Question for a Friend - YouLookFab Forum

My best friend and I went to ATL today to make some returns on her behalf. I spotted this dress:
http://www.anntaylorloft.com/c.....ses#ATLtop

I suggested my friend try this dress on, for an upcoming wedding that will take place in October, but in Florida. I thought the fabric was fallish (it's a pretty sturdy tweed). It was pretty far outside her comfort zone--but she happily tried it on and we both agreed it was a great look for her.

Then I suggested she try on this ruffled V-neck cardigan in both the matching green and the complimentary yellow. We really liked the whole look overall--but couldn't decide between the yellow or the green cardi. She ended up bringing home both, but she was leaning toward the yellow. I think her preference for the yellow had more to do with it being out her box, than any actual preferece. I thought the yellow cardi looked more daring and bold, but the green looked more classic and Jackie O...esque.

So...here's my question---if she does decide to wear the yellow cardigan, would it be too mitchy matchy to wear this shoe?
http://www.dsw.com/dsw_shoes/c.....#038;qty=1

She also likes this shoe:

http://www.dsw.com/dsw_shoes/c.....#038;qty=1

I was looking for a yellow sandal to go with the yellow cardigan, but everything we liked had a ridiculously high heel.

Now, if she does match her shoe to the cardigan...what color purse should she carry? (She said she was willing to go w/our a purse and let her husbands pockets hold her lipstick)...but I think the right purse could make this outfit.

FTR, my friend is a classic pear, barely 5' tall, and very pretty.

17 years ago

yublocka

(website)

Veteran

Nicole that's a nice looking dress!! Is the green/yellow cardie this one:

http://www.anntaylorloft.com/c.....ory=Misses

If so I think the Forest green colour would look good with the dress is there is enough contrast with the 2-tone tweed. Otherwise the azalea or federal blue colour would look striking against it. Unsure about the yellow, but I'm not a yellow person so not familiar pairing it with other colours.

I love green and purple together so I'd vote for purple shoes, but again I think that is just me!!

Maya

I think we have kind of gone to an extreme out of fear of matchy-matchiness. I personally reject the idea that NOTHING in an outfit can match anything else. I love color but I also think it's nice when something, particularly shoes or a bag or other accessory, somehow ties the outfit together through color. In short, no, I don't think the shoes you posted are too matchy. I think the pink shoes would be pretty too.

-I do not particularly like the idea of a matching cardigan. It seems flat and conservative to me, though it's probably a matter of personal taste. If she went in this direction, I definitely would not do green anywhere else in the outfit, so I can't really say what bag to wear if she matched her shoes to the cardigan because I would not match the shoes to the cardigan to begin with.

-Yellow sounds much more dynamic and fresh to me. If she can find yellow shoes, I think a bag in purple or pink would be pretty (purple with that shade of green is one of my favorite combos, and purple and yellow are complements). Cobalt would also be sweet. How about metallics? I veto the idea of letting her husband carry her lipstick! That is just sad to me.

Nicole

Yes, Yublocka, that is the cardi--I meant to link it but forgot.

shiny

I'm going to assume you meant the yellow/green version of the first shoe and not the pink shoe?

I have to say I think that both shoes are too matchy-matchy. I also just really don't like either shoe and think they would work better with pants than a dress. The vamp isn't low enough and the heel is kinda clunky. If anything, I think they are day shoes and not wedding suitable. I would rather see her in something with more of a delicate heel and a lower vamp.

As for color, that is a tough one. I would probably go neutral on the shoe - white or nude. A gold metallic would look quite nice as well and make the outfit more festive for a wedding.

How about this: gold metallic shoes with yellow cardi, gold jewelry, and a white clutch?

She does not wear gold....at all.

I did mean the green and yellow shoe, I don't think the link works to a specific color shoe--it just brings you to the main shoe.

I will ask my friend if this is a day wedding. To her, these shoes are very dressy--actually, this whole outfit is very dressy by her standards. You have to remember that for someone who is not used to dressing up, they kind of have to take it all in stride. We're not sure if the green and yellow are the right shade anyway. Also, she is pretty adament on wearing a sandal, opposed to a pump. She says the back of pumps hurt her feet--so she wants an open shoe.
I think if she wears the green dress w/ the yellow cardi, then she either has to stay with one of those colors for the shoe, or go neutral. I don't think she can introduce a third color w/out looking like a rainbow. I had suggested a metallic earlier, but she she didmn't seem too responsive to that.

I forgot to ask her the wedding was during the day or at night and where it was being held. I think it's at a hotel, but Im not 100% sure.

If she's unwilling to introduce another color AND doesn't like the idea of a metallic, then the only other option is a neutral. And since black and gray wouldn't work, the only other options are a nude/beigey color or white. I don't really see any other option. A yellow shoe to match the cardigan could work, but if she also goes for a yellow bag, it's going to be too much. I hate to be a naysayer but I'm not sure how to make the outfit work to its fullest potential with these restraints. She can certainly wear whatever she is comfortable with, but I don't think it's going to be the best it could be.

Is she willing to wear a contrasting bag? Then I would go for a yellow shoe and another color in the bag.

Nicole, would she wear bronze shoes? That's another option. I think she can wear a slide, as long as the heel isn't so clunky. Something similar to this shape (but perhaps without all the glitzy rhinestones!!)

http://www.dsw.com/dsw_shoes/c.....038;brand=

Can you point out to her that on the DSW site there's a link called "evening and wedding" ... and the wedding shoes are all more strappy and delicate... ?

The nice thing about this dress is that she can easily dress it up for a wedding and down for day.

I think it's strange that she can wear a yellow cardi but doesn't like gold. Or maybe that's just me! Yellow and gold go together in my world. Also that shade of green.... is more of a warm tone so it is natural for gold accessories instead of silver. I suppose it could go with pearls though. Pearls, yellow cardi, white clutch, and nude or bronze shoes?

Okay she could also go with fuschia shoes, or some other fun color, but I would keep the cardigan green or white.

Maya, I think the concern with adding a pink or purple shoe with the green dress and the yellow cardigan will be all three major pieces of the outfit are bright and bold statement colors. I also think that would be far too colorful. She is open to introducing a third color in jewelry or a purse.

Shiny, what I meant is she does not wear yellow gold jewelry--so wearing metallic gold accessories might look out of place with her white gold jewelry. I do like the idea of pearl though. We tried a creamy and a crisp white cardi with the dress and it did not look good at all. It had a very old lady look to it--I think because the dress has a white dotted pattern to the weave. And as far as her being willing to wear the yellow cardi, but not gold--I had really push for her to try it on. She kept saying "Yellow's not my color" but I finally brought one into the dressing room and told her to just try it.

I'm going to see if she'll let me take a photo of her with both cardis so you guys can see them both. I like them both and can't decide which I like better.

Hm, maybe I'm just not the person to ask about this. Perhaps Angie will chime in when she's back from NY.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

She's back. I like the idea of both cardigan colour choices. The green cardi is absolutely going to work with the dress. Classic and pulled together. Are you sure the silhouette of the dress works for your pear-shaped friend, Nicole?

The green shoes are a no-no in my book. Too green and too casual. It would be great to get a visual, though. Hope you can manage it.

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