Where is your personal line from cute to tacky?

[Fantastic_Fox_2012]

I have always gravitate towards bags with bright colors, prints, fun shapes and styles. Neutrals have never been my preference for a bag, because most of my clothes are solid neutrals. However, as I turn 30, I'm starting to wonder at what point cute trends into tacky. While I realize there is not one right answer to this, I'm curious about personal opinions. Are there any styles/colors you avoid or think you have outgrown? How much has your style changed as you age? What do you think about bags with bright prints or otherwise unusual features?

 

[MagpieInTraining]

I personally think it’s all about your own personal style and the way you style a handbag. My sisters are both older than you and they carry loud colours, prints, even shapes all the time; they haven’t personally culled any bags from their collections! You might feel after some time that you’ve outgrown a bag or a style and that’s the time to sell or give away. But I don’t think it matters what people around you think is cute or tacky.

 

[Egel]

I think it's personal taste. Style has nothing to do with taste. I adore Nicky Hilton, but she is so classic that someone else might call her boring. I think Paris Hilton looks tacky, but that's because the whole flashy look doesn't go well with me. There's also a big difference between tacky and childish.

It's not about a certain style or colour, it's the bigger picture. Just wear what you like. Take a look at advanced style. It sounds like you have your own style, only change that if you want to. If you think you've outgrown your look, not because you think you have to because of your age.

 

[leechiyong]

Style is incredibly personal. What's too boring for some might be too flashy for others. My personal line from cute to tacky is wearing too much of patterned/bright/cutesy/embellished/logoed pieces at one time. There are those with eyes for design who can do this; I am not one of them.

I'm in my mid-thirties and it sounds like our styles are similar. I tend to wear solids and neutrals while my bags tend to make statements and/or are accompanied by a bag charm. Throughout the years, I've learned what clothing looks best on me. Rather than just buying clothes I like, it needs to be flattering on me too. My bag style hasn't changed that much other than to adjust to what's functional for my needs in a given situation.

 

[JenJBS]

For me, it's what the bag is paired with. The whole outfit/look.

A 'young' looking printed/logo tee shirt, ripped jeans, bright sneakers, bright plastic sunglasses, and a 'young'/cutesy bag - Nope. Too much!

But the clothes you describe with the bags you describe - Yes! With solid neutrals the fun/bright bag adds a touch of fun and whimsy, and keeps the look from being bland/boring.

 

[fettfleck]

I think this is a really different question...
I think a lot boils down to the combination of the pieces and whether the particular style fits well with your personality.

E.g. cheetah or leopard might lock tacky when paired with too much other loud pattern, but could at the same time look classy with a black outfit. I think that is one of the beauty of fashion, that there is so much potential for styling and combining. But one has to try and find out what suits one the best.

 

[ccbaggirl89]

I sometimes ask myself if a little girl would look cute holding it/carrying it. If so, its probably a pass for being too girly/cute/tacky/young, etc. Some members on the boards post pics of their daughters holding a bag and it makes me realize the sizing is better for a child. I don't want to dress like a tween and often use the 'would a little girl carry this' visual as a guide.

 

[Sunshine mama]

I have always gravitate towards bags with bright colors, prints, fun shapes and styles. Neutrals have never been my preference for a bag, because most of my clothes are solid neutrals. However, as I turn 30, I'm starting to wonder at what point cute trends into tacky. While I realize there is not one right answer to this, I'm curious about personal opinions. Are there any styles/colors you avoid or think you have outgrown? How much has your style changed as you age? What do you think about bags with bright prints or otherwise unusual features?

I have grown kids, and my thoughts are as follows.
Younger women in their 20s and 30s have to be more careful. These women could look ridiculous if the mix of colors and designs are not done correctly, since they could be perceived as trying too hard to look younger, or just plain clueless with style. But it also depends on their style and how they carry themselves!
I think when women get older, say late 40s and up, as long as these women dress in conservative clothes, they can get away with more outrageous bags to use as accent pieces. Still, these women also can get away with crazy designs as long as their personalities go with their style.
When women are 60 and above, I think they can get away with whatever their hearts desire! I honestly think the older grandma-ish ladies look sooooo adorable in whatever they wear, and I think they deserve that!
Just my opinion.

 

[Liberté]

To me the context is also very important. Personal style shouldn't get in the way of dressing appropriately for the occasion, but it could shape how you decided to dress in the end. If you live in a country where it's customary to wear black for a funeral, wearing a brightly colored bag with a contrasting dress and pumps is never going to be a great idea. But there might be ways of incorporating elements into the outfit without going overboard. The same thing goes for work, charity work, hanging out with friends or going on a family vacation. The latter situations should give you much more room to dress however you like and wear fuchsia bag shaped like a dog or a cat if you want, but a bikini may not be appropriate nonetheless. Also worth considering is that if you're afraid of being too loud or cutesy, you may want to be extra careful that the clothes you wear fit and flatter you. I would also recommend taking a look at advanced style and other here have already given a lot of good advice.

 

[Fantastic_Fox_2012]

To me the context is also very important. Personal style shouldn't get in the way of dressing appropriately for the occasion, but it could shape how you decided to dress in the end. If you live in a country where it's customary to wear black for a funeral, wearing a brightly colored bag with a contrasting dress and pumps is never going to be a great idea. But there might be ways of incorporating elements into the outfit without going overboard. The same thing goes for work, charity work, hanging out with friends or going on a family vacation. The latter situations should give you much more room to dress however you like and wear fuchsia bag shaped like a dog or a cat if you want, but a bikini may not be appropriate nonetheless. Also worth considering is that if you're afraid of being too loud or cutesy, you may want to be extra careful that the clothes you wear fit and flatter you. I would also recommend taking a look at advanced style and other here have already given a lot of good advice.

Sorry, what is advanced style? A board? Or like a book/website?

 

[Fantastic_Fox_2012]

I have grown kids, and my thoughts are as follows.
Younger women in their 20s and 30s have to be more careful. These women could look ridiculous if the mix of colors and designs are not done correctly, since they could be perceived as trying too hard to look younger, or just plain clueless with style. But it also depends on their style and how they carry themselves!
I think when women get older, say late 40s and up, as long as these women dress in conservative clothes, they can get away with more outrageous bags to use as accent pieces. Still, these women also can get away with crazy designs as long as their personalities go with their style.
When women are 60 and above, I think they can get away with whatever their hearts desire! I honestly think the older grandma-ish ladies look sooooo adorable in whatever they wear, and I think they deserve that!
Just my opinion.

I totally agree. I see older women with flashy bags and never think anything of it. I guess my age is that age of, "I'm young but want to be taken seriously". Once you're taken seriously, I suppose that appearance doesn't matter quite as much. Or people are just less judgemental, I'm not sure.

 

[Fantastic_Fox_2012]

I sometimes ask myself if a little girl would look cute holding it/carrying it. If so, its probably a pass for being too girly/cute/tacky/young, etc. Some members on the boards post pics of their daughters holding a bag and it makes me realize the sizing is better for a child. I don't want to dress like a tween and often use the 'would a little girl carry this' visual as a guide.

This is good advice, I'm going to use this!

 

[Sunshine mama]

I totally agree. I see older women with flashy bags and never think anything of it. I guess my age is that age of, "I'm young but want to be taken seriously". Once you're taken seriously, I suppose that appearance doesn't matter quite as much. Or people are just less judgemental, I'm not sure.

For some reason, some older women(and anyone for that matter) just exude confidence in whatever they wear.
I think true confidence is the most fashionable outfit.
But how does one bottle confidence?

 

[papertiger]

Sorry, what is advanced style? A board? Or like a book/website?

If you look at Iris Apfel or Carmen dell'Orefice you will get some idea.

These ladies don't have a similar style at all but they all have advanced style

 

[Egel]

Sorry, what is advanced style? A board? Or like a book/website?

It's a website. I mentioned it because internet can be used as another view on the world. The people featured on there are not your average pensionado and a great inspiration to me.