I just started watching style class this year and it fascinated me; I guess because it is so not my style. I am quite petite, and I just don’t feel comfortable wearing all the oversize clothes Tibi promotes. ( I am actually drawn to a lot of their “vintage” pieces that are much more colourful and have a vintage feeling.) I know that lots of very well known fashionistas and IG stars wear Tibi, but sometimes when I watch Style Class, there is a little bit of the mean girl, cool crowd vibe about the banter. They may not want to dress like “real estate sales people” or wear the dreaded logos, but I feel that they are still creating a whole army of Tibi wearers that essentially all look the same. That is not my idea of fashion. And I don’t want to be made to feel lesser if I don’t want to ear jeans below or my crotch or I do want to wear fascia. Also, I agree they play up the quality of the pieces even though they use a lot of polyester. They say it gives “depth” to their fabric to add the polyester, but if you look at the clothes on resale sites, they don’t wear that well. Thanks for the piece because I was almost afraid to say this out loud!
"there is a little bit of the mean girl, cool crowd vibe about the banter" -- There is, sometimes. I remember an early shoe episode where they had a category for "shoes that should only be worn by elves". I laugh at it now but I don't know how I would have felt if I had owned shoes of that style! I would have probably been quite upset.
I hadn't heard that one about polyester adding "depth" to fabric. Hmm... sounds suspicious to me. I can understand wool/poly blends (so much easier to wash and iron!), cotton/poly blends for trench coats, and I get polyester as the material of choice for things like Pleats Please pieces, but that's about it.
resale listings (and the accompanying photographs) are such a moment of truth about so many buzzy labels, because seeing an actual piece divorced from its cool-girl marketing and laid out on someone's table or bed gives a much clearer idea of what it's actually like than the advertising can.
I do see what you mean about being able to say it out loud, the fandom around some fashion labels feels like it's almost as parasocial/cultlike as the ones around pop stars etc.
"seeing an actual piece divorced from its cool-girl marketing and laid out on someone's table or bed gives a much clearer idea of what it's actually like than the advertising can" -- yes, this!! Totally!
exactly - no pretty setting or filters or lighting, just what it's actually like in (someone else's) real life or just as a thing on its own. Some things do hold up though, that's the good part!
It should be noted that today Amy Smilovich appeared on IG today talking about how “just because she says she would not wear certain things doesn’t mean she is disparaging them” I think she read you Substack!
This idea of over-analyzing style and losing our POVs is where I am at. I dove deep into Tibi (a common theme) and love the nomenclature but then I added Allison Bornstein concepts and random TikTok advice and sometimes I look at my wardrobe and feel lost. Interestingly, it’s not because I own the “wrong” pieces or even too many “in and outs.” It’s simply that I am overthinking getting dressed and I need to go back to “do I like this?”.
Sounds so familiar, Kelly, you're not alone! It's so easy to go overboard with thinking and analyzing this stuff, because it can also be a lot of fun. At its best it's like a treasure hunt, and at its worst it will paralyze you. Allowing yourself some breathing room will help. Style shouldn't be a performance.
I think this is such a good way to look at it, it can be fun, but if it’s not working for you, chuck it. I’ve never been wealthy enough to really buy into Tibi, except a few second hand pieces, and there is overlap that I’ve found between what I naturally gravitate towards and what is CMC, but even if it does all get a little full of itself, I just really enjoy hearing people talk thoughtfully about how they think about assembling outfits. I don’t come from anywhere near the fashion world, so hearing “rules”/principles spelled out so clearly and demonstrated visually was and is really nice. I wish more designers with a greater variety of aesthetics/styles/backgrounds would do similar “classes”. Hearing more people giving voice to their thought process would be great.
"I just really enjoy hearing people talk thoughtfully about how they think about assembling outfits" -- I think this is the best part about Style Class. They introduced a new way to talk about style. I'll always be grateful for that! The vast majority of fashion designers talk about their product in a very abstract way and it doesn't really say anything to a regular person who just wants to wear the clothes.
Style shouldn’t be a performance— I love this sentiment and this entire piece revealing your exploratory. The cult like phenomenon feels like it’s growing since substack took off as more fashion forwards (who always have significant income) write about and showcase why/how they get dressed. I don’t begrudge anyone who lives for fashion and can afford The Row, and I do believe it shapes who we are and who we strive to be — but watching others often feels like learning to drive without getting in the car. You just need to live it and learn the road for yourself. This is where the wisdom of aging really helps. Years (sometimes decades) of fashion trial and error and style evolutions always lead us to our authentic self.
I agree with this so much, so many ideas/tools/frameworks of how we should get dressed and what pieces we should buy. All these rules don’t allow one to trust their instincts/intuition when it comes to their personal style and how they use clothes as a creative tool. And then we all end up looking the same because we are following “the rules”
“It feels strange, as if I knew that within the Style Class universe my style could be better, more modern, or more cool, if I just tried harder.” — this really sums up what it’s like to be influenced! Love how you’ve broken down the Tibi impact, both the positive and negatives. At its best, Tibi is about solutions and they do that so well for a certain demographic, and I really wish more brands out there thought this hard about how their clothes can serve their customer. Tibi is too expensive for me generally but I did splurge on one of their jackets when it was on sale and it’s a total problem solver in my closet — it works on everything, it’s easy to wear and it always makes me feel great. But no brand is meant to be a substitute for our style identities and you’ve expressed that so well.
I don’t feel negatively about the brand in general, but I did have an eyeroll moment when I discovered they had a Substack and i think some of the posts were paywalled! I know we live in a capitalistic society but paying to be marketed to is a bit too on the nose…
"At its best, Tibi is about solutions and they do that so well for a certain demographic" -- absolutely. There are a lot of people out there for whom Tibi is exactly what they want and need. A big portion of Tibi customers are probably very happy with the products that they buy. If the Tibi style had been my aesthetic, I would have probably continued on watching Style Class even if I couldn't afford the clothes.
I had no idea they paywalled their posts here. That's a little troubling.
Yeah I thought that was weird! Maybe they accidentally turned it on for some of their posts without realising it. But it’s not unlike my reaction when I saw the price of their book. Certainly they can value their work at whatever they feel is appropriate but it did make me realise my limits when it comes to brands.
Interestingly, I found your newsletter by some remote Tibi connection. I think we all have to remember the timing of the initial Tibi style class - we were in pandemic lockdown. I started watching for inspiration for my sewing projects. We were all desperate to connect, belong to something and think about things less serious than death. Voila! Tibi. Dionne Davis is a true style queen and actually the class was her idea. I loved it all. Unlike many of you, I bought some full price items and some sale items. Much of what I purchased has since been sold - a Liam blazer, a Gabe shirt, sweatpants, shoes, a jumpsuit. So much of it was just unflattering on my small frame. I didn't feel like myself. A few items I love, especially the footwear BUT the quality is poor and they don't last. Tibi uses synthetic material so really can't claim sustainable practices. I do think the construction is high quality but much of the fabric is just polyester.
What really started to turn me off was the "tribe" mentality. The style class often takes jabs at certain professions and esthetics. Admittedly, it is brilliant marketing but in the end we are the guinea pigs. Like many of you, I went on to follow many of the Tibi tribe on IG. Some had style, most were just buying Tibi and displaying. I was astonished at the amount of money so many of these women were spending on clothes. And yet, even though it was Tibi, it is still stuff.
I too learned a lot. I have a wardrobe that works very well now because I have been focusing on fundamentals and specifically clothes that fit my lifestyle. I found your newsletter which I enjoy tremendously.
I'm appalled by our current state of consumerism and look to follow people who are thoughtful about their purchases and style.
Thank you for sharing your experience with Tibi Style Class and the clothes!
I'm sure the popularity of Style Class exploded in part because we were all trying to distract ourselves during the first two waves of the pandemic. It was a crazy time! I don't think I knew that Style Class was Dione's idea. Maybe that explains why it lost some of its magic after she left.
What a shame about the quality of your Tibi purchases. Well, you win some, you lose some. It's so easy to get blinded by a label. (Some of my newer Dries Van Noten pieces have been very disappointing in quality as well.) At least now you're in a better place with your personal style. That's an achievement!
So grateful for you. Tiia. And so many things I could say. I've talked a lot about my Tibi trajectory, and about the judginess that Liz notes, below. (I have said the same to Amy.) I saved this to listen to on my catwalk, to lure myself into walking, ironically something I do with Style Class. But what jumped out most of all was when you said you aren't successful. Every response in my head is corny, but you are one of the most successful people I know. You are real, you think for yourself, you have a real life of intellectual and emotional connection. Sorry, that's me, I'm corny. And very grateful that this class/algo combo somehow brought us together. XO.
Rachel, I love you. You're not corny, but incredibly sweet. I think you knew this, but I meant "successful" in the career sense of the word. I'm happy with who I am and the choices I've made in life, and of course that's the best kind of success there is. Our friendship is one of the best things that came out of my involvement with Style Class.
I loved reading this. I used to listyen to a lot of fashion podcasts, and two in particular stood out to me because the founders wouldn't engage with the idea of sustainability, at a time when it was a hot topic for up and coming labels, and I've always felt prejudice towards Tibi and Khaite because of it. Despite this, I own(ed) three Tibi pieces, all of which I bought heavily discounted when they came up in searches I was doing. I have a pair of mules which are glorious and unwearable (they literally make my feet bleed within minutes), a lovely shirt I couldn't wash or dry clean, and a pair of velvet trousers I still have which appear to have been made in the same factory from the same fabric as a Toast skirt I have, but which cost substantially more - Tibi is very cleverly marketed well above its quality to be aspirational and exclusive. I can understand that if people are feeling a bit lost about their style, such a comprehensive and dogmatic approach can be appealing, especially with that pseudo-intellectual edge to it.
You are right to keep the bits that serve you, and get back what you really need to know, which is how something resonates with you.
I was definitely in a weird place when I began to watch Style Class, and I was probably quite vulnerable to the dogmatic approach at the time. It appealed to me because I think there was a part of me that just wanted to be told what to do and what to wear. I'm feeling a bit silly about that now, but I try to look back with compassion. I just didn't know any better.
This was a good piece of text! Actually I was hoping that someone like You would have the courage to write about the dogmatic and superior approach of Tibi. I also started to follow StyleClass 20/21, but I never got stuck as hard as You so well described. I took some interesting things with me, the sandwich ofcourse, but also to tie a thinner cardigan around my waist instead of a belt and I started to wear white shoes with tights. I never got any Tibi (except for pair of tweed boots I coincidentally found in my closest secondhand shop), ridiculous prizes, but I definitely got influenced when buying secondhand. I've not been on an airplane since 2019, but I'm travelling sometimes by car and got some ideas about packning.
Because I wasn't really looking for my style, I quite soon got irritated by the dogmatic approach and the marketing of Tibi. Especially when Amy discarded specific shoes or telling that the upcoming class "will be good. "
I see a lot of insecure women wearing Tibi nearly everyday and to be honest, they're looking exactly the same, while believing they have found their personal style finally. But Prada-girls aren't any different. Neither the Row-buyers.
Personally, I believe that a style doesn't have to be found. Don't overanalyze, following Your intuition would be sufficient. By the way, I never started to think about my adjectives, and I'm happy for that....
"I believe that a style doesn't have to be found." -- this is so well said! There has been so much marketing around the idea of "finding your style", for so long. And the world is full of brands and products, always more and more. A lot of people are confused and need help in navigating what to buy and what to wear, especially the ones who might not be all that interested in fashion or the ones who don't like shopping. (Or the ones like myself, who always bought too much and liked to experiment with different things.) When someone offers a solution to these types of problems, it's much easier to let someone else do the work than to do it all by yourself. But taking advice from a brand is always going to be somewhat one-sided. A good personal stylist would bring nuance and actually get to know what you like and need.
I love reading this! Very recognizable. Me too I am glad Tibi is not very accessable in my country. And fully agree with the over-analyzing, and what you say about words. Words help us to make ideas, thoughts concrete. But words also limit our ideas. Take the three word method. It helps defining your style, so you understand. But they should not determine your style.
I have 2 main lessons from Tibi style class. 1. It not about how you look, but how you feel. 2. Antonymes. When A look doesn't feel good, I look for the 'too word' and add the opposite. Bonus lesson, the colors, one or ton. But I trust my eye too, without explaining.
Thanks for your honesty and openess. I have often thought the same! I loved reading your article. It touched me in many ways.
Thank you, Gerti! I'm glad this resonated with you.
There is a lot in Style Class that can be very helpful. For me, the wardrobe analysis was a huge game changer and I will always remember that.
"It's not about how you look, but how you feel." -- this is so important! It's the reason I mostly stopped taking outfit pictures. A lot of the time an outfit that feels great on doesn't look good in a picture, so then I begin to second-guess myself. It's so crucial to trust your instincts!
That's true. I looked back at some pictures from 4 yo and thought 'what was I thinking'. On the other hand, when I see the picture, I remember how I felt, why I dressed like that. For me it still works, taking pictures. But I understand your point and will keep that in mind too. Thanks!
I remember the buzz around the Style Class during the pandemic, and while I can see the appeal of it, within a few hours I felt a bit stupid because it was very apparent that my tastes (and I had a decent idea of what they are, even if I can't put it into words) were the opposite of 'Chill, Classic, Modern' and I wasn't in any kind of mood to be 'taught', as it were. But honestly these style quizzes, words, define your style etc. is not for me, my brain turns to soup trying to make sense of it and it feels like an exam I'm constantly failing and also one I don't even think I need to take? At a certain point I was thinking (perhaps unfairly) some very uncomplimentary things about the way they promoted this new 'cool' look of the label and the politest thing I thought was 'Miuccia Prada would never!' I've also never seen a Tibi piece in the wild where I live, I don't doubt that they're well made but I don't know how 'timeless' or 'modern' some of those cuts or styles will seem in a year or two from now.
It sounds annoyingly self-congratulatory and smug to say I knew it was a brand promotion exercise all along (and I genuinely have no problems with that, it's a brilliant strategy and turned out useful for so many women, whether you actually wore Tibi or not! As you pointed out) but there's no denying that the way they approach things was very helpful for a lot of people, I find some aspects of her theory e.g. on colours, really interesting but not $145 worth of interesting!
Ah, lucky you, to have seen through it from the start! And no, it doesn't sound smug at all. You held onto your marbles and that's a good thing.
I've always loved style quizzes and style guides. I've approached them like horoscopes and tarot cards and silly things like that: with lightness and humor. I think I just went overboard with Tibi because I was vulnerable and confused at the time. It was a slippery slope.
I still think that there's a lot that's good about Style Class. People within that aesthetic realm are loving it so much, and they feel that it's helpful. I can't argue with that!
I think keeping my marbles was purely a matter of luck and timing - had I been even a little bit younger, or at a stage in my life where I felt like I didn't know how to dress myself anymore (as I did in my later twenties and even early thirties when I was struggling with the transition from student to 'professional', identity-wise and financially) I may well have fallen headfirst into it for the promise of 'problem solving' even if the solution Tibi proposed would create fresh problems....for me. But it's a style and an approach that does appeal to a lot of people and have a great deal of utility for them, I just happen to not be among their number and that's fine for both sides.
I was just thinking that if I were building a wardrobe for a corporate-ish life from scratch, my younger self would probably be quite drawn to Tibi (provided I had the funds for it)! The designs are smart, inherently classic (even with all the cutouts) and have just enough tweaks to not make me feel interesting. It's the same reason I loved COS when I was in my office worker phase... like you I think I mostly didn't buy Tibi due to timing...it just isn't the brand for my current lifestyle.
I aspired to COS in my own early working days so I know what you mean - the market for women who work office jobs with a dress code but don't want to look like caricatures of some corporate drone is probably a lucrative one.
I never watched Style Class, only the shorter stuff on IG, and I was never really "sucked in" because I couldn't understand how someone can proclaim to be making unfussy, aesthetically pared down clothes, and then having cut outs in weird places, metal rings on jackets, ridiculously proportioned back pockets on jeans, and pockets on shoes.... But what made total sense to me, and explained to me my own style choices because I followed these rules subconsciously, was the colour wheel, one ton none, and pigs/bigs. I even keep screen shots of these rules on my phone, no need to buy the crazily priced book. The skin sandwich also made sense. I think these concepts are really great, and am thankful to Amy for formulating them!
There's definitely a lot in the Style Class lexicon that's very useful. I don't care for pigs/bigs personally, just because I love vintage fabrics and Dries Van Noten's color usage is more up my alley. The way the Tibi "theories" were verbalized was very different from the usual style guide talk that focuses on concepts like "what's flattering". In that sense Tibi Style Class broke some barriers. It gave people new dimensions to discuss style matters and that's very valuable.
Yes to that, you put my feelings into a greater and more abstract context. Style has always been beyond finding what flatters you and your skin tone. And she formulated some concepts that translated a bit of that effusive je ne sais quoi about style into relatable language.
Exactly. So many fashion designers talk about their work in an impossibly abstract jargon that a regular consumer just can't decipher. When someone says "this is how you wear it", that's actually helpful.
Terrific analysis, Tiia. I discovered Style Class later than you — after the Dione era — and watched dutifully even though, unlike you, I never liked anything I was seeing. What was I missing? The clothes looked not just oversized but sloppy. The colors were sad. The proportions and cutouts were awkward. The prices were impossibly out of reach. (And although it pains me to say this, Amy's speech tics were a turnoff.) I eventually bought one Tibi skirt, deeply discounted and final sale (mistake!), and the zipper sticks every time I wear it. I have moved on.
I'm not entirely sure what Dione's role was at Tibi, but to me the clothes never really went anywhere after she left. Maybe her styling chops took the somewhat ordinary clothes to a new level? There was definitely something about the way Amy and Dione presented them that eventually made the clothes seem desirable to me at the time. Or maybe it was just enough repetition and exposure. Who knows!
Ha, I was actually introduced to Tibi Style Class through one of your posts! Thankfully, I never became too invested in the content, but I can relate to the feeling of being hypnotized by someone else's taste and ideas to the point of killing your own voice. These days when I'm perusing content from someone whose style I admire, I try to focus on the differences between our preferences, instead of the overlaps. Like I objectively love how vintage tailoring suits you, but I have no desire to wear those kinds of pieces myself. I think this mindset shift is helping me enjoy the bountiful personal style writing that exists on platforms like this, without feeling inadequate or compelled to shop.
"I try to focus on the differences between our preferences, instead of the overlaps" -- I love this approach! That's how it should be. Less focus on mimicking and performance, and more appreciation of authenticity and the personal narrative.
I wish I could post a photo, maybe I can message it to you but I just saw the coolest f*cking outfit walking down the street in Toronto in … leather Birks!! Made me think of you, right away!
Thanks Tiia for this thought-provoking analysis! I really enjoyed reading it.
I bought my first Tibi piece in 2016 and am not quite sure how I learned about the brand. I found Amy’s personal IG in 2017 and absolutely loved it. I remember seeing posts in the morning on the way to work and thinking this woman writes the best fashion copy I have ever read.
Some time during the pandemic I bumped into the Style Class when Dione was there. I agree the Style Class was more eclectic in format and less like an infomercial then. About two years ago I stopped watching Style Class—-not consciously or deliberately. I have limited time and I think I just naturally gravitated towards content I find more interesting. That said I typically will listen to Amy content that’s not style class. But I think Style Class is a great format that more brands should be adopting to help tell the story of their collections.
I think Amy is a brilliant marketer, an excellent stylist and yes, she writes amazing fashion copy :-). I think she’s an inspiring entrepreneur and shows the path forward for a creative looking to own their own brand. Most designers are faced with pretty horrible options. While I also have detected the critical quips that trigger “mean girl” vibes, in a post woke world, I am leaning in to snark. I would hate for her to sanitize her point of view just to avoid offending. I think we should develop thicker skin. I too have plenty of cork birks and I am OK with it even though Dione and Amy both told me that I need a solid color sole. I mean, OK, you do you.
Over time the “cult” piece of this does repel me…so I liked the brand better 2 years ago than I do now. But, as others pointed out, I am also bothered by all The Row clones and if I see one more jelly shoe…UGH. I even think it’s comical that people like the Phoebe Philo stuff (and I love old Celine). It seems very Emperor’s Clothes to me. I was interested to read the comments above from petite people. I am petite, and sorry these Liams look like you are playing in your father’s closet if you are petite. It’s pretty clear to me that oversized clothes have peaked so it will be interesting to see how Tibi pivots over time. And of course all these people who thought they needed “ease” in their wardrobe will need to “refresh” their closet. And so it goes, the wheels of capitalism keep grinding…
I don’t like rules for fashion, I have no adjectives and if I think too much about an outfit it ruins the magic for me. When Amy shares those DMs I am often surprised that someone would ask a stranger on Instagram what they should wear when they go to XY. I think pre Internet people lived in stylish places and non-stylish places. People who lived in the former had pretty decent style even if they had no innate style because of osmosis. (Pretty hard to dress like a dork if you live in Paris.)And the people who lived in the latter lived in bliss. Now the latter see people do things on Instagram and feel they need to copy it but need more detailed instructions. Thus the craving for adjectives, modifiers, visuals etc. When I walk down the street these days I occasionally see stylish people but mostly see people who copied a look from Instagram. Don’t love this.
I agree with the point about the quality of the fabrics although many Tibi items I own still look amazing and I love wearing them. I get a lot of compliments from non-Tibi tribe people when I wear them LOL. I am OK with the price of the book because it was printed in Italy and it shows. I am OK with quality that is expensive. I get it makes it inaccessible but it is a beautifully printed book and I am glad it wasn’t printed in China. Maybe the more egalitarian approach would have been to have sold a PDF for $35 as an alternative?
Thank you for this thoughtful comment, Teresa. I really appreciate you dissecting your opinion on Tibi with so much detail. I love the fact that you have Tibi in your closet that works for your life so seamlessly, and it's good to hear your opinion on the quality as well.
I agree with you about Amy. She's incredibly smart and she talks about style in a completely different way, and that's so valuable. The fact that she's been running an independent fashion company for 20 years is an incredible feat. About the snark thing: I fully agree that we need criticism, but sometimes there's a punching up vs punching down situation that's problematic. Recognizing one's own privilege is crucial, and no, I don't think it kills criticism or creates a society where "we can't say anything anymore". The world is a cruel enough place as it is for privileged people to punch down on people who have less, but that's just my opinion and I totally respect yours.
"I think pre Internet people lived in stylish places and non-stylish places." -- this was such an interesting take! I'm sure that's a big part of it. I also find that there are so many brands and so many different styles out there now. Getting dressed has become freer from social constraints so it's practically impossible to figure out what to buy, what to wear and how to wear it, unless you have natural style chops, and a lot of people don't have those. People need help, so when a brand offers a solution, it's going to be tempting to a lot of people who struggle. We all need to get dressed, after all.
I agree with you. I really find it helpful when people, whose opinions on fashion I admire, don't worry about offending. If I truly disagree with them, then I'll feel confident enough to ignore them. Dione could be extremely blunt too, not just Amy, and I was down for it!
I appreciate the honest and grounded viewpoint. It’s brave and relatable to talk about the exclusivity of fashion, which though obvious still feels taboo.
A few reactions:
- Often times fashion, and at times even Tibi, feels too aspirational - to the point it makes you feel crappy about yourself and your life even if you meet some of the image on paper. It being out of reach drives a feeling of desperation. And the coolheaded analysis that Tibi promotes can then get lost.
- I, too have learned so many helpful principles from Style Class.
But being a lemming feels both the unavoidable result, and also the antithesis, of the very lessons of style class.
- I think Tibi provides the training wheels for personal style. But I have to try hard that it doesn’t become a final destination.
As in, do I hear my own voice in my head when I’m getting dressed or Amy’s? Amy’s voice has been a helpful guide for me to see more objectively. But personal style also comes from a place of my own, unique subjectivities. The art and the science. I am still trying to find a relationship between the two in my head.
So much of what you're saying resonates with me. "being a lemming feels both the unavoidable result, and also the antithesis, of the very lessons of style class" -- this in particular! I think it's a great question to ask whose voice you hear in your head. I can say that at my worst, I kept thinking "what would Amy do", and that's not personal style. That's just mimicry.
Finally someone with internet presence is speaking candidly about the Tibi-style-class and its dysphoric effects!
I also live in a country with little access to Tibi (make sooo much less money than the average target consumer). I’ve got a few pieces I found second hand that I truly enjoy (like the double waisted jeans). However as a commenter above mentioned, there was a dogmatic, uniform and cliquish quality that made me feel uneasy, especially on the FB group. Hence, one day I just stoped watching the class, left the group and unfollowed tibifluencers on IG. Plus, what I liked from style class was Dione’s input so I’d rather see her career grow somewhere else.
Thank you for reading and sharing your experience! "there was a dogmatic, uniform and cliquish quality that made me feel uneasy" -- I can relate to this so much. I didn't see it initially, or even when I was following Style Class religiously and thinking that I loved every minute of it, but I see it now, so clearly.
I just started watching style class this year and it fascinated me; I guess because it is so not my style. I am quite petite, and I just don’t feel comfortable wearing all the oversize clothes Tibi promotes. ( I am actually drawn to a lot of their “vintage” pieces that are much more colourful and have a vintage feeling.) I know that lots of very well known fashionistas and IG stars wear Tibi, but sometimes when I watch Style Class, there is a little bit of the mean girl, cool crowd vibe about the banter. They may not want to dress like “real estate sales people” or wear the dreaded logos, but I feel that they are still creating a whole army of Tibi wearers that essentially all look the same. That is not my idea of fashion. And I don’t want to be made to feel lesser if I don’t want to ear jeans below or my crotch or I do want to wear fascia. Also, I agree they play up the quality of the pieces even though they use a lot of polyester. They say it gives “depth” to their fabric to add the polyester, but if you look at the clothes on resale sites, they don’t wear that well. Thanks for the piece because I was almost afraid to say this out loud!
"there is a little bit of the mean girl, cool crowd vibe about the banter" -- There is, sometimes. I remember an early shoe episode where they had a category for "shoes that should only be worn by elves". I laugh at it now but I don't know how I would have felt if I had owned shoes of that style! I would have probably been quite upset.
I hadn't heard that one about polyester adding "depth" to fabric. Hmm... sounds suspicious to me. I can understand wool/poly blends (so much easier to wash and iron!), cotton/poly blends for trench coats, and I get polyester as the material of choice for things like Pleats Please pieces, but that's about it.
resale listings (and the accompanying photographs) are such a moment of truth about so many buzzy labels, because seeing an actual piece divorced from its cool-girl marketing and laid out on someone's table or bed gives a much clearer idea of what it's actually like than the advertising can.
I do see what you mean about being able to say it out loud, the fandom around some fashion labels feels like it's almost as parasocial/cultlike as the ones around pop stars etc.
"seeing an actual piece divorced from its cool-girl marketing and laid out on someone's table or bed gives a much clearer idea of what it's actually like than the advertising can" -- yes, this!! Totally!
exactly - no pretty setting or filters or lighting, just what it's actually like in (someone else's) real life or just as a thing on its own. Some things do hold up though, that's the good part!
Couldn't agree more with the mean girl vibe. It's grown worse over the years.
I'm sorry to hear this. I think it's one thing to be critical (we need criticism), but meanness is unnecessary.
It should be noted that today Amy Smilovich appeared on IG today talking about how “just because she says she would not wear certain things doesn’t mean she is disparaging them” I think she read you Substack!
This idea of over-analyzing style and losing our POVs is where I am at. I dove deep into Tibi (a common theme) and love the nomenclature but then I added Allison Bornstein concepts and random TikTok advice and sometimes I look at my wardrobe and feel lost. Interestingly, it’s not because I own the “wrong” pieces or even too many “in and outs.” It’s simply that I am overthinking getting dressed and I need to go back to “do I like this?”.
Sounds so familiar, Kelly, you're not alone! It's so easy to go overboard with thinking and analyzing this stuff, because it can also be a lot of fun. At its best it's like a treasure hunt, and at its worst it will paralyze you. Allowing yourself some breathing room will help. Style shouldn't be a performance.
I think this is such a good way to look at it, it can be fun, but if it’s not working for you, chuck it. I’ve never been wealthy enough to really buy into Tibi, except a few second hand pieces, and there is overlap that I’ve found between what I naturally gravitate towards and what is CMC, but even if it does all get a little full of itself, I just really enjoy hearing people talk thoughtfully about how they think about assembling outfits. I don’t come from anywhere near the fashion world, so hearing “rules”/principles spelled out so clearly and demonstrated visually was and is really nice. I wish more designers with a greater variety of aesthetics/styles/backgrounds would do similar “classes”. Hearing more people giving voice to their thought process would be great.
"I just really enjoy hearing people talk thoughtfully about how they think about assembling outfits" -- I think this is the best part about Style Class. They introduced a new way to talk about style. I'll always be grateful for that! The vast majority of fashion designers talk about their product in a very abstract way and it doesn't really say anything to a regular person who just wants to wear the clothes.
Style shouldn’t be a performance— I love this sentiment and this entire piece revealing your exploratory. The cult like phenomenon feels like it’s growing since substack took off as more fashion forwards (who always have significant income) write about and showcase why/how they get dressed. I don’t begrudge anyone who lives for fashion and can afford The Row, and I do believe it shapes who we are and who we strive to be — but watching others often feels like learning to drive without getting in the car. You just need to live it and learn the road for yourself. This is where the wisdom of aging really helps. Years (sometimes decades) of fashion trial and error and style evolutions always lead us to our authentic self.
I agree with this so much, so many ideas/tools/frameworks of how we should get dressed and what pieces we should buy. All these rules don’t allow one to trust their instincts/intuition when it comes to their personal style and how they use clothes as a creative tool. And then we all end up looking the same because we are following “the rules”
“It feels strange, as if I knew that within the Style Class universe my style could be better, more modern, or more cool, if I just tried harder.” — this really sums up what it’s like to be influenced! Love how you’ve broken down the Tibi impact, both the positive and negatives. At its best, Tibi is about solutions and they do that so well for a certain demographic, and I really wish more brands out there thought this hard about how their clothes can serve their customer. Tibi is too expensive for me generally but I did splurge on one of their jackets when it was on sale and it’s a total problem solver in my closet — it works on everything, it’s easy to wear and it always makes me feel great. But no brand is meant to be a substitute for our style identities and you’ve expressed that so well.
I don’t feel negatively about the brand in general, but I did have an eyeroll moment when I discovered they had a Substack and i think some of the posts were paywalled! I know we live in a capitalistic society but paying to be marketed to is a bit too on the nose…
"At its best, Tibi is about solutions and they do that so well for a certain demographic" -- absolutely. There are a lot of people out there for whom Tibi is exactly what they want and need. A big portion of Tibi customers are probably very happy with the products that they buy. If the Tibi style had been my aesthetic, I would have probably continued on watching Style Class even if I couldn't afford the clothes.
I had no idea they paywalled their posts here. That's a little troubling.
Yeah I thought that was weird! Maybe they accidentally turned it on for some of their posts without realising it. But it’s not unlike my reaction when I saw the price of their book. Certainly they can value their work at whatever they feel is appropriate but it did make me realise my limits when it comes to brands.
Yeah, I don't think I'd pay for access to a brand-specific narrative. Even if it was Dries Van Noten, I don't think I would!
Ha. So funny about the paywall. I said the exact same thing. So now I get to pay to be marketed to?
Hi Tiia
Interestingly, I found your newsletter by some remote Tibi connection. I think we all have to remember the timing of the initial Tibi style class - we were in pandemic lockdown. I started watching for inspiration for my sewing projects. We were all desperate to connect, belong to something and think about things less serious than death. Voila! Tibi. Dionne Davis is a true style queen and actually the class was her idea. I loved it all. Unlike many of you, I bought some full price items and some sale items. Much of what I purchased has since been sold - a Liam blazer, a Gabe shirt, sweatpants, shoes, a jumpsuit. So much of it was just unflattering on my small frame. I didn't feel like myself. A few items I love, especially the footwear BUT the quality is poor and they don't last. Tibi uses synthetic material so really can't claim sustainable practices. I do think the construction is high quality but much of the fabric is just polyester.
What really started to turn me off was the "tribe" mentality. The style class often takes jabs at certain professions and esthetics. Admittedly, it is brilliant marketing but in the end we are the guinea pigs. Like many of you, I went on to follow many of the Tibi tribe on IG. Some had style, most were just buying Tibi and displaying. I was astonished at the amount of money so many of these women were spending on clothes. And yet, even though it was Tibi, it is still stuff.
I too learned a lot. I have a wardrobe that works very well now because I have been focusing on fundamentals and specifically clothes that fit my lifestyle. I found your newsletter which I enjoy tremendously.
I'm appalled by our current state of consumerism and look to follow people who are thoughtful about their purchases and style.
Thank you for sharing your experience with Tibi Style Class and the clothes!
I'm sure the popularity of Style Class exploded in part because we were all trying to distract ourselves during the first two waves of the pandemic. It was a crazy time! I don't think I knew that Style Class was Dione's idea. Maybe that explains why it lost some of its magic after she left.
What a shame about the quality of your Tibi purchases. Well, you win some, you lose some. It's so easy to get blinded by a label. (Some of my newer Dries Van Noten pieces have been very disappointing in quality as well.) At least now you're in a better place with your personal style. That's an achievement!
Yes, I do think overall I'm, making smarter purchases and buying less.
Some of my Tibi have been good.
So grateful for you. Tiia. And so many things I could say. I've talked a lot about my Tibi trajectory, and about the judginess that Liz notes, below. (I have said the same to Amy.) I saved this to listen to on my catwalk, to lure myself into walking, ironically something I do with Style Class. But what jumped out most of all was when you said you aren't successful. Every response in my head is corny, but you are one of the most successful people I know. You are real, you think for yourself, you have a real life of intellectual and emotional connection. Sorry, that's me, I'm corny. And very grateful that this class/algo combo somehow brought us together. XO.
Rachel, I love you. You're not corny, but incredibly sweet. I think you knew this, but I meant "successful" in the career sense of the word. I'm happy with who I am and the choices I've made in life, and of course that's the best kind of success there is. Our friendship is one of the best things that came out of my involvement with Style Class.
The beat kind of success! 😚 love you.
I loved reading this. I used to listyen to a lot of fashion podcasts, and two in particular stood out to me because the founders wouldn't engage with the idea of sustainability, at a time when it was a hot topic for up and coming labels, and I've always felt prejudice towards Tibi and Khaite because of it. Despite this, I own(ed) three Tibi pieces, all of which I bought heavily discounted when they came up in searches I was doing. I have a pair of mules which are glorious and unwearable (they literally make my feet bleed within minutes), a lovely shirt I couldn't wash or dry clean, and a pair of velvet trousers I still have which appear to have been made in the same factory from the same fabric as a Toast skirt I have, but which cost substantially more - Tibi is very cleverly marketed well above its quality to be aspirational and exclusive. I can understand that if people are feeling a bit lost about their style, such a comprehensive and dogmatic approach can be appealing, especially with that pseudo-intellectual edge to it.
You are right to keep the bits that serve you, and get back what you really need to know, which is how something resonates with you.
I was definitely in a weird place when I began to watch Style Class, and I was probably quite vulnerable to the dogmatic approach at the time. It appealed to me because I think there was a part of me that just wanted to be told what to do and what to wear. I'm feeling a bit silly about that now, but I try to look back with compassion. I just didn't know any better.
I think there are definitely times in our lives when we just want someone else to make the decisions for us!
Yes, definitely. I totally agree!
This was a good piece of text! Actually I was hoping that someone like You would have the courage to write about the dogmatic and superior approach of Tibi. I also started to follow StyleClass 20/21, but I never got stuck as hard as You so well described. I took some interesting things with me, the sandwich ofcourse, but also to tie a thinner cardigan around my waist instead of a belt and I started to wear white shoes with tights. I never got any Tibi (except for pair of tweed boots I coincidentally found in my closest secondhand shop), ridiculous prizes, but I definitely got influenced when buying secondhand. I've not been on an airplane since 2019, but I'm travelling sometimes by car and got some ideas about packning.
Because I wasn't really looking for my style, I quite soon got irritated by the dogmatic approach and the marketing of Tibi. Especially when Amy discarded specific shoes or telling that the upcoming class "will be good. "
I see a lot of insecure women wearing Tibi nearly everyday and to be honest, they're looking exactly the same, while believing they have found their personal style finally. But Prada-girls aren't any different. Neither the Row-buyers.
Personally, I believe that a style doesn't have to be found. Don't overanalyze, following Your intuition would be sufficient. By the way, I never started to think about my adjectives, and I'm happy for that....
"I believe that a style doesn't have to be found." -- this is so well said! There has been so much marketing around the idea of "finding your style", for so long. And the world is full of brands and products, always more and more. A lot of people are confused and need help in navigating what to buy and what to wear, especially the ones who might not be all that interested in fashion or the ones who don't like shopping. (Or the ones like myself, who always bought too much and liked to experiment with different things.) When someone offers a solution to these types of problems, it's much easier to let someone else do the work than to do it all by yourself. But taking advice from a brand is always going to be somewhat one-sided. A good personal stylist would bring nuance and actually get to know what you like and need.
Yes, she always says it will be good, and every time I think "well, that's up to me to decide".
I've learnt by living in Sweden that this reasoning is a typical Dutch thing 🥰
😂
😂
How about when they say "I'm not mad at it" when referring to some piece of clothing.
It makes me shiver 😉
I love reading this! Very recognizable. Me too I am glad Tibi is not very accessable in my country. And fully agree with the over-analyzing, and what you say about words. Words help us to make ideas, thoughts concrete. But words also limit our ideas. Take the three word method. It helps defining your style, so you understand. But they should not determine your style.
I have 2 main lessons from Tibi style class. 1. It not about how you look, but how you feel. 2. Antonymes. When A look doesn't feel good, I look for the 'too word' and add the opposite. Bonus lesson, the colors, one or ton. But I trust my eye too, without explaining.
Thanks for your honesty and openess. I have often thought the same! I loved reading your article. It touched me in many ways.
Thank you, Gerti! I'm glad this resonated with you.
There is a lot in Style Class that can be very helpful. For me, the wardrobe analysis was a huge game changer and I will always remember that.
"It's not about how you look, but how you feel." -- this is so important! It's the reason I mostly stopped taking outfit pictures. A lot of the time an outfit that feels great on doesn't look good in a picture, so then I begin to second-guess myself. It's so crucial to trust your instincts!
That's true. I looked back at some pictures from 4 yo and thought 'what was I thinking'. On the other hand, when I see the picture, I remember how I felt, why I dressed like that. For me it still works, taking pictures. But I understand your point and will keep that in mind too. Thanks!
I remember the buzz around the Style Class during the pandemic, and while I can see the appeal of it, within a few hours I felt a bit stupid because it was very apparent that my tastes (and I had a decent idea of what they are, even if I can't put it into words) were the opposite of 'Chill, Classic, Modern' and I wasn't in any kind of mood to be 'taught', as it were. But honestly these style quizzes, words, define your style etc. is not for me, my brain turns to soup trying to make sense of it and it feels like an exam I'm constantly failing and also one I don't even think I need to take? At a certain point I was thinking (perhaps unfairly) some very uncomplimentary things about the way they promoted this new 'cool' look of the label and the politest thing I thought was 'Miuccia Prada would never!' I've also never seen a Tibi piece in the wild where I live, I don't doubt that they're well made but I don't know how 'timeless' or 'modern' some of those cuts or styles will seem in a year or two from now.
It sounds annoyingly self-congratulatory and smug to say I knew it was a brand promotion exercise all along (and I genuinely have no problems with that, it's a brilliant strategy and turned out useful for so many women, whether you actually wore Tibi or not! As you pointed out) but there's no denying that the way they approach things was very helpful for a lot of people, I find some aspects of her theory e.g. on colours, really interesting but not $145 worth of interesting!
Ah, lucky you, to have seen through it from the start! And no, it doesn't sound smug at all. You held onto your marbles and that's a good thing.
I've always loved style quizzes and style guides. I've approached them like horoscopes and tarot cards and silly things like that: with lightness and humor. I think I just went overboard with Tibi because I was vulnerable and confused at the time. It was a slippery slope.
I still think that there's a lot that's good about Style Class. People within that aesthetic realm are loving it so much, and they feel that it's helpful. I can't argue with that!
I think keeping my marbles was purely a matter of luck and timing - had I been even a little bit younger, or at a stage in my life where I felt like I didn't know how to dress myself anymore (as I did in my later twenties and even early thirties when I was struggling with the transition from student to 'professional', identity-wise and financially) I may well have fallen headfirst into it for the promise of 'problem solving' even if the solution Tibi proposed would create fresh problems....for me. But it's a style and an approach that does appeal to a lot of people and have a great deal of utility for them, I just happen to not be among their number and that's fine for both sides.
I was just thinking that if I were building a wardrobe for a corporate-ish life from scratch, my younger self would probably be quite drawn to Tibi (provided I had the funds for it)! The designs are smart, inherently classic (even with all the cutouts) and have just enough tweaks to not make me feel interesting. It's the same reason I loved COS when I was in my office worker phase... like you I think I mostly didn't buy Tibi due to timing...it just isn't the brand for my current lifestyle.
I aspired to COS in my own early working days so I know what you mean - the market for women who work office jobs with a dress code but don't want to look like caricatures of some corporate drone is probably a lucrative one.
I never watched Style Class, only the shorter stuff on IG, and I was never really "sucked in" because I couldn't understand how someone can proclaim to be making unfussy, aesthetically pared down clothes, and then having cut outs in weird places, metal rings on jackets, ridiculously proportioned back pockets on jeans, and pockets on shoes.... But what made total sense to me, and explained to me my own style choices because I followed these rules subconsciously, was the colour wheel, one ton none, and pigs/bigs. I even keep screen shots of these rules on my phone, no need to buy the crazily priced book. The skin sandwich also made sense. I think these concepts are really great, and am thankful to Amy for formulating them!
There's definitely a lot in the Style Class lexicon that's very useful. I don't care for pigs/bigs personally, just because I love vintage fabrics and Dries Van Noten's color usage is more up my alley. The way the Tibi "theories" were verbalized was very different from the usual style guide talk that focuses on concepts like "what's flattering". In that sense Tibi Style Class broke some barriers. It gave people new dimensions to discuss style matters and that's very valuable.
Yes to that, you put my feelings into a greater and more abstract context. Style has always been beyond finding what flatters you and your skin tone. And she formulated some concepts that translated a bit of that effusive je ne sais quoi about style into relatable language.
Exactly. So many fashion designers talk about their work in an impossibly abstract jargon that a regular consumer just can't decipher. When someone says "this is how you wear it", that's actually helpful.
Terrific analysis, Tiia. I discovered Style Class later than you — after the Dione era — and watched dutifully even though, unlike you, I never liked anything I was seeing. What was I missing? The clothes looked not just oversized but sloppy. The colors were sad. The proportions and cutouts were awkward. The prices were impossibly out of reach. (And although it pains me to say this, Amy's speech tics were a turnoff.) I eventually bought one Tibi skirt, deeply discounted and final sale (mistake!), and the zipper sticks every time I wear it. I have moved on.
Thank you, Nancy!
I'm not entirely sure what Dione's role was at Tibi, but to me the clothes never really went anywhere after she left. Maybe her styling chops took the somewhat ordinary clothes to a new level? There was definitely something about the way Amy and Dione presented them that eventually made the clothes seem desirable to me at the time. Or maybe it was just enough repetition and exposure. Who knows!
They also lost Hannah, one of the key designers, right after Dionne. I noticed a shift in design after both of them left - more watered down.
Dione is extremely talented. Tibi lost a lot when she left, imo.
Yes! I think I watched one, but everyone looked as though they were drowning in the clothes, and I couldn't see what it was they were talking about!
Ha, I was actually introduced to Tibi Style Class through one of your posts! Thankfully, I never became too invested in the content, but I can relate to the feeling of being hypnotized by someone else's taste and ideas to the point of killing your own voice. These days when I'm perusing content from someone whose style I admire, I try to focus on the differences between our preferences, instead of the overlaps. Like I objectively love how vintage tailoring suits you, but I have no desire to wear those kinds of pieces myself. I think this mindset shift is helping me enjoy the bountiful personal style writing that exists on platforms like this, without feeling inadequate or compelled to shop.
"I try to focus on the differences between our preferences, instead of the overlaps" -- I love this approach! That's how it should be. Less focus on mimicking and performance, and more appreciation of authenticity and the personal narrative.
I wish I could post a photo, maybe I can message it to you but I just saw the coolest f*cking outfit walking down the street in Toronto in … leather Birks!! Made me think of you, right away!
OG Birks for the win!
Thanks Tiia for this thought-provoking analysis! I really enjoyed reading it.
I bought my first Tibi piece in 2016 and am not quite sure how I learned about the brand. I found Amy’s personal IG in 2017 and absolutely loved it. I remember seeing posts in the morning on the way to work and thinking this woman writes the best fashion copy I have ever read.
Some time during the pandemic I bumped into the Style Class when Dione was there. I agree the Style Class was more eclectic in format and less like an infomercial then. About two years ago I stopped watching Style Class—-not consciously or deliberately. I have limited time and I think I just naturally gravitated towards content I find more interesting. That said I typically will listen to Amy content that’s not style class. But I think Style Class is a great format that more brands should be adopting to help tell the story of their collections.
I think Amy is a brilliant marketer, an excellent stylist and yes, she writes amazing fashion copy :-). I think she’s an inspiring entrepreneur and shows the path forward for a creative looking to own their own brand. Most designers are faced with pretty horrible options. While I also have detected the critical quips that trigger “mean girl” vibes, in a post woke world, I am leaning in to snark. I would hate for her to sanitize her point of view just to avoid offending. I think we should develop thicker skin. I too have plenty of cork birks and I am OK with it even though Dione and Amy both told me that I need a solid color sole. I mean, OK, you do you.
Over time the “cult” piece of this does repel me…so I liked the brand better 2 years ago than I do now. But, as others pointed out, I am also bothered by all The Row clones and if I see one more jelly shoe…UGH. I even think it’s comical that people like the Phoebe Philo stuff (and I love old Celine). It seems very Emperor’s Clothes to me. I was interested to read the comments above from petite people. I am petite, and sorry these Liams look like you are playing in your father’s closet if you are petite. It’s pretty clear to me that oversized clothes have peaked so it will be interesting to see how Tibi pivots over time. And of course all these people who thought they needed “ease” in their wardrobe will need to “refresh” their closet. And so it goes, the wheels of capitalism keep grinding…
I don’t like rules for fashion, I have no adjectives and if I think too much about an outfit it ruins the magic for me. When Amy shares those DMs I am often surprised that someone would ask a stranger on Instagram what they should wear when they go to XY. I think pre Internet people lived in stylish places and non-stylish places. People who lived in the former had pretty decent style even if they had no innate style because of osmosis. (Pretty hard to dress like a dork if you live in Paris.)And the people who lived in the latter lived in bliss. Now the latter see people do things on Instagram and feel they need to copy it but need more detailed instructions. Thus the craving for adjectives, modifiers, visuals etc. When I walk down the street these days I occasionally see stylish people but mostly see people who copied a look from Instagram. Don’t love this.
I agree with the point about the quality of the fabrics although many Tibi items I own still look amazing and I love wearing them. I get a lot of compliments from non-Tibi tribe people when I wear them LOL. I am OK with the price of the book because it was printed in Italy and it shows. I am OK with quality that is expensive. I get it makes it inaccessible but it is a beautifully printed book and I am glad it wasn’t printed in China. Maybe the more egalitarian approach would have been to have sold a PDF for $35 as an alternative?
Thank you for this thoughtful comment, Teresa. I really appreciate you dissecting your opinion on Tibi with so much detail. I love the fact that you have Tibi in your closet that works for your life so seamlessly, and it's good to hear your opinion on the quality as well.
I agree with you about Amy. She's incredibly smart and she talks about style in a completely different way, and that's so valuable. The fact that she's been running an independent fashion company for 20 years is an incredible feat. About the snark thing: I fully agree that we need criticism, but sometimes there's a punching up vs punching down situation that's problematic. Recognizing one's own privilege is crucial, and no, I don't think it kills criticism or creates a society where "we can't say anything anymore". The world is a cruel enough place as it is for privileged people to punch down on people who have less, but that's just my opinion and I totally respect yours.
"I think pre Internet people lived in stylish places and non-stylish places." -- this was such an interesting take! I'm sure that's a big part of it. I also find that there are so many brands and so many different styles out there now. Getting dressed has become freer from social constraints so it's practically impossible to figure out what to buy, what to wear and how to wear it, unless you have natural style chops, and a lot of people don't have those. People need help, so when a brand offers a solution, it's going to be tempting to a lot of people who struggle. We all need to get dressed, after all.
I’m glad you didn’t stop wearing your Birkenstocks regardless if what you heard on style class.
I agree with you. I really find it helpful when people, whose opinions on fashion I admire, don't worry about offending. If I truly disagree with them, then I'll feel confident enough to ignore them. Dione could be extremely blunt too, not just Amy, and I was down for it!
I wanted to let you know that this comment was so interesting and I would love to read your thoughts in long form.
🙏🏻♥️
I appreciate the honest and grounded viewpoint. It’s brave and relatable to talk about the exclusivity of fashion, which though obvious still feels taboo.
A few reactions:
- Often times fashion, and at times even Tibi, feels too aspirational - to the point it makes you feel crappy about yourself and your life even if you meet some of the image on paper. It being out of reach drives a feeling of desperation. And the coolheaded analysis that Tibi promotes can then get lost.
- I, too have learned so many helpful principles from Style Class.
But being a lemming feels both the unavoidable result, and also the antithesis, of the very lessons of style class.
- I think Tibi provides the training wheels for personal style. But I have to try hard that it doesn’t become a final destination.
As in, do I hear my own voice in my head when I’m getting dressed or Amy’s? Amy’s voice has been a helpful guide for me to see more objectively. But personal style also comes from a place of my own, unique subjectivities. The art and the science. I am still trying to find a relationship between the two in my head.
So much of what you're saying resonates with me. "being a lemming feels both the unavoidable result, and also the antithesis, of the very lessons of style class" -- this in particular! I think it's a great question to ask whose voice you hear in your head. I can say that at my worst, I kept thinking "what would Amy do", and that's not personal style. That's just mimicry.
Finally someone with internet presence is speaking candidly about the Tibi-style-class and its dysphoric effects!
I also live in a country with little access to Tibi (make sooo much less money than the average target consumer). I’ve got a few pieces I found second hand that I truly enjoy (like the double waisted jeans). However as a commenter above mentioned, there was a dogmatic, uniform and cliquish quality that made me feel uneasy, especially on the FB group. Hence, one day I just stoped watching the class, left the group and unfollowed tibifluencers on IG. Plus, what I liked from style class was Dione’s input so I’d rather see her career grow somewhere else.
Thank you for reading and sharing your experience! "there was a dogmatic, uniform and cliquish quality that made me feel uneasy" -- I can relate to this so much. I didn't see it initially, or even when I was following Style Class religiously and thinking that I loved every minute of it, but I see it now, so clearly.