Help me with my outfits: WritersFest Days 2,3 & 4 - YouLookFab Forum

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Help me with my outfits: WritersFest Days 2,3 & 4

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Here are my other proposed outfits. Please keep in mind that i am down to a VERY bare bones closet just now. I have purged just about everything, no joke, and have only a little to work with that fits and flatters even remotely.

Day 2 is a very busy day: I'll be on site the whole time, hosting at least 3 events.
I was planning to wear my grey cowl neck as a jumper with off-white T, and my blue sweater over top. Again, do I need hose? Does it work okay? It is very comfortable, a high priority.

Day 3: I do not have any official responsibilities at this time, although last minute duties may be assigned. I'll be attending events with my husband. In the evening we go to a "speakeasy" (a bar with readings and music) - I still don't really have an idea for that, but for the daytime I thought my skinnies plus the "phlox" top and jacket and kitten heels might work okay?

Day 4: I will be hosting several children's events and then attending an afternoon tea with readings. Later that evening there are off-site readings to attend, so I'll need to add some sort of jacket. I am wearing my black jersey dress with a silk shirt layered over it. (Donated shirt - now much too big, but I hope it works belted like this as I LOVE the heavy silk fabric and of course the colour.

Suggestions welcome, especially if you think perhaps I should trade some of the days about or accessorize differently. I don't have much, but could make a trip to the thrift stores.

Bonus kitty shot.

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Dressing

15 replies

Latest reply was from anne

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

First outfit - lovely!! Very elegant but as you said, comfortable. I think it's perfect. I would wear sheer hose. I don't really like the flash of bare knee at the hem, but maybe that's just me!

Second outfit - this outfit is so cute! I love the little pink heels.

Third outfit - I think the red top is too big to wear like this. Can you blouse is up over the belt so it's not so long under the belt? If not, can you wear it tucked in to a skirt? I think I'd prefer pumps with this...

ETA - on outfit three - maybe this fabric is too thick to "blouse", as I'm looking back at it. I do think it would be gorgeous tucked in, which may help disguise the fit issue. If not, then you may want to think about some sort of cardigan or jacket to wear here...

Anonymous

Okay Suz, you know you could show up in a garbage bag and steal the show!

I love the grey dress, and the idea of wearing it multiple times, different ways. Extra bonus: it's comfy, yay! You could go the whole festival re-styling the two frocks.

Just wondering, what does the (oatmeal?) jacket look like over the grey dress? Over the black dress? Love the rasberry colored top with the skinny jeans. Are the shoes pink?

I'm not loving the red shirt, but I love heavy silk and classic lines, so I understand the appeal. I will defer to the cold-climate ladies on the use of hose and tights.

I think a patterned casual scarf that incorporates some of these colors would multiply your outfit potential ten fold. Do you have a Target? You could pick one up for under $20.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Thanks Jeneva and Claire! You both make good points. Interesting about outfit 3; this is my husband's fave, so maybe something is not coming across in the pic or maybe he has bad taste!

The "oatmeal" jacket (Angie called it mushroom earlier today) is actually a red/white/blue tweed! But the overall effect is lavender or mushroom. It's amazingly versatile and will work with red, white or navy as well as this raspberry or orchid or phlox colour, other blues, the slate dress (yes) and even black.

The shoes are thrifted and they are dark pink, a slightly lighter shade than the top but same colour family.

Alas - we have no Target in Canada yet. It is on its way but won't be here for several years. But I can look around elsewhere for scarves. I do have scarves, just not in colours that would work here, except maybe the snake print one I showed in another thread today. Hogging the bandwidth today, I am!

Elly

Veteran

Loving all but the last with the red blouse-- it is just two big and maybe a little dated despite the beautiful quality. If I were you I would take it to someone that could alter it into something slimmer or new-- otherwise perhaps it is time to donate or pass it on.

Could you wear the red cord jacket from the other threat with the dress instead?

Anonymous

Interesting about the red/white/blue tweed jacket. I forgot about the snake print scarf! That's perfect. Have a play with that. It really has a neutral look to it so it might work with more things than you would expect.
My husband has very classic taste and would probably prefer to see me in something on the dated side of classic than on the cutting edge side, because he understands the dated style. It has been around long enough for him to become familiar with them and it feels "safe" to him. So I can understand why he likes it. Sometimes my hubby will say something like, "Nice, honey. Very Nancy Reagan." And I have to tell him that I don't take that as a compliment, lol!

celia

Veteran

The first two outfits are perfect,#2 is my favourite.
In the last one the blouse doesn't do it for me,it look way too big.

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

I am with Jenava: the first two outfits are lovely, the red blouse is too long over the skirt. How does it look tucked in? If this is a black dress - can you wear a cropped jacket over it? It would look great with your "mushroom" one but you may not want to wear the same jacket twice...
As for scarves my go-to place is Winners - they almost always have something nice there.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Thanks, Sveta. This is the black dress. I don't have a suitable skirt. And I suspect that tucked, this blouse might be even more noticeably big. It would blouse out a lot.

Looks like I am back to the drawing board with Day 4! Thanks for your honest opinions!

I'd rather not wear the tweedy jacket two days in a row. But I will see what else I can wrestle up from my limited cupboard. I could possibly wear jeans again with a different jacket. Since I'm hosting kids' events that wouldn't be too casual, I don't think. But for the afternoon tea, it might. And on-site changes would be really difficult. I'll do some thinking.

I also have to figure out an outfit for the Saturday night speakeasy. Something sparkly would be great, but so far I'm not getting too far with that idea. Might have to hit the thrift store again.

Deborah

Veteran

Love 1 to 5. ... Stunning ! I am wondering with the weight of he fabric of the blouse if you couldn't style it more like a jacket? I am finding it hard to assess the fit in the photo. What does it look like over skinny jeans... Just a thought

lyn67

Veteran

I love the first 2 outfits, sooo much! But the red blouse has to be tucked inif worn with that skirt, plus the shade of the red here, paired with so much black, it feels much more evening wear, than daywear, but maybe it's just me...
So, good luck on the writersfest week!!!:-)

ButterflyLady

(website)

Veteran

You are so pretty, Suz - and so is your garden and your lovely cat!

I like the first two outfits, but I agree with the others that the red blouse does look too big for you, and too long - the colour is lovely on you though.

krishnidoux

Veteran

I agree with everybody else about the red top. I am sorry to say this, but it ages you. The red top somehow looks "tired" there, is it the drooping shoulders or is it because it is belted and contained very conservatively, all buttoned up and chained down under the necklace?

ideas for DAY-EVENING 4 drawing board: day: how about having the blouse tailored? Then worn with no belt and longer skirt or pants. I would see skinny black pants with it, cute heels. It looks to me you have it down for daytime, but are shy with evening outfits. You need to put yourself forth more! You are so beautiful.
Do you have other footwear options for the evening, such as black heels or kitten heels? The boots are too daytime for evening function, you will feel out of place. Take it from a diplomat's wife. You could really go for tucking with your cute figure, in the skirt. It would "lift" the silhouette. Don't hide!

I LOVE all the other outfits though, the way you wear the dress twice and it is equally pretty, the long blue cardigan, the pink heels, the cute round collared cardigan...

Re: skinny pants: what size are you? I have Benetton "BJ" 065 low rise skinny black treated denim jeans in size "38" which feels like a 2 or even 0. I am giving them away.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Thanks again, all. These are all good thoughts and good suggestions. I am definitely going back to the drawing board for Outfits 1 (Day 1) and Day 4 (the unloved red top.) Plus my outfit for Saturday night, which I haven't even figured out enough to post yet!

I'll post more options later, I hope!

Krishnadoux—you are right, I don't have much in the way of evening stuff. Not much call to wear it, either. The particular event I'm attending on Sunday evening will not call for the usual "evening" attire, though. It will be held on the university and the audience will be mostly students and profs, so dressy casual or, again, artistic professional would be more the look I am after, not "evening" per se. I am certain that if I dress artistic professional I will be much more dressy than 90% of the people there.

Having said that, I do need a more "evening" look for the Saturday night party and am still mulling about that. Can't wear the Evening 1 leaf skirt twice, and anyway, it's a bit too dressy for this particular event. What I want is what an artist would wear to a club. Whatever that is, LOL! None of the artists I know actually GO to clubs. We're up too early in the morning to think about that (at least at our age!)

I'll look into altering the blouse for later. I doubt if my seamstress could do it fast enough for this week. So I'll aim for another outfit.

Re size: You are so generous to mention those jeans. They might be worth a try! I don't know Benetton sizing. I took a 00 in the Gap Long and Leans but usually seem to be anywhere between 0 and 4, depending on make and cut, in jeans. The real sticking point is the rise. If it is less than 8.5 inches it will likely be too low on me. I know that is technically mid-rise but on me it appears low as I have a long rise.

Queen Mum

Veteran

Love the first 2 outfits.. perfect! For the last outfit I would just like to see some ot the top buttons left undone. That might make all the difference. I think hose is up to you and whether your legs will be cold. Sheer black patterned hose would be my choice if I thought i needed them.

anne

Veteran

Suz, I don't have any more wisdom to add to the great advice you have already been given which I agree with - Hope it goes well. I am trying to look at your other thread but my internet connection is so slow it is taking forever - but love the denim jacket and raspberry jack outfits.