fall clothes for the grown up punk....
October 16, 2016 5:40 PM Subscribe
i looked in my closet today and realized that i own dozens of tank tops (from years spent in vegas), more than a few hoodies, and band t-shirts. basically. my fall/winter uniform is usually a tank and a hoodie or something like that.
but it's time to upgrade.
i'll never feel at home in "normal" grown up clothes, but i would like to have some tops (especially tops) that bridge the gap between tank/hoodie and dressy/workwear.
i lovelovelove stores like modcloth (although if you have a less expensive option, i'm all ears). they're more casual/edgy pieces are things i gravitate towards.
help me, meta mind. where do i look for "real" clothes for fall?
i'll never feel at home in "normal" grown up clothes, but i would like to have some tops (especially tops) that bridge the gap between tank/hoodie and dressy/workwear.
i lovelovelove stores like modcloth (although if you have a less expensive option, i'm all ears). they're more casual/edgy pieces are things i gravitate towards.
help me, meta mind. where do i look for "real" clothes for fall?
Style blogger Sally McGraw of Already Pretty might be a good resource- she has kind of a casual funky "grown up rocker" style that I think fits the bill.
posted by pseudostrabismus at 7:00 PM on October 16, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by pseudostrabismus at 7:00 PM on October 16, 2016 [4 favorites]
I love the goth-adjacent hoodies from Heavy Red. They are so comfortable, and can be dressed up or down.
posted by getawaysticks at 3:53 AM on October 17, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by getawaysticks at 3:53 AM on October 17, 2016 [1 favorite]
Also it sounds like you need a motorcycle jacket which will "grown-up punk" whatever you wear it with.
posted by athirstforsalt at 6:03 AM on October 17, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by athirstforsalt at 6:03 AM on October 17, 2016 [1 favorite]
Oooh, girl, I feel you. I was ALL ABOUT a tank + giant hoodie combo there for awhile. The comfort is borderline unmatched.
If you're already at home in tanks, maybe looking for tanks in a dressier fabric, a funkier cut or hemline, or with some kind of embellishment might be a good place to start? Express has some decent options, and really any of the J. Crew, Gap, Ann Taylor LOFT, New York & Company, or Madewell-type shops will probably also be good places to check out for fancy tanks. (Pro tip: check the thrift stores first! I've scored hella J. Crew cheaper than their sale racks will ever go.)
Alternative: keep buying basic comfy cotton tanks BUT upgrade to a sturdier soft cotton (maybe from Everlane or Uniqlo?) and invest in fun accessories (scarves, costume jewelry, etc.) to dress them up or down. This option works best when coupled with pants or skirts that fit REALLY well.
I like the moto jacket suggestion for something with a little more structure, but if you really want something that has the delicious comfort that only a gigantic hoodie can provide, I might suggest jumping on the "oversized cardigan/poncho" trend before it recedes. They're pretty enough that you'll look put together without trying, and you basically get to wear a blanket to work every day. Win win!
Forever 21 actually has a pretty awesome selection of these right now, and they're relatively inexpensive. I also found a really awesome wrap at JCPenney's on sale for like $10 once, so that might also be worth hitting up.
Also, IDK how cold it gets where you are, but I basically LIVE in pea coats all fall. They are an excellent top layer. London Fog and Express have some good ones, but definitely check the thrift store first.
Good luck!
posted by helloimjennsco at 10:03 AM on October 17, 2016
If you're already at home in tanks, maybe looking for tanks in a dressier fabric, a funkier cut or hemline, or with some kind of embellishment might be a good place to start? Express has some decent options, and really any of the J. Crew, Gap, Ann Taylor LOFT, New York & Company, or Madewell-type shops will probably also be good places to check out for fancy tanks. (Pro tip: check the thrift stores first! I've scored hella J. Crew cheaper than their sale racks will ever go.)
Alternative: keep buying basic comfy cotton tanks BUT upgrade to a sturdier soft cotton (maybe from Everlane or Uniqlo?) and invest in fun accessories (scarves, costume jewelry, etc.) to dress them up or down. This option works best when coupled with pants or skirts that fit REALLY well.
I like the moto jacket suggestion for something with a little more structure, but if you really want something that has the delicious comfort that only a gigantic hoodie can provide, I might suggest jumping on the "oversized cardigan/poncho" trend before it recedes. They're pretty enough that you'll look put together without trying, and you basically get to wear a blanket to work every day. Win win!
Forever 21 actually has a pretty awesome selection of these right now, and they're relatively inexpensive. I also found a really awesome wrap at JCPenney's on sale for like $10 once, so that might also be worth hitting up.
Also, IDK how cold it gets where you are, but I basically LIVE in pea coats all fall. They are an excellent top layer. London Fog and Express have some good ones, but definitely check the thrift store first.
Good luck!
posted by helloimjennsco at 10:03 AM on October 17, 2016
You lucked out this fall, because pseudo-punk, goth, rocker style is all very on-trend. The key, generally, to styling something more 'adult' is a change in fabric and cut, not necessarily the style aesthetic. Kid/young edgy vs adult edgy.
Young: cotton tees and tanks, hoodies, graphic tees, skate sneakers, cheap-looking accessories
Mature: nicer fabric tops and tanks, leather jackets, fitted jackets with punk styling, well-made boots, crisply cut jeans with a mid or high waist, dresses with black leggings and boots.
One way I've been dressing up my punky aesthetic is with strappy/bondage-inspired things, like this tank top, or this top, or this top. Putting a strappy bralette under regular tanks punks it up too. I pair everything with mid- or high-waisted black jeans (tucking things in or wearing a shorter top with nicely cut jeans is another way to make this style seem more adult.) Ripped or shredded black or grey jeans are in, too, so if that's your thing, run with it. Cropped leather/moto jackets are also super in. If you mostly wear sneakers, try for classic all-white or all-black Converse, or leather Converse. Black Vans with the white midsole are really hot now, too. Leather-trimmed tops are on their way out, but I think you can make them work with this type of style still.
Some more inspo images:
1
2
3
posted by rachaelfaith at 4:20 PM on October 17, 2016
Young: cotton tees and tanks, hoodies, graphic tees, skate sneakers, cheap-looking accessories
Mature: nicer fabric tops and tanks, leather jackets, fitted jackets with punk styling, well-made boots, crisply cut jeans with a mid or high waist, dresses with black leggings and boots.
One way I've been dressing up my punky aesthetic is with strappy/bondage-inspired things, like this tank top, or this top, or this top. Putting a strappy bralette under regular tanks punks it up too. I pair everything with mid- or high-waisted black jeans (tucking things in or wearing a shorter top with nicely cut jeans is another way to make this style seem more adult.) Ripped or shredded black or grey jeans are in, too, so if that's your thing, run with it. Cropped leather/moto jackets are also super in. If you mostly wear sneakers, try for classic all-white or all-black Converse, or leather Converse. Black Vans with the white midsole are really hot now, too. Leather-trimmed tops are on their way out, but I think you can make them work with this type of style still.
Some more inspo images:
1
2
3
posted by rachaelfaith at 4:20 PM on October 17, 2016
This thread is closed to new comments.
What's your general size range? Are you curvier in your bust or your hips or throughout? Do you have favorite colors? Are there some people who have a style you're particularly fond of? Are you a fan of animal sourced materials like wool and leather or would you prefer to avoid those? Do you like shiny stuff or are you a more subdued matte kind of person?
What's the weather like where you live - do you need lots of layers for capricious weather, or are you basically good to go once you check the temperature that day? Do you work somewhere with heavy AC or overactive heat? Are you doing lots of physical things all day (yard work, caring for a child, being at a job site with construction, a bicycle commute) or are you basically being at a desk?
What do you define as "normal" grown up clothes and why will you not feel at home in them? Are there variations on these grown up clothes that you do find comfortable, or will something even approaching them throw you off? Can you show us some of what you call "casual/edgy"?
Anyway I suggest for an in-between hoodie replacement you find a fabric moto style zip up jacket (perhaps with a hood.) More casual from gap, more refined/fitted from macy's, simple from NYDJ. They're all over the place these days, in lots of different colors, patterns, and cuts.
posted by Mizu at 6:14 PM on October 16, 2016 [1 favorite]