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New tops for evaluation, please

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

I FINALLY got moved off the graveyard shift I've been working for 1.5 years and am now in the newsroom during more ordinary hours, i.e. times when the higher-ups are also at work. I realized that my work wardrobe needed some tweaking, so I bought a few more summer tops that will hopefully look a little dressier than the kind of thing I could get away with overnight. Newsrooms by definition are not formal, so I'm going for a smart to business casual kind of vibe. Please let me know if you think these looks will work:

1. The capris are new, but the jacket I bought pre-ylf. Does it work?
http://s709.photobucket.com/al.....8;newest=1

The next three shots were all taken using the same pair of shorts. Obviously I will wear other bottoms for work. I know white will work with all of the following, but other colour suggestions welcome when appropriate. Also kindly forgive the immediately-post-shower hair.
2. I liked the sound of this blouse when it was described in the store, but when I produced it at home my boyfriend said "That makes me think of tie-die." Do I need to return?
http://s709.photobucket.com/al.....8;newest=1

3. This top is soooooo silky and comfy! But does it look ok? I'm hoping the pattern and the cut don't emphasize the largeness of everything up top... I'm after something slimming.
http://s709.photobucket.com/al.....8;newest=1

4. You all suggested I nix the last green top I bought, and so I took your advice and exchanged it for this light-weight, wrinkle-free blouse. Boyfriend thinks it's a much better green. Do you agree? And is the overall look alright?
http://s709.photobucket.com/al.....8;newest=1

Merci, ladies!

Dressing

19 replies

Latest reply was from Michelle

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Yay! No more graveyard shift. You get to sleep normal hours for a change. Nice!

Here’s my 2 cents:

1. The jacket looks lovely and works. Keep.

2. I really like the “tie-dye” top! It fits well. The colours are vibrant and the print is interesting. I vote keep. And the walk shorts are wonderful, btw. Love them on you.

3. KILLER. You look extremely good in square necklines just like our adorable Portuguese, Rute. Love the colours, sleeve length and everything else about this top. Well done, Michelle. A big fat KEEP.

4. I really like the colour on you, but the length of the sleeves are not ideal. I wish they had been longer, or sleeveless. But it’s not bad at all. If you love the way this top feels, by all means keep it.

Hope that helps.

rute

Veteran

Love all the tops! They look great on you!

The pattern is great because is not big!

I'm glad you will wear another bottom! I think a long leg trouser is much more slimmer!

Good work!

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

Angie: your feedback always helps!! I hear you on the sleeve length for the green top. I might look into seeing whether they can be removed. I have to take some stuff in for alterations already, and it can't hurt to ask. Am I right to think that the only bottoms tops 2-4 should be worn with are either black or white? And as for top no. 2, does it actually look tie-died?

Rute: Which pattern are you referring to when you say it's not big? And in reference to the bottoms, I would likely be wearing these with capris or skirts, as they're all summer-weight and fabric. Do you think they'd look bad with that or do you just have a preference for long pants?

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Michelle,

You need different length tops for skirts/pants. These all look like good tops for pants (or shorts/capri's). For your skirts, look for somethign shorter and fitted- hitting about hip length. I think they should be able to take the sleeves off that green top- it would look cute that way. No. 2 does not look tie dyed at all- it's a watercolor print where the color blend into each other a bit. It actually looks like paint brush strokes of color.

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

#3 is fabulous! Angie is right, the square-neck top is very, very flattering on you.

rute

Veteran

The pattern I prefer is nº 3 .. I think it makes you slimmer than nº 2.

As to skirts I'm a big fan too! The right skirt will make you look great and they are fresh and perfect for the summer!!!!

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

Khris, thanks for the description of top no. 2. That actually helps a lot.
And I totally wrote skirts just by rote and clearly wasn't t hinking. I know these tops are the wrong length for skirts. I find it difficult to find skirt-appropriate tops, since I'm less comfortable with shorter lengths. But I did recently manage to put an outfit together that I think will work once a top comes back from being altered (its too big as is, but the colour and price were exactly what I needed).

Kristen: I'm interested to hear why square necklines are so flattering. What do they do, visually? I bet your descriptive prowess will be up to the challenge of explaining this one! And btw, did you get the money for the jacket shipping?

De

# 3 is lovely and certainly does not "emphasize the largeness on top".

# 2 in no way resembles a tie-dyed shirt! I loved that mixture of colors.

I also loved the red cardi in the first picture. Oh, and I must say you have found walk shorts that really work for you; they're very nice!

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

I sure did get the money this weekend; whoops, sorry I thought I emailed you. Khris, I cashed your check this weekend too.

As for the description, that's an easy one! The square-neck is flattering because it shows off more skin, but not so much that it's revealing all your secrets. Opening up your neck and chest area is always a good thing, especially when you are busty like we are. The girls look like they can breathe instead of being smushed under a lot of fabric. It's just a nice change from higher necks from time to time, especially in the summer.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Yeah, when you are larger chested (I'm a member of that club, too)- it helps to have some sort of line that visually breaks up the large area. If you wear a high neck top, it appears as if your breast sprout right from your neck. If a line cuts through that (exposing skin, or not- like with layers) it makes the area look as if the mounding begins under that line, making it appear smaller.

Ele

(website)

Michelle, both printed tops are gorgeous on you!

I will admit that my first thought was "tie dye" when I saw the bright one, but it was replaced swiftly by "no, painterly". The mix of colours, and the way they blend into each other, is very pretty and artistic looking. (Plus, tie-dye is in no way a bad association for me, so don't be insulted! Growing up I spent all my summers at various day and sleepover camps, so tie-dye just makes me happy! Not that it looks like that!)

The other printed top is great, too. I'm not sure what it is about square necks that is so flattering. They seem to work well on small-busted women because they enhance the chest, and also on larger-busted women, where it seems they play it down a bit. Very strange. To me it's a nostalgic retro look, and I wish there were more square necklines to go around these days.

I like the colour of the green top, but it just isn't as special as the other ones, to me.

sinead

Michelle, I love top number three on you. So glad it's comfy, because it's lovely on you.

I wanted to add that the top you have under the jacket seems a bit short to me- do you have something else you could wear under the jacket?

Glad to hear you're off the graveyard shift!

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

Sorry I didn't respond until now!
Sinead: I'm actually in the market for a simple white sleeveless botton-down top for under that jacket and other similar uses. I have a 3/4-sleeve one that I adore, but it's too much for our sticky summers. Will try the whole thing on again if I find it.

Elle: I have similar associations with tie-die! I loved camp (and miss it, actually), but the arts n' crafts tie-die look isn't quite what I'm going for in the office, hence the reaction. Glad it doesn't actually look like that.

I'm actually wearing top no. 2 today. I'm trying to pair it with simple items, since I know the top is noticeable. Going with white capris/sandals (don't have my metallics yet), silver jewelry and red purse. I hope that strikes the right balance. We'll see. There's a coworker who's been commenting on my outfits a lot since I started following YLF guidelines, so we'll see if she speaks up again.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Let us know what your coworker says, Michelle. I'm curious as a kitten!

shiny

Veteran

Could you wear number 2 under the red jacket? Otherwise, I love the idea of it with white bottoms. I suspect you will have a lot of fun with this top! And I agree about the neckline on top #3.

As for the green top, it is quieter than the others but sometimes you want that.

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

Angie, I didn't see her today! Argh! Oh well, I'll wear this again, and someone else commented on it.
Shiny: Never thought of top no. 2 under the red jacket, but I'm sure it would feel good. Is the shade of red in the top similar to the jacket? I have to rely entirely on other people for that kind of thing.

HannahC

Michelle,

Lovely outfits, as always!

I just wanted to comment about something that bothers me in top #4 (the green one): it seems that sleeves are pulled forward (towards your chest) instead of laying flat on your arms. It happens a lot with the large chest (I am getting this all the time!) - the reason is that, while the overall circumference of the top is not too small for the overall circumference of your body in the bust area, the distribution of fabric - the cut of the top - does not conform to your figure. There is not enough room for your bust (and maybe too much room for your back), so the top "borrows" from the sleeves in order to accommodate the bust. Ideally, the armholes should be fitted to your arms and not pull forward, which is not the case here. If you'll now try to stretch your hands behind your back, you'll probably feel that the top is being overstretched over your bust.

Having said that, I often put up with this kind of imperfection, because it is so hard to find a top that fits. Just wanted to alert you to this issue, because it is clearly noticeable.

Otherwise, great colors, and will be fab with skirts!

Vani

Veteran

HannahC, I've noticed this "sleeve pulling" phenomenon occurs with me when the sleeves are short and have a sort of piping/banding(?) at the hem of the sleeve. Very annoying.

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

Ladies, I think you're building on Angie's observations that the sleeve isn't really the right length, or style as it turns out. Hannah, I can definitely feel the pulling, and you've got it right too Niva, there is some kind of banded action going on at the bottom. I'm going to stick to my original idea and see if they can remove the sleeves altogether and turn it into a sleeveless blouse. If not, back it'll have to go.