Caveats: Some people can pull off anything. The young (and those in PR clip art) generally look great no matter what they wear. And if you love an item or it looks especially good on you, wear it anyway despite what I say (or anyone says). And obviously, if you don't care or like experimenting, ignore everything here.
So, having said that, here is my list of 30 things that can throw an otherwise classic female ensemble:
- Ruffles
- Tunics
- Gold sandals
- ¾ length sleeves
- Capris pants
- Cap sleeves
- Jeans with heals
- Shorts with heels
- Giant sunglasses
- Low rise anything (especially on women over 40)
- Crew neck sweaters over t-shirts
- Boot cut pants
- Anything from The North Face
- Uggs
- Tank tops
- Shorts that are too short (best left to the young)
- Clothes that are too tight (best left to the young)
- Deep scoop necks
- Heavy (clunky) jewelry and over-sized buttons
- Darts in shirts and jackets
- Baby cables on a sweater
- Shiny pocketbooks or jackets
- Sparkles on anything
- More than a bit of make-up (it helps less than most people think)
- Black workout gear in the supermarket (just my pet peeve)
- Black golf or tennis wear
- Extra-long sweater jackets/cardigans
- Polo shirts with long plackets
- Hooded sweaters
- Strong perfume
As always, feel free to add your thoughts.
29 comments:
I would agree with nearly everything here, with the exception of North Face. Granted, its sheer popularity is largely a 21st-century phenomenon (although the company has actually been around since 1968), and at first glance this would make it seem rather sinister. But they really make some very practical things. A North Face jacket won't save an otherwise questionable outfit, but paired with a classic, casual ensemble, it always makes me smile.
Great post. When I was growing up, the only people that wore shorts with heels were hookers. Why would anyone want to look like a hooker?
Amen to your pet peeve! My mother's advice to my sisters was "don't dress like you are giving a guy a head start". Covers a lot of what passes for acceptable dress today.
John - But their big logo on the back of the shoulder? I am always going to prefer Patagonia. Your opposition is duly noted. :)
Tammy B - That brings up memories of 70s TV, watching hookers talking to Mannix.
James - What a great line! Keeps making me laugh. Sounds like a wise woman.
Heels with shorts?? Even the young need to stay away from this look. It's just so trashy.
I have to admit to liking ruffles, though. I love a ruffled blouse with a man's vest with riding breeches and riding boots of course. I used to ride in this with a pair of old fashioned breeches - a vintage equestrian look.
The others I absolutely agree with. Especially low-rise pants. And do you know how hard it is to find pants that are NOT low-rise?
It's always so interesting to see what the regional differences are in our ideas about what constitutes classic or WASP gear. Muffy, your perspective is that of Maine, while mine comes from the countryside of Virginia and Maryland, from the Main Line of Philadelphia, and from Lake Forest, Illinois, with reference also to Charleston, Richmond, and Savannah. Kathie is also a Southern woman.
Sugar, it's just too hot down here in the summer to go around with long sleeves--you'd faint dead away. On the other hand, once a lady reaches a certain age she really, really does not want to go around showing her upper arms. Folding the sleeves up to the three-quarter length is a good compromise, and I have to confess I'm just not sure why you up in Maine don't like this idea.
Agree about short and revealing outfits generally. One of my big problems with Lily Pulitzer is that in recent years most of her dresses and skirts stop halfway up the thigh, and nobody over 30 should go out in public wearing a dress that only goes halfway down her thigh. Certainly nobody our age. And yes, that goes no matter how well-toned we may be.
I would add to the list: no strapless/extremely low-cut long dresses in the evening on ladies over 45. Past fifty, no strapless dresses. Sorry. At any age, underwear should cover what needs to be covered, support what needs to be supported, and not be seen through clothing.
Kathie - I think of shorts as inherently casual, so it always surprised me when I see someone pairing khaki shorts, and a polo shirt with heels. You're right about the availability of non low-rise pants.
Andrea - I was unclear...I love the look of sleeves rolled up. It's the "pre-cut" three quarter sleeves that I so dislike. Thank you for taking on the underwear and exposed skin. I didn't want to. And I do like being called "Sugar"!
Hello Muffy,
Thank you for posting this list. As I rebuild my wardrobe, it's giving me a lot of good advice. (Note to self: Remember to read Muffy's blog BEFORE you go shopping.)
I do have a few questions...
Do you like corduroys? Who makes good ones?
What do you think about riding boots, do you wear them? Who makes the best?
And what about camel hair blazers and coats? Who makes the best?
Can any of the aforementioned items be part of a winter preppy wardrobe? (I'm thinking for work.) Thank you.
Tropical Sunbird
Just checked my closet. Damn, I have a Brooks Brothers v-neck sweater. Guess I'm going to have to hand in my WASP credentials. ;-)
I hate low-rise trousers and shorts, too. Can't keep a shirt tucked into them, while a knit polo has to be absurdly long to stay inside them. And they show every single ounce of stomach, rather than concealing pounds as high-rise pants do. Tasteless. Brooks does have normal trousers in stock, fortunately. Kate Hepburn knew the value of classic trousers.
Wait, I thought of some more no-nos:
--sparkly nail polish during the day; exaggeratedly long nails with things painted on them
--long dangling earrings during the day; too much jewelry of any kind
--black roots on light hair
--VPL
We all have our little pet issues.
Muffy, sugar, you do seem like such a lovely person, a devoted mother and a well-grounded woman who, like Deborah Mitford, holds herself to a high standard but is willing to get her hands dirty with hard work.
When winter delivers its worst and I'm snowed in, I'm grateful for my sturdy Ugg boots for my trudge up the driveway to the mailbox.
And I have a couple of baby cable wool cardigans in my wardrobe--wouldn't be w/out them.
Chacun à son goût. For the most part, I agree w/ your other choices.
Thanks for the post, Muffy. My only question is why you don't like cropped pants. Some are dreadful, yes. But some are cut quite elegantly. They are also a godsend for those of us with problem legs who would never dare wear shorts. And summers here get stinking hot so pants just won't do.
Tropical Sunbird - I am a fan corduroys, but cannot find the wide wales for women. I have considered wearing Men's. As for riding boots, I always got mine from Millers in NYC, but they are now Manhattan Saddlery, I think. I haven't bought them in years but still love them. And I also very much like a camel hair duffle coat, but the only decent one I have come across lately is from Burberry. Yes to all three. (IMO)
But Andrea - Is it a cable v-neck? If not, then your credentials are safe. :) Nice list. It would be fair to say some of us (me) have more "little pet issues" than most! Debo is fab!
Carole - Sounds like the perfect time to ignore me!
Kari - Ditto my comment to Carole! To me, cropped pants just look "off" and easily dated, not unlike 3/4 sleeves. I prefer pants that are slightly on the short side to cropped, and wear them even when the temperature goes above 90 degrees. But what matters most is what works for you.
I'm rapidly advancing toward 40, and have been altering my wardrobe more towards the classics as I get older. So I'm spot on with most of these...except for low-rise pants. I'm rather short-waisted, so these actually look "normal" on me!
For Tropical Sunbird:
It's generally acknowledged that unless you're dead-serious about competing at the highest levels, the best riding boots are made by either Vogel of New York (www.vogelboots.com) or Dehner of Oklahoma (www.Dehner.com). Dehner has stock boots you can order in various combinations of foot and calf sizes and heights, while Vogel's work is entirely custom. You can choose formal boots, which are plain black, or what are called "field boots," which have laces at the ankle and fit more snugly. Do not buy boots with tan or patent leather tops or people will laugh at you. I wear my old Vogel field boots during exceptionally cold weather and they're wonderfully comfortable and smell fantastic. Enjoy!
What exactly is a prep school? I know that St. Paul's, Groton and Exeter are prep schools, but many bloggers refer to just any private secondary school they've attended as a prep school. For instance, is Wooster Academy a prep school? Please advise!
I'd love a little clarification on your "[no] crew neck sweaters over t-shirts" rule. Do you mean to say that a crew neck sweater should always have a collar peeking out, that tees should be paired exclusively with V-necks or cardigans, or something else?
(By the way, I, too, have to shake my head and say that lower-cut pants can be a godsend to the short waisted in terms of comfort and giving the impression of a well balanced figure.)
Cheaply made shoes paired with expensive clothes will ruin a "look". Why spend spend $400 on a simple dress and then wear a pair of $49 high heeled shoes with it?
I gasped at your #1 choice. I had a flashback of a couple of fashion favorites I had in the "80's. One was a Barbolio dress with a drop waist and short ruffled sleeves. The other was a Laura Ashley skirt with three tiers of ruffles. I was young - what more can I say!
I was so hoping that you would have a good source for wide wale cords for ladies! Given my height and build, the men's section just isn't an option (and it's so hard to find well-made boys clothes these days!).
I have to admit, I almost bought a pair of Gold Jack Rogers to wear at night, but in the end, I decided on Silver. It was tough, though!
P.S. Mentioned you on my blog last week!
Muffy- Thank you for answering my questions and telling me about the Manhattan Saddlery. I am really enjoying your blog and the beautiful pictures.
Andrea- Thank you for telling me about Dehner and Vogel boots. Tan... patent leather? Yikes! I will remember! ; )
Everyone- I love reading your comments. I'm getting lots of ideas, and some laughs. : ) I am going to enjoy building my new wardrobe, piece by piece.
Tropical Sunbird - take Andrea's advice. She's the expert!
J McLaughlin has 8 wale cords for women. They have a straight leg. However, they also have a side zip and are lacking belt loops and pockets. Not sure if that would be an issue. They are flattering on most people.
Elizabeth and CHR - That sounds like a good fit and in proportion. It's the out of proportion that looks (and feels) off to me.
I always wear crewnecks and v-necks with shirts with collars, and save the tees for cardigans. (Although I wear the latter far less often.)
Andrea - Thank you!
Katherine - I'll take on jeans, ruffles, and LaForce + Stevens. I'm not taking on this one. :)
HoosaPrep - That should be #31!
tintarosa - I don't have a clue as to why they have come back so strongly. I partially blame Hanna Andersson as an early adopter.
ACH - I saw! Thank you!
LG - Thanks for the heads up. I am checking it out now.
Be sure never to visit Toronto. Almost every one of my wife's friends dress all day long in black lulu lemon. Ugh.
Oh, I thought of something else. Inappropriate underwear or underwear that doesn't fit. I realize "visible panty lines" are considered terrible but I'm tired of seeing unconstrained jiggling fannies under leggings, sheer skirts, etc.
I'll save my rant about bras and too much cleavage for later.
Hello Muffy,
I just found your blog and love it.
What do you think about leopard print :)
@Tropical Sunbird -
A reader wrote and asked me to post: I wanted to add that I just purchased Vineyard Vines corduroy pants in Navy and Vanilla and think they are incredibly comfortable - and found them to be a great value at the Woodbury Commons outlet for 32.99 (outlet price 39.99 plus 20% off.) I don't care much for J.Crew but did buy two pair of their trouser cords on sale last year; they are actually not bad but a very fine wale.
@Olga - There are people who can pull off leopard prints. I am not one of them!
Cap sleeves are truly awful on everyone.
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