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- [00:00]
Alyssa
Welcome to Sustain this, a podcast where we discuss mindful consumption, personal style, and the quest for living a more intentional life. I'm Alyssa, a sustainable stylist.
- [00:09]
Christina
And I'm Christina, a shopaholic turned minimalist. Ish.
- [00:13]
Sina
And I'm Sina, a color consultant and slow fashion style coach.
- [00:16]
Alyssa
Together we will unpack the nuances of what it really means to be a conscious consumer and find more joy in what we have right now. So grab your tea, your coffee, or whatever floats your boat and join us in the conversation. Let's go.
- [00:28]
Sina
Yay.
- [00:29]
Alyssa
Yay. Welcome back, everybody. Thank you for joining us today. An episode that is close to all of our hearts. Timeless classics, timeless staples, timeless essentials. What other very popular titles that get people to click on our videos. What else? Like, other metaphors? The whole myth of this timeless staples is one that we talk about a lot on the podcast, and we thought we would dedicate an episode to it because we still get asked a lot. We see a lot of conversations bouncing around about, like, things being timeless. And personally, I think it's healthier to shift to, like, understanding that it's. What does timeless mean for you? I feel like, Christina, you did a really good video recently about trends aren't really trends. You also chatted recently about, like, timeless doesn't really. Like, what does that even mean? So let's get into it, Cena. Like, what. What does it mean for you? I feel like your. Your style has always been the same. So I could really, like, speak to timeless for you, this authentic style and figuring out what timeless means to you. So I don't know. What do you, both of you think?
- [01:47]
Sina
We kind of came to talk about that in a recent episode, how we just asked the question, I think, is it a myth more than it's the truth? Like, is this the whole timelessness piece? Is it a myth? And I don't think it is, but I think it's very much about. From, like you say, Alyssa, from where you ask that question. I think we all want the templates and we all want to know, obviously, we all want to be smarter with our money, and we want to make sure that we make the best possible decisions when we buy something. But it's. There's so many. It's all about context, right? It's always all about context.
- [02:28]
Alyssa
Christina, in your video, like, you had so many. So many good trends, quote, unquote, that are timeless, and you called them. I forget what you called them, but it was a good word. It was like something that comes back every. Every season.
- [02:42]
Christina
Oh, they're seasonal. They're seasonal rather than. Yeah. So I think when we talk about trends, there is often a negative connotation to them. And from that point of view, I totally agree, because I think trends in many ways are designed to keep us in, like, a scarcity mindset, to keep us feeling behind. It's designed to keep you sort of one step behind and on that kind of consumption hamster wheel and not feeling like enough, because if you're not with it, then, you know, then you're outdated. And. And that has a lot of negative connotations to it, too. Like, let's. I think we talked about in one of the previous episodes, kind of the fashion wars between Millennials and Gen Z. And it's like, you know, the. The front tuck is outdated or wearing an ankle sock is outdated compared to a crew sock. So there's that sort of aspect. But what I just noticed in that video is I feel like a lot of the trends that have come out, for example, for fall 2024, are not trends at all. Since when is suede a trend? Or the color burgundy? Like, or brown?
- [03:56]
Sina
I can't help but. Yeah, breaking.
- [03:59]
Christina
I know, Exactly. Yeah. Devil wears Prada 101. Exactly. So I just found that pretty. Pretty kind of, like, fascinating and slightly hilarious. But the other thing about trends is kind of getting into what Alyssa said is I feel like trendy versus timeless. Like, I'm almost. We kind of brought up the question, like, is anything truly timeless? Because what I find is sometimes, like, the silhouettes change, and then this new silhouette, like, for example, maybe in 2005, skinny jeans, they were like the hot. The hot silhouette. And maybe at that time, they were considered timeless. And now not so much.
- [04:44]
Sina
You just brought up the skinny jeans is more. Were they timeless or were they just versatile for, you know, whatever else?
- [04:51]
Alyssa
Good question.
- [04:52]
Sina
Yeah. Because exactly, like you say, Christina, what feels timeless right now might not feel timeless in a decade because silhouettes change. Like, just look at the blazer. Like you say, look at how it was shorter and more. You know, the shoulders were super exaggerated in, like, the 80s or the 90s. So the silhouettes change, but the blazer itself is still considered a timeless piece.
- [05:15]
Christina
Yeah. So, like, what silhouette of blazer is truly timeless? I think we're going to do an episode about our style evolution. And I was thinking back of I was a blazer girl even in 2013, 14, 15, but the silhouette of those blazers were very kind of super tight to the body tailored and not the way there's a New silhouette that's out, that's more cinched and more hourglass. Like, they weren't like that, but they were kind of tailored within an inch of their lives. And then in 2019, 2020, 2021, it was that more boxy, oversized blazer. Now it's that hourglass silhouette blazer. So, like, I think a blazer is a timeless piece, but the silhouette of a blazer could be trendy. So it's more, I think, circling back to what Alyssa said, it's like what feels good on you and what I think the key to timeless style is. Yeah. What creates longevity in your wardrobe for you and what's going to be timeless in your own closet compared to, you know, what's constantly being put out in the ether and telling you, like, what. What's actually, you know, what's timeless versus trendy and what's in, what's out. Etc.
- [06:27]
Alyssa
I like your point about how you described you've always been a blazer girl, but it was the silhouettes that change. Because ultimately, same. Same as you. I was looking at trends, and I find every year we look at trends, and it's like, these are all the same. But ultimately, we only have a finite set of resources and clothing every season to work with. Right. Like materials, suede, leathers, wools. So ultimately, silhouettes are what is going to change to make things feel current and fresh. And yet what I find there's always this, like, big gap is silhouettes are the things that. That dictate whether something is fresh and current. But oftentimes, no matter how we age and how our bodies change, me personally, silhouette is the one through line that stays in terms of, like, what I like on me. So I think there's a big gap for us as humans who need to get dressed in a way that feels fresh, but also that we just really, really like.
- [07:35]
Sina
And that's so interesting.
- [07:38]
Alyssa
Don't you find, like, there's a big gap, like, trends. Silhouettes do this, and we're just like, yeah, sorry, that was a very complicated visual that I just put on the screen. We should just edit that out. Sorry. Anyway, yeah, I don't know. Thoughts?
- [07:56]
Sina
Yeah, no, that's so interesting. Even when I think back, I feel like for years I've been, like you said, Alyssa, I've been very. I feel like I've been very draw. Sorry. True to my own style. And I'm very much drawn. I've mentioned this before, that I'm still very much drawn to basically the same things when I pin outfits on Pinterest. It's the same things. It feels new, but it's the same things all the time. And it might just be the silhouettes, actually. That is like the proportions and the silhouettes.
- [08:24]
Alyssa
Yeah.
- [08:25]
Sina
But it's all, it's the same.
- [08:27]
Alyssa
It's not really, because you know what you like. So ultimately, like I was wearing button down shirts when I was like 10 probably, you know what I mean? And I loved like a structured trouser, the silhouette and the proportions that I like to play with. I think especially once you figure it out, like you don't want to deviate because you feel good in those silhouettes and proportions. Like it's the shapes that will dictate how you feel.
- [08:48]
Christina
I agree with you. I think if you find your silhouette, then that's kind of your guiding light and your north star of this is what's timeless for me. Because, you know, it looks good, it feels good. But then at the same time I think there are, I think there are timeless classic pieces. But like I said, it's, you know, those checklists aren't going to work for everyone. Like I would say like a Levi 501 in the last 30, 40, 50 years is probably like a straight leg jean. So mid rise, it's not high rise, it's not low rise, it doesn't taper. It's just like your classic pair of jeans or a button down shirt. But again, the silhouette of the button down is, you know, maybe it's, it's slightly cinched and more tailored and then now it's more oversized. But it's like what, what button down works for you? You know, or like going back to the jeans, maybe you hate a 501. Maybe a mid rise straight leg looks like you feel terrible in it. So maybe that's when a wide leg jean is going to work for you. So I think there's like classic staples. But like you said, that silhouette, it's going to be so individual. And what works for what you feel like works for your body type and how you want to feel. And any of that stuff I think is more dictated by. Can be dictated by you.
- [10:13]
Alyssa
Yes. Yeah.
- [10:14]
Christina
Does that make sense? I don't know.
- [10:15]
Sina
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Because, and I, yeah, there's, there's definitely pieces that have enduring appeal and I think that's why there are many types of basics that are basics for everyone, like a T shirt or you know, but then it just comes in different. Yeah. Different silhouettes and different, different shapes.
- [10:37]
Alyssa
I do worry sometimes with the whole. I do worry sometimes about, like, the piece. Certain pieces being classic, and I think we kind of have to blur the lines about those items. I've had clients be like, well, I need a pair of jeans because I'm building my wardrobe, and I need a pair of jeans. And it's like, but why you don't like wearing them? They hate. They have, like, I have, like, five pairs of jeans, and I don't like any of them, but they have all these trousers, and they're like, they're a skirt wearer. They're a dress wearer. So why. So I do worry sometimes that the idea when we focus so much on a timeless classic or a timeless essential, it is another opportunity for people to say, well, no, I need this. So I check it off my list. So I go out and buy the thing when I don't actually need it, when it doesn't actually align with my style. So I. Yeah, I hear what you say. Do you know what I mean? It's a tough. That's a tough one too.
- [11:40]
Christina
Yeah.
- [11:41]
Alyssa
Like, I would be like, yeah, of course. Everybody needs a pair of jeans in their wardrobe. Like, of course, but. But, like, also, maybe not. I don't. I don't know.
- [11:48]
Christina
You know, now they're coming out with those sweatpants jeans. Have you seen those?
- [11:53]
Sina
Yeah, I haven't. No, I haven't. I feel like I need to do Google.
- [11:57]
Alyssa
I cannot. Don't even. You'll hit lur your eyes.
- [12:00]
Sina
I'm gonna do it.
- [12:02]
Christina
No, but it's denim. It's a sweatpant with a denim rack and bone wash on it. So it looks like a pair of jeans, but it's not.
- [12:11]
Alyssa
I'm so not.
- [12:12]
Christina
Maybe that's a solution if you're not a denim.
- [12:14]
Alyssa
Maybe. Yeah. I apologize for anyone who is weari sweatpant jeans. I don't know what these are called, but, like, no shade. Okay. If you like it, you like it.
- [12:23]
Sina
Oh, it's like a revolutionary printing technique that makes any material look like denim. Okay. It really does look like denim.
- [12:31]
Alyssa
That's like, own it. If you want to wear sweatpants, own the sweatpants. You know, no shame in wearing sweatpants. Just do it, you know? Yeah. Christina, you've rocked, like, a really good Adidas track pant, like, with a blazer, and it looks fantastic. Just do it. Don't try to be both. It kind of plays into the whole, like, overproduction over consumption piece. You know, when brands are trying to be. Okay, now this is, like, going a little off topic. When brands are trying to be everything for everyone. It's just another opportunity for you to, like, check off that.
- [12:58]
Sina
Yeah.
- [12:59]
Alyssa
Staple, you know, you know, the.
- [13:02]
Sina
The FOMO aspect of it. I think sometimes it's also about, you.
- [13:05]
Christina
Know, one thing I see a lot on my feeds is kind of how to update outfits and how to update, let's say, outfits that look outdated and sometimes. And all of those pieces are classic. Like, I just saw a video, and I don't think this is negative in any way. Sometimes people value looking modern. They. They value looking current. And going back to what we talked about, shape and silhouette, those changes.
- [13:35]
Sina
Yeah. Because I think there's a lot of cultural context in that. That's actually, you know, it's. It's important. It's, you know, it's.
- [13:41]
Christina
Yeah, yeah. Because we talk a lot about, like, valuing fashion and valuing style, and, you know, that's. That's an aspect of it, too. So I saw this video of updating a look from, like, I don't know, 2015. So it was like a camel coat, skinny jeans, ankle boot with the skin. Sand, a little bit of skin between a little bit of skin showing with a jean cuff, because that was like a really big thing, the plaid scarf, you know, and then like the fluffy hat. So, you know, you can kind of clock that as like a 2015 look at the same time. She didn't look bad. Nothing wrong with this outfit, but some people will want to look updated. So, for example, this camel coat, which was like a more fitted, shorter silhouette, this. The creator kind of updated it to a longer line camel wool coat that was a little bit slightly oversized, like more relaxed, but not, you know, not swimming in it. And then she changed the denim to a straight leg jean, and then she changed the kind of like, western style ankle boot to something with, like, a pointed toe and a taller shaft. So. And then there was no more cuff or, like, anything like that. And then she lost the hat and the scarf kind of thing. So what do you think about that?
- [15:01]
Alyssa
That's fascinating.
- [15:02]
Christina
Yeah.
- [15:03]
Sina
I mean, I like the idea of updating, quote, unquote, outdated pieces, if you will. Like, for example, skinny jeans. It's. I still love wearing skinny jeans, and I do think there are ways that you can style around them where they feel more current. I think it's more. I don't know, I feel kind of divided because it's also like. Yeah, it's the same look, but if you have to buy every piece new.
- [15:30]
Christina
Yeah, yeah.
- [15:33]
Sina
Can we meet in the middle some?
- [15:35]
Christina
Yeah, exactly. Yeah.
- [15:36]
Sina
You know, so let's say the skinny jeans were actually the thing in that outfit that were perhaps the most outdated part, then maybe we could just switch those to a pair of straight leg jeans. Or, like, do we have to switch every single silhouette? I think that's also what people struggle with sometimes that, you know.
- [15:54]
Christina
Yeah, that's good.
- [15:56]
Sina
They feel outdated or they feel like they don't look current. But it also feels wasteful to have to change everything. Like, when is, when is it the right time? When is it, when is it okay to say, okay, this fit is no longer current, and then exchange it with something else?
- [16:16]
Christina
Yeah, because I think there's a time to, you know, and I think we all do it. We all update our wardrobes, we all declutter. And I think it could be like, you know, I think it's a problem when it's if it's, like, constant or you barely got use out of it. But let's say you had that certain silhouette of jacket for years. Maybe you gave it all the love that you wanted to and, you know, it's time to upgrade it or if you want to, you know. So, yeah, I just find it's a little bit of, like a kind of a gray area because I don't want to say and put my foot down of being like, you know, you don't need to get anything new and trends are bad and updated silhouettes are bad. Like, I just don't think that's true.
- [17:00]
Alyssa
Or realistic.
- [17:01]
Christina
Realistic. That's more the word. Yeah. Yeah.
- [17:05]
Sina
I mean, I've stored away most of my skinny jeans because I have hopes that maybe I'll warm up to them again at some point in my life.
- [17:14]
Christina
Yeah.
- [17:15]
Sina
Because sometimes it's also about being exposed to a certain thing. Many times it's not about, like, not being confident in wearing them and just owning them and being like, you know what? I'm a skinny jean person. It's also, there's so much cultural context in when it comes to, I don't want to use the word trends, but still, like, when it comes to what is timeless and what is not timeless.
- [17:39]
Alyssa
Yeah, that's a really good point. I did a video that was similar about, like, looking at my style from 2015 and now, and I swapped out a lot of things I noticed, but I, I, I broke out. I broke out the looks into elements of style. And that's kind of when it had clicked for me to realize that, like, no, the silhouettes rarely change, but a lot of it for me was the, the context. Like when I broke it out I realized that I was dressing a lot for other people. I think when you do start dressing more true to yourself, then when you do update, maybe you're just doing it with more intention, which is ultimately what it's all about. Kind of like what you're saying, Christina.
- [18:26]
Christina
That's a nice way of thinking about it. I agree. I think that's. That's a great way to think about it. Yeah. And slowly. Like, slowly.
- [18:34]
Alyssa
Yeah, yeah, yeah. And it was interesting. It looked so drastic. Like, I got a lot of. I got a lot of for that. Sorry, I don't know, for editing out bad words. I got a lot of. I got a lot of flack for that video because it looked like I had completely like changed over my wardrobe. But a lot of those pieces that I had swapped out, I had had. I've had them for like 10 years. And it. They were slowly let go of, like, it was like by attrition, like over an eight year period that I had let them go. So I didn't. Anyway, so it's just. It's really interesting that it hap. I think if you do it slowly and with intention, it's. But there's nothing wrong with novelty and wanting to feel current.
- [19:16]
Christina
Yeah. I think. I think having that mix is good. You know, you can mix in the T shirt that you've had for eight years with the new silhouette of coat or blazer or whatever it is. And there's just elements that can modernize, but at the same time, it's almost like with like the current trends, let's say fall fashion trends, all of those are so easily thriftable too. And I think a lot of those trends are looted, are rooted in classics. For example, car coats and work barn jackets are super hot right now, and you can go thrift one easily and then boom, you're on trend. So I don't know, I feel like it's almost like, is this a chicken or the egg thing? As we talked about updating this millennial outfit, obviously there are new modern silhouettes, but I could go if I wanted, I'm thinking of the wool coat, like the super fitted kind of shorter, maybe like hip length wool overcoat. But if I wanted to update to a quote unquote modern silhouette of that coat today, I could go to the thrift store and just get a long line coat and maybe size up. And now I'm on trend. But that coat is 40 years old.
- [20:32]
Alyssa
Yeah. So cyclical.
- [20:35]
Christina
I don't know. I'm like, are there classic, Are there timeless classic Pieces, I think. Yes, yes. But. But I feel like, trends and, like, what's current, quote unquote, modern dressing just, like, changes what that definition of timeless is. I don't know. I'm so confused.
- [20:59]
Alyssa
I think it brings it back to, like, what's timeless for you? Like, I'm curious, Christina, was the peacoat. What was the coat in the millennial, quote unquote outfit, Was it a pea coat? Like a short, like, preppy sort of. Okay. And then the coat that you would, for example, replace it with, for example, that you envision going to thrift it with, would it be the same structure, just longer? Like, is it just the hem length that changes?
- [21:24]
Christina
Yeah, I think so. That makes it more current.
- [21:26]
Alyssa
It's just the hem length.
- [21:27]
Christina
Yeah. And just, like, maybe, like, maybe not as perfectly fitted to the back and shoulders, you know, like, you could layer a big, chunky knit under it and still have, like, a little bit of room. Yeah, yeah. Whereas I feel like the silhouettes from 2015, everything was like, I'd wear a sweater that was, like, perfectly tight, a chunky sweater that was, like, perfectly tight to the body, whereas now the silhouette is more loose and chill and oversized and flowy. You know what I mean? So, yeah, I just feel like if we're talking silhouettes, they've just gotten a.
- [21:56]
Alyssa
Little bit more relaxed. More relaxed, for sure. I don't know. You know, what's interesting is, like, I would look at someone. I. I actually found it very interesting when I saw silhouettes becoming more relaxed. I was so curious to see what Blair Edie would do, because she, like, defined that whole, like, 2014, 2015. When we're thinking of, like, who's that fitted Blair Edie from Atlantic Pacific? She. I don't. I think she switched her name. She. She, like, exploded. She was one of the OG bloggers. I'll put her in the show notes. But her sty. Very, very. It's very preppy in the sense that, like, everything is tailored. Everything is fitted and structured and really bright pops of color. Like, when the whole, like, normcore thing was happening and everyone was going neutral, I was watching her. I was like, okay, Blair, what are you gonna do? Like, what's gonna happen to you? And she just. But she maintained she went, like, sometimes a little bit more neutral, but she maintained her silhouettes. She maintains the fitted, sharp silhouettes. If she does oversized, she'll go, like, way oversized and exaggerate it because her elements ultimately are bold and colorful and creative. And so she managed to work with what was trending and still make it her own. And I don't know, it was still, I don't even know exactly where I'm going with this. But I, I, I found that to be really interesting that she was, she kind of maintained these fitted silhouettes all while, all of these sort of relaxed, all while relaxed was trending. So I, I think ultimately it's like whatever is timeless to you.
- [23:40]
Sina
Yeah. I think there's also the opposite of timeless. Tends to be trends. But even trends are different. They're the very short lived trends which are often referred to as fats, you know, which are like really, really micro trends. Yeah. Whereas trends actually tend to last longer. Like they can EAS last several seasons or even years. So it's also about what, where you're jumping aboard with the whole thing kind of point.
- [24:12]
Christina
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like I would say like, you know, the mesh flat trend, that was like really hot this summer, but they were around last summer too. The, the leopard print jeans have been around for the past at least two, at least two years. You know, like ganny jeans that everybody's wearing that sort of silhouette. So. Yeah, I find that interesting too, is like, what, at what point? Because we have that trend cycle where you have like the, the trendsetters and then everybody sort of catches on and then it peaks and then it kind of goes down. So if you like come on the trend toward the end, I mean, I think that's, I feel like that's kind of a good time to adopt a trend if you were thinking about it, especially on the fence about it, because it's kind of like on the downward slope, which means that you've kind of refrained for quite a long time. You've probably thought about it and then it's like, okay, this is something that I think I'm gonna wear in my wardrobe. It's gonna have longevity in my closet and I'm gonna wear it well after it's like, quote unquote, no longer cool. So I think kind of, I guess getting back to everything. Are there timeless pieces? Yeah, probably. Do silhouettes change and do the silhouettes of the timeless pieces change? Yes. Do just how we combine it change? Yes. Are there trend pieces that are just trendy also? Yes. That won't stand the test of time. But I think at the end of the day, when it comes to personal style, I think it's just so important to bring any of those pieces in with longevity in mind, with authenticity, with your own style. So it's not about quote unquote, like what's cool and what's not and even what's modern or current and what's not. Is this going to work with my clothes, my outfit, my style? Is this something that feels like me? And if it does, and I think that's. That's probably the most important thing.
- [26:10]
Sina
Yeah.
- [26:11]
Christina
So if you buy like a mesh flat and they're no longer, you know, maybe everyone in Brooklyn is no longer wearing them, but if it adds like a weird kind of twist to your outfit five years from now, I think that's cool.
- [26:23]
Alyssa
I think so, too.
- [26:24]
Christina
Rock it.
- [26:25]
Sina
Yeah.
- [26:26]
Alyssa
I feel like that was really, really well wrapped. It's Oscar. Is that a dog? Oscar.
- [26:30]
Sina
He just went for a walk, so he's all over the place.
- [26:33]
Christina
Oh, good boy.
- [26:37]
Alyssa
Oscar. Send that out. Excuse me.
- [26:44]
Christina
He's so excited.
- [26:45]
Sina
Oh, my God.
- [26:48]
Alyssa
So cute.
- [26:49]
Christina
I love him.
- [26:52]
Alyssa
I think that's a great point, though, Christina. Like to jump on a trend at the end because then you've, like, passed the saturation factor. Right. Like, if you were tired, if you were to get tired of a trend, it would be at that point. So if you're still loving it, then that's like a solid indicator that you can go for it.
- [27:07]
Christina
And I think so.
- [27:08]
Alyssa
Yeah. It's great.
- [27:09]
Christina
Yeah. I'm still confused, but yeah.
- [27:14]
Sina
Yeah. Because I guess the question was, is the timeless piece of myth. I don't think it is. I think, I think that checklist of, you know, x timeless pieces that everyone should have in their wardrobes, I don't think, you know, that's not. I think we can establish by now that that's not the way forward, you know, and timeless. Yeah. Time. The timeless piece does exist, but it has to be from your point of view. Yes.
- [27:41]
Alyssa
Well, that's perfect. I agree. I think it exists. We've laid this down, everybody. So now you know, Tell all your.
- [27:49]
Sina
Friends you heard it here first.
- [27:55]
Alyssa
This incredibly important piece of information. Anyway, what are your thoughts? Let us know. We always love hearing from you in the comments. Give this video a. Like if you learned something new or if you just liked it. Don't forget to hit that join button if you're interested in exclusive content and engaging with us a little further beyond the comment section and in the show notes, etc. But in the meantime, we hope you have a wonderful week. Don't forget to rate and subscribe to the podcast if you are listening on, you know, Spotify, Apple, wherever you get your podcasts. And we will be back in another episode.
- [28:39]
Christina
I just want to say. Yeah, give us a thumb on YouTube for the dog cameo alone.
- [28:44]
Alyssa
Oh yeah, totally. Oscar. Yes, fully.
- [28:48]
Christina
Yeah.
- [28:49]
Alyssa
Well done.
- [28:51]
Christina
Okay, bye.
- [28:51]
Alyssa
Bye.
- [28:52]
Sina
Bye. Thank you so much for joining in our conversation this week. If you're enjoying the show, we'd love it if you subscribe to the podcast on Spotify and Apple and leave us a rating and review. It's one of the best ways to support the Sustain this podcast at zero cost to you.
- [29:10]
Christina
We're also a community led podcast, so if you have any questions for us, topic requests, or even guests you want to hear from, please send us a DM on Instagram @ Sustain this Underscore podcast. We read all of our comments and look forward to hearing from you.
- [29:24]
Alyssa
We hope you join us again next Tuesday where we'll talk about so much more than clothes. Ciao.