Monday, January 30, 2012

Back to Basics on Tuesday

Today I am wearing J.Crew cashmere v-neck pullover in heather atlantic and 1035 wool trousers in charcoal glen plaid. My shoes are Valentina pumps in black. This is because I am a rebel.

You see, my mother is The Fashionista in my family. She has a shopping habit too (is it genetic?), and her closets are always overflowing. She owns at least hundred pairs of shoes (4" heels only) in all colors of the rainbow. She likes trendy, quirky and unusual and is not afraid to stand out. If she was living in US now, she would be an Anthro girl, not J.Crew. She eschews simple cashmere v-necks, they are boring.

For the record, I have a great relationship with my mother. When I was growing up most of my friends had mothers that were unconcerned with fashion and sometimes looked quite homely. I was always proud of my mother, but contrary to her, I gravitated toward things that are classic, simple and fuss free. I love pencil skirts, white shirts, simple cardigans and v-neck pullovers, perfect t-shirts, classic pumps and pearls. I do like color and this is where I am more adventurous. I do wear prints in moderation, but I am quite particular about them. Usually I don't venture past stripes. I usually only wear one piece of jewelry and I have trouble with scarfs and belts. I am always taking something off before leaving the house.

So here it is, 'not my mother's OOTD':


BTW, my mother always compliments me on my outfits. She just wouldn't buy any of individual pieces for herself. And I feel the same about her fashion choices. We are similar, after all.


How do you feel about your mother's style? Or maybe it was your sister or BFF that influenced your fashion sense in one way or another?

15 comments:

  1. my mom is totally uninterested in fashion and i hated that.i was` envyous about my girlfriends moms.
    that is probably why i turned into a fashion lover.

    ina-wonderland.blogspot.com

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    1. Hi Ina, I don't know what is worse, lack of interest or too much interest? Either way we have to find our own voice :)

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  2. Love it, "not your mother's OOTD"!
    I would have to say my sister influenced me by introducing me to Vogue, going through her goth-punk stage (which scared me and therefore I loved all things preppy), and by loving vintage clothes.
    My Mother influenced me by not caring about fashion, she was always a very attractive woman but she did nothing to accentuate it, ill-fitting jeans and sweatshirts. She was very unhappy and almost tried to look ugly. I railed against that and I believe every day is a dress-up day.
    See I too am a rebel. ;)
    Great post ajc!

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    1. Oh Dani, the ralationships with our mothers are so complicated... Remember we talked about Brad Pitt character and his son in The Tree of Life? But it is the same between mothers and daughters, love and hate and everything in between. I am sorry your mother was so unhappy but at least you had your sisters and your father, right? DaniBP and goth/punk, that is quite a dichotomy...
      Rebels Unite!

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  3. I never got my mother's style when I was younger because she would always try to color-coordinate and be match-matchy. I just didn't understand it. Plus, she had a lot of old stuff that just wasn't current.
    Over the years, she's actually taken some advice from me and has started dressing a bit hipper and a little trendier. We don't necessarily share the same style, but can appreciate how the other dresses themselves and I certainly got my love of color from her. :)

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    1. fshnonmymind, we can never understand our mothers when we are young, I wonder what our daughters will say about us?
      But the love of color is a beautiful thing to learn from ones mother, and your outfits are like colorful paintings, I love them!

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  4. My mom is my best friend and has been one of my greatest fashion influences throughout my entire life. She tends toward brighter colors, taller heels, and bigger jewelry than I do, and she can get away with more clothing styles since she has a smaller bust than I do, but she depends on me to keep her look current yet age-appropriate. Mom is the only person that I trust enough to buy me gifts without some sort of list in hand, and vice-versa. She's my favorite shopping partner :)

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    1. Whitney, isn't it great to be friends with ones mother? You are so lucky, I always dreaded gifts from my mother since they are never my style and she is very stubborn about always giving me only what she likes. Over the years I just learned to laugh about it... But I think next Christmas I will give her a black cashmere v-neck, I am evil ;)

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  5. love your outfit. it looks easy and classic and comfortable. you wear it well.

    i think my biggest fashion influence was my school uniform growing up. i think i may have been the only kid in my school who loved it!

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    1. Janet, if it was one of those cute plaid skirt with white peter pan blouse, navy cardigan and knee socks I would be all over it. I did wear an uniform but it was nothing like it. Picture this instead: maroon polyester shirt dress with self belt, worn over regular clothes like scrubs, I hated it with passion!

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  6. My mom has always been a shopper, and my grandmother as well. My mom used to tell me how my grandfather would drive his wife to the mall and sit in the car for hours, reading, while she shopped. Can you imagine? Anyway, my mom taught me some golden rules of shopping, including the gem: "If you get a close parking shop, it's going to be a good shopping day." lol! However, she does not like to clothes shop for herself, and it does show, alas. (She mostly prefers to buy home items) She has recently worked a bit on her style, and recently was thrilled to find some non-mom-jeans that are super flattering. It was a proud moment for me. ;) So while she doesn't "get" my fashion hobby, and why people blog about it, she does "get" shopping, so that's a little bond for us.

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  7. Shopwithm your grandfather must have been a very patient man. I could never imagine my husband doing it, he would start calling me after 20 minutes. Golden rules of shopping, you have to frame it :)
    Few years ago I was obsessed with shopping for home but somehow I now feel like my house is finally done. Wish I would feel the same about clothes. I remember reading about your shopping with your mom on Black Friday and thinking it must have been fun.

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  8. I've always shopped w/my mom like crazy, but she never bought clothing for herself. I'm convinced that my mother's lack of fashion expression forced me to take a very, very long road to develop my style. A road I still seem to be on and not completely comfortable as I travel. I recently found out that she loved sweaters and used to have a good number of them as a teen. I was really shocked. She has good taste, but won't express it very much in her clothing. I attribute that to feeling unworthy. If my mom were to truly embrace her style -- from the flickers I've seen -- she'd be an Anthro woman. Now you...you throw on those red Valentinas with this outfit next time. I promise they "match."

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    1. Isn't it funny how we keep finding out things about our parents that we never knew or suspected. For me it is more my father that I saw differently as a child. Not about fashion but other stuff, (although he was a very dashing fellow in dark suits, white shirts and fedoras but he was much older than my mother and seemed ancient to me). Feeling unworthy is the awful thing we women do very well...
      AS for the shoes, you are very right, I knew something was off with them, but I did not have more time in the morning. next time I will wear the red ones!

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  9. Great post! keep out cold this winter with
    v neck pullover hoodies and stay warm and comfortable!

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