Versatility - Topic of the day 7/7/24
How do you evaluate whether or not a garment will be versatile? How much value do you place on versatility? What is the least versatile piece you own?
155 Replies
Once you love a piece of clothing, you'll find a way to make it versatile. No matter how loud or funky it may be
In the past I talked myself into buying boring stuff i did not end up enjoying based on it supposedly being "versatile"
Trying not to repeat that mistake
Colour and fabric. I don't think I own any clothes that can be worn both casually and formally, but garments like a cotton button-down with a pocket can be both casual and somewhat less casual (esp if worn with a sweater) and the same goes for my navy chore coat. My brown loafers are versatile because I can wear them in casual and semi-formal contexts just by combining them with chinos, a nice sweater and a button-down
I consider navy, black, white, beige and dark brown versatile, but I think others can achieve the same with earth tones (so including green for some people) too.
Not versatile in my opinion (=can't wear to a nice restaurant without feeling underdressed): sneakers, shorts, unfeminine sandals (for some reason women in dresses with sandals count as formal enough but men in Birkenstocks don't).
gonna drop a hot take and say versatility is maybe a little overthought in the online clothing space
that does not discount anything that anyone has prevously said because all of that is applicable and useful advice BUT i think it can lead to a slippery slope where people min-max and then struggle to find the ONE pair of shoes or ONE pair of pants that goes with the 18 other versatile things that they own, rather than trusting the eye test or even just trying something out
are some things more versatile than others, yes, but i think the range of things that are versatile is broader than many people realize
I feel like my wardrobe is fairly flexible in that most of the things I do are pretty flexible in what I can wear. That said, I really need some shoes that are less casual
very adjacent to the capsule wardrobe convo
capsule wardrobe might be a better description
Also versatility only really exist relative to a persons style and not in some stupid pseudo-objective manner
like khaki chinos are supposedly quite versatile
Where a piece is or isn’t versatile could be because
- a piece feels limited in its formality
- a piece whose shape/silhouette, texture/fabric, pattern/print/color doesn’t work with the rest of your wardrobe
- a piece whose usefulness varies based on the weather (which varies based on your geographic region & climate)
personally I struglle making them work lol
maybe this versatile subject is basically subjective because likewise fashion is subjective
unless we bring up the standards up a notch
capsule wardrobe is frequently wrapped up in conversations of versatility but i think this intended to get at the idea of individual items being versatile
i just don't particularly like khakis, they feel really. idk. they evoke a very specific image in my head
"versatility" to me also includes "usable in my day-to-day" which means walkable/something I won't get super sweaty or otherwise uncomfortable in walking around town or to work or whatever
every question in the header is subjective so that we can gather and consider others’ perspectives
not a single question in the header is meant to be objective or prescriptive
Usually try to think of at least 2-3 fits before buying a piece so ig that's my standard :boi:
vans feel fairly versatile in my wardrobe, but I find them uncomfortable walking distances in, so they're a lot less versatile than they otherwise would be
every piece is versatile if you simply lower your standards.
fr usually when I feel a good indication of my style moving in a new direction is when I realize my old stand bys are not versatile anymore.
Its not really a factor I look for specifically as I would rather get something which "means something" if that makes sense rather than going for a middle of the road option
or the opposite
when you just want a piece that yk doesn't have much interchangeability
i would counter that with being able to see how else something can be repurposed
i was making a joke but you are correct
true true
i think the limit is less the article of clothing itself or even the wardrobe and more how one sees it
charlie is the goat for this of course but other people (art, bishop, casey, amongst others) are good at it as well
damn it I was just typing exactly that
with Charlie as the standard bearer
it's been an interesting period actively trying to re-use the stuff from fit battle and seeing what comes up for me
(it's certainly helped limit how much i've bought recently lol)
our perceptions of versatility can change as our frameworks/perspectives about how fits come together change
shoutout to frugal aesthetic introducing me to the final boss of versatility in nadyne luchon
cat sweater as a leg warmer is some 4d chess shit
:boi:
if you just wear khaki pants and then wear an infinite amount of different shirts, does that make the khaki pants versatile
Yep, this is basically my method too. However, I do feel like I end up being less adventurous in my styling if I'm only buying things that work with what I already have
the fact that vintage pajamas (!) are potentially going to be a "basic" for me is hilarous and yet
yes
a follow up questions would be what benchmark are you measuring versatility - versatility within a number of items or outfits or a number of aesthetics
I think it works in particular for me bc my wardrobe is shotgunned all over the place lol
:xd:
Honestly pretty same lmao. I have so much random stuff
controlled chaos :boi:
I'd kinda disagree with this actually
imo versatility is more about how many distinctly different things you can make so variations of the same shirt style doesn't really scream different to me
but I also vehemently hate chinos so who knows :xd:
I guess it depends on how you define “shirts”
i mean i would argue khaki chinos are versatile but also i do a lot with them 🙂
But yeah if you can wear multiple different kinds (eg tank, tee, Oxford, camp collar), colors, textures/fabrics, lengths, fits etc of shirts with the same pants then the pants are versatile
imo
i also think people tend to conflate 'versatile' and 'basic' when like...interesting clothes can be versatile too!
omw to design my wardrobe around that Issey woodblock coat
hopefully no one buys it for a while with that eBay price tag :xd:
drop the link so we can avoid it
well shit it seems like someone took it
(wasn't me) lol
also i think, and i'm speaking from the privileged position of not giving a shit in general, but there's something to be said for trying a combination out regardless
that's how this happened, for example https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1142196512034668594/1213543571215355995
you guys dont think the versatile subject is kinda pointless
or this https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1219673819908669500/1231457267837177856
what matters is if you think it pointless or not - one of the questions was 'how much do you value versatility in your wardrobe?'
everything about this discord is pointless
real
fashion is pointless in the grand scheme of things
who gives a shit
we shootin strays
you don't have to participate in the discussion if you don't see the point
Versatility should be a jumping point for creativity. Discussions are another way to foster creativity
you mentiond "bringing up the standards a notch" but to what would you raise these standards, if i may ask? 🙂
i feel like one of the standards we can impose is theme but i dont think that's enough
wdym
okay but what 'theme'
and why is it not enough?
theme can narrow down how we can define what style we're looking for and when we have a style in place, we can get a gist of the pieces that fit the limit of a theme
You’ve only been here a few days, have you scrolled back through past topics of the day
what are you saying tho
Or #theme-waywt
Also yeah, sorry, but I don’t have a strong understanding of what you’re asking for here
by theme and i guess style do you mean "aesthetic"
Anyway versatility for me is when something doesn't look like something else I own. I don't really fw buying things that are too close in silhouette, and I hate the idea of buying multiple items in different colors.
yea i was looking for that term
ah! i think that is perhaps a limiting view
to take the khaki pants example, i personally think they're versatile because of how many different types of fits they slot into
You can also suggest topics of the day using /suggest or open threads in q&a or styling suggestions for this kind of thing.
the same pair of khaki pants were used in all of these fits https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1116800072093532191/1255872394569191424 https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1116800072093532191/1240339216940924939 https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1116800072093532191/1236713982941728768 https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1116800072093532191/1232729132421353472 https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1116800072093532191/1231670133307478048 https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1116800072093532191/1228360537562419260 https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1116800072093532191/1226230013905600645 https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1116800072093532191/1214623666537758770
I do think versatility can add to the sprezzatura aspect of outfits. Like, you're dressing toward something but then you just grab the versatile piece to stay comfortable. Sometimes that's the right spice to add, actually
i thought of this as a way to inject one's personal style into a different aesthetic
like wearing the same bandana or something in a fully different aesthetic just as a tie to how you typically dress
Yea I agree
But I rarely see a fit not enhanced by black loafers or gray NBs, ya know? Maybe that's just my aesthetic
They definitely exist
Considering that some brands are delineated as more versatile ones then would one say that there are motifs that does lend itself towards being more flexible
i think there's a set standard (ether for MFA based on house style or menswear/womenswear at large based on what people are typically wearng)
i do think versatility as a construct is contingent upon one's own wardrobe
My brother wants my advice on "new versatile daily sneakers" and like, every one I recommend is "too boring" for him, which I cannot convince him is the point haha
have u tried showing him Salomon xt6
Idk his style ig
betting they'd actually like the heart shoes bc they have a "quirky twist"
:harold:
Versatility depending on the house style is not something I have thought about
house style is not something I have thought about :boi:
I haven't. I mostly recommend NB cuz we both have wide feet
Green fatigue is def a classic in MFAD house style but something I find hard to style which could be a skill issue or a reflection of me not really matching the house style
But when I recommend a gray 990 he jumps to a tan/cream 9060. It's a perfectly good shoe, I just think it's less versatile
I mean tan is still fairly versatile imo
Olive in general is my style nemesis
no clue what to do with it lol
i'm assuming 100% the latter
Olive has made more sense to me since seeing streetwear fits
so you are not alone
But it's a interesting thougutb
hence why i'm selling mine lmaooooo
The versatility of a garment changes so much based on the aesthetic you're going for
may I introduce you to WTAPs
Wtf is a WTAP
:harold:
WTAP hender jjjjjjjjound
who is the 4th horseman of insanely priced boring rep
something something olive fatigues
I do find that certain garments seem more versatile to me based on this perceived notion of being able to tap into different aesthetics
Like graphic knits
It's interesting conversation we're having. I would argue this is less versatile than a gray 990v5. Perhaps I'm giving bad advice
Is easy for me to understand how to dress up and down
I could see that as a daily beater tbh
nah I would agree with you
I struggle with straight knits bc they always feel too dressy
Damn I'd wear this
my friend who doesn’t know how to dress got gray 990v5s and they’re so good in his wardrobe
straight knits?
like cable? :thinkbutt:
Like normal units
Fuck I can't type
Yea again, not saying it isn't a good shoe, and not saying it doesn't have some versatility. I'm saying, it's significantly less versatile
I mean within my streetwear preference I find plain color, regular fit, patterns like fisherman to be extremely difficult to wear
If I had details like graphics or drop shoulders it suddenly becomes versatile
came here to say this and a point you didn't touch on; a lot of my fits are repeats in my day to day life. There was a point where I asked myself if I actually wanted versatility or if I was thinking of all the potential fit pics to show off
I'm also finding a lot of value with my linen trousers bc I can wear tees or camp collars with them and in my head that's branching two different aesthetics within my wardrobe
this goes back to the idea of remixing
I can think of ways to reuse that for a more street fit by anchoring it to a very loud outerwear statement piece
I just thought of something
Not sure if it makes sense in fashion context but lemme find some images
Are you guys all familiar with Minecraft lol
I’ve heard of this “Minecraft “
Usually when we build in Minecraft we tend to take the blocks very literally. Like if you're building a stone wall there's a fair bit of variety of stone blocks. But those days people are doing "gradient" builds where they ignore the literal block and only focus on the color and how it adds to the overall build
So with said stone wall you might add clay, wool, bone blocks bc theure white/gray even if they're not stone
eggtart has been flanderized since we modded him
I think there's a fashion parallel here
Like getting stuck on what a piece of garment is
And limiting your range of imagination with it
I’m already making my fits out of blocks (bricks)
Yeah I know
wait let him cook
I think a version of what I'm describing is how I've seen sweaters styled as a scarf
something something utility vs aesthetic builders
I mean it's not a fucking scarf but you could totally repurpose the knit as a scarf yes, you can tie it around your hips too to initiate the silhouette of a skirt
like those people that say granite and andesite is useless bc you can't make tools
Likewise bandanas I tend to use them to decorate my bags even though they technically belong on your head or neck
Tying clothes around my waist is my personal favorite bc it gives me that silhouette I admire in womenswear and it's very chic/casual
Gradients in Minecraft are actually insane
I think it’s wardrobe based. For a lot of people here green fatigues fit as the unifying object of their collections. For me, I would look extremely out of place in green fatigues. It would be versatile for a lot of people but not my wardrobe
They just look weird if you're too close but the color spectrum is great bc all the textures too
Check out this build and then zoom in
Those are not block combinations I would ever think to use lmao
check ya damn notifications
Never
Im cooking rn
But something like needles olive hd pants I would completely fuck in bc it suddenly matches my vibe and silhouette
Yes
Same here
Weird how that works huh
I mean someone already said early on that it's wardrobe based but I guess the meta question is how should we communicate this to new qnas
The HD cargos are way more versatile for me than olive fatigues
I also think my change of heart from pullover hoodies to zip up hoodies is because I can manipulate the silhouette with said zippers
It is also easier, as I mentioned, to tie it around my waist too
Versatility is definitely a per basis wardrobe thing
For a lot of people the Gurkha trousers would be versatile for their wardrobes but for me it would look out of place. For me, the jeans on the left would be very versatile instead, which isn’t true for a lot of people
yall should make me mod im so enlightened
mood. with vans and converse it’s either replace the insoles or suffer
which sucks because they are, stylistically, incredibly versatile for people whose wardrobes are more inclined to lean casually like mine
i was comfortable walking distances in them in like middle school
now i walk at work and wear scholls in those sneaks and i can’t do distances in flat-insoles now
sort of an offshoot of that, i favor low profile shoes so in several cases i've worn the same fit with sneakers instead of loafers or vice versa
whether that speaks to the versatility of the shoes themselves or the wardrobe in general is a matter of perspective
i have actually been deliberating on a decidedly non versatile pair of sallies for a few days now. something that won't work with every combination but would be sick as hell when you wanna get a fit off. haven't made up my mind yet
Do you already own Salomon’s (or at least a similar shoe). Would you wear these? Do they occupy a separate occasion or look than the other shoes?
Bc I like these and I think they would work well with your style
ya i got sallies but they're 4 years old and are kinda falling apart. mow the lawn ass shoes these days
definitely a diff look than the other shoes too
If u can swing it I’d say go for it
Tbf they are pretty versatile imo because they’re so colourful
yeah i feel like they swing around to being so bold that you can really just throw em on and they'll achieve the same thing with any of my usual color combos
I often try to ask other questions. The straw man/stereotypical qna is “are these versatile? <pic of item>”. So I generally just ask what they hope to wear with it and in what contexts.
You can learn a lot just by asking about expected formalities and what they would want to wear with the item. Like no you probably can’t dress up service boots to wear with a suit but they can be versatile for a lot of folks in casual outfits
you can however make (some styles) of service boots look killer with a dress shirt, slacks and suspenders
you just end up leaning a bit goth i think
it's wardrobe based on a practical level - if you're going to buy a bunch of things inan effort to force a single piece to be versatile that is valid but can be limiting and expensive
yeah
a lot of times i did that it was to justify a bad purchase
believe it or not more bad purchases did not solve it
i think there's a real opportunity in bad buys to think outside the box and see how it can slot into a wardrobe
*before buying a bunch of other stuff or tossing it
one offshoot of this is that having pieces that are too versatile can dissuade you from getting new stuff
apologies if someone already said that, too lazy to scroll up
but i do find myself being like oh i shouldn't get these pants because i already have black pants that go with my wardrobe even though there are people who look cool and own like 5 pairs of black pants in various silhouettes with different detailing
For the whole time I thought versatile pieces had a sort of a fixed specification. I thought about this piece that I have before entering this thread.
wear it over or under, it'll add layering, and the buttons to accommodate most jacket sizes
i think that is versatile for sure
similarly reminded of this from fauxhemian https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1142196512034668594/1213174919479828551
i would be curious to see it styled under a blazer (?) as in the second picture
I can’t find much pics
a) who makes it because it's cool
b) what has your experience been with it - it does seem like it can be worn a number of ways but some of those aren't necessarily intuitive to """normal""" modes of dressing
It's made by a brand called Underhood Original https://www.underhoodoriginal.com/
If there is one thing I could say about this piece- I love it
It fits perfectly with normal modes of dressing
like you can just wear simple shorts, basic tee and that and call it a day
The brand utilizes a fabric you may already know of called Ventile
and it looks completely normal too, it's like you see someone wearing a two tone jacket like this except you are wearing just the top segment
Finally, hooded bras