Emotional Attachments to Clothing

Memories of our past….they influence us in so many ways…good and bad.  I have heard women refuse to wear plaid, because they wore it every day in private school….or women refuse to wear florals because it reminds them of Grandma’s couch!

Clinton Kelly of What Not To Wear has little patience with people who avoid fashion trends because of past experiences…he says simply GET OVER IT!

From Goodwill…brand new!!

But, sometimes we wear clothes because they bring back good memories.  When I was young, my ballet teacher wore drapey, loose sweaters much like the one I am wearing today.  I thought she was so beautiful and fun.  I loved to watch her more than I loved to learn the positions.  When she moved away and the advanced toe shoes hurt my feet, I quit ballet.  But, when I see this style, I think of her.  So, right or wrong, I am drawn to this style from good memories.

Sweater:  Chicos

So, what do you think?  Does anyone avoid some form of clothing from bad memories or wear something because of good associations?  

Let us know, then visit the bloggers from Katie’s Favorite Things Blog Hop!! on Thursday!

Thursday Favorite Things


Finally, have a terrific Thursday!!

20 Comments

  1. This is an interesting question. I can't think of anything I avoid based on a memory, but I do dislike clothing that seems fussy to me with extra bows and lace, etc. I can see the ballerina in you in this photo. Do you remember the positions?

  2. Clinton may say, "get Over it!" but he is not me. I lived in plaids as a child, even tho I went to public schools. I'm not drawn to them as an adult As we age, isn't it wonderful that our individualism can grow? If I don't like something I'm no longer too worried about "What the Worl/GirlsBoys… fill in the blank) thinks"

  3. I love the style too. I was really surprised that there were no clothing collections based on the "Black Swan" movie. I want to wear ballet flats so badly (when I go home from Afghanistna) but I cant imagine that my feet wont sweat in them and slide around.

  4. I like Clinton, but I don't have to get over it. You will never catch me in Talbot clothing, or Koret. My mother loved Talbot suits and looked wonderful, but I even look at the stuff and I feel old and dowdy. The prim blouses of the early sixties always made me feel like I was choking. I hate anything up around my neck. My mother loved sweatshirts and bought them for me until I was 40. No sweatshirts in my closet.

    Clothing is emotional at times in how it makes us feel. There are plenty of clothes to choose from if we want to avoid something. Clinton had a nose job right after high school. Did anyone tell him to just get over it and accept his nose?

    Gloria

  5. Good Morning Pam, Well the first photo of a skirt took me back to my schooldays, not because of the plaid, because we wore grey skirts, but because of the box pleats. When I was at school we were taught Domestic Science which included sewing and the very first skirt I learnt to make was a box pleat skirt. I hadn't thought about it in years. Thank you for bringing back the memory because I was very proud of the skirt. Best Wishes Daphne

  6. I don't think I have any bad clothing associations? Hmm….Working in retail I hear a lot of them too. I bought a sequined skirt because it reminded me of Malibu Barbie who I loved as a kid. xoxo

  7. Very though-provoking post, Pam. I stay away from suits/hose/pumps – partly because I find them uncomfortable but also b/c they remind me of the grueling corporate life of my 20's and 30's. Now I like soft, flowy and a little edge : >

  8. Great question Pam!! I think I avoid too froofy/lacy/fussy stuff because that's what my mother would make me wear. I HATED it!! She basically would buy what she liked and I had to wear it. I still have traumatic memories of the bright purple fake fur coat she brought for me in middle school. I felt like a stuffed animal!

  9. Interesting question! I don't think I avoid anything due to negative associations, but I do gravitate towards others, including plaid, because of positive associations. I went to private school, but I liked my little plaid romper.

  10. I was a dancer of sorts in my younger days and I can't give up leg warmers. I always feel fit when I wear them even if I am more squishy these days. And my aching Achilles tendons actually feel better when I have them on anyway. And I get ridiculed for wearing them!

    Also, I will never cut my hair short. My parents made me get a pixie when I was six because I had to have an operation. I got teased about it by the other kids. Also, the nurses thought I was a boy. I will never cut my hair short of my own free will (although I tried it in the days of Princess Di).

  11. I was a dancer of sorts in my younger days and I can't give up leg warmers. I always feel fit when I wear them even if I am more squishy these days. And my aching Achilles tendons actually feel better when I have them on anyway. And I get ridiculed for wearing them!

    Also, I will never cut my hair short. My parents made me get a pixie when I was six because I had to have an operation. I got teased about it by the other kids. Also, the nurses thought I was a boy. I will never cut my hair short of my own free will (although I tried it in the days of Princess Di).

  12. Hello everyone,

    Prima magazine is looking for a woman in her sixties to interview in a feature on relationships, love and sex. The interview will be conducted over the phone, and will take around thirty minutes. The aim of the piece is to gather different opinions and thoughts on these issues, from a diverse selection of women. If you feel you might be interested, please email Lydia.Smith@hearst.co.uk.

    Many thanks, and we hope to hear from you soon!

  13. Nothing I will not try except short hair. My granddaughter ordered a pair of Vera Wang design jeans from Kohls that have the most perfect print on them and is wearing them with a top that has seqins on it with white fur Ugg boots. When she sent me the picture I thought hey, I could wear that with a blazer except for one thing….the jeans only come in LOW RISE which is a No NO now that the Mid Rise feel soooo much better.

  14. What a plethora of humerous comments you've had.
    I laughed at the comment 'menopauselsupermodel' wrote, about the purlpe fur coat, that made her feel as if she looked like a stuffed animal. I never wear yellow as my mother made me a dress in bright stiff yellow cotton ! I remember feeling that I looked like a 'banana'
    Love the 1st position ballet pose, in your ballerina shoes.

  15. That is the exact same plaid i wore all through catholic high school. I think one reason i struggle with my fashion style is that i wore uniforms all my life. Im now in healthcare and of course….i wear scrubs everyday.

  16. I love ballet sweaters! Yours looks great.

    I have good memories of wearing tights, Mary Janes, and dresses in elementary school. I confess I still like to wear them 🙂

  17. I love this post. I don't have any memories attached to clothing I wear now. But I do wish sometimes I still had something I used to wear in the 60's and 70's.Thank you for joining in the fun at the Thursday Favorite Things hop. Happy weekend wishes xo

  18. Pam, I really live this because it speaks to the emotional connection to our clothes! Instead of just buying trends and trying to look like someone else, part of our "style" is the emotion that comes into play when we choose our clothes. This post is tweet able!!! Off to tweet! Hugs! Setene

Comments are closed.