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Style v. setting + unsuccessful WIWs

rachylou

Veteran

So... here's the thing. I am pretty content with my wardrobe now. At least style-wise. I feel like I have things to wear and can afford to start being pickier in terms of quality and fit. But this style is pretty RATE, and I'm also feeling it just looks like a hot mess in a 16-storey office building with a granite-tiled lobby and t.v. in the elevators. How do you make RATE look better in a slick, plasticky environment? Is it possible? Do you ever find certain settings fizzle your style?

Of course, I have actually been a hot mess lately. It begins with frizzy hair. Attempts to defrizz have resulted in weird flatness on top, so I have just sported the frizz.

The issues continue with the pics below:

#1: The wrap dress that I missed posting on the wrap dress challenge thread. Should I give this away? Somehow this used to work better. Here, I see a sloppy, droopy flashback to the '70s. Plus, the dress seems to be another garment of mine that has gotten too big. It's an old dress. I guess I could forgive it for losing shape but...

#2: These pants. Argh! They give me saddlebags I don't have. That irks my nerves. Since I think I can afford now to start questing for better quality and fit, I'm all set to launch the hunt, but I have no idea where to go. I wasn't loving what I was seeing in the stores this winter.

#3: I just veered off course with this one, although I liked the lavender and brick (being inspired by Angie's lavender and burgundy pin). It just came out too cute. I think I need rocker booties or something.

#4 & 5: Eh, plaid Target blazer should only be worn with jeans and cotton shirts with collars. I realize that now. Also, it looks terrible on me left unbuttoned. So sad!

#6: Today is "I give up day!" Black jeans and purple hoodie. A little too casual for my office style, although it won't get me into trouble or anything. I don't know whether to keep these jeans. They are not polished *office denim,* but then again that's what I like about them. I need to get rid of SOME of my black jeans though. I really do.

Anyways. Thoughts, comments welcome!

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Dressing

34 replies

Latest reply was from Greek Goddess

bj1111

Veteran

well, i don't think it is a wardrobe issue but more about your reaction to being less polished but no less stylish in the office setting.

what is it that bothers you if you are bothered? if you're not bothered, i would let it go unless you want to climb the hierarchy so you could dictate the dress codes!

Day Vies

Veteran

Hoodie yes -- " I gave up and it's cold" Everything else I think you are being WAAAAY too hard on yourself. These all look fairly polished to me for a steel and glass environment. #4 & #5 is a very interesting look. I just love the pattern mixing stripes dots and plaids. I have no nerve when it comes to that but you make it look so effortless and wonderful.
Save for the hoodie I think you're all good. Ease up on yourself.

kellygirl

Veteran

I think these are great. You look stylish and very you. I wouldn't worry about setting. The only thing that might bother me is if the environmental norm was significantly more dressy--then I might feel under dressed. If it's just the setting, I'd forget about it and just focus on dressing the way I liked! You look so good in all of these. I don't even mind the hoodie with pumps

jayne

Veteran

all the outfits are professional to my eye. Rate is hard to pull off and I don't see alot of rate in the outfits themselves. Is that the real issue maybe? How to add rate in?

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I really like #4-#5.

MsMary

Veteran

Me, too. I think 4/5 is awesome! Also 1 and 2. You are being WAY too hard on yourself!

Caro in Oz

Veteran

I think #4/5 is a great look - apart from the fit issues how do you feel about this look being your uniform?

What about starting with a great fitting jacket & add the rate with how you wear your clothes - push up your sleeves, pattern mix & add some amazing booties.

Tina.b

Veteran

I think you have an innate sense of style and your outfits come together in a really cohesive way. I particularly love #2 & 4. I think you can totally mix into a marble and chrome type complex. It's all good. I say go as RATE as your style dictates then throw a fab blazer on top...

Anonymous

Rachylou, you have an amazing slender figure! You look great in those skinny jeans in the last picture. I'd love to see those with the plaid jacket. Love the flats. IKWYM about the other pants "giving" you saddlebags, because they are gone in the last picture, lol. I think you just don't have the right body type to fill out the wrap dress, but as the others have said you are being way too hard on yourself. I actually love your hair! Very RATE in the perfect way.

cciele

Veteran

Hm, are you trying to change how you dress to fit your environment? Or do you just feel off in the outfits you've posted?

I, like others, think your outfits are fine for the building! Even the hoodie on casual Friday My favorite is 4/5 -- something about the proportions and pattern mixing, it all works, along with your RATE hair.

rachylou

Veteran

Funny enough, the dress norm is what I'm wearing today (*I give up!*). Casual with one element of polish, like the high heels.

Sitting here pondering -- so embarrassing to admit this -- I think I may just have become an honorary architect, because I actually do not feel visually integrated with the building and it bothers me. I saw a cartoon poking fun of this. My cousins are bad influences! (Architects the lot of 'em)

But maybe, Jayne, you have a point about the way to deal with this. To go a little more RATE. I really like Caro's and Tina's suggestions of adding the RATE with how I wear the clothes. Start with a blazer, pattern mix...

Ok. So really. No one else wants to match their building? Lol!

bj1111

Veteran

you are hilarious! i think some programmers may feel the same about their clothing matching philosophically with their code.

Aida

Veteran

4/5 looks great to me! Not sold on the dress in #1, would need to see more options with that one as it kind of confuses me for you. I think you need to replace the pants in #2 with a slouchy pleated pair that has tapered hems. Instant pant update, and the hip volume will be intentional #3 just needs different footwear to lessen the sweetness as you mentioned, punkier booties would do the trick. Or something more hipster could work too, like some skimmer oxfords. This time of year seems to throw everyone for a loop!

Nicole D

Veteran

I like 4 and 5, and agree you are too hard on yourself. I never thought about how my setting can cramp my style. Will now be more observant on that score. One thing I hate about work clothes is the name tag. Can really wreck the line of one's outfit.

And, I would just like to have a mini rant about true wrap dresses - they are a pain. Faux wraps fit me so much better, I have given up on the quest for the perfect wrap.

Beth Ann

Veteran

Rachylou: 4/5 is stellar --- and it seems to have elements of your unique style. I'd love to see the hoodie outfit with cool cons or booties at home. I'd love to see you play with #3 a little. I see what you mean about it not being quite you --- it reminds me, in a good way, or early Mary Tyler Moore or Audrey Hepburn. Change the colors, add a hint of edge, keep the silhouette and you'd have something amazing. #1 and #2 are both a pretty good day for most of us!

I hear you about soul-killing office buildings. I'm a musician, but I suffered as a temp for a few years. I felt I was being swallowed every morning. Now I work in an institutional beige 6 by 8 studio with no adornments, florescent overhead lighting and no window. Hard to make music in that room! Since I share the studio with other faculty, I can't really change it. No wonder I care so much about what I wear! I use it to inject some creative energy into my environment!

Love to see you post!

Thistle

Veteran

The building I work in is a patchwork from we keep adding onto. It was started in the 1940s and there are so many additions the floor plan is weird. No, I have NO desire to match the building.

You, however, look great above. I really like 4&5.

catgirl

Veteran

4/5 is enviably fab to me! I'm okay with the hoodie too, heh. Not sure on the dress, and the pants in 2 just look a little short. But your way with words is K2K always!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Ok, I'm laughing at the idea of "matching" the building I work in -- my studio is in a 100-year-old clock tower! (see pics, not great shots, just iPhone snaps but you get the idea -- #2 is looking at the back of one of the clock hands!) I would have to go pretty steampunk, which could be fun, but not really my thing. I do have a pair of earrings made from old watch faces.

I think you look great - 4/5 is my favorite, and I think the dress in #1 looks pretty good too. I understand the feeling though, like I'm not quite hitting the mark I'm aiming for.

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Suz

(website)

Veteran

Well, I love 4/5 and think it is stellar, for any kind of building.

But I think I hear what you are saying. This is taking sensitivity to the environmental norm in a whole new direction. But not wildly off course, in my view. After all, the other day, Zap was talking about her need to dress for the weather, not in terms of keeping herself warm, cool, dry etc. but wanting her clothes to REFLECT the weather. Same sort of thing you are referring to.

I often get this feeling. Not just in shiny office buildings, but other places, too.

In the end, though, 4/5 is so *you* and so great that I would say, just go with more of that more often!

moira

Veteran

Someone PLEASE tell me what RATE means.

As far as your frizz, rachylou. get yourself a flat iron. I have silver hair and it is texturally very different from when it was brown. I have spent ages trying to manage it. I bought a little (travel size) flat iron at a beauty supply store for like, $25 and I just use it a little at the side and ends and it looks sleek and polished.

Beth Ann

Veteran

Moira: RATE = Rough Around the Edges. Think messy, scuffed up, but really cool.

moira

Veteran

Thank you, Beth Ann.

I have a 30 year old leather jacket that is just like that.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Rachylou, 4/5 is my favorite outfit here. Looks like the definition of RATE. I love your hair in these photos as well. I agree with a lot of the others that your style seems to suit you and the office environment, even though you may not look as polished as the building or as haphazard about style as your coworkers. I am smiling at your observations about fitting in with the architecture. I really never considered that idea, and perhaps that's a good thing, as I work in a strip mall (shopping center)--pretty much the antithesis of chic surroundings!

rae

(website)

Veteran

Loooove 4-5 AND your RATE hair. Whatever you do, definitely rock the hair... J. Crew has made it okay to do frizz a the office. I wish my hair would do that!

Also, you don't have rocker booties? Hm, maybe a couple new items would be a nice refresh, even though you are happy with your wardrobe on the whole. I like Aida's idea for a pants update.

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

I think you are being way too hard on yourself. Love 4/5 and 2 as well. I think all of these look office appropriate except for the hoodie, which feels more like weekend wear/loungewear to me. I love your wavy hair!

Diana

Veteran

Just had to log in to tell you that 4/5 is probably my favorite outfit of yours ever. The pattern mix and the lines are just incredible.

Also, I work in a building that basically looks like a brutalist parking structure. So No Thank You.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

Sigh. I wish I could open the thumb-snails. My internet connection is so hayseed.

But from what I can see, you look good (I did open the wrap dress and really liked it). And I don't see frizz, I see full, thick hair.

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

RachyLou, this is an interesing question and I don't have time to read all answers to see where the discussion is going, I have to bake bday cake for my boy :-), but here is my first reaction.

- Are you dressed suitably for the job you do?
- Is it within the dress code of your workplace?
- Do you feel happy and comfortable with your outfits?
- Do you ultimately feel YOU in what you wear?

If the answer to these is sound YES, especially the last one, the biggest issue is resolved. Do you want to fit in with sleek, plastcky environment, and why? Would you feel better if you blended in, and why?...

I hope this gives some food for thought, I'll try to be back on the thread to catch up with other comments.

No advice for the frizzy hair.

I love your outfits, I think you look pulled together and professional.

rachylou

Veteran

Claire - Right? The plaid jacket would look good with jeans!

And Janet... I can see you in a bustle, lol.

And Diana, you get major points for saying "brutalist" (ohmigosh, I AM turning architect; I should not know what that even means!).

Moira - question. My frizz is at the top of my head. Can I flat iron the hair on the top of my head? (I'm a hair ignant).

Beth Ann - I saw myself and thought *Audrey*. Beautiful woman, but that didn't make me happy. Mary Tyler Moore, and I'd have been happier... ;>

Ok. Una, Suz, Claire, Rae, Aida, everybody... I'm thinking the dress has got to go and the pants need replacing and rocker booties. The pants will be hard. I'm on an eternal quest for good pants. I have booties but they're not rocker booties. I think I need rocker booties.

Btw, so interesting to hear about everybody's buildings. Firecracker, you don't really work in a strip mall do you? This I cannot imagine. I can only imagine donut shops that close at 7:30 a.m. in strip malls... I can lend you my hoodie... ;>

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