Medusa outfits 1/4-8 with bonus question

Here's my latest batch of outfits from last week, when it was really cold: http://s605.photobucket.com/al.....my%20week/

This week I'd like to request help with learning about the style classifications: if you'd like to answer the "bonus question" please tell me which outfits you think are casual, smart casual, business casual, or something else. Thanks! (Edited to add: I'm an academic scientist, so my work environment probably falls into the Conservative Casual quadrant of Angie's business casual figure from today's blog post.)

1. CM microcheck pants, white Uniqlo turtleneck, blue Gap cardigan, blue Artizan necklace, red Nordstrom belt, Fluevog Tennyson shoes.
I finally figured out a way to wear this blue chunky necklace I got about two months ago.

2. Jolt denim leggins, blue Uniqlo top, Macy's black dress, light blue scarf, purple Doc Martens boots.
The debut of my little black dress! Do the Doc boots work in this outfit?

3. Gray Urban Outfitter skinny jeans, patterned Talbots T shirt, blue Nordstrom boyfriend jacket, black boots.

4. Black Urban Outfitter skinny jeans, black August Silk turtleneck, green striped shirt, long pearls, silver Doc Marten boots.
Does this outfit work? I worried that the shirt is too short to balance the skinnies and jeans.

5. Plaid Express skirt, purple Uniqlo top, blue H&M cardigan, pearls, black tights, black boots.

16 years ago

Louise

Veteran

WOW- what a fabulous week.
I think they are all smart casual? x

marianna

Ooh a bonus question! I feel like I'm in college again. Do I get extra credit?

You had a great week! I love all your outfits! I'll take a guess at answering the bonus question, although I might get an F!

1) Smart casual or business casual. I think this could be business casual because you're not wearing jeans, but I'm not sure if micro checks are still considered casual pants? Great outfit! Love the belt and necklace! Good job at accessorizing.

2) Cute! I vote smart casual. LOVE the blue on you.

3) Smart casual. That jacket is outstanding!

4) Smart casual. Love the pearls and Docs together. What a fun contrast!

5) My favorite outfit of the bunch. I vote business casual. This looks so good on you, Medusa! Lovely skirt.

rute

Love all the outfits, my favorites are 1 and 5 which I considered business casual, the others are smart casual.
Fab style! Well done!

Queen Mum

great outfits- my faves beigng 1,2 and 5.
hmm, good question... I would say they could all go smart or business casual depending on the expectation of your work environment, but to my eye there is a definite distinction between outfits 1/5 and the rest. 1 and 5 seem a bit smarter than the rest. 2 got knocked out of the business category for me because of the jeans and shoes (which I love, just don't see them as business) 3 got knocked down because they are jeans, and 4 because of the doc martens- I just don't see doc martens as businessy.

Kristine

All great outfits! I think of all of them as smart casual, stylish and polished, but still casual. #5 is close to what I would consider business casual, but the boots make it casual to my eye.

Anonymous

I cannot answer the bonus question but you have a great week of style here. Looking good!

MNsara

I love all the outfits and all the blues this week. Be sure to add your new blue scarf (wasn't it you who had the new blue scarf that looked so-o-o-o good on you?) to the mix.

I love the bonus question (and marianna's reaction to it) and it's a tricky delineation. When I was corporate, I worked where everyone wore suits and I left the corporate world before Friday Casual even existed, so my business casual is probably a bit more businessy.

1) Probably the most business casual of the week (where pants are okay) plus the necklace looks great!
2) The next most business casual, but the denim leggins and Docs tone it into smart casual with funk. If you wore black tights and black non-Doc boots it would be more business casual.
3) smart casual
4) another smart casual with funk (it's those Docs!)
5) same as outfit #2 with the casual boots toning it down from typical business casual.

You have all very stylish and polished looks there with your signature style.

medusa

Thanks Louise, Marianna, Rute, Kim, Kristine, San, and Sara for playing along with the bonus question! Marianna, extra credit is a great idea. This is a tricky one to grade since I don't actually know the right answer. So I decree that you ALL get extra credit! Which counts toward...um, your new degree program in being fantastic, kind, helpful people.

Marianna, I'm glad you liked the skirt outfit the best. I was feeling good about that outfit.

Rute, I suspected you might prefer the dressier outfits. Thanks!

Kim, thanks for the thoughtful comments. It's really helping me to figure out these different categories...I'm quite think about this sort of thing.

Kristine, thanks. I'm sure it does depend on the workplace, but the boots do make it more casual.

Sara, you're right, I just got the blue scarf this weekend so it didn't make it into last week's outfits! I'll have to try this week. Thanks for your comments, I appreciate the corporate perspective.

JennyK (NC)

Active Member

I love your city vibe. You're tall and slim and can pull off layering with ease. I wish I had more specific comments, but I think I've been at the computer too long today!

Tanya

Wow Medusa you look great! I love how you are incorporating you new silver Docs, and love all the pretty blue shades. I especially like the skirt outfit.

Now onto your bonus question: Outfits 2,3 and 4 are definitely smart casual, because they incorporate denim. The other two are more tricky, but I kind of see micro check pants to have the similar level of dressiness as jeans, so I would call the first on smart casual too. Outfit 5 is closest to business casual, although the casual boots push it to the really casual end of the spectrum; but still, in your field ( which is mine as well), i would call it business casual. I am very curious to see what Angie will say about this.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Before I answer I want to make it clear that you DO NOT dress conservatively, Medusa! For the most part, I'd put you in the other quadrant - casual and creative, when you aren't wearing jeans.

Your outfits are all smart casual bar #1 and #5. They are quadrant #4.

yublocka

Wow Medusa, you re def. making the most of how good you look in blue - brilliant! Love seeing the CM microhecks make an appearance.

I'll be hones with #2, I like the dress and docs, but think the jeggings look off with it. I think hose/tights would look better.

I nearly died when I saw outfit #4....so beautiful!!!!

Kari

Oh, wow - so many creative looks. I love #3 and 5 best of all. I'd admired that Express skirt in stores but couldn't really fathom how I could make it work - it looks fantastic the way you utilized it here!

Jenny, Tanya, Angie, Tam, Kari - thanks! By this point I think I may finally have learned about the smart casual/business casual distinction.

Angie - by quadrant #4 you mean the Design Studio one? That's interesting, I wouldn't have thought of my look as projecting "creative."

Tam - I really like that idea. I'll try #2 again with tights. Also I'm glad you liked #4, it was the one I was least sure of.

Kari - I'm glad you like it. I think it's taken me a few tries to get it right - some of my earlier attempts with this skirt didn't work so well.

Vani

medusa, you are killing me! I HEART your docs, both purple and silver. I wish I had more time to play the bonus round, but I can't compete with all the fab answers already posted. I simply cannot pick a favourite, they're all fab, fab!

I have to say #4 is totally groovy baby!

Vani, thanks - you are very kind. No worries if you don't have time for the bonus question.

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