Closet Question for the Fashion Forward

[artax]

As I'm gearing up to work on my clothes closet, I thought I'd ask the more fashionable members a question.

What dates a piece of clothing to the 90's or even the early-mid 00's?

Growing up, I somehow knew that corduroy bell-bottoms were "out" after the 70's, and that hot pink leg warmers were "out" after the 80's...but now I'm not sure what is seen as out-moded for the last two decades. I mean, some looks are timeless (little black dress) but others aren't.

What makes you roll your eyes and think, "Oh, that is so '90s"?

I've no clue; but if I did, it might help me as I make decisions in this area.

Thanks!

[ontheway]

I think shoulder pads will definitely date an item of clothing - either in a sweater, blouse of suit jacket (I cut mine out of some turtleneck and mock turtlenecks and still wear them under sweaters.

Corduroy does not seem as popular as it has been in the past - though I still see them in some catalogs

Blouses with attached scarves/ties - very dated look!

Hope this helps!

[amberwind]

Just a quick list:

DayGlo
Color changing shirts
Harem pants
Denim vests
Any pair of jeans with a waistline above your bellybutton
Flannel shirts as overshirts for women
If you own a matching set of jeans and demin jacket, don't wear them together.
Ripped, holey, or wide necked t-shirts designed to fall off one shoulder

That's what I can think of off the top of my head. Rewatch a couple episodes of Clarissa Explains it All and the original 90210 to get a feel for it - what dates the look isn't necessarily the items themselves, but how they're put together in the outfit.

[ontheway]

"Ripped, holey, or wide necked t-shirts designed to fall off one shoulder"

Oh right, the Fame or Flash Dance look! Definitely '80s!

[dayeanu]

I immediately thought of shoulder pads. And matching denim has been a no-no for a while.

Some of it will depend on your age, too. What's cool for a 20-something will probably look absurd on a 60-something.

I do think that in many ways, almost anything goes. A lot of it depends on how you put outfits together, and how it looks on you. And what area of the country you live in.

[grungygeorgie]

REMEMBER: IF YOUR OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER WEARING IT ONCE,YOU CAN'T WEAR IT AGAIN!

Acid was jeans, t-shirts with slogans or Disney characters,jean skirts,dropped waist denim or cord
dresses, lacy jabots, overly frilly collars or laura ashley-esque floral dresses,bows,blouses w/ attatched
vests,peplums,mc hammer pants,culots,anything polyester,henley shirts,sweater dresses,sweater
coats.Hope I didn't overwhelm you!!IN FASHION NOTHING IS EVER NEW,STYLE'S ARE RECYCLED AND ALWAYS COME BACK ROUND AGAIN.Don't be tempted by this seasons floral inspired pants &
jeans (very retro 80's!!) anything overly floral and you like like a couch!Also avoid color block jeans
(another 80's retread) stick to dark wash bootleg denim.Good luck!!

[dayeanu]

Just my opinion, but when they re-do the 70's and 80's fashion trends, they never do them as well the second time around.

[DJ]

there was grunge with flannels and thermals and t's over thermals w/ a flannel on top. All great things for functionalness though :}
baby doll dresses
floral dresses, it's a certain look of floral dresses, obviously floral dresses have been around and will continue to be..
cropped tops, you could mix this in with grunge and get a poseur grunge look.
yes, to the matching denim being very 90's. i'm pretty sure every 90210 cast member had a matching solid denim outfit that the girls wore with a scrunchi.
baggie jeans.
denim overalls.
ponchos.
Ooh, velvet. there was a weird amount of velvet even during the day for awhile.

For makeup, a weird number of women with dark lip liner and with lighter lipstick. Women who weren't pornstars wearing it. Single, solid colour eye shadow.

but floral baby doll dresses
tiny print floral sundresses. i think the word i see to describe them are ditzy florals.
put a choker with a pendant on it on for a necklace with a small print floral sundress and you have some 90's action.
excessive shoulder pads
those floral dresses over jeans.



Trends are really all over the place right now though.. Flare jeans and pants were in for a lonnng time then they were briefly out but not too long after they were out trouser cut and flare was back but skinny cut was/is still going strong at the same time.. low cut pants hung around for forever too until the rise was obnoxiously low and they're still around but high waisted, especially with trouser cut w/ a flare is back.
i'm seeing things currently that reference the 20s, 40s, 40's via the 80's, 80's, and 90's all at once.. though 80's has been gaining momentum for awhile and still going strong.

If you can't guess I like clothes and fashion and style. People are intentionally looking for pieces actually from all these decades frequently rather than modern trend interpretations of them. This doesn't really help with thinning out your closet, sorry, but I'd find things that fit you, that you feel confident in, that you feel show you to your best advantage and just own them. If you feel self aware in it, toss it, if you feel confident in it then you're going to look better in it than the most on trend and styleish item. Well made clothing that's well taken care of that you feel confident and comfortable in is going to go a long way towards your outward appearance.... Like I said, sorry it doesn't help with thinning your closet but if you feel good in something, I mean really good about something and NOT thinking about it constantly while you're wearing it ... Wish I knew how to describe it better, sorry.

[PaperGrace]

Apr 16, 2012 2:09:23 GMT -5 DJ said:

People are intentionally looking for pieces actually from all these decades frequently rather than modern trend interpretations of them.

I think this does help clean out closets. I can't wear that baby doll dress again, even if I do fit in it, because 90's clothes aren't cool on someone who already wore them in the 90's! Therefore I'll be doing someone a huge favor by donating it to the thrift shop, they'll get the real deal instead of the knock off retread.

[artax]

Thanks so much for your help, everyone!

Djollydjolan wrote:

there was grunge with flannels and thermals and t's over thermals w/ a flannel on top. All great things for functionalness though :}

Uh-oh. I wear thermals with flannels all the time.


baby doll dresses

Most of these have been donated awhile back.


floral dresses, it's a certain look of floral dresses, obviously floral dresses have been around and will continue to be..

I still have a couple floral dresses from the mid '90s. Hmmm. Hadn't considered this a trend, but now that you mention it...


cropped tops, you could mix this in with grunge and get a poseur grunge look.

Haha.


yes, to the matching denim being very 90's. i'm pretty sure every 90210 cast member had a matching solid denim outfit that the girls wore with a scrunchi.

Funny, I always thought of matching denim to be late '80s. But I looked back at some photos and people really were still wearing this combo well into the '90s.


baggie jeans.

But they're so comfy! I refuse to go back to tight/skinny jeans. Boot cut is my fave (as opposed to tapered). Is that still seen as mainstream?


denim overalls.

Yeah. Glad that trend died.


ponchos.

I was into knit ponchos before they became super popular, but still have one. Think it was made in the 70's.


Ooh, velvet. there was a weird amount of velvet even during the day for awhile.

Darn! I still have velvet. Lots of it. Had no idea it could be dated.


For makeup, a weird number of women with dark lip liner and with lighter lipstick. Women who weren't pornstars wearing it.

I didn't like this trend, and still don't. Blegh. I think red matte lipstick was really in for awhile -- but perhaps that's another timeless look?


Single, solid colour eye shadow.

Guilty as charged! But the newer multiple shadow trends just look so gaudy to me, especially in the daytime.


but floral baby doll dresses, tiny print floral sundresses. i think the word i see to describe them are ditzy florals.
put a choker with a pendant on it on for a necklace with a small print floral sundress and you have some 90's action.

Ahaha. I have several small print floral skirts, too.


excessive shoulder pads

I have such a small frame that I had to remove most shoulder pads when I bought tops/jackets brand new, as they made me look like a football player. Good riddance!


those floral dresses over jeans.

Never understood the dresses-over-jeans thing.

***

A few more questions:


-- What about shoes?

-- Are Doc Martins still mainstream?

-- What about chunky heels?


Also, is cotton khaki seen as outdated? I hope not. I have quite a bit of khaki, but I really do like it, especially cargo pants. (my personal palette is mostly blacks, natural blues, browns, greens, grays, beige and khaki.)


Thanks again,

--A

[canna]

<<Ooh, velvet. there was a weird amount of velvet even during the day for awhile.>>

That brings back memories of a burgandy/red crushed velvet pantsuit I had in the '70s that I loved. I wore that pretty pantsuit with a long sleved white / cream blouse with very lacey slevecuffs and lacey neck collar and front. Kind of "Edwardian" style looking. It did not have padded shoulders. I remember getting nice complements on that suit.
Wore that with nice high chunky heels too.

Never liked those padded shoulders... ha..WHAT were they thinking?

I have a few summer blouses with small floral design. Still wear then occasionally ,they are pretty.

And wore a lot of grunge flannel back in those days too.

[eagle]

Well, remember where you live, your weather, and what type of work you do. For example, thermals are a must in the winter in lots of places, so thermals with flannel is okay, in my opinion, just not if you are working in a bank or an office. But at home to do yard work, go for it. Better warm than fanshionable, I say.

Same goes for denim overalls. They are great for working in the garden if you have heavy duty and muddy work, or even if you're going to change the oil in your car. Not so great for wearing to the grocery store or at work, unless you are a farmer. Still, I wouldn't throw mine away, because I like them for gardening.

Basically, I believe that if it's in very good condition, fits very well, looks great on you and is still comfortable after wearing it for several hours, keep it. But if it's not comfortable after several hours of wear, no matter how fashionable it is, get rid of it. If it doesn't look great on you, get rid of it. If it makes you look like an old hag or an old hag trying to look like Madonna, then, for sure, get rid of it.

[amberwind]

Apr 16, 2012 14:59:21 GMT -5 eagle said:

Well, remember where you live, your weather, and what type of work you do.

Basically, I believe that if it's in very good condition, fits very well, looks great on you and is still comfortable after wearing it for several hours, keep it. But if it's not comfortable after several hours of wear, no matter how fashionable it is, get rid of it. If it doesn't look great on you, get rid of it. If it makes you look like an old hag or an old hag trying to look like Madonna, then, for sure, get rid of it.

And that's the reason I've kept all my silly little strappy floral sundresses. Yes, they are very 90's (when I was in high school).

I live in a desert, so it's extremely hot here, and wearing something small and floaty and light like that is often one of the first steps to staying cool around here! The only concession I've made to age is wearing a pair of cotton bicycle shorts underneath them, since I've gained enough weight to make my legs rub together unpleasantly if I don't.

[Hurricane]

Apr 16, 2012 10:37:56 GMT -5 artax said:

-- What about shoes?

-- Are Doc Martins still mainstream?

-- What about chunky heels?


Also, is cotton khaki seen as outdated? I hope not. I have quite a bit of khaki, but I really do like it, especially cargo pants. (my personal palette is mostly blacks, natural blues, browns, greens, grays, beige and khaki.)--A

Both doc martins and chunky heels are dated now, unless you're a goth. Cotton khaki pants don't really ever go out, but the different cuts of it do. For example, super high waisted ones are out, as well as a tapered leg (though I've seen some tapered leg coming back).

Someone tell me if cargo pants are still in...I love them (then I don't have to carry a purse)! However, since I haven't seen any in the stores, I have a sneaking suspicion they're out (nooooo!).

This thread has made me laugh so hard remembering my fashion over the years. I was totally "ditsy florals" for a few years in the 80's until grunge hit, and then I wore nothing but flannel for the five years I was in college. Yikes. I've been going through my own clothes this week too as I'm cleaning out my walk-in closet, and some of the relics in there have made me gasp. If you want to really see what's in now, go shopping in a few stores to see what's out on the shelves and manikins. I'm trying to update my clothes more frequently...due to a money crunch, I've decided to have a lesser total number of items in my closet, but what I do have I want to be reasonably fashionable for the current times.

[Hurricane]

This is what I found out about cargo pants online. Full link will be at the bottom of the post.

Cargo pants are most acceptably worn by the following age groups in this day and age:

1. Toddlers
2. Children under the age of 10
3. Construction workers/carpenters
4. Lumberjacks
5. Old people on vacation

Anyone seen wearing cargo pants outside of this group should quickly be called onto TLC's What Not To Wear.

(Side note: It is acceptable to wear cargo pants at a concert and fill the pockets with rocks. It makes the mosh pit that much more fun.)


www.cracked.com/funny-4539-cargo-pants/