What is "Classic" anyway?

I think we can all agree: Classic (and fabulous)!

Angie at You Look Fab had a great post up on Tuesday extolling the versatility of classic pieces. She has a point. Simple classic wardrobe elements can dress up or down, be worked into a variety of styles and bring a timeless, elegant quality to any ensemble.

Photo from here.

The big trick is how to keep classic pieces from looking stodgy. Angie does a great job here, by using color and mixing more updated, trendy pieces with her classic ones.

Last week, in comments on my post recapping my style lessons from 2011, LPC said,

Overall I take away that you are finally relinquishing that “classic” style idea, having found that you require more freedom in silhouette and palette. 

At the time, I agreed with her, and though this is partly true (don’t fence me in!), I still find that classic pieces *speak* to me. When Tabitha at Bourbon & Pearls posted those Hermés riding boots, part of me responded at an almost cellular level. Classic is in my DNA, and to some degree I will always hunger for a look that incorporates classic pieces. I’d love to be able to achieve the kind of “Modern Classic” that Angie frames in her post, sophisticated but lively.

The challenge I mentioned above, keeping classic fresh and modern and avoiding the Spectre of Frumpy Hollow has been particularly vexing for me of late. Being of the short-and-curvy persuasion, two hallmarks of classic style, “structured” and “tailored” seem to be particularly daunting. (Put me in a tweed blazer, and I’m the shorter stunt double for the Earl of Grantham, traipsing through the copse.)  What we (I?) often think of as “classic” seems to work best on the more ectomorphic among us. Am I trying to work “classic” too literally for my body type? (Is there such a thing as Voluptuous Classic?)

Can classics evolve? Do some items that were considered “timeless classics” twenty or even ten years ago now look dated? How much can you tweak a classic before it’s no longer, well, a classic?

The trench, brightened?

Banana Republic pink trench (the navy polka dot one seems to have sold out, unfortunately)

Or a blazer in “Maraschino Cherry”?

J.Crew blazer

A sleeker version of the penny loafer in a teal green?

J.Crew Biella penny loafer

Or perhaps some pearls, but not quite your grand-mére’s demure pearl choker?

Pearl Paradise multicolor necklace

A classic scarf, tied unexpectedly?

Are you drawn to classic styles?  How do you define “classic” and how do you work it into your style without looking dated, frumpy or like Miss Marple? How do you add some “edge” to your classic pieces?
~

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83 Comments

  1. Even when I was heavy I favoured classic styles, I just love a pared down aesthetic with a minimum of fuss. I think my hair keeps it from looking too tailored, I have boho surfer hair ( some say messy!) which shows the other side of my personality.

  2. I like to mix one classic with other, edgier (or Bohemian) pieces. Cashmere turtle neck with short balloon skirt. Tailored blazer with skinny jeans and cage heels. Trench coat over evening gown. There are also “classics” that don’t scream “Congressional”: leather biker jackets, Converse All Stars, hammered hoop earrings and well-cut jeans are still classic while adding a appropriate dose of youth.

  3. I love the way you expanded on Angie’s (also terrific) post. You do have a classic vibe, but you know your frame and what flatters it – so the softer, colorful blazer is fantastic. It takes time and effort to get to know ourselves, doesn’t it? But well worth it. There’s always room for classic pieces in my closet, too.

  4. The problem is that it’s hard to tell what is REALLY classic except in hindsight.

    I mean classic in the sense of stuff you can wear forever–like a Burberry trench or a black crewneck sweater.

  5. I have a Burberry trench coat that is over 20 years old. It’s still a classic that I wear. It is VERY long, a length not being sold these days–and that might date it a bit, but not enough to keep me from wearing it, especially when traveling in winter.

    I share Deja Pseu’s belief that certain classic styles are not that flattering on curvy bodies. I’m tall and curvy and think that my body type is not the best clothes hanger for a number of classic items. I also am beginning to favor knits and softer profiles.

  6. Classic shoes with thick rubber soles (Thierry Rabotin) Hermes scarves in their new, unusual prints, classic hats (no one else has one on)and a smile…all say current and not frumpy.

  7. I too am sort and curvaceous and can slip into that area of frumpdom if I am not careful.

    I do like the classics but have to be very very careful of that matchy matchy suit thing and anything that accentuates my ample bosom…no crew necks or pockets on top.

    Because of my figure I could easily be a body double for HRH!

  8. You’re killing me with your Frump Hollow and body-double cracks — whether or not we desire to look like Kate Hepburn, does anyone really want to look like Hoffman doing Tootsie?

    Agree with the above that you are already modifying/interpreting many classic pieces to suit your body frame, and you can certainly continue to do more of that.

    Classic has such a range, anyway — sure, hem lengths and silhouettes vary but there’s always a slim skirt (sometimes pegged/narrowed, sometimes straight), always a full or at least A-line skirt, etc. You can pick from waistless, waisted, or Empire dresses. Double-breasted (shudder*) or single breasted, cropped and boxy (shudder redux) or cropped and swing, riding length or finishing at high-hip, nipped or not….

    If you ask me there’s too *much* choice in classic, ha!

    And yes, I own and wear a lot of classic shapes in both neutrals and color-color. Somedays that equates to looking more retro/vintage-inspired, somedays more generic Modern Classic.

    [The generic thing is why I had to do the damn style assessment stuff…now I know to have an outfit-as-a-whole work for me it needs to pass through my Contrarian Classicist, Minimalist Magpie, or Persnickety Bohemian filters!]

    * shudder = how they look on me, not in general

  9. Regardless of how you label your style, I really like how you dress and think that you know how to dress your proportions well. Those gorgeous printed dresses and boots, for example, seem classic to me, although I have a hard time imagining them on Grace, Audrey or Jackie. And the elongated cardigans you wear are also great. To me these looks seem classic in a very, very slightly arty way.

  10. I’m deeply drawn to classic, because I grew up with women I loved dressed in them and they in turn dressed me. It doesn’t necessarily freshen a classic to just get it in a bright colour. It has more to do with the hair and accessories. Think of Lauren Hutton in a navy blazer and striped shirt, white jeans. No cerise but does she look good (at least to me.)

    I’ve tried to tweak classics with colour but get tired of the colour if it’s the whole coat- so a scarf or maybe a bag is best for me. And don’t make the pearls too small, but you knew I’d say that 😉

    In my large city I very rarely see women looking dowdy in classics.

  11. I really like this post, because I am drawn to classic styles. My favorite looks are around jackets with a great fit and usually neutral colors. I always try to update with accessories and look for new ways to wear them…but I love the classics and do not believe they will ever be gone. Great post! I also enjoyed your scarf video…its’s cute!

  12. I have seen many women who do classic well, and a few even who seem trapped in a time warp. Even classics evolve and our eye changes as the world changes. I am drawn to classic pieces, but also to trendier, more artsy pieces as well. I think it is good to find the right balance, and I think you do that well. And those boots, they rocked my world.

  13. I can’t seem to tell the difference between classic and old-fashioned, seriously old-fashioned (late 1800s). My daughter recently approved of a fitted blazer I was considering because it made me look as if I were going caroling, and that’s my style. Dunno quite what to make of that, but I think I like it.

    Also, your scarf instructions are enchanting, as always – the little smiles are cheer-inducing. Thanks again.

  14. I’ve always worn classic – it just suits me and is what I’m comfortable in. That being said, I don’t think that classic always means very structured. I do find myself shopping more for cardigans rather than blazers, changes like that.

  15. Good question. Have just bought a classic navy coat by Gerard Darel in the sales (may get round to photographing it next week). It is very similar in style to Angie’s however being navy looks more classic. Will have to accessorise it carefully to keep it current.

  16. I live in classic clothes and find myself wistful that edgier things look silly on me…and I must be the only middle aged person who looks worse in Eileen Fisher clothes. Expand “classic” to include a wrap dress ( which you have), your ponte knit pants ( oh how I envy your ability to wear them), a jaunty scarf or 50, a ramped-up pair of Mary Janes in a new color (your Fleuvogs), and a lovely long cardigan with a well-cut knee-length skirt, and you have your very own classics. For, tell us, how many of these items wouldn’t look just as classically “correct” 10 or 20 years from now? Classic does not equate with frumpy or dull. Unless we slavishly refuse to tweak it or mindlessly believe only a jacket from 1960 counts as classic. To wear those pieces now, without adjustments or adding something new, is what screams dowdy.

  17. I too am a fan of the classics…I like the classic shapes in different colors & patterns as an alternative. Btw, I did see the Banana Republic polka- dotted trench in the store window this afternoon, and stood there admiring it for a while, until I reminded myself that in no way did I need it! SO cute though. I am trying very hard to avoid the middle- aged frump, which I fear I’ve been displaying far too often in the past 10 years or so. Part of that problem was a post- baby weight issue (SO hard to be stylish when you’re fat!), but now that I’ve finally conquered that,I’m doing some serious rethinking of my wardrobe. Some older clothes which now fit have to go, due to style issues; jackets with big shoulder pads, and lots of pants with tapered legs and pleated fronts! Anybody else having issues with low- rise pants, though? Higher waisted pants really look way better on me, but so many pants seem to be below my navel, which is NOT flattering on me.

  18. i absolutely love the classic look…but also need to be careful as i am curvy as well…most of my classic pieces are found in my jackets…and then i try and play them up with more funkier accessories…

    loving the video clip…you’re a natural! =)

  19. Classic, with a modern twist. A much used term, but something I like.
    I would not wear an original classic piece of clothing. It would look old, because it would be old.
    IMO, mixing old and new works in interior design ( sometimes ), but I have no desire to experiment the mixing on myself.

  20. I relate, being short and curvy and not as trim as I’d like to be. I am drawn to but look silly in structured and tailored clothing.

    One of my favorite things about your blog is that you model ideas for a different twist on classic that works for women like me.

    You are one of the people I totally copy!

  21. @Gretchen It’s true, simpler pieces or pieces that don’t follow a trend do tend to age better than those with more distinct (and time-specific) styling. I do think though that there’s a subtle distinction between “classic” and “timeless.” My orange Vogs may be “timeless,” but I’d be hard pressed to call them “classic.”

  22. @Vix Vix, agree, I’m still having to be very picky about silhouettes and cuts. Boxy is my nemesis, at least when it comes to flattery. Part of the issue, I think, is that there are so many definitions of “classic.” Or maybe that’s the up side?

  23. @cigalechanta thanks for the suggestion! I only have one pocket square, and I’ll be honest, I don’t wear it much because I don’t like anything snug around my neck. But I have some ideas to try with two pocket squared, and will experiment.

  24. @Marsha Glad you enjoyed the scarf video! I had fun doing them, and hope to do more in the future. It sounds like you have a style that consistently pleases you, and that’s what’s most important.

  25. @Jill Ann I’ll confess, I grabbed that polka dot trench because it looked SO cute on. I’m still deciding whether to keep it, have a few days. I never tuck anything in, so all but the lowest rises aren’t an issue for me. (In fact, I find waistbands that hit just right below the waist the most comfortable.) But high rises are supposed to be coming back in. Also check out Talbots, they offer their pants in a few different fits and rises.

  26. @Mrs. Jenner Do you have a link to her blog? I tried googling it but only came up with a sailing blog. You sound like you’ve figured out your own style definitively, bravo! I keep wanting to do Style Statement, but it requires a commitment of time I haven’t been able to make yet.

  27. I think I have fought against giving myself a classic label, but it really is what makes me happy. I do like the “twist” version though, like muted cheetah pattern jeans.
    Deja, your style is lovely. I really admire you and your looks.

  28. I love classics – shapes and styles evolve throught the years but one thing is CONSTANT- Jackie knew this- you know this- Good Grooming. Without it nothing else matters. x

  29. Love all these insightful comments.

    Actually, each style category has its own classics if you think about it. Bohemians have peasant blouses and wide-leg flared pants. Romantics have floral prints, tiered skirts. Rockers have black and studded accessories, leather. Dramatics have asymmetrical pieces. American Classics, like Jackie above, will have pea coats, courdury pants, pearls, gold buttons, modest heeled shoes, structured handbags.

    And further, each woman has HER own classics. A curvier girl may find the wrap dress something she will buy over and over in different incarnations during her life. A gal with narrow shoulders will find her own collection of boatnecks filling her closet.

    My personal classics are denim, boucle, cashmere sweaters, chain embellishments, feminine ballet flats, coin jewelry or motifs. Oh and chiffon blouses. What are yours?

  30. @Jill Ann, Try the pants at Coldwater Creek. They have a great cut that comes up higher on the rise and it keeps you nice and smooth if you layer a tee over it, or tuck a shirt. Karen

    Also try Chico’s jeans. They are wonderful for curvier gals looking for realistic rise heights.

  31. I think a blogger that does curvy – classic so well is “From Me To You.” I think if you emphasize your waist and focus on skirt/dress length it’s very doable. It just has to be what makes you happy in your life. I dress up a lot each day and it drives people I work with a little crazy since I’m a teacher and most teachers think the job entitles them to dress like slobs. It makes me happy to wear super tailored clothes and 4 inch pumps – and my 8th graders like it too. They appreciate that I dress well for them every day. If you haven’t done a style statement yet, this has helped me tremendously. I read the book and got my two words and Lisa Pippus has encouraged me to do a third as the “icing” word to be the word that defines the actual style of my “sophisticated refined” clothes.

  32. Spanish women definitely tend to dress classic — there’s more of a sense among nosotras de una cierta edad that clothes are an investment and so wardrobes last a lot longer. That said, most are very stylish, and nearly all are in neutrals.

    It’s the cut of the clothes that makes them modern/timeless — pencil skirts, boots, scarves, etc. are shaped to the body — and please note that the Spanish body tends to be pear-shaped, or “culona.”

    Yesterday I saw an absolutely gorgeous woman in her 60s wearing black trousers, turtleneck and booties, with a charcoal duffel coat. As classic as can be. What made the look modern was her very short silver hair and “architect” glasses. If I’d had my wits about me, I’d have asked to take her picture.

  33. Tell Jill ann above to hold on to her high waisted pleated pants. My 20 y.o. daughter is starting to wear them and where the college students go, the rest will follow.

    I think shoulder pads are due for a comeback also.

  34. To me, a classic is clothing that doesn’t draw immediate attention to itself. Instead, it attracts attention slowly by its quality and simplicity.

    One of my deans is 5′ and she wears simple, classic pieces very well.

  35. Deja Pseu,

    Here is the link:
    http://fromme-toyou.tumblr.com/

    It’s a really popular tumblr/blog (6,000 comments on some posts!!). She does retro a lot so you may have to look at old posts to see more classic style.

    I agree with Karen that there are so many type of “classic.” It doesn’t have to be a blazer. I know you like Eileen Fisher a lot and I think that is very classic. It’s just not preppy classic.

    You recommended the blog “Style and Image Consulting Berlin” and I’ve made a few comments there about my style statement. It does take some time but I think it’s best done in chunks that way you can live with the words that appeal to you and see if they really stick. My words are Sophisticated and Refined. Refined is my “creative edge” word because I like everything as minimalist and streamlined as possible with a very simple color palette. Lisa Pippus has suggested a third word as a way to focus the creative word even more. I think I have chosen “sharp” because it is often used to describe the style of the women I most admire. I have a few dresses that are very refined but have details that are not sharp (ruffle neckline, fuller skirt). I have put those items away and after a month I’ll decide if I want to keep them.

    Leah

  36. Classics in my wardrobe right now include black brogues (the patent leather might render their classic status questionable, but I think they still count), my grey cashmere tailored coat (somewhat smiilar to the orange one above, not quite so fitted), dark slim jeans, black v-neck pullover, black blazer, scarves. But, as you know, I like to mix it up as well.
    And I do think that new classics get discovered along the way . . . I’d say the denim shirt, as in your earlier post by Karen, is an example, no?

  37. So now I take away that you don’t want to give this “Classic” trope up, you just want to deconstruct it so that at a more granular and specific level you can work within your constraints:). Bwahaha. Clearly I’m back at work. But seriously, I think it’s about taking the term apart and making a longer, more explicative description for yourself. No? Lovely post, thank you for the reference.

  38. Yeah, re: that pink Banana Republic trench, it’s an odd length, yuck. I saw it in the store and even though I am short it looked weird on me!

  39. @frugalscholar That’s what I’ve been seeing on some of the style blogs as well, including Not Dressed As Lamb. I don’t mind just a little bit of shoulder pad, gives my shoulders some definition and helps clothing drape better, but those exaggerated 80’s shoulders I’ll pass on this time around.

  40. @LPC Bwahaha indeed! I *live* to deconstruct! Yes, it’s about dissecting what appeals, and figuring out how to make it work for me. And thank you for all of the grist for the mill you’ve provided these past few years.

  41. @karen Don’t know about the length of the pink one, but just went and tried my navy one again, and it’s a length we used to call “car coat” which I like, as it can be worn as a topper as well as outerwear.

  42. I like “Voluptuous Classic,” and yes, I think it exists. Like to think of that as my style: classic and feminine. Color is a way to update, so is fabric, so is length/fullness of skirt. Black is the color I wear most, but I love the cherry blazer. Because I am short and curvy also, I tend to locate color in the top half of my body and accessories. But the classic pencil skirt, sheath, straight trousers, a-line skirt, with a shaped bluse or soft sweater is one of my favorite choices.

    1. Pearl, I’m realizing that pencil skirts are probably my best friends for achieving a classic look. Think my top half still needs work, but maybe the cherry blazer will help…

  43. I’m a big fan of classic chic, too. That sort of Calvin Klein/Ralph Lauren streamlined aesthetic has always appealed to me. Updating it can mean unexpected accessories or colors, or pairing it with a more trendy or funky piece.

    And I think anyone can wear classic styles–you just might have to get them tailored to fit you.

    1. Closet Coach, yes those really clean, functional pieces so typical of CK and RL are what I’m most drawn to. They are the most flattering and have the most staying power.

  44. I like classic on other women: tall, slender, long -legged creatures with shiny silky hair that move like they’re walking on air 😉
    My wardrobe is made of quality pieces that flirt with classic styles but are always a bit on the edgier, informal syde. I’m drawn to structured skirts, funky details like weird seams, inserts or extra pleats.
    Tops are very frustrating to find, so I prefer plain knits. Nothing stuctured because it makes me look frumpy.

    1. coffeeaddict, I’m with you on finding tops challenging. I’ve been sticking with knits lately, but keeping everything super simple and clean with regard to design is key.