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What I wore last week; trying to "push the envelope"

Kari

Veteran

Since participating in the Clue theme week, I've tried to push the envelope by incorporating more accessories and using silhouettes that are outside of my comfort zone.
I think I'm getting somewhere, but I still feel like some of my outfits are lacking something, and I'd love feedback and ideas for other looks that I should try - or avoid.

If you'd rather scroll down instead of seeing individual links, start here: http://inkariswardrobe.blogspot.com

Wednesday: http://inkariswardrobe.blogspo.....-blue.html

Thursday: http://inkariswardrobe.blogspo.....-girl.html
I think this is my fourth time ever wearing a belt at my natural waist. The look is starting to grow on me.

Friday: http://inkariswardrobe.blogspo.....-bean.html
This looks a little discombobulated to me - the neckline of the dress doesn't work with the neckline of the cardigan, and the necklace seems out of place.

Saturday: http://inkariswardrobe.blogspo.....nally.html
Trying new Brulees, skinny jeans, and a floral top. I think this would work with clamdiggers too.

Saturday night and Sunday: http://inkariswardrobe.blogspo.....s-day.html
I added layers to Saturday's outfit to stay warm at night (using my new Rockport boots.) This was my favorite all week.
I feel like the Mother's day outfit wasn't as fun looking as I wanted it to be, and is the brown cardigan too dark?

Monday: http://inkariswardrobe.blogspo.....onday.html

Tuesday: http://inkariswardrobe.blogspo.....mpt-2.html

19 replies

Latest reply was from Kari

Oneirix

(website)

I love your Saturday night outfit! Super cute. You seem to have a lot of varying necklines. It adds for some really interesting contrast. You've opened my eyes!

planetamy

(website)

Hi Kari!

Wednesday: lovely color on you.

Thursday: My FAVE of the week! I love the skinny belt, and all the neutrals just work!

Friday: I love the green dress, without the cardi. I don't think you look discombobulated, I just think that the cream/white cardi doesn't do as much for you as the green alone does. The necklace is good! Have you tried a different color necklace with the dress? Maybe a turquoise or red or even purple? I think a cardi is fine over the dress, but in a different color since it'll be closest to your face.

Saturday: Love it!

Saturday night: That white jacket, the scarf and boots, and the floral peeking out...Amazing! This is So so good!

Monday: like the pants.

Tuesday: I like the red on you!

crwilson

Veteran

My favorite is the Saturday night outfit, but I love all of them. I love seeing how you're experimenting because I know I've heard you say that you're sometimes reluctant to do so. Seeing you gives me hope that I'll be able to do the same things in a few (or a lot of) months.

The one thing I wasn't sure of was the red jacket with the cami underneath. I felt like maybe the cami was too high or something? I'm not sure.

You look great, and as I said, I find looking at your pictures really inspirational - thank you for sharing.

Christine

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

I thought all of the looks were perfect! I didn't see any discomfort with new styles, or discombobulation, or anything wrong. LOVED all of it. I don't think I have any favorites because I really did like them all, but when I close my eyes and remember all the shots I saw, the floral top and jeans stands out in my memory, as does the pretty green floral AT dress with the brown cardi.

JewelryGirl

Kari, the green necklace is an interesting one! When I first saw it though I assumed the silver part (which I believe is actually the clasp on this one) would be worn in the middle as a pendant almost. I would try that look as well. Here's what I typically do with that length - I'm not sure if these will work considering the pendant & what you have but here's my 2 cents.

~ Wear the silver in front as mentioned
~ Wear the clasp in the back but slide a larger bailed pendant over the necklace, this will give you more length for something like the deeper neckline on the dress you're wearing it with.
~ Open up the clasp, lay the necklace out it's full length & then split it and wear it long unclasped. Do you know what I mean? It doesn't work with all necklaces but it makes for a more versatile piece when it does. Sometimes if I have the piece of an extender in the way & I have an interesting or matching stretch bracelet you can knot it up at the end to cover a piece of the clasp & make for an interesting piece again. I'm not sure if that trick will work with this clasp though.
~ Since it's shorter I have a tendency to wear something like this with a collar shirt that doesn't have as much space between my necklace & the top of my shirt/dress. Does that make sense?
~ Try wrapping it around your wrist a couple of times as a bracelet instead. May or may not work depending on your wrist size & the necklace size.
~ An Angie'ism - wear the necklace with a scarf so you just get a hint of it. I'm seeing this more & more and getting comfortable with it myself. KristenKP had on a gorgeous long necklace awhile back with a scarf.
~ I'll see if anything else comes to mind.

I'm assuming it's functionality that's stumping you on it & not color. If it's color that's another discussion though. I hope something in here helps. It's a beautiful necklace!!

You have another GREAT week Kari, I wish we lived in similar proximity this would be so fun in person!

merry77

You looked great everyday, Kari. I especially love the Sat night and the green dress. I had to laugh out loud at the "Hot Office Girl" comments. Too funny!

shiny

Veteran

I love all your outfits. If you still feel like you are missing something, you might try different shoes or a purse in a pop of color - something surprising.

For example, a gold metallic purse with Tuesday's outfit; red shoes with the Mother's Day dress, and yellow purse or shoes with Monday's purple top.

Also work in a pop of white if you can. A cream purse would work well with Tuesday and Monday. Or how about a long pearl necklace with Monday's top (worn inside the collar)? A white watch would also look great with many of these outfits too.

For the green bean outfit, I love the necklace but perhaps you need some contrast there? Three green items may be too much. How about A necklace in coral? And how would this look with your cream moto jacket over, to funk it up?

You look totally fab in scarves, so that is another option to add interest.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Well, well, well! You did it again, Kari. Upped your style quotient effortlessly. Big feather in your cap :0) – do you guys know that expression?

I think that with a statement handbag, you've got it down. Nothing lacking in my book.

Blue – Fabulous! You wear puffed sleeves so well.

Hot office girl – KILLER

Green bean – KILLER. You know I love that dress on you.

Spring Finally – KILLER. I love gladiators with skinnies. One of my favourite looks at the moment. Nice little boho interpretation. Sweet, SWEET puppy.

Drizzly Monday –Smashing!

Butterfly – So pretty!

How did you feel last week?

Asha

Wow! I love everything! I really commend you for trying new things, because I know how hard that can be.
LOVE the skinny belt look on you, you look great in the skinnies with the boho top, the green dress is just gorgeous, love the outfit with the boots and scarf - in short, you had a fabulous week!

Lena

Kari, you looked great all week! Nothing looks missing to me. Maybe a white or cream bag like Shiny suggested. You also look amazing in skirts. My favorite outfit is probably the Saturday night one. I love the scarf +jacket + boots combo.

tarzy

Veteran

You look absolutely amazing. Your style is very inspiring. I LOVE the anthropology blouse on you! I'd love to find that shape, but in a solid. The boots look great - I'm so glad they worked out.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

(I can’t believe I missed Saturday night’s outfit. I’m sorry).

You score KILLER squared for that outfit. BEST outfit I've seen you post to date. It’s sassy, mod, practical, chic and classy all at the same time. It does not get better than that. Well done! (I was wondering why the new boots hadn’t come out seeing as we went back to a week of cold weather. And there they are!)

Kari

Veteran

I am totally overwhelmed by your kind and helpful comments. I am really glad that the sandals and boots are already prompting me to push my style forward, and the positive feedback makes me thrilled that I'm heading in the right direction. Yay!

I think the struggle I'm having is that I feel at home in the "new" outfits I'm creating, but in comparison I feel pretty boring in what used to be my "go-to" outfits in the past - i.e. what I wore on Monday and Tuesday. I'm glad to know that for the most part there isn't a major disconnect between the "old" and "new", but I'm VERY grateful for the suggestions to kick them up a notch, too.

JewelryGirl, a BIG thank you for stepping in and offering so many suggestions about how to wear the necklace. It won't fit over my head it I try to wear it "open", but I think you're right about wearing it with a higher or narrower neckline. The pendant idea sounds great - I don't have the right pieces, but I'll query my bead-savvy aunt next time I see her to ask if she has any ideas. I'll have to see if it works as a bracelet - the length *may* work.

Shiny and Planetamy, you have such creative ideas about colors.
The green dress: I think you both have it right that I need to add more color contrast. Last time I paired the dress with turquoise and yellow and I think it worked better. I haven't considered purple, coral, or the cream moto jacket, though. GREAT suggestions - thank you!
I never would have thought of wearing red shoes with the Mother's Day olive dress - I initially was going to wear my yellow canvas peep-toes, but the day turned out too cold & I didn't want to ruin the shoes in the rain. I also like Lena and Shiny's idea about adding a cream handbag. I haven't run across one that I liked well enough and was in my price range (I don't spend very much on handbags, ever) but maybe that's something to keep an eye out for - it's unlikely that white or cream handbags will go out of style any time soon. (I've mostly been using my slouchy matte fuchsia satchel for the past several months.)

Angie, thank you in particular for your enthusiastic feedback! I think the main difference in the past week was that I felt "at home" in my casual weekend wear without feeling or being told that I was too dressed up. In the past I would have worn ballet flats instead of the Brulees or the boots with both outfits, and I'm amazed at how changing up my footwear adds a very different element to my look. I felt a little uncomfortable on Friday (the green dress) and yesterday (the red jacket with butterfly pin) because the layers I tried didn't jibe together as well as I'd like. However, I didn't feel like I looked awful - more that what I was wearing wasn't "a 10."

Thanks again to all of you for your feedback and suggestions - this is incredibly helpful.

HannahC

Kari, this was such a beautiful week! I love how you paired the jeans with the Brulees, and I love love love your Saturday night outfit! I actually love everything you wore ... Your "envelope pushing" is very inspirational to me.

yublocka

(website)

Veteran

Kari I'm late to this discussion but just wanted to add that I'm another one lovin' your Sat night outfit. Just the right combination of girly and tough. Your new wardrobe items are great.

And your dog is gorgeous!!!!

LoP

Veteran

Hi Kari, I love all week and especially your neck line. Always very interesting details around the neck area to frame your face.

A big compliment to you on your openness to try new styles. I think your style is starting to have a funky edge in addition to your elegant lady-like looks that I also love. The boots are a great choice!

Rose

Kari, well done. I love looking at your outfits because I think we have some physical features in common which allows me to learn from you.

Alecia

Veteran

I'm late, too. I just had to tell you how fabulous the outfit with the boots looks. All are really nice but that one is just great.

Kari

Veteran

Thank you all very much. It truly makes my day to hear that experimenting and trying to add something new to my style is paying off. I really liked how adding the boots and the sandals felt edgier and less formal than what I usually wear, but I still felt like me, not like I was trying on someone else's clothes.

Thanks all for the encouragement - I'll keep trying!