The Fashion / Clothes Thread!

[Aneres11]

So one of my interests is fashion.

 

I enjoy experimenting with clothes and different styles and think that these days, it's much more accessible to look good on a budget. The amount of high street shops that are selling pretty great garments at very cheap prices makes it easy enough to put a decent outfit together without breaking the bank. (Primark especially!)

 

That's only if you want to / care enough to want to of course.

 

I decided to make this thread as I haven't really seen many discussions on the type of clothes people like to wear / wish to wear but don't feel that they would suit them - and I'm pretty sure it's something we all consider or think about regularly.

This may be because no one actually cares and thus the thread will disappear very quickly... ha, but I have seen a few people say what clothing they have bought in the 'What have you bought' thread - so thought why not see if we can get it all in here?!

 

So, where do you guys and girls like to shop? Are you interested enough in fashion that, like me, you get excited for the upcoming Autumn / Winter collections mid summer?! Or are you just a jeans and t-shirt person who wears whatever is comfortable?!

Do you sometimes wish you want to start wearing smarter / edgier clothes but feel too insecure to do it? Or would you like to upgrade your wardrobe but just don't know where to start?!

 

Feel free to post where you like to shop - and if you are really brave - upload some pics of what you are wearing if you think you look particularly dapper on any given day!

[jayseven]

I move away and get drawn back to various items in my wardrobe that I probably wear for subconscious reasons, but for months at a time I'll avoid completely. My wardrobe is made up of two camps; the clothes I bought when i was 17, and the clothes my girlfriend bought for me/with me. Admittedly these clothes are largely the latter camp now.

 

Typically when I buy a new item of clothing I love it in the shop, then hate it and don't wear it for ages then wear it all the time. I have a yellow Burton tee that my girlfreind's mum bought back from the US that I loved for ages until i saw myself in a mirror on Manly beach and the downlighting made me feel rather fat and shitty and now I try to avoid wearing it altogether.

 

As a teenager my 'style' was basically "I'm going to wear shitty clothes that look stupid so that I know that people think I look stupid" -- because I didn't know how to look good. I still return to this i.e. wear camo shorts with tartan top and gridded shoes. Clash all over the place. I do occasionally accidentally coordinate my dress really well but in general I fail.

 

I generally hate shopping, except for some of the cheap shops here (Jay Jay's is one, ironically!) where sometimes they have a table with a literal messy pile of tees on for $5 (£3.20) so you get to go treasure hunting.

 

I hate fashion shows on TV and I hate that my girlfriend and my impressionable cousin watch them.

[Twozzok]

 

Typically when I buy a new item of clothing I love it in the shop' date=' then hate it and don't wear it for ages then wear it all the time. [/quote']

 

This.

 

I don't know why either, because when I finally do wear it (wether it's because I have nothing else clean or finally get the confidence for wearing something that isn't one of my various go to clothes) I realise I look damn fine in it. (usually)

 

I also need to start wearing more 'grown-up' casual clothes. I don't think I'll be able to pull-off the cargo's and threadless t-shirt combo as a casual going out outfit when I get a grown-up job nd have to socialise with not-students in a years time.

[MoogleViper]

I've never quite understood [high street] fashion. So you're wearing some clothes, and think you're trendy and stylish for wearing them, because some corporate middle aged men told you that if you paid over the odds for these clothes and wore them, then you'd be trendy and stylish? Is that about right?

[Caris]

I've never quite understood [high street] fashion. So you're wearing some clothes, and think you're trendy and stylish for wearing them, because some corporate middle aged men told you that if you paid over the odds for these clothes and wore them, then you'd be trendy and stylish? Is that about right?

 

Gahhh, this post annoys me so much!

 

I buy clothes from all over including the high street. I have some clothes that cost me a few pound, I have items of clothing that cost as much as game consoles.

 

I do like to spend my money on nice threads, as said in the original post fashion is also one of my main interests. Some people find it crazy how much I spend on certain items of clothing but I don't get it. I see people on here for example spending stupid amounts on games all the time. I like games, no love games but some people spend 10x what I do on them.

 

Getting back to higher end clothes, I don't buy them because I want to be trendy and fit in, it's actually the complete opposite. There is nothing worse than when I walk round Newcastle and see everyone wearing the same generic Superdry t shirt, or hoodie from River Island. I like to stand out, I get complements on my outfits regularly. I find more expensive clothes in most cases (not all) to be much higher quality, more comfortable to wear, last longer and aren't worn by as many people. But I think the biggest thing of all is that they fit better, I would gladly rather wear a £5 t shirt that is a nice fit than a £40 t shirt that IMO doesn't fit well. I also get a lot of my clothes tailored to fit me, probably half my wardrobe has been altered to some extent. There is no better feeling than putting on a item of clothing and it just making you feel like you can take on the world.

 

So yes, in a nut shell if you are generally into fashion I see no harm in spending more on clothes than other people. Everyone has their interests, some people do up their cars, others may go to the pub every night and drink 5-6 pints.

 

I think the only reason expensive clothes get all the stick is because everyone wears clothes, whilst other interests I.E gaming, not everyone does.

 

Anyway that's might little rant/opinion over!

Edited September 9, 2012 by Caris

[Ellmeister]

So how much would you say is normal for a t-shirt then?

I think this is the true test - how much would people consider reasonable for a t-shirt?

 

Myself like Caris also like my clothes, I will wear something because it looks good and not because everyone else has one. My ex-housemate used to buy the cheapest crap that everyone else had to fit in but look 'alternative' at the same time. After a couple of washes it looked awful.

 

I think I also do what Jay7 does and go through phases of liking and un-liking clothing yet never getting the urge to throw it away in case I want it in the future!

[Caris]

Personally for me I would say the average is around £30, some are more and some are less.

[Aneres11]

I think the cost of items depends on the type of clothing it is.

 

For instance, I am a fan of just plain crew neck t-shirts which you can get anywhere for a couple of quid.

 

I like to layer items and pay more money for items that I intend to wear more than once and that will last. So for instance, jackets, cardigans, jumpers, coats, jeans, shoes, I spend that bit more on. But things like t-shirts and general trousers I don't go overboard on.

 

I'm with Caris though in that you can definitely tell the difference in quality and overtime it will still be wearable. Whereas the same can't always be said for cheaper items of clothing.

 

My biggest fashion annoyance at the moment is the Hollister crowd. I was at the Trafford Centre a few weeks back and there were people being told to queue to get in to Hollister. Whut? Like ... WHUT?!

 

Today though I am wearing a very cheap outfit and I personally think it's decent enough. It certainly doesn't look 'cheap'.

 

[/img]

 

My jeans were a tenner - Primark.

T-shirt was £6 - Topman

Jacket was £20 - ASOS

Shoes were £40 from Topman - but those have had a shit load of wear over the summer so it's £40 well spent for me.

 

The jeans, T, and jacket total £36. I personally would not class that as over the odds for any of it. What's more, it makes me feel good which is what I think fashion is all about. : peace:

[Caris]

I really like that outfit for the record, I love rolling my jeans up with boat shoes and wearing no socks. Great look.

[Daft]

im a hipster so im trendy whatever i wear because i dont care (See what I did there? No grammar.)

 

On a serious note, "fashion" - in the non-high art sense - is mind numbingly uniform. It's just mass produced individuality; a kind of structural tyranny that screams homogeneity or exile; 'you can think/act/dress any way you want, but if you aren't like us you are a stranger among us.'

 

Of course, I know all this so I wear clothes ironically. Although only if it's made out of fair trade hemp.

 

You all make me sick.

 

(Taken with Instagram)

[Jon]

I don't mind paying money for good clothes as I generally find them to be far more comfortable and longer lasting that the cheaper alternative. Best example for me would be Levi jeans. I've own a few pairs of them and they didn't come cheap but they fit so well and can be washed many times without any fading.

 

@Aneres11 That's the look I absolutely despise. I hate the whole rolled up, no sock look. Between that and those stupid gym shoes and skinny jeans combination, that's all the masses ever seem to wear.

 

I'm more just a Jeans and T-Shirt guy though so I'm hardly an authority on fashion.

[Ellmeister]

I disagree with JonST. Looks good Aneres, particularly the jacket.

 

I know the price depends on the item, which is why I picked t-shirt as that is bog standard item everyone wears! (Unless they're Ashley who doesn't seem to wear anything when I see him).

 

For work I have to wear for business casual normally and because I'm wearing this most of the time I see the need to buy something I like to see myself in as opposed to a couple of co-workers who just bought something to get them by.

[Magnus]

Ah, I wish I could buy more clothes. But I have so little money and clothes are expensive.

 

Or maybe I just have expensive tastes.

 

I think the extent of my clothes shopping these last two years is a grand total of two t-shirts. Though my mom paid for a new pair of jeans and a dress shirt just the other week, so now I have one acceptable date outfit if anyone's interested.

 

So one of my interests is fashion.

The next logical step is to combine your love for Nintendo and fashion and start designing nerd wear!

 

But, like, nice-looking nerd wear.

 

That's the challenge.

[Ellmeister]

 

The next logical step is to combine your love for Nintendo and fashion and start designing nerd wear!

 

But, like, nice-looking nerd wear.

 

That's the challenge.

 

 

Like this?

 

And no, that is not me!

[Magnus]

And no, that is not me!

I'm glad you clarified that. :p

 

And no, that's now what I meant when I said "nice-looking nerd wear". I'd never wear something like that.

 

I don't have the curves to pull it off.

[The Bard]

I straight up want to roll around in a zoot suit:

 

[Aneres11]

 

@Aneres11 That's the look I absolutely despise. I hate the whole rolled up, no sock look. Between that and those stupid gym shoes and skinny jeans combination, that's all the masses ever seem to wear.

 

With respect, the masses do not wear that. You can walk round town all day and you will no doubt see a lot of people wearing no socks and their 'Vans' or 'Toms' with their skinny jeans - but a little bit more thought has gone into what I am wearing than that.

 

But as you say - you're a jeans and t-shirt guy, so it's probably not gonna be for you and that's cool.

[Jon]

With respect, the masses do not wear that. You can walk round town all day and you will no doubt see a lot of people wearing no socks and their 'Vans' or 'Toms' with their skinny jeans - but a little bit more thought has gone into what I am wearing than that.

 

But as you say - you're a jeans and t-shirt guy, so it's probably not gonna be for you and that's cool.

 

Well I can only speak for my part of the world, and I can tell you they do wear that.

 

It's just the whole no socks thing that I don't like. I guess i just imagine it being a bit unhygienic on a warm day

[MoogleViper]

So you claim this:

 

There is nothing worse than when I walk round Newcastle and see everyone wearing the same generic Superdry t shirt, or hoodie from River Island. I like to stand out,

 

And then say this:

 

I love rolling my jeans up with boat shoes and wearing no socks. Great look.

 

It's the same loo every other "stylish" person out there is wearing at the minute. And the thing is, you only think it's a great look because you've been told to by the fashion industry, and because everyone else is wearing it. Were you wearing it 4 years ago? Will you e wearing it in 4 years? No, because it won't be fashionable. So don't come out with some "I like to stand out and be individual" bollocks. If you follow fashion (the clue is in the word "follow") then you'e wearing the same mass replicated outfit as everybody else.

 

Take the camel chinos (or worse, those one that end above the ankle and are shape as if you're bow legged and saddle sore). If you saw somebody wearing that 10 years ago you'd think they looked stupid. But because they sell them in Topman and River Island you all think they look amazing, and must rush out and buy some.

 

Also, you both claim to love clothes that are high quality, yet you then wear/compliment jeans from Primark and a cheap t-shirt from Topman. I've owned some of hose t-shirts, and I worked in Primark. The quality is absolutely terrible.

 

And you say my original post annoys you so much, but what exactly is wrong with it? Are you denying that you're just following trends laid out by the fashion industry (which is largely run by middle aged men)?

 

If you truly wanted to be individual then you would design (and make) your own clothes. Claiming to following popular trends, buying from high street chains, and then claiming it's to express your own individuality or stand out, is quite frankly moronic.

 

 

I also find it incredibly shallow to have one your your main interests as dressing a certain way in order to impress people and try and stand out as if you've moved your way up some sort of fashion leaderboard.

[Aneres11]

So you claim this:

 

 

 

And then say this:

 

 

 

It's the same loo every other "stylish" person out there is wearing at the minute. And the thing is, you only think it's a great look because you've been told to by the fashion industry, and because everyone else is wearing it. Were you wearing it 4 years ago? Will you e wearing it in 4 years? No, because it won't be fashionable. So don't come out with some "I like to stand out and be individual" bollocks. If you follow fashion (the clue is in the word "follow") then you'e wearing the same mass replicated outfit as everybody else.

 

Take the camel chinos (or worse, those one that end above the ankle and are shape as if you're bow legged and saddle sore). If you saw somebody wearing that 10 years ago you'd think they looked stupid. But because they sell them in Topman and River Island you all think they look amazing, and must rush out and buy some.

 

Also, you both claim to love clothes that are high quality, yet you then wear/compliment jeans from Primark and a cheap t-shirt from Topman. I've owned some of hose t-shirts, and I worked in Primark. The quality is absolutely terrible.

 

And you say my original post annoys you so much, but what exactly is wrong with it? Are you denying that you're just following trends laid out by the fashion industry (which is largely run by middle aged men)?

 

If you truly wanted to be individual then you would design (and make) your own clothes. Claiming to following popular trends, buying from high street chains, and then claiming it's to express your own individuality or stand out, is quite frankly moronic.

 

 

I also find it incredibly shallow to have one your your main interests as dressing a certain way in order to impress people and try and stand out as if you've moved your way up some sort of fashion leaderboard.

 

You clearly do not have a fucking clue.

 

So you are saying that you can't buy clothes from Topman or any other high street store and be individual with how you wear them?

 

Yes you can. Also - some high street stores do make some very good quality items of clothing. Zara, Reiss and even All Saints make some very high quality clothing and suits - which can be worn with cheaper items to make a decent outfit.

 

You've totally missed the point of what I said too. The original post said that the high street is making affordable clothing readily available - so you can create nice outfits on a low budget. And that's exactly what I have done.

 

Following fashion does mean you will wear similar outfits to other people. The difference is - the way you wear them.

And that's where people who have an interest in fashion will take what is on trend, and make it work for them.

 

And for you to say that buying high street and not being able to be individual in doing so is quite frankly moronic.

[Daft]

Mainstream fashion is just an urban form of tribalism.

[MoogleViper]

You clearly do not have a fucking clue.

 

So you are saying that you can't buy clothes from Topman or any other high street store and be individual with how you wear them?

 

Yes you can. Also - some high street stores do make some very good quality items of clothing. Zara, Reiss and even All Saints make some very high quality clothing and suits - which can be worn with cheaper items to make a decent outfit.

 

You've totally missed the point of what I said too. The original post said that the high street is making affordable clothing readily available - so you can create nice outfits on a low budget. And that's exactly what I have done.

 

Following fashion does mean you will wear similar outfits to other people. The difference is - the way you wear them.

And that's where people who have an interest in fashion will take what is on trend, and make it work for them.

 

And for you to say that buying high street and not being able to be individual in doing so is quite frankly moronic.

 

 

1) No you can't be an individual. There are thousands of these high street fashion shops throughout the country, and they have millions of customers. If you buy something from Topman, thousands of other people also wear that garment. What about that is individual? With all of thes customers, do you relly think you can find a unique way of "wearing it"?

 

2) I neve said high street stores on't sell quality clothes. From your examples, I bought a coat from Zara a few years ago, it was great quality, I could still wear it if it fit me. What I said was that Primark and Topman don't sell good quality clothes.

 

3) "Following fashion does mean you will wear similar outfits to other people."

 

Yes it does, that's exactly what it means. The definition of fashion is "popular trends". So "following fashion" means you're following popular trends, i.e. wearing what is popular and what other people are wearing.

[Daft]

I think you are both correct.

[Aneres11]

This could go on and on - and it wasn't the idea of the thread originally.

 

We will agree to disagree as all 3 of your points I have the opposite opinion on.

 

Our ideas of what it means to follow fashion are very different. I don't class myself as a follower of fashion just because I go into Topman and other high street stores to buy what is popular. I actively look for fashion blogs and sites that detail what will be coming into the high street that has filtered down from catwalks / fashion shows etc. And, yes - you are correct in that you are almost being 'told' what looks good.

 

But the difference is taking those trends and implementing them into my daily outfits before they reach the high street, or taking elements from a certain look book and incorporating it into what is currently sat in my wardrobe.

 

I do agree that if you follow fashion you wear what is said to be on trend. And yes that's totally right - it's what I do. But not everyone who says they follow fashion will do that. There's a difference between being a step ahead of people or wearing what everyone else is wearing.

The trend currently being worn by seemingly every young guy is the chinos and pumps look. That is not something that is being shown on any designers look books - and hasn't for some time.

And for me that's the difference with wearing what is going to be popular, as aposed to wearing what is currently popular.

[EEVILMURRAY]

I wear whatever's comfortable and within reach. Preferably at a decent price. I won't pay three times as much so I can have a tiny name embroidered somewhere and I can say "Oh, it's Ted Baker*" and be smug about it.

 

 

 

 

*Whatever name people are fisting these days.