Do I look generic in this outfit?
Staring at my winter-stocked closet, I count pairs of dark jeans, and a surprisingly ample stock of neutral tops. The overall look is dorm Resident Advisor. I could add a scarf, but the base pieces, with a few exceptions, are limply generic. This joint needs a shot of quirk and originality.
The pieces in the window today take on overly-Beaned blandness. They are from e-shops but don't forget consignment or secondhand sources like eBay, which yield pieces that someone bought and then wondered how to wear.
Skirts and Trousers
I'm welded to jeans, so this was a hard pivot—but look at us, wearing trousers! Maroon Richmond 7/8 trousers, cotton with a good shot of stretch, and washable; also available in other appealing colours but what does not work with maroon? By Boden; price, $CDN 130 including duty and taxes.
Whether you prefer a wider, slouchier trouser or narrow cut, a 7/8 length suits flats, sneakers or low-heeled boots, and can also dress up with a higher heel.
The skirt in the centre is a classic muted tartan: Uncommon but not over-designed, and versatile. If you feel too hippy in plaid, try a small check. By Sarahwear at GravityPope; price, $ US 295.
A slight a-line in an unexpected colourway: Atkins Tweed blue/aqua windowpane skirt by Boden. If you wish to wear it longer, buy the Long. Any cool neutral will work with this palette. Price, $CDN 180 including duty and tax.
Tops
Clockwise from top left:
Freja leather shirt: The feminine details sidestep the ubiquitous biker, and the shirt can double as a jacket in mild weather. By Part Two; price, £270. A piece of leather, in any colour, is an instant de-generifier. Some of the faux leathers are convincing, but be aware that they don't breathe.
Tomi Top in "Daffodil", by Ursula Minor: an unexpected shape and colour makes this more than just a tee. In hand-washable cotton/modal; price, $CDN 142.
The renowned Montréal designer Veronique Miljkovitch's clothes are way more reasonable than a designer like Rick Owens but similarly uncommon. This French terry Darcy top, worn over a basic Uniqlo-type tee, beats a bland fleece and is now on sale for $ CDN 172 in black, oatmeal and dove.
Mask snap to reader LauraH, who noticed Katrin Leblond's new, limited-edition print tops, made of super-soft, anti-pill jersey. The series features folkloric prints in a vibrant palette; shown, the charming "Enchanted Forest". These are made to order; price, $CDN 118.
How to zhuzh the zheneric:
1. Find some non-generic designers who cater to your budget and shape. Buy from them or study their line so that when secondhand shopping, you spot the perfect piece.
2. A hip pair of shoes raises the pulse of staid classics. Shown, Accessoire "Ross" flat in leather and navy nubuck, and Ecco Soft 7 sneakers.
Strangely, jewellery is the opposite—arty avant-garde jewellery fights with a generic outfit, and small minimalist jewellery is too anodyne to deliver a tweak. However, vintage Scandinavian or a '70s enamel bracelet can work wonders. Below: Pentti Sarpeneva "Pitsi" brass pendant; Samantha Howard Vintage Jewelry; price $US 55.
If you adore your camel cardigan or black tee, the best new addition to your collection is an old, well-designed piece. (See this post on buying unusual, non cookie-cutter jewellery.)
3. A mass-market generic sweater or tee is rarely offered in interesting or refined colours. What the hell is "Radiant Navy"? (Land's End). Navy has no business radiating. It should be deep and rich, not this:
Besides LE, I find the dyes wanting at Bean, Uniqlo, and Everlane, once I'm past black or white. J. Crew do better; for example, this turtleneck sweater in "aloe multi", an interesting green flecked with bits of bronze, shows what they can do with colour. (Yarn quality can be a problem, though.)
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4. Mass-market casual wear left tailoring on the cutting room floor in maybe the ‘80s. Remember darts at the back of trousers, and constructed waistbands angled to follow the slope from waist to hip? It’s not your butt that's dropped, it's their tailoring. If you can sew, you're lucky (and patient).
The rest of us must find a better make or do as Grace did: she asked her husband's tailor to copy her pair of perfect Pendleton trousers, many times over now. Bar-tacked pockets! Perfectly matched seams! Lining! Grace says it's worth every penny.
5. Just like diamonds, the most important factor is cut.
Watch out for the pandemic plethora of "easy", "hygge", or "comfortable" styles. Nothing against an elastic waist, but it should suggest there's a body in there, not spuds. Spending more money will not save us from the rut of the rectangular, as women who adeptly break up their Eileen Fisher outfits with more structured pieces know.
I look awful in EF, but commenters rose up to defend the line in my most-comments-ever post, "What is It About Eileen Fisher?
6. Scarves, sure—the default for that grey v-neck, yet again. They can be on the discreet side, especially when texture adds interest. Shown Fraas bicolour pleated stole in "royal".
Comments
My present wardrobe is oh so generic, and likely to remain so at least through spring. Perhaps, trips to the drugstore and grocery seem to involve enough risk that my coordinating, generic jeans, tee, and sweater, flannel, or fleece feel sufficient.
I am enjoying looking at each of your finds and considering how that or something similar could add some spark to my wardrobe.
Abigail: That is my blog, a previous post. Thanks. Generic is fine when calming and pleasing, I have more of it than I want. I look like a rookie tree-planter.
LauraH: You were smart to scoop up those tees when you did!
I reckon that if you added this scarf plus a pair of cherry red Dr Martens originals to any generic outfit, they would instantly elevate it to "practical with attitude" (my go-to look to aspire to for winter)
Jane in London
I have a quarrel with the photographs of the Darcy and the yellow top - it's very difficult to tell what they really look like from the way they're photographed. A good close of the fabric would be helpful too. I love that the yellow top comes in larger sizes.
Thank you for all your research.
Vancouver Barbara: I agree, and sometimes the actual garment is much lighter or darker than the photo (yo uread that often on sites that publish customer reviews).
Wendy: Specialty sizes are harder to find every year. I've been wearing scarves for Zoom rendezvous but also because it's full winter here and they feel good indoors and are necessary outdoors.
Francie Newcomb: Scarves are always an excellent strategy, at least until the weather is too hot for them. I expect my non-generic project to carry right through 2021.