Outdated?!
Reading this word describing something you love to wear (or own) can feel defeating for many reasons...but how seriously should you take it?
I won’t beat around the bush, I’ve seen WAY too many influencers on Instagram lately flash images they’ve found from social made and stake the claim what that person is wearing is “outdated”.
Here’s more honesty…I’m a style content creator/personal stylist…and even I own AND wear some of the pieces they most recently have figuratively tossed aside. Even I feel a slight twinge when I view those reels or read those posts. *scoffs* “ME?! Wear or own something outdated?! How RUDE.” But I mostly feel a little hurt in that brief moment. While I don’t want to be trendy per se, I don’t want to feel frumpy.
I think that’s why the outdated comment has a slight sting to it. We equate “outdated” with “frumpy” or “unattractive”…or even “dull”.
Friends, after some careful pondering I am here to tell you they are not the same. But because this word can stir up all kinds of feels, it deserves a post.
Because I’m a bit of a word nerd, let’s define some things thanks to dictionary.com.
Outdated, adjective: no longer in use or fashionable; out-of-date; outmoded; antiquated.
Frumpy, adjective: as in dowdy (strongest synonym is baggy…that’s important! Remember that!)
Dull, adjective: causing boredom; tedious; uninteresting
Unattractive, adjective: 1. not appealing to the senses or mind through beauty, form, character, etc 2. not arousing interest (strongest synonyms are disgusting, repugnant, and repulsive)
Here is a screenshot of the synonym matches on Dictionary.com for the word Outdated:
Do you see in the weak match category, second from the last? That’s right. UNFASHIONABLE. Even the Dictionary does not think these two should be used interchangeably.
So next time you see someone online calling out riding boots, skinny jeans, utility jackets (or whatever is next on the chopping block) “outdated” you remind yourself this does not mean “unfashionable”, “frumpy”, or any other word that feels insulting.
Here’s my take on labeling something as “outdated”: styling is a skill and that cannot be outdated. If you style something correctly, I think it can be relevant and timeless.
While I do not think it is fair to label pieces as outdated and whatnot, I think it IS fair to say certain pieces make their circulation as far as availability and desirability.
Silhouettes, hem lines, waist rise, color tones, pant cut, heel height…it’s all always in flux. Some years it feels more appropriate to wear oversized things. Others the vibes are casual. Then the pendulum swings to more polish. Often world events impact fashion & style and this can be a major cause of those shifts. Wars, pandemics, economic rise/fall, political powers, natural disasters, cultural shifts…it really can affect how we dress and what we consider to be passé.
Let’s take the ankle bootie for example. Last week I watched a reel where an influencer talked a lot of trash about this type of shoe saying how they are “out” and you need to replace them with a taller shaft boot. (I think this is largely due to the fact we are seeing a lot of “chunky” shoes at the moment. And a chunky ankle bootie would look a little odd, so they are sitting there collecting dust.)
While it is true these types of boots are not as readily available as a taller shaft boot like Chelsea or Lace up boots, should you take your ankle boots to Goodwill tomorrow?
ABSOLUTELY NOT.
Here’s a little saying I want you to repeat after me: “If it fits well and I still like it, I can still style it.”
I have ethically handmade genuine leather ankle boots I invested in about 5/6 years ago. They are in gorgeous condition. They still fit. Do I reach for my taller boots more frequently right now? Yes. But I’m keeping those boots. You never know if there’s a dress or pant where the taller boots will not pair well with…I’m going to try the ankle boots in that situation.
An intentional closet keeps the bigger picture of personal style and fit in mind over the subjective opinions of others and the waxing and waning of trends.
It might take some more thought and intention to style something that is not the “it” thing, but it can be done!
Here are some key points to keep in mind when wading through the opinions and content of fashion and styling:
Fit is ALWAYS the key.
I said this over and over to my friends who were self-conscious about skinny jeans after younger folks wagged their fingers at the millennial mom jean. If your skinny jeans fit you well and you style them in a more current way, wear them! (Insert any clothing piece you are on the fence about, not just skinny jeans.)
Remember up above that a synonym of “frumpy” was “baggy”? I don’t know the science behind it, but when our clothes are ill-fitting it can look sloppy and haphazard. It is difficult to get correct proportion when your clothes are ill-fitting. (And there IS a difference between intentional oversized pieces and ill-fitting…but that’s another post for another time.)
Social media is speeding up trends.
Thanks to TikTok and fast fashion, trends have been put on some kind of super boost, ultra high speed cycle. When I was a kid or even a teenager if you wanted to know what was “cool” or how to wear something, you a handful of options: go to the mall and look at mannequins & people watch, pick up a magazine or store catalog, or pay attention to shows/movies/commercials. Then the internet came along.
As a young adult I would read blogs, browse my favorite brands websites, and read online articles about style. From there things exploded. We now have dozens if not hundreds of ways to consume fashion and style related content, and most of it is not in person.
And the good thing (sometimes) with the sped up style train, you can bet your skinny jeans everything comes back around that much faster. How long were skinny jeans “out” anyways? 5 minutes? It wasn’t long at all.
While I love sharing outfits online and hopefully inspiring my audiences to be intentional with their closets…I think it’s a good practice to train yourself to observe style and outfits in real life. What are people wearing? How are they wearing it? If something catches your eye, try to remember it and replicate it in your own closet. I think you will find it easier to ignore people on social media claiming something is “outdated” if you pay more attention to real life style instead. That perfectly Segways into my next point…
Style is completely subjective.
Apparently a current “trend” is wearing socks with slingback heels. In order for this to be a trend, the style obviously appeals to a vast amount of people. To me it looks uncomfortable and a little odd. But that is my OPINION. It’s not a fact and that doesn’t mean I think those people are wrong, it’s just not what I would wear.
So when you wear something others consider “outdated”, to me that does not hold much sway. All that communicates to me is that shoe or garment or color, or print (or whatever) is not their taste.
I think there are certain aspects to styling that have foundational truth. Like the rule of thirds and how our brains perceive proportion and fit. That is something that is true. But if you choose to not follow that rule, great! That is your subjective opinion on how you choose to style your outfits.
You could wear the most classic, timeless outfit that is well accessorized and it fits you well…I guarantee someone out there will think it’s boring or lackluster or old fashioned or whatever! Your personal style will not appeal to everyone. So you might as well wear what you like and not care what anyone’s subjective style opinion is :)
Style opinions can change
Do you have the same sense of style you did when you were 20? If you are at least 5+ years older than 20, you will know the answer is “no”. Seasons of life, occupations, kids, location changes, marriage, school, and a host of other events will alter your personal style and what you are drawn to.
I know many millennials are hard core against crew socks and say they will never give up no-show socks. Others have no problem giving them up as a 40 year old but as a high schooler would never have worn crew socks. For awhile in the early 2000s I was on the fence about maxi dresses. I thought I looked like a hippy when I wore them. Turns out I just needed to find the right ones and my opinion changed.
Don’t be too rigid with your style choices. Step out of your comfort zone occasionally and keep gathering inspiration from others on how to style your outfits. Allow yourself flexibility and an open mind to try new things. (I’m talking to you ladies who say they will NEVER wear wide leg jeans 😉 Just try them! You might like ‘em!)
In closing I hope this encourages you. Style is certainly observable by everyone around you, but ultimately it’s you and your personal style that matters when you get dressed each day. Our clothes allow us to meet each day with purpose and the ability to serve those around us with an uplifted attitude. Go be intentional regardless if the internet says it’s “outdated”!
So many well made points 👏🏼👏🏼
I've spent the past few winters wearing straight leg jeans because they're more on trend, but tbh I do not like how they look on me with boots and a big jacket as a petite woman. I'm going back to skinny jeans. I don't care if they're dated, they make me feel good!