PERSONAL STYLE

-Jenné Lombardo via The Coveteur

I was browsing through a Coveteur of Jenné Lombardo, general bad ass lady, and caught the above quote. It struck a cord in me because it's the one concise sentence I've been trying to put into words in regards to my own personal style. Is this a common sentiment for women in their thirties? Specifically ones who grew from neighborhood street kids into appreciators of high fashion? Do we have a special subsect of fashion?

When I observe other women whose style I appreciate, whether like mine or not, I sometimes wish I were more streamlined, dare I say disciplined, in my look. But I really don't have a look. As much as my OCD I want to whittle my closet down to a smart Céline look or a gothic Owens look or even zany Comme des Garçons, whatever one directional look, I can never forego Bart Simpsons sweatshirts or SK8-HI's or stupid skate graphic hoodies. And not because they're currently what's "edgy" in fashion, but because of where I came from.

So am I destined to be the forty year old lady with nonsensical, accidental style? I mean I guess I don't mind that much. I'm just here to have fun.

25 comments :

leslie said...

dont give in to the curated self stopitrightnow!!!!!!!!!!!!!! capsule wardrobing while tempting is the ultimate evil

Élodie Laetitia said...

I can only agree with the way you're feeling. I don't think I'll ever stop wearing Vans sneaks, and I guess it's a luck that the brand kind of grew older with us. (I found myself the coolest leather slip-ons from the Vault line at the SoHo store last week, and I'm obsessed). I just happen to be a fashion writer/editor.

Things such as biker jackets, Dr Martens boots or Carhartt beanies make sense to me, on a comfort level as much as aesthetically. Not because they're trendy, but because they're natural. They feel right. There what I come from, and they just never left.
So are we weirdos because we've kept a strong sense of the culture that raised us? Well, kind of. But personally, I've come to realize that I wouldn't have it any other way.

Do you ever feel weird when watching how the current trends pushes the crowds into your zone? I'm mostly thinking of the streetwear, sportswear, skate and grunge rages.

...That has to be the longest comment I've ever left.

katy said...

I battle this every morning as I get dressed. 30 years old and all I want to wear are ripped up jeans, a threadbare t-shirt and a crusty pair of DCs. I'm a vintage collector and have a closet full of gorgeous 1930s & 1940s dresses and I'm the weirdo pairing them with a ragged military jacket with riotgrrl buttons so rusted they have fused with the fabric. Do you ever feel the need to qualify to people that you are not dressing this way because it's suddenly cool to mix ratty 90s memorabilia with your "nice" things but because you've been wearing them FOREVER? I do. But then you run the risk of being THAT GUY who is forever whining about how you wore it first. It's a vicious cycle, man. I wish I didn't give a shit.

Cassandra said...

i'm glad i'm not the only one out there who sometimes finds themselves quietly wishing they had a specific "look" to stick to. i would make getting dressed in the morning a lot easier.

on the flip side though, it would be interesting to be a fly on the wall inside the wardrobe of those with their "streamlined" looks. perhaps they're wishing for the odd happy style accident. the ironing is delicious.

Annie Chang said...

fabulous pair!

monkeyshines
http://monkeyshines-monkeyshines.blogspot.com/

melina bee said...

those gold shoes are fun.

I think it's natural for women to want to express more than one side of themselves and hence more than one style. Fashion magazines are always referencing various points of view and styles in the editorials for that reason I think.

Some people have an easier time with a signature style in part b/c of their job I think. I mean, if you work in finance, you'll have a more streamlined look every day. If you're an avante garde artist, commes des garcon every day makes sense.

Me, I'm like you, I like to mix it up, have fun, express different sides of myself

EdgyCuts said...

Same with me here. As much as I want to look more feminine/polished/grownup, I almost always end up pulling the punk/skate stuff I used to wear as a 20-smth. Guess it's there to stay even when I'm 40 and maybe beyond.
And I'm happy with that - it's just me, right?

Nomadic D. said...

Absolutely!! And yes absolutely I think this is something that defines our generation of americans. We were kids in the 80s, we watched Hip Hip hit its stride, we were teens in the grungey 90s... All of this stuff and everything that comes along with it is now permanently imprinted on our fashion dna. And I think folks who didn't grow up in those years will never quite be able to relate, but like Elodie says above, it feels right, it feels comfortable, it feels like home. And like you I often think that minimalist thoughtful wardrobe curation would be so nice... but then, what about all those other 'me's inside needing a little bit of expression?

www.nomadicd.com

Isabelle said...

I am usually bored very fast with bloggers dressed with designer. But never with you, simply because of this mix. I see an obvious style and personnality when i scroll down your blog. A crazy energy! I always want to look more like this girl, or this other one, but if your blog is so relaxing it's because it just screams : be yourself. And that's... good.

LIGHT-MATTER said...

This is the reason I follow your blog. I love your style because it's unique and the fact u mix things up creates interesting silhouettes and combinations which are a major inspiration.
I truly believe 'style' is a very personal thing, and the moment u start 'polishing' a look it becomes just a product, just styling.

Alicia Waite said...

I think i'm am destined to be a 40-year-old lady with nonsensical, accidental style and i'm quite happy with that. I'm also a fashion journalist for glossy magazines in the UK, and despite being surrounded by fashion shows, passing trends etc, think i'll be wearing Vans and vintage 90s clothes and clunky boots and baggy logo T-shirts for the rest of my life. That realisation makes me quite content. You might not think you have a look, but to an outsider looking in you definitely do, it's just a hybrid between polished high fashion and streetwear, which sounds pretty bang on to me.

Lissi.

p.s. that's also the longest comment i've ever left.

TheMinx said...

Even though your style wouldn't necessarily be described in a word like "edgy" or "minimalist", etc, it is nevertheless cohesive because it's clear that you are comfortable and confident in what you wear. I think women in particular are taught to classify themselves exactly, especially in how they present themselves to the world. But it's not necessary; beauty is often found in chaos!

Jaeger said...

Brilliant quote, I feel the exact same way, I keep being inspired by bold and clashing patterns but I always end up wear basic black or white because thats what I have always worn!

http://youngandimpressionablee.blogspot.com.au/

xx

MH said...

yes! being very OCD about keeping the wardrobe to a rolling rack and dare i say practical, it took some time to realize that that bottom drawer of vintage tees that belonged to my parents and those vans i refuse to give up are a part of what inspired further clothing choices and made my style what it is (whatever it is). despite years of adding polished [basic] neutrals heavy on ann d, kristensen du nord, rick owens and helmut lang, those louder, more colorful articles i wore 15 years ago still sneak up and work seamlessly into my daily life. if they didn't, i don't think we'd be who we are and then it goes into that whole thing of trying to look like something yadda yadda..

esra said...

Amen! my thoughts exactly!

Nat said...

I am the same way!! My friend and I came up with a term from Japanese, ruten, meaning constant change, to describe our style, which is completely different every day. Some days we DO have that black on black Owens look, some a sleek high fashion look and then others we have a colorful Harajuku style. It's the best way to be :) Why lock yourself into one style? Keep doing what you're doing.

annabel said...

bottom line: wear whatever you please, jayne! congratulations on your new dotcom. so excited. i've been reading since the beginning x

Aliya said...

Nonsensical, accidental style is a lot more interesting...
- Aliya:)

amalie said...

doseee shoezz!!!

CN said...

I know what you and jenne Lombardo mean.. As much as I stock my closet w comme de garçon and Rick Owens, the way I put everything together comes out preppy... I think this is because that's page one as far as my personal syle book goes... Yours is street... And the clips on the moto jacket has been working out! Thanks for that.

Cloudline Chic Flows said...

I'm a thirty something woman and I can tell your words struck a chord as well. Just substitude the Bart shirts with band T-shirts.
In any case you rule.

Anonymous said...

At nearly twice your age I can tell you the not-being-able-to-shine-up thing may never change. I live in trainers and menswear mixed with the odd designer piece and always have. Probably why when I found your blog it quickly became my favorite. Thanks and keep up the good work.

Anonymous said...

If I had to peg your style based on my visits to your site, I'd say that it looks as if your style has evolved into higher end, designer garments with the same shapes that were popular in the years you grew up.

I'm in my 40's and was a goth girl all through high school and into college. I still tend to wear black obsessively and layer the same before, but find that the clothes I'm wearing are from better collections and I mix them with more "adult" accessories. Meaning, no more skulls!

I spent 2011 trying to wear all the colors and styles that were popular at the time and I realized that they just weren't me; I felt more comfortable with all my black layers.

Anonymous said...

Ummm, I'm 46! I am a hopeless case - never wearing one streamlined style - but a magpie of many. And, I wore Vans and road a skateboard in Jr. High and High School. These questions/considerations are not unique to those of you who grew up in the 80s and 90s.

Ali said...

This post is so relatable.... I completely understand where you are coming from. Growing up in inner London, my style has always had an element of 'street' to it. From my early-teen tracksuit stage, to my Nike obsession (which is still pretty much there). The tumblr age has taken this image and tried to re-sell it as something new, which makes me quite...annoyed. I'm 25 and have rocked beanies since I was like 2. It's funny how we get territorial about our 'look'!

I remember Grazia UK did a feature a few months ago which basically gave instructions on how to get thet '90's street look' - I read it and whimpered a little. All those years when I got the side-eye from women in their heels, as I rocked my adidas stan smiths now feel cool in their overpriced Isabel Marants. Haha.

Longest post I've written also... definitely struck in nerve in a few people. Might as well say - you, your wardrobe and your blog are sickkk. Continue having fun :)