Looking for happy and comfortable and maybe oddball clothing
September 16, 2015 3:36 AM Subscribe
I want to start wearing bright or happy sort of clothes that are comfortable to wear and vegan, so no fabrics like wool. I'd also like them to be affordable and easy to walk or ride my bike in.
I like designers/companies like Gudren Sjoden, Boden and Oililly, but I don't actually have very much from them because of my price range. Right now I wear things like plain sort of sweatpant type things from lululemon or athleta and teeshirts, but I do pride myself on my bold sock collection, like from Ozone socks.
I have these pants I bought on etsy a five years ago and that's the sort of thing I want to start wearing, but I'm not sure where to find stuff like this. Here's another pair I bought at the same time.
I work outside and need to keep moving, so layers are good but comfort is pretty important. I don't mind scarves and accessories, but rarely wear them, so clothing suggestions most appreciated.
Any pointers to designers or stores much appreciated and also tips on how to pull off a move to wearing bolder colors and oddball styles also very welcome.
I like designers/companies like Gudren Sjoden, Boden and Oililly, but I don't actually have very much from them because of my price range. Right now I wear things like plain sort of sweatpant type things from lululemon or athleta and teeshirts, but I do pride myself on my bold sock collection, like from Ozone socks.
I have these pants I bought on etsy a five years ago and that's the sort of thing I want to start wearing, but I'm not sure where to find stuff like this. Here's another pair I bought at the same time.
I work outside and need to keep moving, so layers are good but comfort is pretty important. I don't mind scarves and accessories, but rarely wear them, so clothing suggestions most appreciated.
Any pointers to designers or stores much appreciated and also tips on how to pull off a move to wearing bolder colors and oddball styles also very welcome.
I guess you're covered for socks, which is a shame, because Braintree make the best socks in the world, better than your favs, no exceptions.
However they also make lovely clothes out of hemp and bamboo, which incidentally, is the most ridiculously comfortable fabric. So take a look at their stuff anyway :)
posted by greenish at 4:21 AM on September 16, 2015 [2 favorites]
However they also make lovely clothes out of hemp and bamboo, which incidentally, is the most ridiculously comfortable fabric. So take a look at their stuff anyway :)
posted by greenish at 4:21 AM on September 16, 2015 [2 favorites]
I wear a lot of bright colors but we seem to have very different styles, so I'm not sure if you're a tights person. You're a sock person but are you a tights person also, that's a question you need to ask yourself. I am a socks with tights person, which is a great thing to be in Chicago where it gets very cold. My favorite place for tights (as recommended from an Ask thread of my own a while back) is We Love Colors. (I don't know how it is on the ethical/vegan front, you're probably in a better position to assess that than I am.) They have leggings and all sorts, but I buy their tights which are OPAQUE, strong, well made, and hold their color even through many washes.
I also like choosing shoes that have color--bright gray is my preferred neutral, I don't have any black shoes.
Mostly I pair my loud tights with things that are relatively sedate, like a plain denim skirt, and a solid color top. I've decided I dress to please myself and my Girl Scout troop so often this results in combos like purple tights and electric blue shirt or green tights and yellow shirt or just things that make folks' eyes bleed in general because it makes me happy. Maybe I'll even pair it with a cardigan in yet another contrasting color! Who knows! Depends how the mood strikes me.
I also have a few things in fun colors and prints from Modcloth, which is a great source for moderately priced things in fun colors and prints, but again--not entirely sure that stuff is your style based on what you've linked here. Worth checking out, though.
BUT MOSTLY, most importantly, to address this:
and also tips on how to pull off a move to wearing bolder colors and oddball styles also very welcome.
Just do it! Seriously, just decide one day "hey, I'm going to dress like an oddball today because I feel like it damn it!" and do it. Maybe make your first day something simple like running errands where you can see how you feel wearing your unusual stuff with strangers who will probably be polite enough to only judge you silently. Then work it up gradually. I really can't believe it looking at my closet these days, but pretty much everything I owned when I was a teenager was either army green or navy blue, so I made a similar colorsplosion transition myself in my adulthood. And it's so much more fun. So just do it. Maybe watch Wreck It Ralph or spend some time around elementary school girls if you need color inspiration. Highly recommended. Have fun!
posted by phunniemee at 5:20 AM on September 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
I also like choosing shoes that have color--bright gray is my preferred neutral, I don't have any black shoes.
Mostly I pair my loud tights with things that are relatively sedate, like a plain denim skirt, and a solid color top. I've decided I dress to please myself and my Girl Scout troop so often this results in combos like purple tights and electric blue shirt or green tights and yellow shirt or just things that make folks' eyes bleed in general because it makes me happy. Maybe I'll even pair it with a cardigan in yet another contrasting color! Who knows! Depends how the mood strikes me.
I also have a few things in fun colors and prints from Modcloth, which is a great source for moderately priced things in fun colors and prints, but again--not entirely sure that stuff is your style based on what you've linked here. Worth checking out, though.
BUT MOSTLY, most importantly, to address this:
and also tips on how to pull off a move to wearing bolder colors and oddball styles also very welcome.
Just do it! Seriously, just decide one day "hey, I'm going to dress like an oddball today because I feel like it damn it!" and do it. Maybe make your first day something simple like running errands where you can see how you feel wearing your unusual stuff with strangers who will probably be polite enough to only judge you silently. Then work it up gradually. I really can't believe it looking at my closet these days, but pretty much everything I owned when I was a teenager was either army green or navy blue, so I made a similar colorsplosion transition myself in my adulthood. And it's so much more fun. So just do it. Maybe watch Wreck It Ralph or spend some time around elementary school girls if you need color inspiration. Highly recommended. Have fun!
posted by phunniemee at 5:20 AM on September 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I'm similar in size, budget, and comfort level, and it sounds like we might have a little overlap in taste. These days I'm into prints, a few of my suggestions will be influenced by that.
Desigual might appeal to you; they're on the pricey side, but things frequently go on sale. (Their stuff tends to be too over the top for my taste; it's like they're aiming for what I'd like but overdo it by about 30%. But I occasionally take a peek in hopes that they get it right.)
I really like the Mantaray line from Debenhams, and I think you might too; their patterns can run a little twee but on the whole they're really wearable, and good quality. Shipping is too expensive for me to order from there regularly, but from time to time Debenhams offers free international shipping, and markdowns tend to be generous.
Anthropologie and ModCloth also have lots of really appealing patterns, and ModCloth offers staples in a wide variety of colors. I always wait for markdowns at Anthropologie. ModCloth has some cheaper stuff, but the quality varies, so pay attention to customer reviews. I round everything out with basics from Target, Old Navy, and Loft - sometimes in bright colors, sometimes in neutrals.
Figure out a rough color palette that works for you, and shop for pieces that fit that palette so you can maximize your wardrobe's mix-and-match-ability without stuffing your closet. Shop for basics like tees and cardigans in (or at the end of) the season that's most likely to have your preferred colors: spring for softer pastels, summer for bright pastels and neons, fall for jewel tones and earthy neutrals, winter for brights. If you don't want to narrow it down - say, if you really love both burgundy and neon pink - have a couple pieces in a color that can go in more than one palette; I've found true blues and muted teal/turquoise shades to be pretty versatile. These "bridge" colors (which is a term I totally just pulled out of my butt right now) are also really good for everyday accessories, like handbags, shoes, and winter wear.
I encourage you to reconsider scarves and bold jewelry, because they're great for experimenting with fun colors that would look clownish or loud in larger amounts. You can wear them with neutrals or muted colors and still look bold. Here's an example. It's cheaper and easier to play with accessories than to get a new wardrobe full of bright colors, and they take up much less closet space.
Get a full-length mirror if you don't already have one, and every now and then spend an afternoon just having fun with the stuff in your closet. Sometimes things you wouldn't wear together make sense once you have them on. And if you're not sure about an outfit, try it out and see how you feel. Confidence makes a surprising amount of difference.
posted by Metroid Baby at 7:14 AM on September 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
Desigual might appeal to you; they're on the pricey side, but things frequently go on sale. (Their stuff tends to be too over the top for my taste; it's like they're aiming for what I'd like but overdo it by about 30%. But I occasionally take a peek in hopes that they get it right.)
I really like the Mantaray line from Debenhams, and I think you might too; their patterns can run a little twee but on the whole they're really wearable, and good quality. Shipping is too expensive for me to order from there regularly, but from time to time Debenhams offers free international shipping, and markdowns tend to be generous.
Anthropologie and ModCloth also have lots of really appealing patterns, and ModCloth offers staples in a wide variety of colors. I always wait for markdowns at Anthropologie. ModCloth has some cheaper stuff, but the quality varies, so pay attention to customer reviews. I round everything out with basics from Target, Old Navy, and Loft - sometimes in bright colors, sometimes in neutrals.
Figure out a rough color palette that works for you, and shop for pieces that fit that palette so you can maximize your wardrobe's mix-and-match-ability without stuffing your closet. Shop for basics like tees and cardigans in (or at the end of) the season that's most likely to have your preferred colors: spring for softer pastels, summer for bright pastels and neons, fall for jewel tones and earthy neutrals, winter for brights. If you don't want to narrow it down - say, if you really love both burgundy and neon pink - have a couple pieces in a color that can go in more than one palette; I've found true blues and muted teal/turquoise shades to be pretty versatile. These "bridge" colors (which is a term I totally just pulled out of my butt right now) are also really good for everyday accessories, like handbags, shoes, and winter wear.
I encourage you to reconsider scarves and bold jewelry, because they're great for experimenting with fun colors that would look clownish or loud in larger amounts. You can wear them with neutrals or muted colors and still look bold. Here's an example. It's cheaper and easier to play with accessories than to get a new wardrobe full of bright colors, and they take up much less closet space.
Get a full-length mirror if you don't already have one, and every now and then spend an afternoon just having fun with the stuff in your closet. Sometimes things you wouldn't wear together make sense once you have them on. And if you're not sure about an outfit, try it out and see how you feel. Confidence makes a surprising amount of difference.
posted by Metroid Baby at 7:14 AM on September 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
Where are you located? There may be smaller local businesses you can support.
posted by town of cats at 11:25 AM on September 16, 2015
posted by town of cats at 11:25 AM on September 16, 2015
Response by poster: I live in New Jersey, and stay pretty close to home and there are some boutique type stores, but they are sort of out of my price range. We also have a Century 21 department store.
posted by katinka-katinka at 3:00 PM on September 16, 2015
posted by katinka-katinka at 3:00 PM on September 16, 2015
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posted by katinka-katinka at 3:40 AM on September 16, 2015