After 20+ Years as a Stylist, These Are Clothes I’ll Never Wear
After twenty years as a stylist, I’ve tried a lot of clothes. Some wonderful. Some questionable. A few that probably should have stayed on the rack. And after all that time dressing women for a living, I’ve gotten pretty clear on what I’ll never put on my own body again. Pull up a chair, because I’m spilling it.
The older I get, the more honest I get with myself about what actually works for my life versus what just looked good in the dressing room or I saw on some influencer. I’ve gotten much more ruthless about editing, and I’ve stopped fighting the battles that never end in my favor. Below is my personal short list. And if something on this list is your favorite thing to wear, ignore me completely.
Why I Don’t Wear Capri Pants
This is an opinion I’ve held for a long time, and I’ve only gotten more confident about it.
Capri pants are tricky because of where they hit. Most end right at the widest point of the calf, and when a pant ends at the widest point of anything, it makes the whole look read wider. That break also interrupts the line of the leg and tends to make the silhouette appear shorter. It’s a double hit, and even women with great proportions can feel like something’s off without being able to pinpoint why.
Pants, crops, and skirts are most flattering when they end where the leg narrows, not where it’s at its fullest. That’s why a cropped pant that ends just above the ankle works so much better. The leg is narrower there, the line is cleaner, and the whole silhouette looks longer. Full-length works for the same reason.
And since pedal pushers are having a moment right now, it’s worth talking about why they can still be tricky even though they do end where the leg narrows. The cut point sits just below the knee, which, by contrast, makes the thigh look wider and heavier. You’re drawing a horizontal line that the eye reads as the bottom of the thigh, and everything above it looks bigger. Shoe choice also becomes critical with pedal pushers. A flat shoe loses all the length from knee to ankle and can make the leg look short and stumpy. A heel or pointed toe helps, but that limits how versatile they actually are.
The ankle really is the sweet spot. You keep almost all of the leg’s length visible while still getting that clean, modern crop.
Why I Don’t Wear Leggings (Even to Pilates)
Leggings are everywhere, and I get it. They’re comfortable, easy, and when you’re running out the door, the appeal is obvious. But they’ve never really been my thing, and honestly, the older I get, the less I want to wear them anywhere people can see me.
Here’s the truth: leggings don’t leave much to the imagination, and I’ve reached a point in my life where I’m just not that interested in sharing quite so much with the general public. I feel better in pieces that offer a little more coverage and structure. Even at Pilates, I wear joggers. Just as easy to move in, a little more ease through the leg, and I’m not thinking about what everything looks like when I bend over.
Plenty of women feel amazing in leggings and wear them beautifully. This one is purely personal. I’ve just made my peace with the fact that they’re not for me.
Why I Wear Natural Fibers
I’ve bought plenty of cheap acrylic and polyester pieces over the years. Usually, because the style was right and I wasn’t paying close enough attention to the label. And almost every time, I regretted it. Those fabrics trap heat, cling in odd places, and lose their shape fast.
Now I default to natural fibers whenever I can. Cotton, linen, wool, cashmere. They breathe better and hang more naturally on the body. I’ll still wear blends when they make sense, but I’ve stopped talking myself into cheap fabric just because the cut is cute. It almost never works out.
Getting older has made getting dressed simpler, honestly. I’ve stopped trying to make things work that just don’t feel like me and started paying closer attention to fit, fabric, and whether something supports the actual life I’m living, not the one I thought I’d be living when I bought it.
Here’s what I want you to take from this. Every item on this list fails for me for the same reason: it works against my body instead of with it. Capris cut the leg at its widest. Leggings leave nothing to the imagination, and frankly, some things are better left to the imagination. Cheap fabric fights your shape all day. Clothes that are too tight pull attention exactly where you don’t want it.
Once you understand why something isn’t working, you stop blaming your body and start questioning the garment. That shift changes everything about how you shop. You walk into a store differently. You stop talking yourself into things that were never going to work and start leaving with pieces that actually do.
And if you take nothing else from this, take this: your clothes should work for you, not the other way around. You’ve got better things to think about than whether something shifted when you sat down.
My list is the result of a lot of observation and a fair amount of trial and error. Yours might look completely different, and that’s wonderful. I encourage you to wear what looks best on you and makes you feel confident.
I’d love to know what’s on your never-wear list.
I agree with all of your “never wear” including torn jeans. For me, to the list I add long tunic tops. At 74 and 5’4″ long tops make me look short and dumpy. I look and feel much better in high waisted pants, shorter tops or with the blouse tucked in. Proportion and waist definition are everything! I have learned so much from your blog over the years. Thank you.
Thanks for being here Karen
Good morning! Totally agreeing with you on natural fabrics and a big no to capris!! Love a slim ankle pant and considering the white pair you’re wearing in the photo above. Comfort and confidence are key!
One word: Amen. I have made peace with the capri/short crop as well. I’m 5’4″ with heavy legs, no matter my weight, and when I see women anywhere near my age (63) wearing pants that hit at their calf, I just want to pull them aside and say “no. just no.” Shorts would be better than that. And in addition to not being flattering, they also age you. I usually default to pants (love the ankle crop) to give me some semblance of a leg line, and I hope no one is judging me. And I won’t worry about it if they do. 🙂
Good for you Gail. I like to remind myself that what other people think of what I’m wearing is none of my business
Capris are on the never wear list! Honestly, when I see women wear them with clunky sneakers it’s always a mistake. And who could wear them with heels. I do wear shorts sometimes around the house, not out. I’m tall with long legs, so even crop pants sometimes hit at that wide point. (Looking at you, Chico’s) I go always for ankle pants or wide leg full length.
On my list of never wears are ruffles, tiered skirts, lace tops, satin slip skirts (who needs the underwear that you MUST wear with them?) and heavy texture near my face. My face is wrinkled enough without that!
I work out five days a week, so I wear leggings with longer t tops that I buy on Amazon. Everyone does, it’s a class for senior citizens. But I do not go out afterward dressed like that. I I must, I take clothes to change into.
Not a fan of poly, but I will wear it if necessary. Some nice dresses are poly now, the ponte knits are not natural fibers, and I’m allergic to wool with sensitive skin that even objects to linen if it’s scratchy. So yes, I’m old enough to dress for comfort and to please myself!
I’m in agreement with all of the items on your list. I’ve never been fond of capri pants, even when I was very thin. I have a longer torso and shorter legs and they don’t look good on me at all. As for natural materials, I made the mistake of purchasing a polyester sweatshirt … it doesn’t take long for me to overheat when I wear it. Lesson learned … I now check the label. As for leggings, they are fine as long a the accompanying top provides plenty of coverage … but unfortunately that usually isn’t the case.
I totally agree with you on all the items on your list. I don’t like Bermuda shorts either. If I wear shorts they have to be 7″. I love cotton or cotton blend clothes but they are becoming much harder to find. Leggings are the worst unless you are at the gym and I don’t like wearing them there either due to my large thighs!
Yes!!!! No capris, no leggings for me!!!! Same reasons. I even add midi dresses, skirts and Maxi to the list however I am open to perhaps trying those. Maxi seems too much material and I feel frumpy. Midi seem same as capri hitting leg. I do have midi skirt at home. First ever, that I might be able to work. We will see if I want to put the effort I to styling it!
I find cap sleeves hugely unflattering on my flabby arms. (I actually have muscled arms, but there’s loose skin that comes with age.) For summer I love elbow sleeves, and will even consider short sleeves if they are on the long side. But cap sleeves are always a no-no for me. When I play my flute in public, 3/4 sleeves are a better bet.
I do wear capris as an alternative to shorts, which are even worse on me–OK when standing but not so hot when sitting. But you are correct, my best length is ankle or just above. So joggers have been working well too.
This post got me thinking about my own “never wear” list, and it’s quite long. Ha! Now I get why I have such a hard time shopping. My list: capris, leggings, long tops, button-up shirts, most shorts (6″ is the only length that really works and they are hard to find), maxi skirts and dresses, skirts and dresses that fall more than a couple inches above my knee, tiered or ruffled skirts and dresses, wrinkly fabrics, matching sets (as cute as they look in pictures, I can’t get over feeling like I’m wearing pajamas), bat-wing or large dolman sleeves, many boxy tops, pointy shoes, heels. I could go on. Lol.
It’s great to have a long list! That makes it easier to shop.
You are so right about this! I decided this winter since some of my favorite jeans were NYDJ and I do love Democracy also which is similar to Wit and Wisdom I have been told, that what was the point of buying jeans that didn’t help your rear or tummy when you need that now. I also love Talbots. & J jill and even though they might not have those features I would wear them too along with Banana Republic. But my first choices would be to go to the ones that could help make the jeans look fantastic on. I just bought NYDJ white denim in Marilyn ankle length and omg……love them! I also have the Sheri Slim rolled cuff already. Tops I prefer Talbots twisted sleeve slubbed tee and their popover tops so much. I get compliments on their blouses alot. No Capris here.
I agree with these plus personally I add ankle pants and boots. I can still see a picture of 13 or 14 year old me who grew over the winter in a pair of high water pants. My pants/jeans are full length or knee length shorts. Another picture that sticks in my mind is the ankle boots my late husband wore at our wedding in 1976. I cannot do ankle boots for that reason. I’d feel like I was wearing my late husband’s boots.
No capris for me. But I do wear leggings, and only for my at home barre classes! I bought several pairs when I was going to in person classes 10+ years ago and use them now to get into the mindset for class. But I do detest seeing so many women wear them as pants everywhere. As you you state, they leave nothing to the imagination!
Could you please remind women to wear pajamas at home and not at the grocery store?!?
Loved this post!
Or the airport too!
Horizontal stripes! Striped tops make everything look larger on me, especially the girls, and stripes at the hip widen my behind to a barn door. No thank you.
Love your daily post.
Great list Jennifer. My addition would be anything so thin it’s almost see through. At over 70 I do not want to either see my bra through my top or be forced to wear a light tank top under everything. I am abandoning many of the better retailers I used to shop because of this very reason.
Same! Slub cotton is a frequent offender.
Jennifer,
I totally agree! Ankle pants, linen, yay! Leggings, capris, nay! Great post.
Cindy
I agree on Capris and leggings. Not my friend! I am tall and slender, but just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.
Yes!
Good Morning Jennifer. Great article. And agree about leggings. I see way to mamy of them that are being worn for day wear rather than for exercising. I guess ruffles are my “no go”.
Thank you for sharing this. At 5’1, and various sizes over the years I have learned the hard way sometimes no matter how cute an outfit is on display, unflattering and uncomfortable clothes makes one feel less confident. I agree with your choices for you. Believe me I tried Capris for years but never again. Leggings I will wear for the right activities but not leggings! Ugh! I don’t wear tank tops. If I wear any sleeveless tailored pieces, it is always paired with a jacket, sweater or shrug. I also don’t wear short shorts. A well done flattering look is much preferable over an unflattering on trend fashionable one in my book.
Jennifer you always look amazing! Thank you for your words of fashion wisdom!