Have YLF tastes evolved? - YouLookFab Forum

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Have YLF tastes evolved?

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

This dress is a golden oldie and wearing it with tough shooties always feels right to me. But the last time I wore this ensemble it got panned. People said the tough booties didn't go with the delicate dress and that they could possibly be shortening. But since that time it seems that many others are wearing booties and dresses, and ylf'ers keep trying to convince me that I can wear this combo too. I'm wondering if tastes have evolved and this outfit is now seen as ok or is this combo still questionable on me?

Yay: it works!

Nay: i'm too petite to pull off ankle booties with dresses!

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Urgent

31 replies

Latest reply was from Vicki

Anonymous

That's funny. That reminds me of pearls, which everyone on the forum says "go with everything, wear them all the time, with a T-shirt, a denim jacket, whatever!" and whenever I sport them with an outfit, they say "take off the pearls! They're too dressy with that, they don't work"! Well, perhaps I exaggerate.

Anyway! I love the dress (it's old?) and it plays so well with Dotty! I think the shooties are fun with it. There is enough of your leg showing to please my eye, since the dress is above the knee. I'm sure it would also look great with nude pumps. Do you wear it different ways, or do you always wear the shooties with it?

Anonymous

Ah I'm not sure, but I've been off my rocker so much this week. I'm awaiting consensus with interest. I think it might have to with the shoe being so substantial i.e. black, wedge, wide platform, wide straps, not with the concept of dresses and booties, per se. On the other hand, you like this type of clunkier shoe, which I think is fab on you. There is something to be said for following your fashion persona.
I'm no help whatsoever.

Irene

Veteran

Maybe I'm not with the rest of the forum on this one, but my classic not evolving persona says that that dress would look so much better with a lighter shoe.

MNsara

Veteran

I think it works -- the simple black with the dress and purse pattern mixing, and there's still plenty of leg between higher vamp and higher hemline.

But I'm thinking along Zap's line of something less substantial or lighter in color might be more traditionally 'flattering' for leg lengthening, and putting more focus on your super cute dress.

When both directions work, go with YOUR fave

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

Here's Kellygirl's version that inspired me to wear this dress with these shooties:
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....which-shoe

@Claire: Since I saw Kellygirl's pictures, I really can't image wearing this dress with any other shoes now. It has been with me through many shoe fads, I've worn it with other styles of low black sandals before but they just do not rock my clock like these do.

Here's the previous thread from a year ago that got lukewarm reviews. I really think my hair was the problem in these pictures, not the dress&shoe combo:
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....den-oldies

Amy

(website)

Veteran

Are the heels on those shoes black? Or is that just shadow? If they're black, then that does make them look heavier than the shoes Kellygirl is wearing, which have brown heels.

I like wearing booties with my dresses, but something about this particular pair makes your feet look...thick? and I know they're not.

Take what I say with a grain of salt though. I'm fairly conventional in my tastes. If the shoes make you happy, then wear them no matter what anyone else says.

Marie

It works & looks very edgy & fashion-forward. The black shoes pick up the black in your printed dress & bookends your dark hair. I read other fashion blogs & they are sporting printed summery type dresses with shooties in addition to sandals/wedges & of course look great.

Jjsloane

Veteran

I don't think it's terrible, but something is not a 10 for me. I do like they bookend your hair. I've tried to work shooties with dresses and not mastered it yet. Maybe because Kellygirl's dress is flowy and yours is tailored? I think the look I am most attracted to (which inspires me to try the combo) are flowy romantic topwear with the rugged shoeties OR tailored with dark tights and the booties. Sorry, not much help.

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

@Amy, these are the same shooties as Kellygirl is wearing, mine may be in shadow here?

rae

(website)

Veteran

I think it is that particular dress. Kelly's dress has a boho rocker vibe, sleeves, and a fuller skirt that go better with a super duper chunky black wedge like that. This dress is at once more dressy/mod/60s/slinky... I think that's why it looks a tad disjointed with those particular shoes.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I like the combination, Rita. I'm quite sure I said that the first time too.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Rita - you know I love shooties/booties with skirts and dress, despite knowing it's not leg lengthening for us shorties. I love this combination - the chunkier shooties give the whole dress "edge".

cheryl

Veteran

I really like it. I think the sweet floral dress is complimented by the edgy/rockstar booties and dotty bag. You also love it, so who cares what anyone else thinks. Sorry, I think I have a bad attitude where that is concerned, lol. If I love it, I don't really care what anyone else thinks. Fashion is individual and personal.

Tanya

Veteran

I also think this works. Pretty dress!

HeleenH

Veteran

I think it works. I would like to see though how it looks with a lower vamp black shoe, with white shoes and with nude shoes. Do you have any of those?

Isabel

Veteran

Yes ! Today's post by Angie is a prime example. I stopped liked denim 20 years ago. I would only wear it if I had to. Over the last couple of years on here, I gained a collection of jeans ( straight, skinny !!!!!!!!! , wide leg, RED ). Then I added some denim shirts ( one with polka dots ) and now I even had a couple of denim jackets. It amazes me to write this. Additionally, one of my favorite looks now is denim with something dressy.

There are other things too. Better, but fewer, shoes. Comfortable boots. Colorful bags. These have been easy things to incorporate into stay at mom wardrobe.

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

@Helene - I wonder why this dress looks delicate. To me it is feminine but tough at the same time. I always feel like delicate low vamp pumps or other soft shoes would not work with it. because of the strong modern graphic print. I have nude shoes of all sorts. Perhaps I will try them next time?

@Angie and Shannon! I was hoping you would approve! This makes me very happy!

ironkurtin

Veteran

This dress looks great on you, and I think you can wear chunky or delicate shoes with it. I like heavier shoes with a sweet dress, personally.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I think it works, Rita. In the current pics it just looks as if you might have a bit of a sock line going on at the ankle area (know how when you take off your socks sometimes there's a line?) or maybe it is just a shadow. Anyway, it interrupts the leg line a bit, but IRL that would not be the case!

Because your hair is dark, these bookend and ground the look. To me, it's a winner.

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

Ha Suz! You noticed my sock line from my wooly sleep socks
Yes it was there this morning but it is gone now.

rachylou

Veteran

Hmm. Interesting. I was going to vote Nay until I saw the dress and shoes from the side, and now I think it's a big Yay. I love the chunky heel with the slim dress: funky and hot.

@claire - Haha! Imagining you, and some preppy nautical stripes, and pearls, I can see everybody saying that about the pearls... but you'd be really cute dressed as a flapper and wearing 'em

Diana

Veteran

I think Rae may be right that it is the dress and not the shoes. Kelly's dress is looser and more flowy, whereas yours is more sheath-like. I think that, even though it's not objectively shorter than yours, the more flowy skirt on hers gives the illusion of more leg to balance the chunky shoes.

Me, personally? I would wear this dress with tough mid-calf boots. A moto or combat style, but I don't really think that would be you... I do think you are on the right track with pairing the tough shoes with the pretty dress. Maybe try either a slightly lower vamp or something with some more detailing (like laces or buckles or something) on the shoe to break up the block of black a little?

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

@Diana, I don't think I have any midcalf boots, I feel like they would be too shortening on my 5' frame. Perhaps if it was a micromini it would work with midcalf boots. But then it wouldn't be work appropriate.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I haven't read the other responses yet, and I guess I missed this combo the first time you posted it, but I don't see a problem! The dress is a bold graphic floral, and the black in the pattern is substantial enough that the shoes ground it, rather than weigh it down. The shoes edge it up, whereas a more delicate shoe would be more predictable.

But then, I am a somewhat-chunky shoe fan. I say wear it and enjoy!

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I think the shoe looks 'heavy' with this, but not bad per se. My personal taste would be for either a strappier black shoe or a lighter version of this one.
As for evolving YLF tastes - I hope so! Being stagnant was one of the reasons I had short shirts 4 years after no one else wore them anymore! But, yes, I had 2 midi's that were panned when I first got here about 20 months ago only to find they were the "new" length a few short months later. Held on to one I loved anyway, and now it's "in". go figure.

Anonymous

Rita, I know what you mean about not wanting a nude/soft shoe with the strong print of the dress. I know nude shoes are supposed to go with *everything* (as you certainly can attest!) but sometimes a dark hemline wants to be grounded. Please tell me you can wear denim to work! A faded jean jacket would be such an awesome topper for this ensemble.

Jonesy

Veteran

I like the dress with these shoes! And I also liked your hair in the earlier pics :).

I think sometimes the reaction to an item or outfit just depends on the particular set of responses you happen to get that day....it's never a random sample of responses, you know? So by chance it might have been a majority of people who bat for Team Delicate Footwear (vs. Team Chunky, or whatever) that day you posted your original thread.

Makrame

Veteran

This combination does not completely work for me - and I am saying this as someone who has a bunch of dark, "substantial" summer shoes/sandals that got some criticism before on the forum. That said, I would not hesitate to wear this combination if I was in the mood for it - I just don't think it is the most flattering look for you, at least in the photos, but it is interesting in its own way.

I also like Claire's idea of a denim jacket on top - perhaps that's all you would need to "balance it out".

ironkurtin

Veteran

Claire, I am so pulling out my pearls now.

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