheaths don’t work at all. Shoes usually didn’t go over 3″, with 2″ being more normal (I’m 5’9″). Nowadays, with my foot problems, I wear flats or 1.5″. Also, if you start with needing to wear nylons, it all kind of falls in to place from there.

  9. I will not wear:
    Yellow or orange clothing (including orangey reds, coral, yellowy greens, and yellowy browns)
    Shift dresses
    V-necks
    Crew necks
    Polos
    Ankle boots
    Sandals
    Non-jean pants
    Denim or leather jackets
    Belts
    Red nail polish
    Strapless dresses
    Chunky jewelry

    I really love wearing stripes, polka dots, lace, ballet flats, knee-length gathered skirts, blue and green (especially together), black and white (especially together), blazers, off-the-shoulder tops (never at work), and headbands (never at work).

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