WIW: 11/12-11/15 and K/PO (keep or phase out) on questionable dress and boots

Hey all. Here's what I wore this week -- now with a few scenic office bathroom shots mixed in with the at-home-by-the-overstuffed-sock-drawer pics!

1-2: Target dress. Bloomingdales (Aqua might be the brand?) cardigan (it's really soft cashmere and I love how it gives just a slight hint of structure while still being cozy and sweater-y). Gentle Souls boots.

3: Gap cardigan. Lands' End dress. Limited obi belt (I have this in both cognac and black and really like it). Same Gentle Souls boots as 1-2 in cognac.

4-5: Halogen cardigan and top. AT skirt. Clarks shoes. (I'm not sure how well they show up, but they're a slightly Victorian-looking Mary-Jane/shootie thing with lace-up detail.)

6: Old Navy dress. Another Halogen cardigan. Madewell booties (again). This cardigan is probably my one solid yellow item, and the color scheme on the dress always reminds me of chocolate cake with sprinkles.

So my Keep or Phase Out (not quite Keep or Toss because they're still useful and easy to grab in the morning, so I'd be putting them on notice and starting to maybe look for possible replacements rather than tossing them out just now) questions are about the dress in 1-2 and the boots in 1-2 and 3.

Is the pattern on the dress dated? I love the colors and can wear it pretty much all year, but I'm not sure on the pattern anymore.

As for the boots (better pics here: http://www.dsw.com/shoe/gentle.....dId=296167), they're short enough and wide enough for me, which is sometimes a challenge, and are comfortable enough to wear all day. But I'm starting to worry that the bulbous toe shape and the stitching details push them into frumpy, sensible territory. Thoughts?

Again, thanks for reading and looking!

This post has 6 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

10 years ago

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I really like #3.

Anonymous

3 is my favorite too. I think the boots look great no need to purge. The dress in 1/2 is fine, its not a favorite style (under boob thing) of mine but that's just me. I would encourage you to keep it and look for a great wrap dress to replace it when the time comes.

carter

I really like the boots. Also like the way you styled the dress in #1 for the Fall.

Parsley

I was going to say that #3 is my favorite, too, and I see I'm in good company! That outfit looks great on you!
I like the colors in the first dress, the pattern's OK, but maybe the style's a little dated.

The boots look good to me. Keep!

Aubergine

Thanks, Anna, Tracina, Carter, and Parsley! Tracina, I know what you mean about the under-the-boob thing, but I'm so short that I end up with that style a lot just because it's a way to get a dress that fits at my waist, then flares out, without worrying about alterations. I should probably stop doing that.

I like #3 a lot too. I'm actually proud of this outfit because wearing outfits that depend entirely on combining simple shapes and neutral colors for their interest is kind of new for me. And I think I actually have lots of YLF outfit viewing to thank for that!

Edit: And I'm glad I'm getting approvals on the boots! I always wonder how much I'm compromising aesthetics for comfort/fit on shoes, so it's nice to get outside confirmation sometimes.

RunswithDolphins

Active Member

Another vote for #3. Especially love the belt tying in with the boots. That obi belt is a keeper in both colours. I rather like the dress in #6 on you and the booties look great with it. Maybe a different topper/cardigan in a deeper colour and a gold colour necklace would be nice to try with it.

RunsWithDolphins, that's a good idea on the brown dress! I was wearing a delicate gold necklace, which I don't think really showed up in the pictures, but I think a darker cardigan (I have one in the darker fuchsia shade in the print, actually) and a bolder necklace could be fun.

Thistle

Hehe, another vote for #3.

Keep the boots. Love them. Wear them. They seem on trend to me as riding boots. While a pointed toe might be more fashion forward, I se nothing frumpy or dated on the boots. And they fit! Finding riding boots that fit is sooooo hard!

As for the dress, I think it is pretty and see nothing dated in the pattern.

Beth Ann

I think these outfits are all fab --- I do like #3 very well -- the cognac is so rich and simple. I remember seeing the ON dress in #6 in the store -- your styling of it is terrific. It would look wonderful under a denim jacket, too.

As for boots -- no need to purge! I'm trying to add more refined footwear, too, but I think the round, or at least almond toes are a classic choice, and often more comfrortable. It's the square toes in my closet that are getting the evil eye from me!

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

I think you look lovely in all of your outfits, but I really like the contrast of the cream sweater, and the mustard outfit against your skin and hair.

The boots are adorable, and the stitching makes me think of/echoes, all the quilting and leather detail on clothing this fall. I vote keep!

I love your style! Cardigans and tights and belts and vintage-y shoes galore. Those boots are beautiful, but almost all of my shoes have a wide and round toe, and are frumpy and sensible, so I'm no help there. I don't think the pattern on dress 1 is dated: it feels a bit baroque to me and doesn't scream a past year or decade. And I love that teal cardigan.

Neel

I LOVE your dresses! And the boots are stunning! Not frumpy by miles! And you look lovely! The belt is another beauty and no wonder you love it. Its such a perfect shade of brown!

I wouldn't throw away anything that I loved even if it was dated. IYKWIM. If you are bored of the dresses then that's another story

MsMary

I love the boots! They are keepers for sure!

I like the dresses a lot!

And we are Halogen mustard cardigan twins!

Thanks, everyone! I think I feel much better about the boots and the dress!

Thistle, boots that fit are definitely rare indeed!

Beth Ann, I think you're right that square toes tend to look dated more quickly than round.

La Belle, thanks for the compliment on my coloring! And I didn't even think about the stitching on the boots actually reflecting trends, but now I'm totally going to pretend I saw that all along.

E, I love what I've seen of your style, so I'm very flattered that you like mine!

Neel, thanks so much! I've got a weakness for anything in that shade of brown!

Mary, I'm honored to be wardrobe twins with you on anything!

Category