A Classic with a Twist

Classic clothing…

How do we define classic clothing? Hmmm…I am no expert so, of course, I googled it. I don’t have a subscription to the New York Times (shocking, I know) so I couldn’t read their piece. But, I did manage to find a couple of other things. One of the suggestions was to see if you could tell what decade the clothing was from. I mean, we all recognize some styles from the 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s, right? So, if you can’t tell, it just may be the piece is a classic. Another marker is if the item is well made. Seams are finished; buttons are good quality; and the fabrication is good.

A little more…

If you’ve been reading my blog for long, you’ll know the next three items probably do not describe me nor my clothing! And, I’m OK with that. The design should be simple…not too long, not too short, not too tight, not too oversized, no embellishments. Welp, that is definitely not me! Next, the color palette should be neutral or be able to work with several different items…colors like black, ivory, grey, navy. Finally, is the print a classic? Is it houndstooth, plaid, or maybe even a subtle stripe or polka dot? Big, gaudy florals are definitely not classic, daggone it!

What’s classic here…

Raise your hand if you thought I was talking about my gauchos in the title! Yep, I see you. I love gauchos even though these are almost ankle length on me. Gauchos are wannabe skirts! But, there’s such an ease to gauchos. You don’t have to worry about exposing anything when you sit down. You don’t have to “sit like a lady.” You have all the benefits of pants with the look of a skirt. So, are the gauchos classic? I don’t think they are. They seem to come in and out of style on a regular basis. No, I was talking about the cowl neck. It fits all the criteria listed above except for maybe the first one! And, the fun gauchos are, of course, the twist!

Classic dressing…

Once upon a time, I definitely fell more on the classic end of the spectrum of clothing. I wore the neutral colored pants with just a hint of a flare. My jackets were (usually) free of embellishment, and, since I still have lots of those clothes, I would say you couldn’t tell the decade from which they came. Now, the question for me is…do I have a sentimental attachment to them, or are they truly timeless? Are they fresh and modern? The individual pieces may not be, but how I combine them with other things can make the entire look fresh and modern.

Not so classic dressing…

I think, these days, I fall more on the not so classic dressing end of the spectrum. I love my big in-your-face florals as well as ruffles, loose fits, kimonos, and scarves. Do I have a fashion icon? Hmmm…as much as I’d love to say Iris Apfel, I know that is really not my aesthetic. I can take lots of clues from her, though. What I do like is combining bits of my classic clothing with my not so classic items. You know what they say about variety!

The outfit…

I am always thrilled to receive an outfit or dress from Clara Sunwoo. If you want to talk about well made clothing, this is it! This time, I chose these High Rise Scrunch Pocket Gauchos in the Wild Leaves print. I thought about adding the matching top to create a pseudo-jumpsuit. You’d have the look but not the bathroom problem. Then, I decided to lean into a contrasting color and chose the Sleeveless Draped Cowl Top in black. I really like how that sharp contrast just makes the print come to life. And, I know I can mix and match these items with other pieces of Clara Sunwoo. Both of these pieces are a soft and silky knit. No wrinkles means these gauchos just may be coming with me to Scotland and Ireland in August! You can also use my code, MARSHA10, for 10% off your entire order!

The Lewk!

These Franco Sarto sandals are comfortable and stylish. I would consider them classics because I have no idea when I bought them. It could have been in the last century, but they still work because they’re a simple style. They’re also black leather and very well made. The only embellishment is the stitching and the buckle. Then, to accentuate the cowl neck, I added the Stella & Dot necklace. I don’t remember the name. Surprisingly, the bracelet didn’t come out until a year or two after the necklace. This was back in the day when Stella & Dot kept designs for a few years. I don’t know if they still do that or not. The earrings match, I think, but I’m not sure.

Wrap it up, Marsha!

I know my clothing may not be considered classic, but I love my quirky, sorta undefinable style. It fits me, and I consider it classic Marsha! There is room in this world for all of us…the classicists, the quirky, the maximalists, and the minimalists, right? So, can we talk? What do you consider to be classic clothing? Are you comfortable combining classic with not so classic? Where do you fall on my spectrum of classic to not so classic? Please leave a comment or two, and we can talk. I promise to respond as quickly as I can.

Thank you!

I want to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for reading, commenting, subscribing or emailing! It truly means so much to me! If you’d like to follow me on Instagram, you can find me here.

Affiliate links, discount codes and such:

Just a reminder that Marsha in the Middle may use an affiliate link. Those links are usually italicized. If you click or make a purchase from an italicized link I provide, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for your support. I am an April Cornell Brand Ambassador for another season. You can use my code, MARSHA15, for $15 off any order over $100. Use Marsha12 for 12% off any order of $65 or more at Buykud. I have also become a Halftee Partner. Use the code, MARSHA2098, for 20% off any purchase. I am also an affiliate with Clara Sunwoo. You can use my code, MARSHA10, for 10% off your entire order. In case you didn’t know, bloggers must disclose the use of affiliate links. That’s why I include this in each post.

Where you can find me:

Linking up with Nancy’s Fashion Style,  Fine-Whatever, Is This Mutton, Shelbee on the Edge, Chez Mireile, The Grey Brunette, and Away from the Blue as well as Deb’s World and A Fresh Cup of Coffee. I also link up with This Blonde’s Shopping Bag, Doused in Pink, I do deClaire, Mummabstylish, Style Splash and Elegantly Dressed and Stylish as well as the Senior Salon Pit Stop (Esme’s Salon) and Slices of Life. Please check out these wonderful ladies and their blogs! I also am a co-host for Ageless Style on the third Thursday of the month and Songful Style on the last Monday of the month. I co-host Traffic Jam Weekend every Thursday with Melynda, Lisa, and Sue. I also host Final Fridays on the last Friday of the month as well as 10 on the 10th on the 10th of the month! I do hope you’ll check out all of these blogs and link parties!

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