WIW - Style extremes, crisp and sporty

My last post was talking about the lack of cohesion between my winter and spring/sunmer looks. Below are two recent outfits that illustrate this pretty well.

Outfit 1 was worn to walk around the cherry blossom festival last weekend. I like the print on the button-down, but it still felt a little too structured/crisp for me. Is this too different from my usual looks?
Outfit 1: Banana republic top, Loft jeans, Birkenstock sandals.

Outfit 2 was worn to work today (obviously casual looks are fine). I felt more like myself in this outfit. The pants are drapey and fit somewhere between a culotte and a track pant. I rolled them twice so they hit a little above mid-calf for me. My DH is much taller than I am, so my legs are short but not quite as short as they look here. I added the denim jacket and pink sneakers to give a more sporty/urban vibe, though not how I successful it was. This is the first outing for these pants, so do they look JFE or should I try something else in the future?
Outfit 2: Urban Outfitters pants, Loft top, Old Navy jacket, Vans sneakers

My goal this year is to make my spring/summer wardrobe more cohesive and more "me" than it currently feels. So thanks for looking and suggestions welcome!

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9 years ago

Aida

Veteran

Both look nice to me. The second outfit has a classic/sporty vibe to it, while the first is classic casual. Hard to tell on the pants in #2 without a lower photo but they look like they've got a good drape to them. What is the cut of the jeans in #1? If you're wearing birkies, I wonder if the jean cut is what's throwing you more than the shirt. Perhaps try a semi-tuck with the shirt to casualify the strictness?

(Ask DH to kneel when taking your photos, something around waist height is ideal )

jackiec

Good advice by Aida - it looks Iike the camera is looking down at you, so we can't see accurate proportions. I like the look of #2 for sure - totally you and sporty! Can't see the feet of #1 and that's a crucial aspect to me. Good idea to semi tuck the top. I love the bag.

Dee

Aida, the first outift is a little too classic for me, that is definitely the right term. I don't mind a bit of classic but maybe I don't want it to be the primary descriptor for an outfit.

The pants in #1 were boyfriend jeans because I wanted to feel more casual. Semi-tucking would have been a good idea though!

And yes, getting DH to kneel would probably help immensely. Thanks!

Jackie, I couldn't find a single picture where DH didn't cut off my feet! His priorities are clearly not shoe focused! And I'm glad #2 seems like me!

rachylou

Interesting interesting. #1 makes me think of the 1950s (but I'm not seeing the birkies), #2 the 1910s. You should go the direction of #2 if it feels more right. Definitely a personality thing, not a looks thing.

Rachy, thanks! You're right that it is mostly a personality thing. And I'll take the 1910s over the 50s any say!

Diana

#1 looks very "Angie" to me, so I think modern classic is a good descriptor for it. It's strict and crisp. I agree that #2 is more "you." I'm not really sure how to make #1 more you though - you have already done the things I would suggest like leaving the top buttons open, wearing casual jeans...

Suz

(website)

So funny. I had to give DH lots of photo taking instructions at first. He also tends to cut off my feet.

I think maybe your default in the past was to buy classic because it was available...and now you are seeking to direct your style more consciously and you have enjoyed the more avant garde pieces that you own. So, how about adding one or two statement pieces for spring/ summer in that vein? An asymmetrical hemmed tee or two, a pair of loose linen trousers?

Olivegreen

Active Member

I wonder if you and Approprio share the same nonchalant European style gene?

Gaylene

I agree with Suz (again!) that sometimes classic is a default because it is so widely adopted by people who aren't interested in, or are unsure about, fashion. Maybe you aren't as "classic" as you thought because your second outfit looks more vibrant and personal.--even with short legs.

How does Nonchalant Urban Sporty sound to your ears? Because it seems you can nail that look in a heartbeat. I think that Olivegreen makes a good point about the similarity of your style to the Euro JFE look that Approprio does so effectively.

Jaime

Hmm, no wonder DD is my best photographer - she is just the right height. It is really hard to judge the second outfit, but I don't see a huge disconnect. I think your hair and the details in #1 like bag color and print top move it away from classic classic. Quirky classic?

Firecracker (Sharan)

If you hadn't said anything, Dee, I would have thought these two outfits are quite similar in feel. You look great in both of them!
Both use denim to casualize a top that is a little crisp (the top in #2 looks like a cotton shirting fabric, but not in a button-down style). Perhaps, like me, you just don't feel like yourself in a cotton button-down shirt? I can wear a cotton blouse in an artier style, and I can wear a silky shirt in a button-down style, but cotton and button-down together just doesn't feel right on me.

fuzzylogic

A little bit sporty, a little bit funky and a LOT fun! Love it!

unfrumped

I think both look good but sounds like you're honing in on specific looks. I do think outfit experimentation is part of getting there- " wear this, not that"!

Staysfit

I see the second top as having some interesting detail that move it away from the classic, but the first top looks pretty classic to me. I think Suz is right in saying that you should think about the cut, style and details of your tops.

Also your accessories are awesome and totally reflect your personality. Colorful bags and shoes, your great glasses, cute haircut! Perfect! i love Gaylenes description Nonchalant Urban Sporty, but I think it's missing your cool sense of fun with color. I see Artistic Urban Sporty.

Sorry for responding so late (again) but thanks everyone for your comments.

Thanks Olivegreen and fuzzylogic!

Diana, I guess crisp and I are not meant to me. But I'll take any similarity to Angie I can get!

Suz is (as usual) completely right. I've really enjoyed the edgier/avant garde pieces I have in my winter wardrobe. Adding a few for the summer seems much harder but would definitely be worth it.

Shevia and Firecracker, I'm actually relieved that you didn't find the two outfits too different from each other. Maybe I'm not in as dire straights for the summer as I sometimes think. And Firecracker is right that cotton and button down is difficult for me. I try it every few seasons and often they end up in the donate pile. I like the pattern of this one, at least, so it's staying for now.

Gaylene's description Nonchalant Urban Sporty reminds me of some of what I like about Euro-Chic, but in a more casual way, so I like would be happy to claim it! But Staysfit's comment of Artistic Urban Sporty also sounds very fun, especially for the summer. I did finally pick up a good pair of casual sneakers recently.

And unfrumped, you're exactly right. My goal for this summer is to really hone my wardrobe/outfits, so there may be more posts like this in the future.

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