Adapting elements from looks you couldn't or wouldn't wear

[tangerine]

Do you sometimes see a look that you love, but know you couldn't wear? Maybe you are the wrong body type, the wrong age, it wouldn't work with your coloring, and/or other reasons. But, you want to try to use the image somehow! What can you do?

There's a guy who lives around the corner from me whose style I think is killer. Kind of Lux Interior meets Cesare (somnambulist from Cabinet of Dr. Caligari), with some serious ink. Customized tight Levis, chains, boots, a bit of Portland hipster going on as well. Sounds like a typical hipster look, done to death, but he makes it look like he invented it all.

He is younger, taller and skinnier than me, and has a lot of tattoos and totally different hair. There is no way I could look anything like him. But I am thinking, how can I channel some of this?

The fact is, I can't. All I can do is try to look like I invented my style, too. All I could take was the attitude, which I already had to a large extent.

The point of this thread, though, is for you to give examples of this in your own life, and tell what you were able to adapt, if anything, to enhance your own style.

This is meant to be a companion thread to softgrey's stealing style thread; I hope it makes sense!

 

[Bel]

I hope no one minds if I revive this thread.
I absolutely LOVE the Christina Aguilera/Dita Von Teese look... platinum blonde hair, red lips, and especially leopard print. But I'm a guy. And I don't want to look like a drag queen. So I'm a little lost at how I could possibly adapt that.

 

[Curious]

Well, the red lips are definitely out then, huh?

You can go rockabilly! A platinum pompadour
Let me see if I can find some pics.. not sure how you'd pull off the leopard print though.
It would have to be a real subtle touch I think...

 

[Curious]

Elvis is by far the best example.. though he's not blond obviously...

As far as the leopard, maybe a thin scarf that can be worn about the neck or around the wrist or something? The red could come in the form of another accessory.

What a great thread by the way, Tang

(tribes.tribe.net)

 

[Fuuma]

I hope no one minds if I revive this thread.
I absolutely LOVE the Christina Aguilera/Dita Von Teese look... platinum blonde hair, red lips, and especially leopard print. But I'm a guy. And I don't want to look like a drag queen. So I'm a little lost at how I could possibly adapt that.

Definitely go rockabilly, check out April77, the label has strong rockabilly influences. Old picture of "Renaud" (french signer) might also inspire you. There are, of course, loads of excellent american exemples. For some reason I'm always thinking of getting a pompadour but never end up doing it. I gotta try the mixing pompade with cigarette ash though, makes for awesome, if somewhat dirty, hair.

You might not wear a leopard coat but how about a small scarf or pants if you're feeling wild?

 

[Curious]

Now PANTS would be good! You'd definitely have to own that look though...

not for the shy

 

[Fuuma]

Now PANTS would be good! You'd definitely have to own that look though...

not for the shy

Back when I was a teenager I used to wear vinyl pants and cat's ears (those you get in those furry halloween costume bags) even when not going out. I would probably *********** before doing that again but if the OP is young and willing to go wild, crazy accessories/clothes can be a lot of fun + you end up meeting some interesting people.

 

[SomethingElse]

I wouldn't get dressed up for a medieval reinactment, but these 'medieval' shoes are made for that purpose, and I like the shoes only. Well, painter smocks are a must have for me... I always borrow from here and there, but I keep the weird stuff down to just one thing. Example - I'd wear a black turtleneck, pencil black trousers, really loud socks and these wild shoes.

Top it all off with a black felt hat and a feather, and call me sassy!

solesthrutime.com

 

[Bel]

Those shoes are great, the second two especially. What to you wear them with? They look like they're be cute with mini and tights... but I think everything's cute with a mini and tights.

I love the lipstick red accessory idea. Even something like a card case. Or trousers. Don't know where I'd find those.

 

[SomethingElse]

^ Absolutely elfin, aren't they? I'd pick up an exact match in one of the shoe colors for tights, a black mini, pale blue or grey or silver shell and a simple, dark sweater that's no longer than the mini. The shoes are busy enough!

Oh yes, and a little bag like this:

 

[m.j.]

great thread!!!!

 

[Deborah]

Love those medieval shoes. And I think going rockabilly would be a good idea for the guy. I love the way the rockabilly/punk girls look but I am a bit more indie so...

 

[Bel]

Bringing back this thread because I love it. Thanks for all the inspirations.

What about a men's version of the store Anthropologie's style? If you didn't notice... I am seriously bored and uninspired with men's fashion.

 

[Bella_Lass334]

I like this thread

I love the 20s silhouette, loose waist flapper dress, but I can't pull it off because I'm not flat chested and makes me look way wider than I am from the side.

 

[softgrey]

this is a good thread that i had never seen before...

i think this happens to everyone and smart people should know when a look is not for them...
but there is almost always a way to pull some elements and incorporate them into your own look....

as for the anthropologie thing....
just mixing colourful vintage looking pieces- or ACTUAL vintage pieces would be good...add a vest...some ankle boots or beat up brown oxfords...
voila!
the key with anthropologie is the prints all look vintage/retro...
if you can afford designer- check paul smith...

 

[bektar]

I like this thread

I love the 20s silhouette, loose waist flapper dress, but I can't pull it off because I'm not flat chested and makes me look way wider than I am from the side.

i have the exact same problem! i'm glad i'm not alone! i love all of those dresses that seem to drape from above the bust but it just doesn't work for me... it makes me look huge from the side. have you found any solutions?

 

[Bel]

For the 20's look, you could go more into hair, makeup and accessories and skip the clothes. Or do flapper fabrics only, like a spangly dress with a real defined waist. But try drop-waist dresses--they are much easier to wear than just dresses with no waist at all. The top can blouse out a lot, as long as the hips have a tight and wide waistband.

For my Anthropologie thing, it's not so much that I don't know what to wear as that I have no idea where I could find the stuff. There's a vintage store near me but it's all 80s athletic crap. Any help with particular stores, anything online?

 

[stella-mayfair]

^how about searching ebay for vintage overstock print fabrics, bel? you could have them made into shirts with french cuffs.

 

[loubylou]

Ive always aspired to look willowy and ethereal, but since I am petite with curves (a la rachel bilson or the olsen twins) I always seem to come off cute or elfin like. Any tips?