I'm not sure why, but to me this look works for you. Possibly because you're wearing straighter jeans. I think it looks great! I like it with or without the sweater (unbuttoned).

i like it! i especially love it with the sweater! by the way, i can totally relate to the differing styles thing. my mom doesn't buy me much anymore aside from xmas, but even then i have to send her links to the exact item i want. i'm just too particular! :) then i feel bad when i do donate her items to goodwill. especially b/c shes usually is the one to take them there...and she tends to sort through them first for tax deduction purposes.

I really like it too! I think it's very flattering and it looks the right length for pants! Especially nice with the red sweater.

I like the top with the cardigan. The cardigan gives you the waist definition you want and the red and the animal print work really well together.

I like that shirt! If you were wearing it by itself, you could try a belt for some waist definition. I think it looks great with the red cardi that is buttoned at the waist.

I like it with both the cardigan and without the cardigan! Very nice!!

Looks great. I can relate to the mother daughter differences in taste from the other end of the spectrum. I could never pick out clothing that my daughter would like.

Oooh I like this top on you...a lot. I like it with cardi, without the cardi and with teh cardi buttoned.

Other colors you could wear are endless. Black and white goes with just about everything. You could try a different colored cami underneath too. The one color that is jumping into my mind is a bright green. I think that would look really nice with your dark skin tone. You could even wear a red cami underneath, with a green cardi or jacket.

I really like this top and I hope you keep it.

Thanks everyone for your input. I think I will keep it although I will probably go for the cardi route. It's hard to show how poufy it looks in the photo - both the neckline and the bottom hem is gathered/pleated. It sort of looks like a bubble-hem skirt.

Shell & San - I do appreciate it and I feel bad giving the clothes away but honestly, I have been asking my mom for about the last 10 years to stop buying me clothes. I even tell her that I'm going to give items to goodwill and that doesn't seem to faze her. Like I said, alot of what she gives me are her castoffs - things that she decided she doesn't like anymore or doesn't fit her properly which is hard for me because she's about 4 sizes bigger than me. I guess she'd rather have me give it to goodwill than take it there herself! My recommendation - gift cards!!!

Nicole, thanks for the color input. I have to keep my eye out for a green cardi. I was thinking some shade of yellow might work too but I wasn't sure if that was more of a spring/summer color. I am totally color handicapped - most of my closet is black and I am trying hard to break out of that rut. It's funny because most of my ethnic clothing (which I wear very rarely) is in bright, beautiful color combinations and yet my day-to-day wardrobe is very blah in comparison. I am really loving all the beautiful, saturated jewel tones out there right now - the teals, deep purples etc and have been trying to incorporate more color into my life.

I know you already decided, but one more vote for the top with the cardi. A little animal print goes a long way, and the red really makes it pop. :D

I like the top on you, especially with the cardi. You could use any jewel tone with that top. Purple would be interesting.

Love it with the cardi!

Love it with the cardi too. Sweet!