First Attempt at Smart Casual

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First Attempt at Smart Casual

Becky

Veteran

This is a variation on my first attempt at Angie's smart casual formula:

http://i285.photobucket.com/al.....oo/002.jpg

The first time I wore the button-down and jacket with dark wash jeans and the same navy flats. I loved the way it looked. The second time I wore it with this skirt, which I bought last summer before I determined my perfect knee length. The skirt is about 3 inches longer than my ideal knee length, and it can't be shortened without throwing off the balance with the flared part at the bottom. Should I keep it or get rid of it? I love the style, color, and detailing, it's just not the right length and that can't be remedied. As to the whole outfit, I need help with suggestions for accessories. I don't actually have a lot of accessories, so I'd like to be on the lookout for some versatile pieces.

18 years ago

What I Wore

11 replies

Latest reply was from Becky

Nicole

Veteran

Becky, You can have that skirt shortened if you really love it and want to keep it. The ruffle on the bottom can be removed, the shirt shortened, and then the ruffle can be reattached. If you think the straight part of the skirt would be too short for the length of the ruffle, you can have the ruffle shortened too. It could be a costly alteration though. But if you have a lot invested in the skirt, and if you really love it--then it might be worth it.

18 years ago

Becky

Veteran

Nicole, actually the ruffle is not separate from the skirt, which is what makes it tricky. It can't be taken off because the skirt is all one piece of fabric.

18 years ago

shannon

Active Member

First of all I love the shirt, the color is wonderful. The skirt is very cute also. I'm not sure about the length. I know nothing about that myself, but it is very cute. A pair of wedges would look nice with it.

I'm not loving the jacket on you. Don't hate me, I know you said you loved it. I think it looks a little boxy and the sleeves seem too short. Maybe try a more fitted jacket and button it up.

18 years ago

Becky

Veteran

Shannon, I am beginning to think you're right. I had liked it on the first time, but it does appear boxier in the picture that I originally thought. It seems that photographing outfits is very instructive...for me, at least, most everything seems less flattering in a photo than I think it is at first! I guess if it looks good in the photo, I'll know it really does look good! Do you have suggestions for places to look for more fitted jackets? My shoulders are broad, so that makes the whole thing a little trickier. I know they can be altered, but at a cost I probably wouldn't be willing to pay.

18 years ago

shiny

Veteran

Skirts can be taken up from the top, not just the bottom. That may be the best approach with this skirt. They would have to replace the zipper, but it's not impossible to do.

With that said, it's hard for me to say the length is wrong because of the angle of this shot. With high heels and a shorter shirt, the length may be just fine.

Regarding the jacket, I agree it's boxy. The shoulders seem to fit you well. What happens when you roll up the sleeves? How does it look over skinny jeans? Or even belted? Menswear-inspired, boxy jackets are trendy right now, so over skinny jeans with the sleeves rolled up this could be a good look, keeping with the trend.

Otherwise, you might consider having a tailor take it in in the waist - just a few strategic seams in the back to give you more of a waist. Try this: take two banana clips, and nip the material at the waist in two places in the back. See how it looks. If it looks better, this is a simple alteration because it's essentially two darts in the back, one on either side of the center seam.

My mom is a seamstress and she has the hardest time finding jackets that fit her arms and shoulders - she needs a Large for those, but then her teeny tiny waist is completely hidden. So she puts darts into all her jackets.

18 years ago

Becky

Veteran

Thanks for the tips, Shiny. Actually, this jacket feels a bit too snug across the shoulders. How should a jacket fit in the shoulder? You should have complete range of motion, right? Or not? I don't like that restricted feeling, but I felt I could deal with it for a few hours at a time. With the other strikes against the jacket, though, I don't think it would be a keeper.

18 years ago

Tanya

Veteran

Becky, the color of that shirt is lovely on you!
I agree with the above comments on the skirt and jacket. If the skirt can not be altered even from above, one more thing you could try is ( for colder weather) is to wear with with boots that are knee-high ( so that the skirt covers their top completely), pointy toed and with a bit of a heel. I mean those really calf hugging ones. I've seen this type of a boot sometimes work marvels on rescuing skirts of too-long-a-length.
One more thing, please don't mind this, but I think that those shoes, tough lovely, are for pants only. Skirts require a lower vamp, so that your exposing the top of the foot and elongating your leg line. Try the skirt with a lower vamp shoe with a bit of a heel/wedge, that might help as well.
I totally second Shiny on her jacket comments. In general you should buy fitted jackets that fit your shoulders, and add darts ( or take more in from existing ones), If a jacket fits you well on shoulders, arms and length, the alteration should not be so costly.
For inexpensive summery jackets to experiment with at first, try H&M!

18 years ago

shiny

Veteran

The jacket looks like it fits perfectly in the shoulders to me. I do tend to like the shoulders a bit snug rather than too loose, because I find that over time the fabric tends to give and relax anyway. It depends on the fabric; this is certainly true of leather jackets or wool suiting jackets - they WILL give and you will be much better off buying the snug one rather than the loose one.

With that said, if you wear this jacket all day long, and you wind up with wrinkles/whiskers in the armpit area, then it is definetly TOO snug. I have one jacket (from H&M - so cheap material) that does that. But I wear it anyway because it's so cute! Me bad... I can get away with it as long as I keep it unbuttoned and only wear it for a few hours, and not all day.

18 years ago

Anonymous

The skirt is begging to be worn with boots and a fitted sweater. Very cute skirt.

18 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Thanks for posting your first attempt, Becky. Super-duper!

You've received marvelous feedback from our forum members. The components of the outfit are right, but the devil is in the detail and I hope to make that clearer with my 2 cents worth:

o Quite right, the skirt is about 3 inches too long and it’s a gorgeous. Take it to a tailor and see what they can do.
o The pink shirt is wonderful against your skin. You wear this colour well! Shirt is probably too long for the skirt, but I’m not sure cause the jacket is covering it. Try belting the shirt to shorten it.
o The shape of the jacket is hiding your cute shape. It’s too long and too boxy for your petite frame. It needs to be a good 6-8 inches shorter, tailored and worn with a longer layer underneath (but not too long). Sleeves are also too long. They need to be 2-3 inches shorter. Also, choose a jacket with a V neck. It will give you height. I’m afraid that the jacket might need to go Becky. That’s not worth tailoring.
o Penny mocs (your shoes) are best worn with pants. You need a shoe with a lower vamp to wear with skirts. This elongates the leg. Does that make sense?

Don’t worry about accessories Becky. Get a fab pair of specs and that’s ALL the accessory you need! It shall increase the style quotient of every outfit that you wear. Even a black paper bag!

Love your pretty smile and rose skin!

18 years ago

Becky

Veteran

Thanks ever so much for your kind and constructive feedback, ladies!

Sad to say, I don't think the skirt can be taken up from the top because it has detail stitching that would be ruined by changing the position of the waistband. I'm sad, but I'd rather have something the right length that flatters. I may wait to try it with boots in the fall before I get rid of it.

I'll have to do some serious looking for jackets and trying some on to see how the fit varies with brand, style, etc.

Tanya and Angie, you're right about the shoes. My shoe wardrobe (well, actually, my entire wardrobe) needs a serious overhaul. I'm not actually sure I have *any* skirt-worthy shoes. At least it's the season to shop for that...

18 years ago

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