TRADITIONAL VERSUS MODERN STYLE! HOW TO DO BOTH WHILST STILL LOOKING CLASSIC

Hello everyone, welcome back to my YouTube channel. I hope you're all really well. Today is a video I've been thinking about filming for a few weeks now, and it's actually one that I feel very excited about, but also feel the need to get my wording just right so that it makes sense, because what I've got in my head really kind of clicks, and I hope it translates through to you too to make dressing feel easier, and also kind of styling and searching for pieces as well. So hopefully this video today will give you some kind of ideas that you can actually use rather than just kind of watching my video and copying the outfits. So today's video is going to be traditional versus modern pieces, but all using classic items. So you might wonder what I mean by this, but I think it will be very clear within the video, but I want to use pieces that are quite basic, quite timeless, and show how by buying one style, you can create a more traditional look, and another style you can create a more modern look. And I really want to demonstrate in this video that classic and contemporary don't have to be mutually exclusive. You can actually have both classic and contemporary together, or kind of create similar modern looks out of classic pieces and classic looks out of more modern pieces. So let's get into my first piece to really start breaking this down for you. So what I've done is tried to find very much like for like. One piece is more traditional in its style. One piece is more modern. So we're going to start off with the black cropped trouser. So for each one, I'm going to start with my more traditional version. And so I've got these classic Philippa K trousers on. These are my favorites. And also I think this is really, really important. I love all of these pieces. I obviously own every single one of these pieces. There's a reason that they're in my wardrobe. Yes, some have that more traditional feel. Some have that more modern feel, but neither of these is right or wrong. It's just showing the two differences. So my Philippa K is very, very simple. It's very straight leg, quite fitted. Nothing is exaggerated. There's no kind of detail on these at all. Simple cropped cigarette trouser, very kind of Audrey Hepburn, just your most timeless shape and design. They fit quite snug. They fit as a high-waisted. The belt loops aren't obvious. There's nothing that's out of the ordinary in these trousers. And this is a more traditional style of black straight trousers. So on the flip side, I'm going to show you the exact same outfit with some other trousers. Now the ones I'm showing here are from Naked Fashion. So these are from my collection that I brought out last year. Not sure if these are still online, but if not, I will find something similar if you are interested in this style. But again, it's a black straight trouser and it's a little bit cropped, but there's a few subtle details that make this feel a little bit more of a modern pair of trousers. One is the shape of them. They're a little bit looser on the leg, a little bit baggier with that more barrel style, which just feels quite contemporary. It's not a particular trend as such. I don't think it's a real glaring trend, but it feels a little bit more, a little bit more on trend than the other ones. So you've got the shape of them first, and then you've got the detail at the bottom. Again, just makes it feel a little bit more contemporary. It's got a twist to it with the button detail that gathers around the bottom and it brings them in and creates that shape. Again, a little bit more barrel leg. They're not too exaggerated. So you can still wear them very much as a classic pair of trousers, but those subtle twists to them are kind of making them feel a little bit more contemporary. I'd also say they sit a little bit lower on the waist, a little bit more of a relaxed fit. And you'll notice throughout this video, it's all in those subtle, subtle details. These changes just make them feel a little bit more modern. So I've got a real variety in this video to show you, and the next piece is the ballet flat. Again, I'm just using a simple black pair as an example, and the first pair is the ones that I've been wearing. So they're from Flattered. These are the most beautiful, timeless, elegant ballet flat. They're so simple, so chic. They're very, very wearable. They're kind of those shoes that you can wear anytime, any place, any age. They will last in your wardrobe. They've got really kind of narrow fit to them. Very elegant. It's very elongating on the toe, and it's just got the simple bow. All of these pieces just feel very, very timeless. However, on the flip side, I've then gone for more of a Mary Jane feel. These ones are Arquette, and they still feel like a traditional black ballet flat. There's nothing mega standout about these. They're still very wearable, but obviously the Mary Jane style is on trend at the moment, and that's what gives them that modern feel. So they are really having that kind of spotlight. They've got the simple strap across. There's a few other elements in this that make them feel more modern as opposed to traditional, and that is the shape of the shoe. They come up quite high for a ballet flat, and also the actual shape at the toe is almost like a point rather than a simple, traditional curve that you would see. It comes up a little bit higher, a little bit more pointed, and the shoe, the toe shape itself, is also a little bit more pointed too. So I think it's actually, what's making it modern is more of the angles of the shoe, as well as the fact that it's a bit of a trend shoe as well with the Mary Jane strap. It's also the actual design of the shoe shape itself for getting the ankle strap. It's those kind of angles and the way in which the kind of shoe is built. So those are just some subtle details to look out for when you're buying your shoes. Next, I wanted to do a long skirt example. So my first is this beautiful gray skirt. This is a kind of A-line style. It's very simple again, and I think that is a theme running throughout all of these pieces, both the traditional and the modern, is that they are all very simple. And I think if you are somebody who wants to create that classic look, I think simple is sometimes the way forward, whether you want to go for a traditional classic or a more modern classic. So this skirt is very simple, not much design on it, but there's a few things that I think make it feel a little bit more traditional. I think it's one of those styles that very much harks back to the fifties. And that is definitely, to me, an era that defines this classic style that we talk about so much, or that old money style, timeless style. It's very much when I think of the fifties. Again, this skirt feels very Roman holiday, Audrey Hepburn. It's loose, it's flowing, it's soft as well. I think that's something to note. The shape and the fabric are both like a soft kind of circular style. And then you've just got the subtle drawstring detail at the top. Again, there's not too much going on around the waist or any strong details. So flip to my more modern version of the gray midi maxi skirt, and I've gone for this straighter style. Again, a little kind of giveaway to what makes this feel more modern is that sharpness. And the slightly more angular feel to the piece is what gives this a more modern feel compared to the last skirt, which I said was very circular and round and soft. This skirt is sharper. It's more fitted. It's slicker in its style. It's got the sharp slit up the front. It's got the straight down detail. And it's those small things, again, we're still talking about a gray skirt that make a big difference to the overall style and overall feel of the outfit. You can see how much this outfit has changed just by changing the skirt. We've still got the same shoes on, which again, classic simple white t-shirt, a classic wardrobe basic, but that difference in the skirt just makes such a huge change to the overall outfit. So again, looking for maybe angles over that softness. Moving on to t-shirts and my first classic example is the simple black t-shirt. Just a crew neck I wanted to go for to show that you can get variations of this. I've gone for a round neck, black t-shirt. It's got simple sleeves. Again, there's nothing going on with the sleeves here that feels interesting or unusual. I think the more traditional pieces feel a little bit more basic. Again, nothing wrong with that. Sometimes we need those very simple basics, but we've not got anything too oversized. There's no detail around the neckline. There's no big wide sleeves. There's no longer sleeves or cap sleeve. It's just that very traditional simple shape of a t-shirt. So for my more modern version, I've gone for this piece from Wardrobe NYC, which is actually one of my most worn pieces in my wardrobe. I absolutely love this t-shirt. I've had it for three, four years now maybe, and I've worn it so much, which just goes to show these modern pieces. And again, this is so important to note. Modern pieces don't have to be necessarily really trendy pieces. Trend to me is maybe something that lasts one season, two seasons, something that's quite bold and kind of out there. But modern, I would say modern has a feeling of being maybe something that's been around for three, four years. It just feels more up to date. And I think this t-shirt is such a good example of what modern means. It's still a classic black t-shirt, but we've got those boxy big shoulders. Again, those angles that I was talking about in the shirt define this modern style. Something slightly more oversized as well. The sleeves come a bit longer. The neckline is quite high up. It feels a little bit more directional, fashion forward. It's a little bit looser as well. And actually all of these pieces have their own places within your wardrobes, within your looks, depending on what look you're actually creating or trying to create. And also I think so key is that you can mix and match all of these pieces to create different feels and kind of tone down some outfits or ramp up some outfits. This t-shirt, if you're wearing it with a very simple pair of jeans and more maybe traditional style of jeans, and then you put this t-shirt on, it gives it that modern twist. So it's really nice to integrate the two. I think so many people are fixed on being I'm classic style, but classic doesn't have to mean traditional. It can have that modern twist to it as well. You don't have to be classic or trendy. It can be somewhere in between. It can mix the two and still have that simple, elegant finish to it all. Let's talk next about jean shapes. So my first, I've gone for this white pair. We're gonna do two white pairs. I've gone for a straight leg white pair. Just very simple again. The key things here is that they're quite basic. There's not too much fuss going on. Also, they're more fitted. They're slim fit, little bit cropped. There's no change of shape in this. It's straight up, straight down, and quite a high waist and quite a thick denim. By the way, love these jeans, wear them all the time. Let's contrast them with the next pair. So I think a more contemporary style of jean. Again, a theme we're seeing throughout. Something a little bit baggier, a little bit more oversized. It doesn't have to be mega oversized. And again, you can contrast the oversized pieces with more fitted pieces if you want to. I think that is something a lot of people comment on. They say they hate the oversized trend. You don't need to go head to toe oversized. These jeans actually look great with more fitted pieces and you don't look like you're drowning in the outfit just because you've got a baggier jean on. So they're wider, they're looser, they sit a little bit more low slung. Again, I just want to get all of these points in, but I think something people also really get stuck on is you either have to be high-waisted person or a low-waisted person, and there's no in between. Actually, you can just have a slightly slouchier fit and still kind of do high-waisted, like the jeans I'm showing, but they just feel a little bit more relaxed and just sit slightly lower. I think that is so key when it comes to style is that you don't have to think in boxes or in extremes. It doesn't have to be one or the other. Sometimes things can be both. And these, again, are just classic white jeans, but because of the shape of them, the longer length, they just feel a little bit more contemporary. And then I just wanted to focus on the shirt I'm wearing, a theme that's running throughout. It's not too oversized. This is a traditional shirt. It's quite fitted. It's not too baggy, but it's also not too fitted. It's traditional in the stripe that it's got. It's got just the same stripe running throughout it. There's no variation in the stripe. It's also classic blue and white, which has that very timeless, traditional feel to it. And the fabric as well, it's this kind of lighter, softer fabric, like I was talking about earlier with the skirt. It's got that softer feel to the overall shirt. There's nothing too extreme or too exaggerated about this one. So let's compare that to my next blue striped shirt. This one is from Philippa K. Now there's a few differences here to the last shirt, but we've still got a blue striped shirt. However, the stripes are different on this one. We've got something that feels a little bit different. And I think that's definitely something to note when looking for those more modern, contemporary pieces. They are pieces that maybe have points of interest, a little bit of uniqueness to them. And this shirt goes to show it doesn't need to be anything really stand out, but just the way the stripes are not the traditional kind of stripe, like an equal stripe across. They've got the thicker blue than the fine white running through it. Just shows how subtle that detail is, but just something a little bit different to make it feel more modern. And then we've got the kind of crisper cotton fabric that just feels stiffer. Again, more modern, like I was talking about the angles and the edges just feel a little bit harder. The shirt, again, more oversized. The collar's a little bit bigger. The sleeves are a little bit wider and the fit in the body is very loose as well, but it still tucks in really nicely to all of your trousers. If you want to wear a more traditional pair of trousers, you could then pair it with this more oversized shirt and marrying the two, it creates that really nice classic contemporary look. Then we move on to the black blazer, which is a wardrobe staple as we know. A more traditional one would be something a little bit more fitted, a little bit more slimline. I'm wearing one here that has a slightly nipped in waist. A more traditional one might be a little bit shorter than this as well. I personally don't own anything much shorter than this because I do prefer a slightly more oversized look, but this kind of encapsulates a more traditional style with it being a little bit more fitted to the body as opposed to the next one I'm going to show you, which is actually the one I'm wearing here from Arket. One of my favorite black blazers, by the way. And I think this is another great example of how you can do that timeless wardrobe staple, the basic, in a modern way. It's a black blazer, but you've just got a slightly boxy, looser shoulder, and it's a little bit more oversized. And again, like I was saying before, there is a time and a place for both of these styles. This I probably wear more often. I just gravitate towards that more modern boxy style. But actually the other blazer works really nicely in the evenings dressed up. I love belting that because it's got a more fitted waist. So there's definitely times and places for both of these, depending on your styling. But this is definitely a way to do that traditional feel, but updated. Let's talk about handbags. And my more traditional one is this Dior bag. I love this bag, wear it all the time. It's definitely one of those pieces I'll have in my wardrobe forever. There's a few things that make it traditional. One is their boxy style. I think that boxiness, again, harks back to the 1950s. So if you're wondering what makes something feel a little bit more traditional, think about those defining features of the 50s and see if it fits into that kind of box. So this kind of structured bag definitely does. I'm wearing it over the shoulder because I think that over the shoulder look definitely does have that more traditional feel. Although I would say it is a bit of a trend at the moment to do kind of the over the shoulder bag like that. But also it's black, it's got the logo on, but it's not too kind of out there. It's not like logoed all over. And it is just a black boxy leather. I'd also say the size of it makes it feel quite traditional as well. Again, about the size, it's not too oversized and it's not too miniature. And I think that is what makes it have that traditional feel because basically you can wear it anytime, any place and it will work. And then on the flip side, I contrasted that with my Loewe bag, my mini flamenco. And this is definitely more contemporary feeling, but it's still very wearable black bag that goes with absolutely everything. This is probably my most worn bag I've ever, ever owned. But what makes this a little bit more modern is that slouchiness to it. It's not got the formality of the box and definitely is key is the traditional, I would say, does feel a little bit more formal. And then the more modern feels a little bit more relaxed and slouchy like the bag. We've got the kind of ruching detail at the top. It's that smooth, soft leather as well that gives it that slouchy, relaxed feel. It's actually kind of creating that more effortless look. Whereas the traditional feels a little bit more like you've made the effort. And again, both have their place. I love both. And it's great to mix and match the two together. And then finally are the loafers. And I really could have gone on and on, by the way, with this video. So if you want to see more of these, first of all, subscribe, so then you know when the video is live. But also let me know in the comments, if you want me to kind of focus on one area and like specifically, for example, jackets, I can do the same comparison or just shoes or sunglasses, accessories, that kind of thing. Let me know. I think I might do that anyway, because I do think this might be a useful topic. So the first loafer is a more traditional style. They're from Tod's. Again, they've got that formality to them, quite hard in the leather. They're not too kind of soft and slouchy looking for a loafer. So that's what gives them that traditional feel, a little bit more structure to the loafer. Also, the tongue isn't kind of too high up or too low down. It's that kind of classic shape and style. But again, I think any age could wear. I absolutely adore these loafers and I'm so excited that the weather's getting warmer so I can bring my loafers back out again. And then on the flip side, comparing them with a slightly more modern loafer are these Dia Francis ones. They're a little bit chunkier. Definitely that theme running throughout, the modern feels chunkier, boxier, and they've got the black sole, which gives them that kind of chunky, edgy feel. I think we can definitely kind of put modern and edgy together. So it has that edge to them. It's also got quite a high tongue on the shoe that comes quite high up, making it feel a little bit more unusual and different. Like I was talking about, looking for those points of interest, something that stands out, but it can be in a subtle way, but it is those tiny details that kind of transform the piece. Because again, these are just very similar loafers really. They're just a neutral loafer, but it's those small details that are setting them apart to make them two quite different styles. So it's all about taking those very nuanced details and then seeing how they work within a piece, what kind of style they create. So I really hope this has been useful. This video has actually come off the back of one of the reels I posted. I also posted it on here and it was an outfit called Why I Wouldn't Wear This. And it was basically what I was describing with the traditional pieces and it was head-to-toe traditional. And for me, I just feel like you don't need to do that head-to-toe traditional style to still feel classic. Like I say, you can do classic in a modern way by interjecting these pieces, mixing and matching, changing your shapes a little bit. And I really just wanted to talk about that because it was weighing on my mind that this is a thing. And I think people so much put themselves into boxes of, well, I'm quite a trendy person, so I go for all over size, or I'm quite a traditional person, so I like only all fitted. Actually, you can mix and match and you also don't have to go too extreme with either. You don't have to go really oversized. You can just go subtly oversized if you want to. So many small details that make a piece and an outfit. And I'm hoping this video has broken all those down so that you can then step into your wardrobe and look at your pieces differently and how to pair them together in ways that might feel a little bit more modern without just copying my outfit and wondering why it works. So if it has been useful, please subscribe whilst you're still here. Let me know if you'd like to see more. Like I said, thank you so much for watching. Always very much appreciated. And I'll see you in my next video. Bye.