WIW: 2 outfits: High satisfaction and low....Why?

Quietgirl

Veteran

New student in the class! So I am discovering that some ensembles work and some are just dull.

I wanted to feature the earrings in Photo 1. (Banana Rep) in the outfit in photo2 (which is high satisfaction)

Fluid gray tee...first Angie-inspired purchase (Gap-summer wildcard)
BF jeans: JCrew
Boyfriend Blazer: JCrew Last year
bag: R Minkoff
shoes: Louise et Cie (Angie-find @ NAS)
old belt rediscovered!

Photo 3 (cotton blouse) & Photo 4 (silk blouse) are low satisfaction.

Please analyse and tell me why!! What would you change (or donate)?

This post has 4 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.

9 years ago

What I Wore

27 replies

Latest reply was from Gigi

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Aww, you're such a cutie! Great smile. Do you think that you want something a little edgier in look 3/4, rather than the blouses? The skirt is very ladylike but the boots are a little harder. Maybe a moto jacket to balance them out? Or a blouse that's less proper...a tee and a denim jacket?

9 years ago

Quietgirl

Veteran

Good points, Laura. Less proper! I like that.

9 years ago

Anonymous

Hi quietgirl ! The components in pics 3 and 4 are all great - but just not together

The boots are too heavy for a pretty skirt and blouse combo - I would wear a bootie, or a pump with this look. The blouses are lovely - but one of them is the wrong piece for this skirt, to my eye. The pockets on number 4 blouse compete with the necklace and are distracting- I'd do one or the other. The shirt in number 3 works, but again, not with the boots. Roll up or push up your sleeves, the I might be tempted to wear the necklace inside the shirt collar and pop up the collar, but that's a personal preference .

Outfit number 1 looks great on you, and i can see why you have a high happiness factor here - great casual look!

9 years ago

Quietgirl

Veteran

lisap. I made the skirt and I know that is simply a cotton twill. The fabric says "tough" to me but that is not how it appears. Others are reading it as "pretty or ladylike" which is good for me to understand.I think that is exactly the point I missed.

I like your idea of popping the collar and wearing the necklace inside the shirt.

9 years ago

kkards

Veteran

love #2 and just by looking at your body language, its clear you are comfortable in it.
#3/4 --again just by looking at your body langauge its clear you are not comfortable. i'm going to suggest taking the outfit as is, and then switching out pieces. for example, leave the skirt, blouse and switch out the footwear. then leave the skirt and boot and switch out the blouse. i do that with my footwear (not as much with toppers, but i should), i find it helps me to better "see" whats in front of me, instead of how i imagined the outfit would look.

9 years ago

Jules

Veteran

I think tall boots can be worn with skirts, but they need to be fairly refined - narrow in the ankle, fitted on the calf. But even dark tights might make these particular boots and skirt work better together. I do think the skirt could be dressed down with a denim jacket - it's just combined with the narrow belt, nice tucked blouse and necklace you are getting the ladylike effect.

9 years ago

viva

Veteran

Hi Quietgirl! So nice to see pictures of you! For me, the "ladylike" vibe is not coming directly from the twill skirt but from the elements worn with it -- in particular the white blouse with the full sleeve and the necklace worn outside of it. The changes Lisap mentioned could make the blouse work better. I also love a tee with a pencil skirt. So I am going to suggest taking the tee from the high satisfaction outfit and wearing it with the pencil skirt. Add the necklace if you want to, or not. Try the blazer with it, and scrunch up the sleeves. You could add even more edge with a moto (I think someone else suggested that). The boots may work, but what about a black bootie? Overall, I think what is missing from the skirt outfit is the sense of fun, casual edge that is in outfit #1.

PS I love your hair, and I love those earrings with your hair.

9 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

So lovely to see your beautiful smiling face! You look amazing in #1 so I am not surprised that you felt great. It's a current, fresh, and easy look and you wear it extremely well.

I love the suggestions you've received here already. The second outfit includes lovely pieces but overall it reads as much more "proper" than the first, which might explain why you were not as happy with it. I love the idea of pairing a tee with that skirt and booties instead of boots. Scrunching the sleeves on the shirt might also help if you prefer to wear a shirt.

I am also wondering about the shape of the skirt. Is it a true pencil or is it a slight A-line?

You appear to have a slender, somewhat rectangular shape -- not unlike mine. I know that for me, A-lines are a tricky shape to wear. I like them but they are not always the most flattering to me, and even a straight pencil skirt is not as good as a more tapered tube skirt. I wonder if the skirt's shape could also be contributing to your feelings? I actually think it looks very nice on you, but it might be one of those niggling irritations.

9 years ago

Emily

Veteran

I love #2 - I would wear that in a heartbeat. The earrings are modern and glam!

Re 3/4: I think the bright white blouse in #3 is a bit at odds with the more muted tones of the rest of the outfit, and am not crazy about the more structured top with the structured skirt. The blouse in #4 looks to be a better match colour wise, and I like the drape, but like lisap, I think the pockets and necklace are at odds. Can you adjust the necklace to wear it shorter, so the detail is nearer the collar? What if you pop a button or two and let the necklace peek out from inside the shirt for a little extra texture? Or you could leave off the necklace, of course. I like all of the pieces!

9 years ago

Quietgirl

Veteran

Great ideas, everyone!

kkards-shop the closet. Good. I will do.

Jules- I had considered wearing maroon tights. I have them in my drawer.

viva- I tried the black booties I had and wasn't satisfied. I haven't committed to them yet so ..............

Suz-the skirt may be slightly A-line. It has a long kick pleat so I could narrow it and still have room to walk

Emily- I agree. It was why I posted that blouse, I think the color is better. Yes the necklace is on a tie so it is flexible. Good to know the pieces are acceptable just the combination is problematic.

Here are the pieces recombined in my Stylebook app.Is this better?

This post has 1 photo. 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.

9 years ago

Dee

Veteran

I really like your recombined Stylebook pic! It's a little boho compared to your jeans and jacket outfit, but I think it looks fun and much less "proper" (as Suz said) or fussy than the ways you had already styled the skirt.

9 years ago

Alana in Canada

(website)

Veteran

Hi! I've nothing to add, just want to say Welcome!

9 years ago

thimblelina

(website)

Veteran

I love your boots & skirt together. What about a denim or chambray shirt instead to rough things up a little? I love what denim & chambray can do for polished pieces.

9 years ago

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

You look great, Quietgirl! I love that first outfit on you, and thanks for the closeup of those beautiful earrings.
I like the skirt and boots together, and I'm admiring your sewing skills to get a skirt that looks that fabulous on you. What about wearing a slouchy sweater instead of a blouse? (Admittedly, this idea does not really give an opportunity to showcase the necklace.)
Do you enjoy wearing buttondown blouses like these? If so, you could try the blouses with a pair of trousers--I'm imagining something a little wide-legged--and booties. I prefer the blouse without pockets with this skirt, too, if you want to retry it with booties or pumps. Or pointy toed loafers?

9 years ago

Neel

Veteran

I really like 4! Very JCrew! I would just wear the necklace closer to the collar (is that possible?) Or undo a few buttons. I might switch the handbag to something lighter too (white?).

I also love 1! Nailed it!

This post has 1 photo. 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.

9 years ago

Quietgirl

Veteran

Thanks to Dee Alana, Thimblelina, Firecracker and Neel. Great ideas all!

Here is the updated look ON including the 1.5inches removed from the skirt to make it more pencil and less A-line as Suz mentioned.

Thanks to everyone for ALL the helpful hints. This is such a rich storehouse of knowledge!

This post has 1 photo. 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.

9 years ago

Kat

Veteran

You look great--how do you feel? Excellent advice from others for tweaks and excellent work on your part, well done , you!

9 years ago

jackiec

Veteran

Lots of great suggestions put forth already. Boy you are really rocking your modified pic! I love it with the logo tshirt & denim! Well done - you are an efficient student

9 years ago

celia

Veteran

You already got good advice and changed the outfit that didn't make you so happy.
FWIW I think the outfit with the skirt was also fabulous as it was. We talk about this some times, our emotional response some days doesn't have to do with how flattering or current an outfit is but more on how we feel in it.

9 years ago

kkards

Veteran

the updated outfit looks like its from the jcrew fall style book! WOW! love this look, but its quite different from where you started, how do you feel about it?

9 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

It's really a fantastic change -- such little tweaks, so much difference! Do you like this version and feel good in it, or no?

9 years ago

Marley

Veteran

I like the tweaks! Did you consider popping the collar and scrunching the sleeves of the jacket? I'm more of a minimalist than most - so take that into consideration when I say that I'd get rid of the necklace - I think it competes with the graphic t-shirt. You've also got a statement ring on - so I'd just let that make the statement rather than wearing the necklace along with it.

I think you could wear the blouse (without the pockets) with this skirt if you wore a more refined pair of shoes/boots.
One last thing - did you consider a faux tuck on the graphic tee - and/or the blouse? Just curious how that would look!

9 years ago

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Love the updated version!

9 years ago

Joy

Veteran

I'venot read your replies but your first outfit reminds me of Emmanuelle Alt's uniform:
http://nymag.com/thecut/2012/0.....-book.html
Very classy. I love your reworked version of the second outfit.

9 years ago

Quietgirl

Veteran

Marley-I wondered if the necklace was even necessary. A refined pair of boots is "on the list"! A faux tuck is a great idea.

thanks Laura for the boost!

Joy-Thank you for the encouragement. Maybe I CAN learn this!

9 years ago

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Just looking at the pictures and then your tweaked second outfit, it is clear that you like a more relaxed, casual vibe. The original second outfit reads more ladylike and formal. To extend the Emmanuelle Alt analogy (and stretch it to the breaking point :-)), the first look is more EA and the second more Anna Wintour. The reworked outfit brings you back to a more casual vibe.

9 years ago

Gigi

Veteran

I can see why you like your first outfit—you look very put together and polished! The pieces play well together.

I am learning a lot from people's responses to the skirt outfits. I have boots like that too and have had a hard time getting them to play well with skirts, because they do look kind of heavy. The only skirts they really work well with are very long ones, like maxis or long midis. I will have to try other people's advice here and try booties with my skirts next time.

My suggestion for the other outfits is that you could tweak the proportions. A good proportion is 2:3, such that the top would be 2 parts and the skirt would be 3 parts (so the skirt would be about 1.5 times as long as the top). It looks to me like in your pics, the top is 1 part and the skirt is 2 parts, so you have more of a 1:2 ratio, which usually isn't very flattering. Can you wear the skirts with a longer top, or can you semituck the top? Sometimes semitucking makes the top appear longer.

9 years ago

Category