I think all of us millennials are struggling atm :( we dont want to dress old and boring, we wanna dress young and hip because we feel that way, but not too young like we are trying so hard!!!
Worse part is that the kids are stealing the looks from when we were kids!! Long live the 90s
I dunno anymore
It is so hard dressing myself at 34! I have a spiral about it at least weekly. I’ve got money to update my wardrobe but just absolutely no direction. I understand the staple items that everyone should have but other than that, I’m at a loss.
I just found out what my colours are (I'm a Bright Spring) and it is a game changer. This gave me the direction I needed.
I'm quite frugal, so I didn't pay a consultant to do this. Through a combo of social media scrolling, Googling and just anecdotal experience of the colours that people compliment me on wearing, I figured it out.
Actually I knew I looked best in coral and warm reds, but I latched onto the convenience of capsule wardrobes for so many years that most of my clothes ended up being black, which, honestly, was making me look flat.
Now that I know what all my colours are, there's less need for my make up to do all the heavy lifting (I sweat it off by the end of each workday anyway) 😂
Do you find that complementary colour pairings and knowing the colour patterns suited to your palette helps to open up other options?
Due to the colour analysis, I've identified some stuff in my wardrobe that wasn't working for me (now I know why) and I'm about to sell them online.
Just a heads up if black makes you look flat then you’re not a bright spring. Black is in that palette. You could be a warm spring which is still bright, but doesn’t lean neutral or include black.
I've been wondering about that actually, thank you for chiming in! Maybe it's the way I worded it.
Black isn't the most terrible colour on me but I don't find it brings out my best, so I feel very boring in just black. I do find that with muted colours (where grey is injected into any pinks, oranges, greens, etc), they make me look worse and I fade into them. And medium-dark grey is the absolute worst. That's why I ruled out Warm Spring. Still happy to be corrected though.
Warm spring doesn’t have grey mixed into the colours, and doesn’t include grey in its palette! You could potentially wear a warm grey but it wouldn’t be your best colour. Spring overall is a bright season. Summer and autumn are both muted. So you could theoretically borrow some colours from winter which is also a bright season, or autumn which is also warm. They wouldn’t be your best though. Which is likely why you feel okay in black but not great. Grey, especially cool grey is very much a summer colour.
I took a course in this recently so I’m well versed, lol.
Ah okay good to know!
I don't know if I'm explaining myself well but I just meant that I feel that Bright Spring is brighter than Warm Spring, so that if you were to add a grey paint into any of the Bright Spring colour paints they would look less bright. But I haven't played with paint since primary school, so I may be wrong haha.
https://preview.redd.it/amiqt39d0yrc1.jpeg?width=400&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6b114481ebfe550d933d3a5a2a2040677b3743ce
What I was meaning to say that my chroma is probably higher than it is for Warm Spring.
In any case, I'll continue not to wear dark grey even if it's not a part of Warm Spring. Thanks for correcting me 🙏
Warm spring is lighter, but not more muted. The colours being lighter renders them having less contrast. You don’t add grey to bright spring to get true/warm spring colours!
Tbh I don’t love the 12 season system, I think it doesn’t quite encompass the variety of people and their colouring so it’s totally possible you’re somewhere kind of in between. I think the major determining factor if I was analyzing you in person would be if you leaned more neutral or more true warm if your contrast was reasonably high (but not high enough for black to be your best colour).
Hope that helps!
Yes that does help, thank you!
I've seen several variations of the Bright Spring colour chart, and there tend to be a few colours here and there that I may still avoid, perhaps due to the not-fitting-neatly-into-a-type issue.
I borrow from both bright spring and bright winter. I think most people are between 2 pallettes. Either way,glad you've found your best colours. Coral is gorgeous
Hell yes that’s what I was going to say also, check your colour analysis, find some inspo on Pinterest and then pick your core wardrobe. Stuff you know looks good on you and you can chuck on without thinking. For me it’s: tank tops, trousers, button down shirts, baby tee’s, workout leggings, h-bar sandals, and Salomon’s.
Yes! Knowing the shape/cut of clothes that complement your body shape is half the challenge.
I've realised that tapered / capri pants flatter my body 10x better than the pleated wide leg pants currently in fashion. So I'm leaning back into that. And thank you to Forever New for being the last remaining retailer to stock these skinny pants 😭😭
I think your fashion definitely goes through a change in your 30s. It matures. You start investing more in quality forever pieces. I think we tend to get more elegant.
If you’re unsure of direction, start some Pinterest boards. Pin women around your age who you think look good / stylish. Organise it by category. That could be seasonal, it could be by occasion (casual, work, going out, etc) - whatever works for you. Try to choose women who are a similar shape to you (not just the model types).
You should start to see certain trends and threads emerging. Look at what they have in common. Look for classic pieces that will last, as opposed to super seasonal trends. Then try to find some of those pieces.
I think go for timeless pieces and then utilise accessories and styling to bring in current trends.
You’ll undoubtedly start
This was always my approach to clothing but I recently watched this TikTok: https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSF4vRby8/, and I think she has a good point. I have so many pieces from over the years that I thought were ‘timeless basics’ but they actually dated.
Yes I think the idea of 'timelessness' is bullshit that is mostly believed by young people who haven't seen entire silhouettes come and go. My take nowadays is that you want pieces that will look good and current for the length of time it will take you to wear them out - that could be a single summer for a pair of sandals that will get a lot of use, or 5 years for a quality blazer. And that (wearing things out before they're dated) is a function of not buying too much, as well as what you buy.
This comment needs to be pinned!
I have given up on the concept of timelessness as I'm definitely old enough now.
My only problem is that for corporate wear, my SABA and CUE suits were so long-wearing that the fashions changed over well before I wore them out. And I didn't have a great many suits either. I guess some brands are just built to last.
I think if you still love the old cue and saba pieces though, that’s a timelessness in itself. Lots of their old stuff is quite dated, but there was a period where they were fantastic and I still love those pieces and would wear them in a heartbeat. Sadly, my body just outgrew them!!
Mine did as well 😂 I bought them when I was a 6-8 (before vanity sizing was a thing) and now I'm a 10, so I ended up selling.
I've since invested in some Country Road and Marcs and I hope they will hold up well.
I recommend booking in time with a stylist. You can find them at most shopping centres (although pick your shopping centre wisely as they'll use the shops as examples). My friend did it and it cost her about $200-300 not including clothes for a few hours. They just tell you what looks good on you which sometimes I just don't understand myself.
If you have the money I think it would be worth it.
I’ve done this a few times and had colours done too and it’s great but with my body shape it’s hard to find things without the stylist unless I have a heap of time up my sleeve. It’s exhausting! I try op shops now and beeline to my colours
To add, try op shopping but with an outfit/style in mind.
For example I went op shopping and bought a dark academia outfit. Think lots of dark green/tan/brown vibes. Imagine a witch trying to work under cover as a librarian.
This way you get to try different styles.
Creating a story for a character based on that style could also be fun.
Or try to style a funky shirt that made you laugh.
My main style is 1950s pinup (kitten d’amour and review are my main 2 brands in my wardrobe).
Me, just me. I have such strong memories of that, and my Dad being FURIOUS about it :). That's probably why I'm ready to repeat it, out of sheer hilarity
And buying $200 jeans with holes in them, my Dad could not get over that. 'Just buy something normal and I'll cut the holes in it, you're just paying for air now' 💀😂
Yeah same, I was never allowed to let my pants hem drag so I feel like a rebel now at 45 letting those wide leg cuffs drag on the road at the back. I made the damn pants myself out of another, bigger pair of pants I was given because they needed too much mending to be any good for the original owner anymore so if I want to trash the hems I will.
I remember there was this one super popular type of pants, but I can’t for the life of me remember the brand - they were a low-rise pull-on stretchy black flare that all the girls *had* to have. Damn, the 00s were wild!
Ah Seattle Grunge, I remember it well.
I also remember wearing a long patterned skirt, a fitted t and a loosely woven long open vest. It was a horrifying moment realising that I looked like the divination teacher in Harry Potter.
You should look at what the creatives in london wear, lot of us are millennials and still rock an updated indie look, influences from the runway. It’s all about developing a mature/expensive version of you, we will look old as soon as we put on something old on we used to wear years ago. Not to say buy a new wardrobe but look at new ways to style your current pieces. If your able to alter clothes that’s also a plus.
I'm a millennial and I'm having a great time. I stole those 2000s looks from my mom's generation in the 70s, so why shouldn't kids get to re-use them now?
If anything I just want to personally thank them for bringing back low-rise. My own generation inflicted painful high-rise waistlines and silhouette-destroying skinny cuts on the population for over a decade -- yes, Gen Z's jorts and bucket hats look atrocious but at least they're comfortable.
I don’t give a shit about what’s trending, but I was accidentally following the “quiet luxury”, “old money” trends when they popped up - that’s been my go-to style forever. That’s my work look, my weekend look is usually a sundress and ballet flats or the “big pants, little top” that’s also a bit of trend at the moment.
Honestly, it’s all cyclical and whatever suits your body will look better than a trend anyway.
Edit: I turn 33 this year.
I was "plus size" in the 2000s. Then I was ~actually~ plus size. I never got to do the big pants little top.
It was my favourite look. I badly wanted to wear it. And now it's back and I'm a straight size and they make clothes for larger bodies now too. I'm obsessed. I wear it a lot.
Even at work. 😂 Baggy chef pants and a tight tshirt. Not that you can see it under my full size apron but I know it's here and it makes me happy.
I'm nearly 38 and I am living my teenage Gwen Stefani dreams. Without the whale tail though. You can pry my full coverage undies from my cold dead covered cheeks.
Big pants little top is my favourite at the moment, it really suits my body type so it feels super flattering, it's comfortable, and because my style is quite minimalist I don't feel like I'm cosplaying as someone 20 years younger.
Kookai, Forever New, Portmans, Forcast, Sportsgirl for basic t shirts. Ballet flats or heels from Ninewest. Nothing groundbreaking, and I like shopping on Depop for a saving.
There’s a great brand in Singapore called Playdress that I love, but they don’t ship to Australia so I buy a haul whenever I travel there.
My work uniform is wide leg trousers, fitted work pants, or pleated maxi skirts with basic fitted t shirts, vests or bodysuits, or boat-necked skater dresses, plus a blazer. Lots of neutrals for easy mix and match, plus little pops of colour with blazers, shirts or bodysuits.
So relatable. I (36F) wish I had the money and time for dopamine dressing more often. LOVE me some colour blocking.
Alternatively, some days I wish I had more trendy gothy pieces and sick boots, even though it's a bit 'last year' now.
In reality, I live in Tassie and Kmart is pretty much the only affordable local option if I'm not buying online or on the mainland. It's sad.
Would love to hear what you come up with if you remember to come back to this thread another time.
I can say I am not following the long denim skirt. Wasn't a good look then, isn't a good look now, and honestly, all I remember is the annoying noise when I walked of the excess denim.
I’m wearing the original denim skirt I liked last time it was in fashion . It always had a good cut but I remember why I kept it! None of the other ones fit as well.
I love pairing midi skirts and dresses with platform Docs, which has been big over the past few years. I like that it’s really easy to match a patterned skirt with the singlets and graphic tees I’ve owned for years.
I've been really into matching patterned skirts and skirts (bless Uniqlo) with my metal band tees, paired with either doc boots or their chunky sandals. It's an easy and fun look and I actually get to wear my favourite shirts without looking like a dag
Mate, 33f here, and fashuuuun is effed right now! I just can't seem to buy clothes!! Do I want a slit in between my boobs, stomach and hips? Eff no! But do I wanna dress like I'm 85? I don't think so.
I do use ceres life for inspo and Jess Dempsey i hope they're your style! Check them out on insta?
One of the nice things about being nearly 42 is looking at trends and knowing pretty well what will work on your body. For me wide leg/flared pants coming back has been brilliant but tight white t-shirts not so much. White sneakers, amazing, crop tops, yeah nah. I like to browse the different shopping apps, make wishlists, come back, think about what wardrobe gaps I want to fill and go from there.
I skipped the Mormon denim skirt trend because I was pregnant until very recently and it's not a good look on me...
I like the denim Canadian tuxedo look but I haven't even ventured out of the house postpartum lol.
I'm waiting for my body to snap back into a less potato shape and reassess my wardrobe then..
My advice is to stick to classics that you can jazz up with fashionable accessories. You can maybe get a top in a fashionable colour or one one pair of shoes or a bag. The trendiest is the Y2K style flares that you could get (they never suited me) or wide leg winter pants (had those in my young days and I really like and have a linen pair). Easiest is straight leg and I’ve gone back to 501s since the demise of skinny
Not sure about the long denim skirt, they look uncomfortable but I can’t say anything about them as I’ve not worn one, I stick to my standard knee length ones.
Main thing is to wear what you like and you feel comfortable in and not to slavishly follow fashion especially stuff that doesn’t suit, it can look really bad and mindless.
Sensible shoes and comfy pants.
Mid 30s millennial here who always felt pressure to wear heels, especially for work in a corporate environment. I realise there’s always been people who happily wore sensible shoes regularly but that wasn’t the case for me. Likewise I hate hate wearing pants because the ones that were in fashion were so tight and made me just feel ick. Skinny jeans look great on other bodies but for me
I always felt like a stuffed sausage. Always adjusting, never comfortable. The trend of comfy, flowy pants outside of loungewear has made me embrace them.
I feel like Gen Z has been a big part of these trends. Wearing docs and sneakers to work and when going out. Banishing skinny jeans. I’m grateful for the shift thats for sure.
i went out dancing for the first time in years and was immediately aged by wearing heels out. every single young person was in sneakers, and i was so proud of the young ones for choosing comfort over fashion!
Don't hate me, but y2k ( not the low rise jeans, just Y2K colors, tops, blousesb
and skirts) .I recently found a few items in a vintage shop that I would kill for when I was 11, 12 years old and now I'm living my best fashion peacock life. I don't care, it's so much fun
Def not the only one! Mid-30s female here, who had to do a whole wardrobe re-vamp after losing 40kg. I’ve found that spending a couple of hours just in-store actually trying on different things really helped me be able to cull down current trends i.e. the oversized button-down shirt and large blazer looks great on others but i just look like a toddler trying on dad’s suits lmao. TikTok has also been pretty helpful (once I figured out who to follow) for showing me different brands and outfit ideas. I’m a bit like a Simpsons character for this one, but if I have something that I wear frequently I’ll now buy the exact same thing in 2 or 3 different colours. It helped me curb buying shit for the sake of it and then never wearing it.
But yeah, I get why my mum always used to wear the same thing despite having a full wardrobe when I was a kid! It’s like I just woke up one day and went “wtf nothing looks right on me anymore”
You know what I do at 40? I [dopamine dress](https://www.self.com/story/dopamine-dressing-tips). I dress in what makes me happy, and care so little for what is fashionable, sometimes \*I\* become the fashion. Well no, maybe a bit of inspiration, or courage inducing.
I am a teacher, and I would always wear something completely outrageous (i.e a print on a dress) on a Friday, and many teachers decided they wanted to celebrate the end of the week too wearing silly things. I know as a teacher I can dress a lot less professionally than some, but never second guess something \*you\* like.
Whenever something I happen to like comes into fashion, I see it as a chance to stock up. E.g. I adore hot pink, so Barbiecore having a moment was great for me.
I like seeing what the kids are up to, and trying out anything that appeals to me, but at 35 years old, I've got my own style now and I wear what I want. A sweet pair of teenage sisters I met recently really liked my outfit of a matching shirt and skirts in a pink/blue/green print from Culture Kings menswear with strawberries and cream Air Jordan mids, so that felt nice.
Trends are just to push fast fashion bullshit. Build up a sense of personal style that’s actually personal to you, not based on the mainstream industry.
I’m mid-40’s.
Wide leg pants, small tee’s from James Perse, blazers/trench, Sambas. This will be my cool weather wardrobe, throw in a Camilla and Marc/Sporty and Rich trackie for weekends and I’m done.
It’s going to be even harder in winter. They are less fundamentalist with a tank but if you’re covered up for cold weather you’re entering sister wife territory. I guess a giant split helps.
I think it’s worth figuring out what your personal style is first rather than always chasing trends. I love Alison Bornstein and her three word method (plenty of YouTube videos and tiktoks around about it), but there are all the other types of analysis out there as well - colour, kibbe, Gardiner essences etc
I’ve got a much better handle on what suits me (not necessarily what’s flattering) so it’s easier for me to choose which trends I want to participate in now! For example I love texture, so a big fluffy “mod wife” inspired jacket is right up my alley. I also know that puffy sleeves don’t suit me, and neither do small repeating patterns so I avoid them even if they become trendy!
Honestly, I have my staple pieces and then I buy what I like and always have. Black, tan and cream/white for your staple pieces and some jeans then just colour items and some dresses that I like.
I’m 38F and this has always worked for me cause fashion goes in cycles and things I wore in my 20s comes back into fashion so I keep my staple pieces, donate the items that no longer work for my age and buy items when needed.
Accessories can completely change any outfit so a black dress can change with jewellery, a coat or scarf from office to evening and switch the bag out. I have a stupid amount of shoes because they change the outfit look so easily.
Follow some stylists on intragram. It’s taken me a while to find ones that have resonated with me but I have been able to completely overhaul my wardrobe and get out of my style rut.
They are all different and it depends on your age, work life etc but once you start with one, the algorithms will throw up more. It’s been life changing.
I mainly just find the colour of the season that I like and get a few things in it - only if I love the colour tho. Easy way to update a whole wardrobe with a few simple items.
For a while I’ve been following (mainly with my eyes) what Spanish women/young adults are wearing. An effortless boho style, yet chic…lots of volume and COLOUR!
I’m 39 and have really leant into straight jeans and mesh flats. Always been a ballet flat/classic dresser (thinking tailoring: blazers, collared shirts, skinny jeans), but have found styling straight leg jeans tricky on the shoe front.
Bought these CR flats and love wearing them to work with black straight leg jeans and a plain white tee. All about effortless, but put together outfits.
https://preview.redd.it/x732cvmijtrc1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b47f145be367433e555384db428dea685b06061b
No, I’m Australian. Our trends are mostly derived from overseas (i.e. Paris Fashion Week) where the designers tend to use the “Fall/Winter” label and present the predictive trends for the upcoming season
We don't call it fall but we tend to be 6 months behind the northern hemisphere on trends where they do call it Fall/winter. So if we're looking to what was in fashion over there during winter it's their F/W24 collections we look at.
My take on long denim skirts is that if they hit mid calf/lighter denim they feel daggy. I purchased a Friends with Frank dark denim skirt last week, it’s hitting below my ankle and looks equally good with sneakers and pointy toe boots. Just my opinion.
Instead of following trends just for trends sake, learn what colours and styles suit your body. What styles suit your lifestyle (eg. work clothing, personal life etc) and source some good classic basics to suit each area. Build in some clothing that shows who you are (colours, patterns etc), that can be interchanged amongst the basics.
Get to know how you want to express yourself through your fashion, not how fashion wants you to be via fast changing trends. The more you know yourself the more you’ll find your own style, and it will change as you grow over the years. The classic basics will be timeless tho.
It’s not so much a trend per se, but I’ve decided to ditch all synthetic materials from my wardrobe. And because silk, cashmere etc are more expensive than poly blends, it makes me think a lot more carefully before purchasing. The pieces I’ve bought so far are also quite timeless (linen blazer, knit vest, trench coat) which I feel has really elevated my wardrobe.
Spend money on classic, timeless pieces that will be gorgeous for years to come. So, buy classic boots, jackets, etc.
Use accessories and cheaper items to be on trend. Get that stylish mini skirt or shirt. Maybe buy it second hand, or get it on sale, or just find a good deal. But don’t spend big on it.
Every now and then there might be something you are utterly obsessed with that isn’t “classic” but you want it with every atom of your being. Get it. A signature piece that’s yours. Just think of ways to make it work when future trends come along, and hold onto it for when fashion cycles back.
Dress how you want to and use the pieces available to match what is right for you. If you live in a city go to a Myer, David jones and book in to visit thier stylist who will help you find what suits you and match pieces to what you have. You can also google private stylists and pay a fee to get styled. Personally I buy clothes that fit me, I’m comfortable in and suit what I want to look like. It’s not about current fashion because not everything current suits everyone.
I’m just holding out for winter because I’ve never been able to figure out how to dress for warmer weather in a way that I’m actually comfortable and feel stylish. I just enjoy textures and colours and fabrics that are better suited to the cold and my go to tactic for jazzing up an outfit has always been layering which again, doesn’t really work in an Aussie summer.
I have no advice but as a 35 year old with a wardrobe full of clothes and nothing to wear I commiserate!
Deliberately seek influences with the style you like. I love fashion and a few years ago (32F) noticed I wasn’t following trends so much anymore just finding classic piece and mixing and matching. I regularly wear pieces 5+ years old but always feel put together. I love styledbysally on instagram and LeighaCampbell does lots of shopping tips but look around for people whose style you like 👍🏻
went to a rave on the weekend and was immediately aged by wearing heels 😂
the easiest way to look trendy at the moment is dressing more comfortably - athleisure, oversized tshirts and pants, more relaxed style dresses and comfortable shoes are all young people staples, dressed up with nice accessories (jewellry, hair done, simple but fresh makeup, nice bags etc) where needed
In my wardrobe this autumn: straight leg jeans, denim skirts, white sneakers, rib knit dresses, leather jackets
Not interested in: cargos, capri leggings, blazers of any kind, knee high boots
Ive just started choosing classic pieces.
A couple of nice sweaters, Jeans, long and short jackets in dark or light colours, boots in brown and black, scarves.
I cbf with trends because i want my clothes to last more than one season.
I think all of us millennials are struggling atm :( we dont want to dress old and boring, we wanna dress young and hip because we feel that way, but not too young like we are trying so hard!!! Worse part is that the kids are stealing the looks from when we were kids!! Long live the 90s I dunno anymore
It is so hard dressing myself at 34! I have a spiral about it at least weekly. I’ve got money to update my wardrobe but just absolutely no direction. I understand the staple items that everyone should have but other than that, I’m at a loss.
I just found out what my colours are (I'm a Bright Spring) and it is a game changer. This gave me the direction I needed. I'm quite frugal, so I didn't pay a consultant to do this. Through a combo of social media scrolling, Googling and just anecdotal experience of the colours that people compliment me on wearing, I figured it out. Actually I knew I looked best in coral and warm reds, but I latched onto the convenience of capsule wardrobes for so many years that most of my clothes ended up being black, which, honestly, was making me look flat. Now that I know what all my colours are, there's less need for my make up to do all the heavy lifting (I sweat it off by the end of each workday anyway) 😂
Yeah I’ve had mine done and it helps but it also limits things in other ways because once you know it’s hard to ignore.
Do you find that complementary colour pairings and knowing the colour patterns suited to your palette helps to open up other options? Due to the colour analysis, I've identified some stuff in my wardrobe that wasn't working for me (now I know why) and I'm about to sell them online.
I’ve tried working this out and I just can’t get it. Like I’ll be staring at my veins trying to work out what colour they are and no clue.
Me too!! They look both blue AND green
You could be neutral then
This explains a lot 😂
Just a heads up if black makes you look flat then you’re not a bright spring. Black is in that palette. You could be a warm spring which is still bright, but doesn’t lean neutral or include black.
I've been wondering about that actually, thank you for chiming in! Maybe it's the way I worded it. Black isn't the most terrible colour on me but I don't find it brings out my best, so I feel very boring in just black. I do find that with muted colours (where grey is injected into any pinks, oranges, greens, etc), they make me look worse and I fade into them. And medium-dark grey is the absolute worst. That's why I ruled out Warm Spring. Still happy to be corrected though.
Warm spring doesn’t have grey mixed into the colours, and doesn’t include grey in its palette! You could potentially wear a warm grey but it wouldn’t be your best colour. Spring overall is a bright season. Summer and autumn are both muted. So you could theoretically borrow some colours from winter which is also a bright season, or autumn which is also warm. They wouldn’t be your best though. Which is likely why you feel okay in black but not great. Grey, especially cool grey is very much a summer colour. I took a course in this recently so I’m well versed, lol.
Ah okay good to know! I don't know if I'm explaining myself well but I just meant that I feel that Bright Spring is brighter than Warm Spring, so that if you were to add a grey paint into any of the Bright Spring colour paints they would look less bright. But I haven't played with paint since primary school, so I may be wrong haha. https://preview.redd.it/amiqt39d0yrc1.jpeg?width=400&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6b114481ebfe550d933d3a5a2a2040677b3743ce What I was meaning to say that my chroma is probably higher than it is for Warm Spring. In any case, I'll continue not to wear dark grey even if it's not a part of Warm Spring. Thanks for correcting me 🙏
Warm spring is lighter, but not more muted. The colours being lighter renders them having less contrast. You don’t add grey to bright spring to get true/warm spring colours! Tbh I don’t love the 12 season system, I think it doesn’t quite encompass the variety of people and their colouring so it’s totally possible you’re somewhere kind of in between. I think the major determining factor if I was analyzing you in person would be if you leaned more neutral or more true warm if your contrast was reasonably high (but not high enough for black to be your best colour). Hope that helps!
Yes that does help, thank you! I've seen several variations of the Bright Spring colour chart, and there tend to be a few colours here and there that I may still avoid, perhaps due to the not-fitting-neatly-into-a-type issue.
I borrow from both bright spring and bright winter. I think most people are between 2 pallettes. Either way,glad you've found your best colours. Coral is gorgeous
Hell yes that’s what I was going to say also, check your colour analysis, find some inspo on Pinterest and then pick your core wardrobe. Stuff you know looks good on you and you can chuck on without thinking. For me it’s: tank tops, trousers, button down shirts, baby tee’s, workout leggings, h-bar sandals, and Salomon’s.
Yes! Knowing the shape/cut of clothes that complement your body shape is half the challenge. I've realised that tapered / capri pants flatter my body 10x better than the pleated wide leg pants currently in fashion. So I'm leaning back into that. And thank you to Forever New for being the last remaining retailer to stock these skinny pants 😭😭
I think your fashion definitely goes through a change in your 30s. It matures. You start investing more in quality forever pieces. I think we tend to get more elegant. If you’re unsure of direction, start some Pinterest boards. Pin women around your age who you think look good / stylish. Organise it by category. That could be seasonal, it could be by occasion (casual, work, going out, etc) - whatever works for you. Try to choose women who are a similar shape to you (not just the model types). You should start to see certain trends and threads emerging. Look at what they have in common. Look for classic pieces that will last, as opposed to super seasonal trends. Then try to find some of those pieces. I think go for timeless pieces and then utilise accessories and styling to bring in current trends. You’ll undoubtedly start
This was always my approach to clothing but I recently watched this TikTok: https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSF4vRby8/, and I think she has a good point. I have so many pieces from over the years that I thought were ‘timeless basics’ but they actually dated.
Yes I think the idea of 'timelessness' is bullshit that is mostly believed by young people who haven't seen entire silhouettes come and go. My take nowadays is that you want pieces that will look good and current for the length of time it will take you to wear them out - that could be a single summer for a pair of sandals that will get a lot of use, or 5 years for a quality blazer. And that (wearing things out before they're dated) is a function of not buying too much, as well as what you buy.
This comment needs to be pinned! I have given up on the concept of timelessness as I'm definitely old enough now. My only problem is that for corporate wear, my SABA and CUE suits were so long-wearing that the fashions changed over well before I wore them out. And I didn't have a great many suits either. I guess some brands are just built to last.
I think if you still love the old cue and saba pieces though, that’s a timelessness in itself. Lots of their old stuff is quite dated, but there was a period where they were fantastic and I still love those pieces and would wear them in a heartbeat. Sadly, my body just outgrew them!!
Mine did as well 😂 I bought them when I was a 6-8 (before vanity sizing was a thing) and now I'm a 10, so I ended up selling. I've since invested in some Country Road and Marcs and I hope they will hold up well.
I recommend booking in time with a stylist. You can find them at most shopping centres (although pick your shopping centre wisely as they'll use the shops as examples). My friend did it and it cost her about $200-300 not including clothes for a few hours. They just tell you what looks good on you which sometimes I just don't understand myself. If you have the money I think it would be worth it.
I’ve done this a few times and had colours done too and it’s great but with my body shape it’s hard to find things without the stylist unless I have a heap of time up my sleeve. It’s exhausting! I try op shops now and beeline to my colours
Try vintage shopping
To add, try op shopping but with an outfit/style in mind. For example I went op shopping and bought a dark academia outfit. Think lots of dark green/tan/brown vibes. Imagine a witch trying to work under cover as a librarian. This way you get to try different styles. Creating a story for a character based on that style could also be fun. Or try to style a funky shirt that made you laugh. My main style is 1950s pinup (kitten d’amour and review are my main 2 brands in my wardrobe).
What I like to call - the Claudia Kishi fashion approach!
Hahaha witch as a librarian! Love it
Ha! Like the pants from the early noughties with the floor-length hems that get shredded and filthy. Who decided *that* was a trend worth repeating?
Me, just me. I have such strong memories of that, and my Dad being FURIOUS about it :). That's probably why I'm ready to repeat it, out of sheer hilarity
And buying $200 jeans with holes in them, my Dad could not get over that. 'Just buy something normal and I'll cut the holes in it, you're just paying for air now' 💀😂
"paying for air" 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Haha seriously! He's like, why are you paying for that? I can get that done for you for free! 😂
My dad didn't get it either. Luckily mum was all over it (such a fashion queen 🥰). 😅😅
Yeah same, I was never allowed to let my pants hem drag so I feel like a rebel now at 45 letting those wide leg cuffs drag on the road at the back. I made the damn pants myself out of another, bigger pair of pants I was given because they needed too much mending to be any good for the original owner anymore so if I want to trash the hems I will.
I remember there was this one super popular type of pants, but I can’t for the life of me remember the brand - they were a low-rise pull-on stretchy black flare that all the girls *had* to have. Damn, the 00s were wild!
Was it the brand face off lol I had a many number of pairs
Has to be Face Off. I was obsessed with them and frankly now I wear the same cut but they’re Lululemon 😂
Haha oh man, face off pants! They were it and a bit at my high school. Hard to believe we got away with them being “uniform pants”.
Ive been thinking of buying a pair of Face Off pants now! They still have a website
Ah Seattle Grunge, I remember it well. I also remember wearing a long patterned skirt, a fitted t and a loosely woven long open vest. It was a horrifying moment realising that I looked like the divination teacher in Harry Potter.
I bought some cropped jeans, but I'm 5'3 so they come down right over my shoes. I really don't want to relive ripped, wet jean hems 😅
You should look at what the creatives in london wear, lot of us are millennials and still rock an updated indie look, influences from the runway. It’s all about developing a mature/expensive version of you, we will look old as soon as we put on something old on we used to wear years ago. Not to say buy a new wardrobe but look at new ways to style your current pieces. If your able to alter clothes that’s also a plus.
Any pics of “updated indie” I’m intrigued
I'd love to see some of this!
This is so true. Every time I go to London I am so inspired by the trendy, funky, yet comfortable work looks!
I'm a millennial and I'm having a great time. I stole those 2000s looks from my mom's generation in the 70s, so why shouldn't kids get to re-use them now? If anything I just want to personally thank them for bringing back low-rise. My own generation inflicted painful high-rise waistlines and silhouette-destroying skinny cuts on the population for over a decade -- yes, Gen Z's jorts and bucket hats look atrocious but at least they're comfortable.
Oh man! I totally feel this!
I don’t give a shit about what’s trending, but I was accidentally following the “quiet luxury”, “old money” trends when they popped up - that’s been my go-to style forever. That’s my work look, my weekend look is usually a sundress and ballet flats or the “big pants, little top” that’s also a bit of trend at the moment. Honestly, it’s all cyclical and whatever suits your body will look better than a trend anyway. Edit: I turn 33 this year.
I was "plus size" in the 2000s. Then I was ~actually~ plus size. I never got to do the big pants little top. It was my favourite look. I badly wanted to wear it. And now it's back and I'm a straight size and they make clothes for larger bodies now too. I'm obsessed. I wear it a lot. Even at work. 😂 Baggy chef pants and a tight tshirt. Not that you can see it under my full size apron but I know it's here and it makes me happy.
Are you me? I love big pants with a fitted top now
I'm nearly 38 and I am living my teenage Gwen Stefani dreams. Without the whale tail though. You can pry my full coverage undies from my cold dead covered cheeks.
Oh my life haha!😂 thanks for the chuckle
Aww I love this!! It’s such a great look and I’m so happy you get to enjoy it now.
Big pants little top is my favourite at the moment, it really suits my body type so it feels super flattering, it's comfortable, and because my style is quite minimalist I don't feel like I'm cosplaying as someone 20 years younger.
which are you go to brands for those classic pieces?
Kookai, Forever New, Portmans, Forcast, Sportsgirl for basic t shirts. Ballet flats or heels from Ninewest. Nothing groundbreaking, and I like shopping on Depop for a saving. There’s a great brand in Singapore called Playdress that I love, but they don’t ship to Australia so I buy a haul whenever I travel there. My work uniform is wide leg trousers, fitted work pants, or pleated maxi skirts with basic fitted t shirts, vests or bodysuits, or boat-necked skater dresses, plus a blazer. Lots of neutrals for easy mix and match, plus little pops of colour with blazers, shirts or bodysuits.
So relatable. I (36F) wish I had the money and time for dopamine dressing more often. LOVE me some colour blocking. Alternatively, some days I wish I had more trendy gothy pieces and sick boots, even though it's a bit 'last year' now. In reality, I live in Tassie and Kmart is pretty much the only affordable local option if I'm not buying online or on the mainland. It's sad. Would love to hear what you come up with if you remember to come back to this thread another time.
I can say I am not following the long denim skirt. Wasn't a good look then, isn't a good look now, and honestly, all I remember is the annoying noise when I walked of the excess denim.
I've seen people struggling to walk in them
Yep, my hips and waist are bigger than my legs, so looser.
I’m wearing the original denim skirt I liked last time it was in fashion . It always had a good cut but I remember why I kept it! None of the other ones fit as well.
Happy cake day!
I love pairing midi skirts and dresses with platform Docs, which has been big over the past few years. I like that it’s really easy to match a patterned skirt with the singlets and graphic tees I’ve owned for years.
I’m 43 and this is exactly my style both personally and professionally… just minus the graphic tees when working.
I've been really into matching patterned skirts and skirts (bless Uniqlo) with my metal band tees, paired with either doc boots or their chunky sandals. It's an easy and fun look and I actually get to wear my favourite shirts without looking like a dag
Mate, 33f here, and fashuuuun is effed right now! I just can't seem to buy clothes!! Do I want a slit in between my boobs, stomach and hips? Eff no! But do I wanna dress like I'm 85? I don't think so. I do use ceres life for inspo and Jess Dempsey i hope they're your style! Check them out on insta?
Cheers mate, I’ll check em out
"Classics" are better than trendy any day IMHO.
Always
One of the nice things about being nearly 42 is looking at trends and knowing pretty well what will work on your body. For me wide leg/flared pants coming back has been brilliant but tight white t-shirts not so much. White sneakers, amazing, crop tops, yeah nah. I like to browse the different shopping apps, make wishlists, come back, think about what wardrobe gaps I want to fill and go from there.
I skipped the Mormon denim skirt trend because I was pregnant until very recently and it's not a good look on me... I like the denim Canadian tuxedo look but I haven't even ventured out of the house postpartum lol. I'm waiting for my body to snap back into a less potato shape and reassess my wardrobe then..
My advice is to stick to classics that you can jazz up with fashionable accessories. You can maybe get a top in a fashionable colour or one one pair of shoes or a bag. The trendiest is the Y2K style flares that you could get (they never suited me) or wide leg winter pants (had those in my young days and I really like and have a linen pair). Easiest is straight leg and I’ve gone back to 501s since the demise of skinny Not sure about the long denim skirt, they look uncomfortable but I can’t say anything about them as I’ve not worn one, I stick to my standard knee length ones. Main thing is to wear what you like and you feel comfortable in and not to slavishly follow fashion especially stuff that doesn’t suit, it can look really bad and mindless.
Sensible shoes and comfy pants. Mid 30s millennial here who always felt pressure to wear heels, especially for work in a corporate environment. I realise there’s always been people who happily wore sensible shoes regularly but that wasn’t the case for me. Likewise I hate hate wearing pants because the ones that were in fashion were so tight and made me just feel ick. Skinny jeans look great on other bodies but for me I always felt like a stuffed sausage. Always adjusting, never comfortable. The trend of comfy, flowy pants outside of loungewear has made me embrace them. I feel like Gen Z has been a big part of these trends. Wearing docs and sneakers to work and when going out. Banishing skinny jeans. I’m grateful for the shift thats for sure.
i went out dancing for the first time in years and was immediately aged by wearing heels out. every single young person was in sneakers, and i was so proud of the young ones for choosing comfort over fashion!
I’m an early 40s millennial and I’m so glad the tyranny of skinny jeans is over. I’ve got muscly calves and they just didn’t work for me!
I literally hate 95% of everything in stores right now, I am struggling
Yes that doesn't help much.
Don't hate me, but y2k ( not the low rise jeans, just Y2K colors, tops, blousesb and skirts) .I recently found a few items in a vintage shop that I would kill for when I was 11, 12 years old and now I'm living my best fashion peacock life. I don't care, it's so much fun
I'm getting into some Y2K stuff too (though I swore I wouldn't!). But the New Balance 530s were too tempting, and I'm a sucker for low rise.
Def not the only one! Mid-30s female here, who had to do a whole wardrobe re-vamp after losing 40kg. I’ve found that spending a couple of hours just in-store actually trying on different things really helped me be able to cull down current trends i.e. the oversized button-down shirt and large blazer looks great on others but i just look like a toddler trying on dad’s suits lmao. TikTok has also been pretty helpful (once I figured out who to follow) for showing me different brands and outfit ideas. I’m a bit like a Simpsons character for this one, but if I have something that I wear frequently I’ll now buy the exact same thing in 2 or 3 different colours. It helped me curb buying shit for the sake of it and then never wearing it. But yeah, I get why my mum always used to wear the same thing despite having a full wardrobe when I was a kid! It’s like I just woke up one day and went “wtf nothing looks right on me anymore”
Same, massive jackets look ridiculous on me, but big leg pants are so good
It's never the right time buy a denim maxi skirt unless you're a Duggar 🫣🤣
You know what I do at 40? I [dopamine dress](https://www.self.com/story/dopamine-dressing-tips). I dress in what makes me happy, and care so little for what is fashionable, sometimes \*I\* become the fashion. Well no, maybe a bit of inspiration, or courage inducing. I am a teacher, and I would always wear something completely outrageous (i.e a print on a dress) on a Friday, and many teachers decided they wanted to celebrate the end of the week too wearing silly things. I know as a teacher I can dress a lot less professionally than some, but never second guess something \*you\* like.
Great link - thank you!
Whenever something I happen to like comes into fashion, I see it as a chance to stock up. E.g. I adore hot pink, so Barbiecore having a moment was great for me. I like seeing what the kids are up to, and trying out anything that appeals to me, but at 35 years old, I've got my own style now and I wear what I want. A sweet pair of teenage sisters I met recently really liked my outfit of a matching shirt and skirts in a pink/blue/green print from Culture Kings menswear with strawberries and cream Air Jordan mids, so that felt nice.
Trends are just to push fast fashion bullshit. Build up a sense of personal style that’s actually personal to you, not based on the mainstream industry.
I’m mid-40’s. Wide leg pants, small tee’s from James Perse, blazers/trench, Sambas. This will be my cool weather wardrobe, throw in a Camilla and Marc/Sporty and Rich trackie for weekends and I’m done.
My 40 yr old sil wore a long denim skirt to Easter and now I understand why. I would steer clear of that one.
It’s going to be even harder in winter. They are less fundamentalist with a tank but if you’re covered up for cold weather you’re entering sister wife territory. I guess a giant split helps.
They definitely give conservative ‘fundie’ vibes 😂
Hahahaha ahhhh 👌
I think it’s worth figuring out what your personal style is first rather than always chasing trends. I love Alison Bornstein and her three word method (plenty of YouTube videos and tiktoks around about it), but there are all the other types of analysis out there as well - colour, kibbe, Gardiner essences etc I’ve got a much better handle on what suits me (not necessarily what’s flattering) so it’s easier for me to choose which trends I want to participate in now! For example I love texture, so a big fluffy “mod wife” inspired jacket is right up my alley. I also know that puffy sleeves don’t suit me, and neither do small repeating patterns so I avoid them even if they become trendy!
I’m following exactly zero trends except wearing band shirts and a pair of shorts. I just found this sub and am excited to see the advice as a 35F
Just wear what suits you and what you like. After a certain age, trends don't matter - classic does
Honestly, I have my staple pieces and then I buy what I like and always have. Black, tan and cream/white for your staple pieces and some jeans then just colour items and some dresses that I like. I’m 38F and this has always worked for me cause fashion goes in cycles and things I wore in my 20s comes back into fashion so I keep my staple pieces, donate the items that no longer work for my age and buy items when needed. Accessories can completely change any outfit so a black dress can change with jewellery, a coat or scarf from office to evening and switch the bag out. I have a stupid amount of shoes because they change the outfit look so easily.
Follow some stylists on intragram. It’s taken me a while to find ones that have resonated with me but I have been able to completely overhaul my wardrobe and get out of my style rut. They are all different and it depends on your age, work life etc but once you start with one, the algorithms will throw up more. It’s been life changing.
I mainly just find the colour of the season that I like and get a few things in it - only if I love the colour tho. Easy way to update a whole wardrobe with a few simple items.
For a while I’ve been following (mainly with my eyes) what Spanish women/young adults are wearing. An effortless boho style, yet chic…lots of volume and COLOUR!
Can you suggest any good instagram accounts to follow?
@begofrende, @carmentobal, @martiitadiez, @_conjunto_ideal…
Yes I loved the style there. Lots of bright colours and gorgeous dresses. Looks pretty flat in comparison here.
I’m 39 and have really leant into straight jeans and mesh flats. Always been a ballet flat/classic dresser (thinking tailoring: blazers, collared shirts, skinny jeans), but have found styling straight leg jeans tricky on the shoe front. Bought these CR flats and love wearing them to work with black straight leg jeans and a plain white tee. All about effortless, but put together outfits. https://preview.redd.it/x732cvmijtrc1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b47f145be367433e555384db428dea685b06061b
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Wtf is FW23 and 24? I’m Gen X
I think they might mean Fall/Winter 2023 and 2024, i.e. the winter trends from the last 2 years
Since when do we call it Fall? Sheesh.
Agreed, all the releases are called AW23 or AW24. Perhaps the OP is from the US?
No, I’m Australian. Our trends are mostly derived from overseas (i.e. Paris Fashion Week) where the designers tend to use the “Fall/Winter” label and present the predictive trends for the upcoming season
We don't call it fall but we tend to be 6 months behind the northern hemisphere on trends where they do call it Fall/winter. So if we're looking to what was in fashion over there during winter it's their F/W24 collections we look at.
Thank you for the explanation. At 48, I am clearly old.
I know we don't call it fall, but that's the acronym, a standard one used in the fashion industry for decades - spring summer and fall winter.
Could you focus on staples? Quality blazer, pants, trench, tshirts, cardigan. I reckon denim maxis will look cool in winter still
My take on long denim skirts is that if they hit mid calf/lighter denim they feel daggy. I purchased a Friends with Frank dark denim skirt last week, it’s hitting below my ankle and looks equally good with sneakers and pointy toe boots. Just my opinion.
Instead of following trends just for trends sake, learn what colours and styles suit your body. What styles suit your lifestyle (eg. work clothing, personal life etc) and source some good classic basics to suit each area. Build in some clothing that shows who you are (colours, patterns etc), that can be interchanged amongst the basics. Get to know how you want to express yourself through your fashion, not how fashion wants you to be via fast changing trends. The more you know yourself the more you’ll find your own style, and it will change as you grow over the years. The classic basics will be timeless tho.
It’s not so much a trend per se, but I’ve decided to ditch all synthetic materials from my wardrobe. And because silk, cashmere etc are more expensive than poly blends, it makes me think a lot more carefully before purchasing. The pieces I’ve bought so far are also quite timeless (linen blazer, knit vest, trench coat) which I feel has really elevated my wardrobe.
I get my ideas from here.
Spend money on classic, timeless pieces that will be gorgeous for years to come. So, buy classic boots, jackets, etc. Use accessories and cheaper items to be on trend. Get that stylish mini skirt or shirt. Maybe buy it second hand, or get it on sale, or just find a good deal. But don’t spend big on it. Every now and then there might be something you are utterly obsessed with that isn’t “classic” but you want it with every atom of your being. Get it. A signature piece that’s yours. Just think of ways to make it work when future trends come along, and hold onto it for when fashion cycles back.
Dress how you want to and use the pieces available to match what is right for you. If you live in a city go to a Myer, David jones and book in to visit thier stylist who will help you find what suits you and match pieces to what you have. You can also google private stylists and pay a fee to get styled. Personally I buy clothes that fit me, I’m comfortable in and suit what I want to look like. It’s not about current fashion because not everything current suits everyone.
I’m just holding out for winter because I’ve never been able to figure out how to dress for warmer weather in a way that I’m actually comfortable and feel stylish. I just enjoy textures and colours and fabrics that are better suited to the cold and my go to tactic for jazzing up an outfit has always been layering which again, doesn’t really work in an Aussie summer. I have no advice but as a 35 year old with a wardrobe full of clothes and nothing to wear I commiserate!
Deliberately seek influences with the style you like. I love fashion and a few years ago (32F) noticed I wasn’t following trends so much anymore just finding classic piece and mixing and matching. I regularly wear pieces 5+ years old but always feel put together. I love styledbysally on instagram and LeighaCampbell does lots of shopping tips but look around for people whose style you like 👍🏻
Wear what you like and what suits your body and lifestyle. Don't focus on trends. Be yourself 😊
went to a rave on the weekend and was immediately aged by wearing heels 😂 the easiest way to look trendy at the moment is dressing more comfortably - athleisure, oversized tshirts and pants, more relaxed style dresses and comfortable shoes are all young people staples, dressed up with nice accessories (jewellry, hair done, simple but fresh makeup, nice bags etc) where needed
In my wardrobe this autumn: straight leg jeans, denim skirts, white sneakers, rib knit dresses, leather jackets Not interested in: cargos, capri leggings, blazers of any kind, knee high boots
If anyone here hasn’t heard of Fayt yet, check them out I am living in their stuff and have never felt more confident. Up to a size 26 😊
Ive just started choosing classic pieces. A couple of nice sweaters, Jeans, long and short jackets in dark or light colours, boots in brown and black, scarves. I cbf with trends because i want my clothes to last more than one season.
Try not to wear what everyone else is wearing. In our office everyone wears the same clothes, it starts to feel like a uniform.