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Major wardrobe overhaul--please help evaluate the loot!

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

I'm in the midst of a major wardrobe overhaul after neglecting it for the past five years so please bear with me. A bunch of stuff arrived today from Bluefly and Kate Spade and I'd like to get your help deciding what to keep and what to return. Plus there's a couple of NAS items I'm waffling on too. Sorry for all the pictures but there's a lot of stuff and I'd really love your honest opinion on everything. Some of the Kate Spade is returnable and some stuff is final sale but if you guys really hate them I can always ebay or consign those if they're hideous. I'm not sure yet whether the Kate Spade is really my "style", whether it looks good on me, or whether it's too old-fashioned and/or cutesy for me to get away with wearing? And the jacket--love it or leave it?

Big news--new boots from Zappos! I think these ones from La Canadienne fit much better (thanks to all your suggestions) than the Kacey riding boots. Plus they are so comfy--I've never had a wedge heel before but they feel almost like tennis shoes/clogs! So I think I can actually wear these all day! Woohoo! I'm in love!

Here are the pictures:
https://picasaweb.google.com/1.....utfits811#

Here are the new items I need help with deciding on, please vote yea or nay on each:
1. La Canadienne Galaxy boots
2. Nordstrom Hinge shearling vest
3. Nordstrom Ruffled plaid shirt
4. Nordstrom BP beige pointelle sweater
5. Bluefly grey cardigan
6. Bluefly polka dot ruched top
7. Bluefly ombre sweater
8. Nordstrom Theory Adeline gray pants
9. Kate Spade Polka Dot Jillian dress
10. Kate Spade Melissa Ruffle Trench
11. Kate Spade Ilene flowered cardigan
12. Kate Spade Fiona wrap dress
13. Kate Spade Crystal Corsage bib necklace
14. Kate Spade Butterfly necklace
15. Kate Spade red flower Date Night Ring
16. Kate Spade floral scarf
17. Amazon red butterfly scarf

Shopping

23 replies

Latest reply was from catgirl

Elly

Veteran

4-- not my fave on you
6-- really think this is one of the more flattering pieces, looks good
8-- love these on you, although the camera angle is not the best
9-- I like this-- except from the side where the hem hangs my longer in the front than the back-- perhaps it could be rehemmed

I will let others chime in on the rest

Fruitful

Veteran

Goldenpig, I qualify my response first: I don't feel confident to tell you what to return because a) it depends on how you ultimately style the item as part of your wardrobe and b) I am seriously biased by my personal taste.

That said, I will tell you my LOVES.

#6 Polka dot ruched top - Love! Jumping for joy! Looks beautiful on you and plenty of personality yet understated enough to be versatile!

#9 Polka dot dress - another LOVE! Gives me a feeling of Alice in Wonderland especially how you wear it with those gorgeous shoes (what are they?)

#10 Ruffled trench Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! I cannot get enough of seeing this utterly charming coat which works on you (and with the dress) so well.

Everything else has something nice and workable about it but these three made my heart sing.

And despite me saying the Aquatalia boots are a bit big, I'm glad you're keeping. The Galaxy is a better fit but so... sensible. Lol. You need some Wonderwoman boots too!

Lynne

Veteran

GP, what a haul! To my eye, these boots are fantastic, they're a much firmer fit and the heel suits you! I love your trench, scarf, dotty dress, and cardi and necklaces. Gorgeous. The ring is fun, too :).

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

Thanks Elly & Fruitful & lynne! I really love the polka dot top too. Is it too much to have a polka dot shirt AND a polka dot dress? LOL! I like them both though!

Fruitful, the red T-strap pumps are Clarks. And I'm glad you like the Aquatalia boots! I have a thing for red footwear!

rute

Veteran

Those are the items I would pass:
- Hinge vest - not fabulous, you can do better;
- Plaid shirt - don't like, you can do better;
- cream sweater - too bulky;
- mid-skirt - seems a bit dated;
- Kacey boots - lovely but a bit big, maybe with skinny jeans inside the boots?

Finally I must say I loved that Kate spade polka dot dress!
Have fun with your wardrobe cleaning!

Kristine

Veteran

Lots of goods stuff!!

I like the Canadienne boots and they seem to fit you well. I think the Aquatalia boots are way too big in the calf unless you only want to wear them with jeans. I love the style though!

nancylee

Veteran

Wow! That's a big haul. Here's my two cents:

Hinge vest - looks much better on you than it did on me!....but it's not a "10"
Kate Spade dress - excellent (but I'm not sure about it with the green cardi)
Canadienne boots - excellent
Polka dot top - very nice
Cardigans - they seem functional, but I'm not sure the green one is working
Ruffled trench - nice....looks really good unbuttoned!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

My thoughts, for whatever they are worth:

1. A woman can never have too many dots.

(Well, okay, maybe that is a slight exaggeration, but if you like them and they suit you, I think it is perfectly fine to have a dress and a top in that extremely versatile pattern.)

2. Any boots that are super comfortable are worth hanging onto.

In terms of which I like/ don't like:

The ones that struck me as really good were the polka dot top, the polka dot dress (loved it with those shoes!), the Fiona dress (for more formal events), and possibly the trench, if you have a need for one and don't think you will tire of the ruffles. The grey pants could be good also. I also really loved that bib necklace.

I wonder if you could find any boots styled like those Aquitalias in a size that would work better for you? Because much as I approve your buying the Canadienne boots, I think they have a somewhat different feel, being a bit more casual.

The vest and cardigans, while okay, didn't sing to me. But a lot depends on what your needs are and what wardrobe holes you are trying to fill, and how you would style them.

Marlene1

For me, it's all about the color. You wear black really well and look killer in high contrast (like the polka dots that have gotten universal love here.)
I'd ditch the grays, beige, brown tops becauseI think other colors would flatter you more.

Turkey Vulture

I agree that both the polka-dot top and dress are awesome on you! I'm not a huge fan of the beige sweater on you although you did style it well with the plaid under it. It's hard for me to say what you should return and what not...but I definitely like the Kate Spade stuff on you! (Love the ruffle trench, too, and I usually don't like ruffles.)

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I agree with the others that the polka dot dress in particular is fab on you! The only item that I really didn't care for is that beige sweater.

I like the Hinge vest, but I may be biased because I bought it too, although I haven't had a chance to play with it yet and see how I might style it. Does yours shed? Mine was something awful when I unpacked it, and I hope it stops!

Queen Mum

Veteran

okay, so I don't beat around the bush....

no on the Pointelle sweater
no on the ombre sweater
no on the ruffled trench

an absolute YES to...
floral scarf
fiona dress
corsage necklace
melissa trench
jillian dress
la canadeienne boots
shearling vest

the other's aren't no's, they just didnt' catch my attention like the ones I listed.

Great job updating your wardrobe!

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

I love everything after 5. I am a big fan of polka dots and ombre colors. You look lovely in them. I love the green and I think the scarves are very versatile. I am concerned about the boots. I just don't think they're as fab as they could be.. there are a million boots coming for fall. I would hold out for something that is perfect for you.

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

So I forgot to ask the most important question about your wardrobe overhaul.

Did you do your major closet purge yet?

You can't really see what you have and where your wardrobe holes are until you get rid of everything that doesn't get worn, doesn't fit, isn't flattering, or is out of style. Also, that little corner of your closet that you've been hiding stuff in "just in case"... that's got to get cleared out too...

Anonymous

Another big YAY for the polka dot dress! So fab!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

These are definite keeps in my book:

The LC boots are amazing! I know them well and you will love them.

KILLER polka dot dress!

Fab Hinge Shearling Vest!

KILLER Ruffle trench!

Polka dot top

KILLER bib necklace!

Both scarves and the ring.

Hope that helps

Queen Mum

Veteran

okay, clearly I wasn't awake yet. I thought there were 2 different trenches. I'm not crazy about it buttoned up, but it was hard to tell in the pic. The closer-up, unbuttoned pics looked fab.

I also didn't realize there were 2 scarves. I like them both.

I've got my coffee now. I can proceed with clarity

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

Wow, thanks so much for the feedback, keep it coming! Sounds like the pointelle sweater is definitely a "no" so that is going back. I think maybe I look better in either mock turtlenecks or V-necks rather than crew necklines. I am also not in love with the flowered cream cardigan like I thought I would be, but unfortunately that's final sale so I either have to live with it or figure out a way to pass it on (maybe a gift to my mom or MIL?) The grey cardigan is lighter than I would have liked but I like the braiding detail so I'm still waffling on that (I don't have any long cardigans which seems to be the current trend...I have a bunch of old crew-neck cardigans/twinsets that I should probably purge). And still waffling on the ombre turtleneck--not sure if I look OK in full turtlenecks. I'm keeping the LC boots instead of the Kacey riding boots. I've looked for similar boots to the Aquatalia but haven't found anything in a smaller calf so if anyone has any leads, let me know, but otherwise I'm keeping those shiny red boots because they make me happy

I am glad you all seem to like the polka dot dress! I have never worn dresses like that before so it was a bit of a risk. The green cardi is old, a gift from my mother that I hardly wear. But I was at a loss to figure out how to style the dress so I can dress it down to wear it to work, because I feel like if I wear it plain, it looks a bit too fancy/evening for work. Any other suggestions for styling that dress for work/everyday? Because I would love to pull it out more often than just for date night & special occasions!

Janet, I haven't noticed any shedding, but have not had a chance to actually wear the shearling vest out yet. I mainly bought it because they styled it with the Hinge blouse that you can see in my profile pic, but I just have not been able to bring myself to wear that combo out yet. It's very different from my usual style so I was hesitant, but since Angie likes it maybe I'll give it a chance and take the plunge!

Modgirl, I did do a big purge of my closet, mainly by packing up all my maternity clothes that I've still been wearing even though it's been a year and a half since I was pregnant. A lot of Japanese weekend stuff. Actually, that black skirt that I wore with the polka dot top is a JW maternity skirt, LOL! I was still wearing the empire waist tops to work because they were the most updated/stylish things in my closet. But I think it's time for new stuff (I wore the maternity even between my two pregnancies, haha). I haven't gotten rid of all the maternity clothes yet because I'm not sure if we will have another or not, but last winter I did pass on a lot of the maternity stuff I didn't love to my SIL who was pregnant. I still have a tub of pre-preg stuff (mainly t-shirts & casual stuff) that I need to sort through, because a lot of the T-shirts don't fit over my tummy anymore. Most of the rest that is hanging has been picked through. Even though it doesn't appear that way in my messy closet pics, it's a lot more organized than it was before!

Queen Mum

Veteran

GP-- both of those cardigans will come in handy for you.. I wouldn't pass them on. I'm not always crazy about my cardigans, but they do get worn.
I love the green jacket paired with that polka dot dress!

Nakidra

Veteran

Please keep those Theory pants! They look great on you and now I will proceed to Nordstroms and get some for myself.... thank you!
Love the Kate Spade dress and trench!!

rae

(website)

Veteran

1. La Canadienne Galaxy boots - Love! These will go so well with all your skirts.

2. Nordstrom Hinge shearling vest - I like the fit of this, maybe better with a more fitted top under, like a knit.

4. Nordstrom BP beige pointelle sweater - not a fan of this one... maybe it's the color?

5. Bluefly grey cardigan - I don't love this, either. The ruffles just look limp and a little sad. Ruffles should be happy.

6. Bluefly polka dot ruched top - Super duper keeper!

7. Bluefly ombre sweater - LOVE!

8. Nordstrom Theory Adeline gray pants - LOVE!

9. Kate Spade Polka Dot Jillian dress - Quadruple LOVE! The best of the lot! I think it looks good for work with the cardigan

10. Kate Spade Melissa Ruffle Trench - LOVE

11. Kate Spade Ilene flowered cardigan - I like this better worn as a blouse with the jeans.

12. Kate Spade Fiona wrap dress - KEEP FOREVER!

13. Kate Spade Crystal Corsage bib necklace - AMAZING

14. Kate Spade Butterfly necklace - not as amazing as 13, but cute. I think I'd like a longer necklace better.

15-17 - I don't like these as much as your other things. To my eye, they don't seem like the same style.

WOW, you got some really great stuff here - and your new boots fit under jeans, too. Miracle!

bran888

It seems you've gotten some good advice, I just wanted to express my support for multiple polka-dotted items in the wardrobe. My absolute favorite item of the bunch is the kate spade polka dot dress, it's extremely flattering on you. One suggestion, if you wear a cardigan over it, try wearing it open. When you close the cardigan you're losing the flattering shape of the dress.

catgirl

Veteran

I'm just going to copy Rae's post. I labsolutely ove all the dotted items, the first boots, and the trench.

Take this for what it's worth: as someone who always used to buy boots that were too big in the calf, I'm going to tell you to think carefully about whether the La Canadiennes will bother you post-YLF. I sadly had to get rid of several pairs of ill-fitting boots and pants after learning about calf fit and PPL because I just couldn't deal with them after that.