Fashion + Beauty

Sunday, November 29, 2009

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Do you apologize for your outfits? (and a very cute miniskirt!)

In college in the '90s, two of my friends attended what they thought was a casual party wearing J.Crew roll-neck sweaters, pegged oversized jeans and some version of Timberland hiking boots. When they arrived, they realized that it was more of a classy soiree--girls were done up in dresses and pearls and the boys wore blazers and nice shoes. My friends spent the rest of the night feeling like lumberjack wildebeests, enduring snotty girl stares, futilely hitting on guys, and explaining awkwardly to everyone they met, "We didn't know it was dressy!" I have made them tell me this story one hundred times.

Dress up any outfit with one of these gorgeous statement necklaces.

I bring this up because a similar situation happened to me just last weekend. Perhaps you can relate. I was out having an afternoon drink with a friend. I had on no makeup, a miniskirt, flip-flops and a faded black tank top with a huge, pink, cursive letter "J" on it, Laverne DeFazio-style (my mom gave me the shirt when I was 16). Anyway. On my way home, I decided to stop by a party at another friend's new restaurant. This is when fashion crisis struck. The women inside were turned-out, in that sexy-chic-heels-blow-out New York way (this is Brooklyn, people!). For the entire hour I was there, I felt like a dirty little troll doll. I imagined all of the better outfits I have at home and I made lame excuses to the people I talked to: "I'm just doing a drive-by!" and "Oh, you know, I live, like, right around the corner!" (lie). Later, I thought about how cool it would've been if I'd adopted a confident "love me, love my Laverne tank" attitude, but, like my friends at the fancy college party, I can't help it, I'm a wardrobe apologist.

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P.S.. Though it wasn't appropriate for that occasion, I really do like the miniskirt I was wearing. It's by an extra-affordable label called Mink Pink (Elise has raved about its stuff a zillion times) and it's right now on sale.

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Comments 1-10 of 16
  • Jasmine's Avatar
    Posted by Jasmine Fri Aug 21, 2009 11:23am PDT

    I sometimes feel the same way... although I'm usually over dressed for occassions...

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  • Tristan's Avatar
    Posted by Tristan Fri Aug 21, 2009 1:31pm PDT

    It's is always better to be underdressed than over dressed. Nothing more obnoxious as a person turning up to a casual/business casual event decked out for a black tie event.

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  • Veronica's Avatar
    Posted by Veronica Fri Aug 21, 2009 1:35pm PDT

    In the 90s I showed up for a "casual" supper in leggings, an oversized waffle-knit shirt, and the same Timberland boots you mentioned. A new mom, this was my uniform.

    I knew I was in trouble when we pulled up to the house (which was huge--I'd never been there before) and there was VALET PARKING. Inside, people were wearing cocktail type dresses and there was a catered buffet. Dying inside, I grabbed a plate from a huge stack on the end and realized they had enough Wedgewood china to serve dozens of guests.

    I'd known these people for years and had no idea they lived like this, and yes, I felt like a complete troll among all that Southern gentility.

    Inside

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  • __A_YAHOO_USER__'s Avatar
    Posted by __A_YAHOO_USER__ Fri Aug 21, 2009 1:51pm PDT

    Apologize? As if I ever had the need!! NEVER, it's a sure sign of weakness. Besides, I NEVER go out less than totally prepared. The secret to being prepared is always knowing what's going on around town long before and sticking with your plan for the day. But 411 part is critical. Anyway, who keeps anything their mom gave them at 16?! I'm sorry, but no one should EVER go out the door with no makeup, in flip-flops and a faded tops, much less anthing that looks like it's from an old 1970s t.v. show. PA-LEASE!!!

    P.S. Jennifer, don't even THINK about deleting this post!

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  • grahamgirl's Avatar
    Posted by grahamgirl Fri Aug 21, 2009 2:30pm PDT

    Jennifer, we've all had those moments. But, seriously black and white t-shirts and tanks really need to be replace every year. Flip flops, you're a stylish woman find a nice pair of sandels for the summer. You know all of this, the heat must be getting to you, time for a vacation.

    But really thanks for letting us all relive our most painful fashion moments like a good girlfriend with lots of hummor.

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  • Sarah Y's Avatar
    Posted by Sarah Y Fri Aug 21, 2009 3:51pm PDT

    Sounds to me like you're normal. It's happened to most of us. It's too bad that we make ourselves feel bad for just being ourselves. I have a t-shirt my mom gave me when I was 16. It's a Mickey Mouse baseball style t-shirt. I love it and I would never get rid of it. Rock on DeFazio!

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  • CharlotteG's Avatar
    Posted by CharlotteG Sat Aug 22, 2009 7:54am PDT

    I feel like this all the time...during the week i am very lazy with my outfits( i work in a warehouse). On the weekends i have very cute outfits for going to the bars, dressy shirts, heels the works, my friends put on tee shirts and hoodies. I always feel overdressed because they dont get girly up for the bars,its such a drag

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  • kassidy's Avatar
    Posted by kassidy Sat Aug 22, 2009 12:20pm PDT

    i never apologize for any outfit i'm wearing........i actually become uber confident if i'm in the wrong. if i'm underdressed i usually think in my mind , "look at all them overdressed idiot" and if i'm overdressed and people say something i say, 'I'm special and i wanted to look special" or " i feel good when i look good"

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  • GirlyGirl©'s Avatar
    Posted by GirlyGirl© Sun Aug 23, 2009 6:16am PDT

    I think everyone has had a fashion "not" at one time or another. But not me! I wore that cute white summer dress to a party because it looked pretty and I felt pretty in it. How was I to know that it turned into a surprise wedding, and everybody was staring at me!

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  • Southern Belle's Avatar
    Posted by Southern Belle Sun Aug 23, 2009 9:07pm PDT

    NEVER LEAVE IT TO A MAN..WHAT TO...WEAR..WEDDING..ALL MY BEAUTIFUL COCKTAIL,EVENING GOWNS...SOME THING YOU WOULD WEAR TO CHURCH...EVERY POLITICAL PERSON IN THE STATE..I'M WELL KNOWN IN MY NECK OF THE WOODS.. I WANTED TO CRAWL IN A HOLE..AND DIE..A SIMPLE DRESS WITH SOME SORT OF STRIPE...WHICH I HAD TO GO OUT TO BUY..TO MAKE IT EASY ON INVITES.... ..

    SEMI FORMAL..WORKS FOR ALL..WHEN DID PEOPLE FORGET THE WORD,"BLACK TIE "

    AFFAIR..NO MORE MY FACE IS RED....LOL

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Comments 1-10 of 16

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