The Una challenge: Week 1 - YouLookFab Forum

When Una posted last week about challenging herself to mix up her silhouettes a bit, it struck me as a good idea to develop a little challenge like this for myself. Despite having a wardrobe that is full of variety and possibilities, I seem too often grab for the same ole thing… a pair of black Mexx pants that are oh so comfortable, and a sweater. Snooze… I will tell myself to mix things up a bit, but then seem to convince myself I’ll be better the next day. Then the next day. Then the week has disappeared and I’ve not worn anything interesting. This especially happens when I’ve got a lot going on, and am tired, which is pretty much what November has been like.

So my challenge to myself… each week, I need to wear each of the following (to work). At least one per day. Yes, there are more than five things, as some will overlap. But I need to fit them all in. So this also takes a bit of planning so I don’t end up with four elements on Friday! Oh, and I often work a four day week, so that increases the challenge/planning factor a bit. This isn't so much different silhouettes, as making me play with MY wardrobe in a way that will force me to plan and think a bit more than I do.

1. The FFBO… comfortable dress trousers and a sweater.

2. Long/oversized over lean (a silhouette which is good on me, and I need to play with more)

3. Colour

4. Pants that are either coloured or patterned (way too easy for me to wear black or navy every day)

5. A skirt or a dress

6. A wildcard or pushing the envelope a bit. This would include copying an inspiration, or one of Angies styling recommendations.

Based on how this week went, I really think this will force me to play more with my clothes. Yay! And thanks Una for the inspiration.

OK, the outfits:
1. The FFBO. Off to a great start! This one also incorporates colour.
2. Long over lean. Although, this really isn't very lean. Hmm.
3. Patterned pants
4. Skirt
6. White out! Definitely "out there" for this part of the world, at this time of the year. Can't say I felt comfortable in this either. I felt very... white. I actually think that because I have white hair, and am a high contrast person, all white doesn't provide the contrast I need. Outfit 2 and 4, when I'm wearing a column of dark, I prefer.

I must say, I'm looking forward to figuring out what I'm going to wear NEXT week! Wow, it's good to have a plan

Would love any suggestions on the outfits themselves that you might have.

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9 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Yay! Elizabeth's playing, too!

And it's so instructive, isn't it? I can't believe that you fall back to the same old same old all the time, since I have seen a year's worth of fantastic outfits on you, but hey -- anything to make things even better. I am so in love with that Ann Taylor vest on you in #2 that I can't see much else, to be honest, but I also really like #4.

I think you're right about the white out! It suits you very well, yet it's as if there is something missing. I am wondering if simply more variation in the tones of white would help, or more obvious textural variety? I'm not sure. But no need to wear it again if you were not happy. It's good to have discovered this.

Elizabeth P

Thanks Suz. Probably because those pants are black, and I have lots of sweaters, you don't realize how much I wear them... but I swear it's at least once a week. And it's almost always the days I feel blah, so they perhpas feel more of an emotional FFBO than a physical one. Or maybe I just don't post them as often as I wear them

And with the white out, there is actually a bit more vairety of colour and texture than shows up in the photo, but point taken. I really don't look good in tones of white other than optic or this, the sweater, which is very slightly greyed, so I don't tend to buy them. My last white out was with a silvery metallic sweater, it worked better, probably because of precisely what you said...provided more variety. Lesson learned!

jackiec

Good on you to set up a challenge! Well done! I love all your looks, especially 3/4. The patterned pants are fun, and the booties in 4 are amazing. You look so lovely in those shades of blue. I hear you about the white out. I do like all of the textures & very very subtle tonalities here. Hmm maybe a little touch of navy somewhere?....not sure. I am the same way about tending to default to certain looks (ie AE jeggings & knitwear...). You are looking fantastic

Firecracker (Sharan)

You look so fantastic in that skirt outfit! And I really love #3, with the proportions, color, and the beautiful jewelry that just sets everything off so nicely. All of these outfits are great. Fun challenge!

Joy

I really like 3 and 4. Your legs look so long in 3. You did a wonderful job with the challenge. You may need some slightly deeper tones of grey or tan in some pieces of your white in 5. Still it is a very striking outfit as it is.

Beth Ann

2 and 4 are my favorites, Elizabeth. They are awesome (and quite lean). I could see a pair of light grey trousers or jeans in your wardrobe.

Thank you very much Jackie, Joy, Firecracker and Beth Ann.

I think you are right Jackie and Joy... all white needs just a bit of somehting so it's not so all white. Esp with the contribution my hair makes.

Anonymous

Great job! Loving the first three, but like you I feel a bit unsure about the whiteout. As Suz said, it's as though something is missing.

Staysfit

You have mastered variety! Perhaps the white outfit could be improved by adding some contrast to it, maybe a dark necklace? Maybe the cardigan? That would make a white column of color, but you could have the contrast with the cardigan?

catgirl

How fun to see yet another player! Love #2 really hard. Do you think a silver belt and shoes would amp up the white outfit? I feel it needs something strong in there to bolster the ethereal look.

I'm thinking it's okay to learn that your fallback silhouettes are fallbacks for a reason - but unless you branch out, you have no way of knowing.

Neel

#2,3,4 are my absolute favorites! 3 is super fun and I might have to copy ... I kind of like the white out on you...you look angelic ^_^ ... But I know what you mean. Even with my high contrast hair and skin ... I feel the need for some color with a white out outfit. It could be a pop of a bright color with necklace/handbag or brown/black/colored shoes with a patterned belt. Or you could mix grays/silvers with your whites. I am sure you would look stunner in all those combos

kkards

i like them all, and i most say, i like the white out a lot. but if you may like it better as a column of color outfit, and switch out the white cardigan for the AT vest.

Jaime

#2 and #4 are my favorites - nice job!

I think you could improve the whiteout with a big change in texture,still in white, like a really chunky cardi or an open mesh top.

I'm thinking it's okay to learn that your fallback silhouettes are
fallbacks for a reason - but unless you branch out, you have no way of
knowing

YES!!! You are so right with this. At least, I'm thinking the same thing
And you can then feel more confident and less bored with those fallbacks. And know where to spend your money and energy in updating.

Thanks for the additional feedback ladies... some great ideas there on outfit improvement. .

I loved numbers 2 and 3. Very sophisticated, and not because they were black, but because the silhouette was so perfectly proportioned.

Sharon

I love #3 and #4 the best. Ink blue looks wonderful on you and the outfits look very fashion forward. I agree with Staysfit about #5 - maybe another element to add contrast?
I am glad you had fun with this. I am looking forward to seeing next week!

Lisa

These are all great looks but I agree with your observation. The white out look is bold, but the other, darker colors, compared with your hair creates a stronger contrast.

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