Tweaking my NAS purchases - bear with me; ETA Frye boots from the side - YouLookFab Forum

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Tweaking my NAS purchases - bear with me; ETA Frye boots from the side

sarah

Veteran

I could use a bit more feedback on my NAS purchases. I've returned a LOT, and am down to the tough decisions. (I know that the tights are too dark - please reimagine as more sheer).

(1) Paul Green booties - given the elastic gore, do they work with straights (#1, 2), skirts (#3), and bootcuts (#4, 5)? I don't quite understand why my bootcuts are working with these, as they're a good inch higher than all of my other shoes. I am considering getting a 1/2 inch take off the heel a la Angie's post here, as I would be more comfortable. http://youlookfab.com/2009/10/.....xperiment/
Am I crazy?

(Note: the too-tight blazer in #1 is going back)

(2) CE cowl (#2, 5, 6). I bought this in two colors. I'm worried that it's slightly too broad in the shoulder for me - opinions?

(3) Jean, Jonesy, and others suggested I pair this plum cardi with white/grey - opinions? Do the rest of you like it any better this way?

FYI - I'm also still deciding about the Frye boots (#6), but don't have any questions.

THANKS, some day I'll be a fashion grown-up and will be able make these decisions on my own!

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27 replies

Latest reply was from Angie

MNsara

Veteran

Ha, ha - whenever we mortals venture into uncharted fashion territory I think we'll be asking for some help, don't you think?

1. I think they look nice with these pants.
2. I really like this cowl on you - flattering neckline.
3. Love the shirt, skirt, cardi, and the booties, but I don't like the hosiery. What about a pair of sheerer black hose (I see you already knew these were pretty thick), and maybe a delicate pattern to them. The whole outfit is pretty soft in tone and whatever hosiery should be delicate also, I think.
4. Yes, they work and I have no idea how either.
5. This color looks great on you also. I returned this color and wish I looked as good in it.
6. I prefer the CE cowl with pants, maybe because of its longer hemline. But it definitely works here too. I'm on the fence about the boots also. For me, it's the same hosiery issue as in #3.

Good luck sifting through these tough decisions.

lynn

Veteran

Wow! You look fantastic! 4,5&6 are my favorites and I love the top in 2. I not a big fan of boots with straight legs unless they are tucked but these do seem to work. Good job!

celia

Veteran

You all are killing me with your NAS purchases, I remember myself that envy is a bad bad thing
Let me start by being a spanner:
Oh, is the jacket in #1 too tight? I really love it on you.Are you going to try a size up?
Back to your questions:
I like both CE cowls
The paul green booties work with the jeans and skirt but not with the black pants, IMO.I like the plum cardi paired with grey, it seems to work with this skirt.
I think it's fun when you can go trough our purchases with our friends and in this forum it sure feels like it.

sarah

Veteran

@Celia. I'm sad about the jacket. The small was way too big (the sleeves were super open at the bottom, and too long), and the XS is too tight across the shoulders. This is a case where I definitely needed petite sizing. I certainly do appreciate all of the feedback I get here - I don't know what I'd do without it!

@Sara - yes, those tights are too dark. But I was to lazy to change them in this heat!

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

I'm with Celia, are you sure that jacket is too tight? It looks perfect. I really like everything, and I think the frye boots are terrific. The only thing that gives me pause are the booties. They're really my favorite thing out of the lot, I love booties with pants in winter. But if you think they're too high for you, I would return them and look for something lower. They are so pricey that I wouldn't want to attempt a risky alteration with them. It would be a different story if you already owned them and knew you wouldn't ever wear them without fixing them.

I like the light cardigan too, I think it is nice with your coloring. I thought the other one that most others prefered was good too, I just think this one is prettier on you.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

Everything here looks flattering and versatile. My only concern is that if you are uncomfortable with the heel height in the Paul Greens, return them. I have returned beautiful shoes for this reason. They will end up admired yet unworn in my closet.

celia

Veteran

Of course I'll take your word for it but it doesn' t look tight.

OT: what size do you normally wear of jacket? I was considering(maybe ) to buy that jacket and wear usually a 6.Now you made me wonder which size would be good.
Don't answer if it's too personal.

devon7

(website)

I like the boots with the pants and jeans but not with the skirt outfit (too casual a vibe for that dressier look, IMHO). I have a pair of Paul Green boots and love them! They are comfortable and I feel they are worth the money (I bought mine for $200, discounted from $300).

I really like the cowl sweaters, especially the teal! I tried on that sweater, but it didn't work on me

I like the outfit in #3 but with a different shoe (and with more sheer tights, like you mentioned).

It seems like you got some great items at NAS!

sarah

Veteran

@Celia - not at all, I normally wear a 4P. I think you'd want a small.

@Rita - I know, I wish it wasn't too tight, but I really noticed it when I was moving around the furniture to take photos LOL. It's quite tight across the upper back.

@Denise and Rita - that is very sage advice. It will be hard to give these up, but I'm wondering if I'll wear something lower more frequently. I love everything else about them...hmmm...

celia

Veteran

Thank you.

bj1111

Veteran

i love the jacket. how many times will you be moving furniture with the jacket on? obviously if you feel incomfortable in it, don't get it. from my vantage point its a fave. how does the jacket fit in the waist?

the boots don'twork with these straight legs for me...i prefer more of the boot covered. try it tucked? great with skirt and fab with bootcuts.

love the fit and drape of the ce cowls. i can see why you may think its broad in shoulders. the drape neck drape is wider so maybe you read it as a wide shoulder? i think it flatters you very much.

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Sarah, if you only feel the jacket being tight when you are moving furniture maybe you should wear it on your furniture-free daysÉ:-) Seriously, it looks great, it would be a pity to return in. My red Hinge jacket fits pretty tight too (I would not even think of furniture moving in it!) but I like it this way.
I like grey booties with blue jeans but not with black ones. Is this heel uncomfortable - it does not look too high and it is pretty sturdy. I would not risk cutting it for pretty expensive booties, if it is too high I would look for another pair.
I like the cowl necks on you but I thought they are longer: I was hoping to buy them for myself but I am afraid they will be too short for me!
I like the combo of grey, plum and white - looks fresh but ditch the black tights!
And I hope you will never grow up enough to not ask for shopping help - it is too much fun for me!

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

I like the whole round. I have missed your previous thread so I have seen all this with fresh eyes (and before I read your questions) and to me nothing looks like it needs any extra work. But, those booties look fantastic and I prefer them to the boots (if I have to choose)!

I haven't come across anyone mentioning Paul Green shoes here before (I admit, I have been living under the rock all this time ) and I'm so glad to come across them at last. I have 10 year old PG boots and there is still life left in them! Back in the day, there was a factory outlet store near my old office, and I have found some real gems there, but if my experience is anything to go by, then I would say keep them in the original form, no heel shortening, those are superbly made shoes. If you feel you must, then go ahead, only you know if the heel will work for you, but it might be worth trying some insoles to support you before going for the chop?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Keep the short PG boots! They look amazing with straight legs. They are a little high for your bootcuts (Ahem.......I *am* splitting hairs).

The cowls look perfect!

Need to see the Fryes from the side, please.

The cardi looks fabulous with the grey and white! Are you keeping the magenta too?

sarah

Veteran

Angie - how do you feel about the PG's with black Martins/jeans?

I really need some non-black booties to wear with my bootcuts, too. Hmmm....

Yep, I'm going to keep the magenta cardi, too. I think these cardis work well for my proportions - better than the BF cardis I got last year, and they're something I wear a lot. So, what the heck.

I'm glad you think that the cowls aren't too big in the shoulder for me.

THANK YOU for looking.

I'll post photos of the Fryes from the sides, too...

Lisa

Veteran

1-PG booties, I like these with the jeans, not as much with the skirts. The exposed goring throws me off with skirts, but that's a personal preference. Also I favor a shoe with a lower vamp than these with skirts and dresses. This shoe cuts the leg line at the bottom of your leg before your ankles, and then another cut at the knees with the skirt, and a third cut for the top. That's a lot of breaking up the body line. But these booties are wonderful with straight legs. A little hard to tell with the bootcuts if they are too tall. I'd have to see a font view from the side it's a tad hard to tell. If you wear lots of straight leg jeans I vote keep to these. (And I'd let them slide on rainy days with bootcuts just don't tell Angie.

CE cowl-These look great on you, I don't see any shoulder draping issues and I vote keep.

Plum, white and gray-I like this pairing a lot, but want to swap the tights for a lighter gray color if you have light shoes. Or keep the darker tights and wear a darker shoe. For both it creates a longer leg line.

Frye boots-These look good fit wise. If you wanted to keep them with the dark shirt and gray skirt, I would wear a lighter hose to blend with the skirt and /or boots better.

kellygirl

Veteran

OMG, I love everything. My least fave are the booties with the grey pencil but I love the outfit--meaning the cardi with the lighter skirt. It's gorgeous on you. You must keep the Frye's--they look phenomenal on you. LOVE them. Stellar haul!

Debora

Veteran

Sarah, I love the PG booties and had tried them on myself at the sale. They were super comfortable. The CE cowls are beautiful. I never did see them in the store and would have liked to try one on. I especially like he sleeve length. I really liked how you styled the plum cardigan. It looks great with the gray and white!

Scarlet

Veteran

I think for the PGs I don't care for them paired with straight-leg black or black tights because of the high contrast BUT they actually look great with the black bootcuts because this covers everything except for the darker toe.. They look fab with denim. The cowlnecks look good, but I think you can play with how you arrange the neckline. The grey/white/plum combo is DIVINE!

sarah

Veteran

Thanks, everyone - you've give me food for thought. For the price, I'm not sure I can justify keeping the PG's if I can only wear them with blue jeans! I really need "work" shoes, and as Queen Wide-Leg Pants, I need to be able to wear my booties with my dressier bootcuts and straights. I'll check for PPL on the black boot cuts and go from there...sigh...I do love them...

@Scarlet - I'm laughing because every time I put on those cowls I play and play with arranging the neckline!!!

Queen Mum

Veteran

oh no, we don't want you go grow up and make your own fashion decisions... we love to all crowd in the dressing room with you and give our input... after all, we ARE all female here

LOVE the PG booties on you. I don't understand why I didn't love them as much. Maybe I should go try them back on? lol... shoot me now please!

LOVE the cowl in black. For some reason I'm not as crazy about the turqoise on you.

I'm not loving the plum cardi. I vote return. I'm liking you in more saturated colors.

I don't care for the PG booties with the black pants.

I love the Frye's too.

sarah

Veteran

Kim - which clothes DO you like the PG booties with? Just wondering. Yeah, go back and try them on again, so we can all be indecisive about these expensive shoes together LOL!

I'm glad you don't mind being there in the dressing with me - it helps immensely! I'm glad I don't have to grown up any time soon ; )

Queen Mum

Veteran

Sarah~ I like the booties with everything except #5. The mix of the dress pants with the booties just seems off to me.
I really like the silhouette of them with the skirt. Once you tweak the leg wear it could be really fab!
Unfortunately I will probably go back and take another look at them when I make my next return run.

Jonesy

Veteran

I love all of the tops on you! I love the light purple cardigan with the white blouse and gray skirt! I am sort of on the fence about the PG booties. They are cool, and look great with the jeans, but to my eye they don't work as well with skirts/dresses and if the heel height is a problem, hmmm....But maybe you don't want to wear them with skirts/dresses so it's a moot point?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Sarah, to my eye the PG boots look great with the black Martin trousers.

sarah

Veteran

@Jonesy - I don't really need to be able to wear the booties with dress/skirts. Boots are fine for that. I really need them for wearing with pants.

@Angie - I think so, too, so I'm glad you approve - that makes a huge difference in terms of whether I keep them. And the Fryes from the side? What do you think?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Great, Sarah! I like the Fryes a lot! But will prefer them over jeans and leans as opposed to skirts.