There's very valuable advice and insight here - you women are the best. Really. It's funny, after I posted this, I decided to wear the sweater to a meeting this afternoon: with pale grey Maddie pants (another Jan purchase that I have NEVER worn, despite how beautifully they fit) , navy suede pumps and a navy suede moto. (the sweater has blue and touches of coraly red in it, which I why I was wearing that weird grey beaded necklace with the coral silk tassel - lol) . I still didn't love it. I think Diana and AJ are right: pale heathered grey is a more casual colour, and the widely spaced floral is not particularly interesting nor flattering. What the heck was I thinking when I bought it? Oh I know- it was on a super skinny mannequin wearing skinny white jeans! I hate white jeans . I'm done with being fooled by them too. Buying for that fantasy life and body again.
AM, rachylou and Angie -thank you! I think the only way to wear it is by going contrast and tougher - I love the shrunken black blazer and cigarette pants look, and the pointy black flats for finishing. A chunkier necklace is probably best too - today I wore some gold earrings and a gold ring - also a fail.
I have no pointy toe flats - but should really go find some . I don't know, the whole sweater isn't making me feel fab and I'm ticked off that I spent that much money on it. It's also that neither here-nor-there length, which may also be a problem. It's too bad when you end up having to buy more things to make one sweater work.
Lesson: ignore the sales person who is reminding you how well the sweater sold the first time in and that they were on their second repeat. Just because other cool people bought it doesn't mean I need to