WIW: Back to work & out to dinner - YouLookFab Forum

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WIW: Back to work & out to dinner

Jonesy

Veteran

Here are some recent looks from over the holiday break and the work week. A few are really dark--the light is very weak this time of year!--sorry if you have to squint to make out the details.

One question: the mustard skirt in 1 is the same style skirt as the charcoal one in 2, just one size bigger. Does the gold one look too big? Should I have the tailor take it in a pinch, or does it seem okay? It's sitting on my hips, rather than anywhere near my waist, but that's not necessarily a bad thing on short-waisted me!

1. Wore to teach

Gray tipped cardigan: BR
Mustard pencil skirt: J. Crew
Black and white blouse: Loft
Black opaque tights: Spanx (thanks for the idea, Jean!)
Black boots: D-Segno via endless.com

2. Also wore to teach

Black jacket: Urban Outfitters
Floral silk top: J. Crew
Gray pencil skirt: J. Crew
Gray tights: Hue
Black boots: D-Segno
Mom's necklace from the '70s!

3. Close-up on necklace and top detail

4. Wore out to dinner with SO and friends. I have ordered a few new black jackets to try out, so I will hopefully be mixing it up soon, and not wearing this jacket all the time :). But I love it and can't seem to stop myself! The skirt looks gray in the pic, but is actually a black and white tweed.

Black jacket: UO
Silk top: J. Crew outlet
Black and white tweed skirt: Eddie Bauer outlet
Black tights: Spanx
Black boots: D-Segno
Silver necklace: lorisshoes.com

5. Wore out to dinner with friends:

Silk purple and black jacket: Urban Outfitters
Dark olive skinny cargos: Loft (dyed by me--they were a swampy brown)
Black cable-knit v-neck vest: J. Crew (does look a pinch short in the pic, but it was about 15 degrees out so I wanted the underlayer to be warm!)
Black booties: Naot
Silver necklace: lorisshoes.com

Frank feedback always welcome!

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29 replies

Latest reply was from Jonesy

Anonymous

You have a very refined and classy sense of style. I'm taking inspiration from all of these outfits. I love the color combinations and how unexpectedly well the patterned tops go with their pairings. I also love that the boots are stylish without being over the top. I see women all the time wearing boots that have all the bells and whistles, and it ends up being all about the boots instead of the overall effect of an outfit. You look fabulous!

Debora

Veteran

Jonesy, I always look forward to your posts. You look fantastic in all four looks! My daughter really wanted that mustard skirt from JCrew, but I don't think she was ever able to find it. It's so pretty on you! Your mother's necklace is just too fab.

kellygirl

Veteran

*Squee!* Hi, Jonesy! Wow--a Friday treat. First let me say that your outfits never disappoint! I love them all. To answer your question, the skirt in 2 does seem to taper in more and looks a bit more fitted. I think tailoring the mustard color to fit like the grey would be beneficial although I think it's only apparent when they are side by side.

#1 is such a striking outfit. Love the patterned blouse with the mustard skirt and the piping on the BF cardi! Stellar. #2 is gorgeous as well--less contrast but still lots of impact. The cropped jacket is just fab on you! Love the necklace. Love how the skirt ties in with the pearls in 4--very nice! #5--awesome! What an unusual jacket. The drapey front panels are nice with those cargos. Elegant with rugged elements--what's not to love! Whew--what a fab ensemble. So nice to "see" you!

I recognize that BF cardi--is it the Halogen one? I hope Sveta sees it--she would look fab in that one too. You are both about the same height, no?

LeahJanes

They are great outfits! I covet that mustard skirt wholeheartedly.

You have a great eye for proportion and length - not one of these items is the wrong length or shape or fit.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Love the tweed skirt; would never have guessed in a million years that it was Eddie Bauer. Like the last look as well.

LoP

Veteran

All of them are so well put together that I had to roll through the pictures a few times before I can comment. That mustard skirt is so chic.

wilson

Wow, what I love the most about all of these is the color combos. The mustard skirt is amazing and looks so fresh and current. I think it could be taken in a just a tad, when looking at it compared to the gray one; it is such an easy fix and it would make the skirt phenomonal. Before I compared it to the gray one it looked just fine though.

I am also loving that bright orange blouse contrasting with the neutrals in outfit four. And your mother's necklace! It is beautiful. And how special to wear a piece your mother wore and felt was special enough to tuck away all these years.

Polly (thunalata)

Veteran

I love your posts. You have beautiful individual items that you put together in a careful, polished, stylish way.

Scarlet

Veteran

I really like all of these, Jonesy. You have a great eye for prints. I do prefer the fit of the charcoal skirt although you can also get away with the mustard as is. Great job making a really bold color look very natural.

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Yay, Jonesy is posting the outfits again! That was a very stylish bunch. My favorite is #1 - there is something about grey and yellow that is just singing to me. The skirt looks like it bunches a bit below the waist but it may be just a light issue.
Something bothers me about #4 though. At first I thought it is about the longer top under the jacket and with the skirt - like too many horisontal breaks. However I looked at #2 and it looks similar - longer top inder a jackets and a skirt - but I liked it fine. Then I realized: it must be a number of horisontal breaks plus the high contrast in the outfit. In #2 all 3 pieces are in darker shades of similar intensity so they have a low contrast. In #4 bright blouse is a high contrast with the jacket and the skirt.
Sorry for the rambling - I just was intrigued!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Jonesy, you rock a pair of cargo skinnies like no other.Wow! That's a KILLER outfit.

But all your outfits are fabulous and we hope to one day see your pretty face

MsMaven

Veteran

Very classy and sophisticated. Your outfits look quite expensive, so it's fun to see where the different items actually come from. Inspirational, too. (I'm using that word a lot lately.)

sarah

Veteran

You are an inspiration to me! I also teach (I'm a professor), and you've achieved just the level of 'low-key dressiness' that I am striving for. Thanks for the ideas, and keep posting!

Jonesy

Veteran

Thanks everyone! You are all so nice--I really appreciate it. Let me tell you, IRL almost no one comments on my clothes, so I love getting the feedback here :).

Angie: thanks for the killer rating on the cargos! Before YLF I would have never left them so long, to scrunch around my ankles, but now I love the look. I have been wearing those pants so much--they go with everything!

Loves Moose: thanks for the comment about the boots. I searched for over a year for the perfect pair with the perfect heel height, and finally found these! I have worn them so much--they are so comfortable.

Kellygirl, the charcoal tipped cardigan is from Banana Republic, purchased in late summer when the fall stuff first came out. Can you believe this is the first time I've worn it? I'm really bad sometimes.

The mustard skirt is sort of distinctive; I was expecting it to be more polarizing :). The consensus, among those of you who mentioned it, seems to be that it could stand to be taken in a bit, but it's not a deal breaker at this point. That's sort of how I feel too, so I'll have to see just how motivated I am to take it to the tailor.

Thanks for the nice comments about my mom's necklace! It is special to me, but doesn't always go with every outfit!

Anna: I was shocked when I found that skirt at EB too (I was there looking for cheap loungewear)--and I think it was $20! I feel like it's too short for work, but works okay for going out with the SO.

Sveta: I see what you mean about #4, at least in the pic. IRL the skirt is a black and white tweed, so it looks more coherent with the black tights and jacket, and the black in the patterned orange top, but in the pic it just looks light gray, which makes it seem sort of discordant.

Ms Maven: LOL about my outfits looking expensive--I appreciate the comment! That black jacket in two of the outfits was purchased for $30, and that silver necklace in two outfits was $20! I think I have gotten my money's worth on both of those :).

ETA: Yes Sarah, I'm a prof too! It is hard to strike the balance between comfortable and dressy and authoritative! It's always a work in progress; thanks for you comments.

Tricia

Veteran

So wonderful, all of them. The mustard skirt outfit is my favorite, and I love your mom's necklace.

kellygirl

Veteran

Agreeing with Ms.Maven--your clothes always look like they are in tip top shape too. I think part of why they look expensive is the tailoring and fit (in addition to the fact you have impeccable taste.)

bella

(website)

Veteran

I love each and every outfit and I would wear all of them in a heartbeat. Your lorisshoes necklace is gorgeous!

catgirl

Veteran

Jonesy, all of these are inspiring to me, and I'm trying to figure out how to copy with what I have in my current wardrobe. I especially love that mustard skirt - what a great color! You are a fashion artiste!

taylor

Veteran

LOVE the mustard and charcoal combo!! Everything looks amazing!

Aida

Veteran

Love seeing your WIWs! I personally don't think the mustard skirt needs to be taken in; I like that it's a slightly different silhouette than the charcoal one. LOVE your mom's necklace, it's definitely a unique and amazing piece. The cargos in #5 fit perfectly, I love how they look on you (yay for the scrunching!).

Carole

Veteran

Wow, love all your outfits! What a fabulous figure! My favorite was # 1, love that mustard color skirt, such a nice color variation! Well done!

Becky

Veteran

You look very polished and professional, Jonesy! I agree with the consensus on the mustard skirt; it's nice as is but would be even better if taken in a bit. I love the way you use patterned blouses so skillfully.

Jonesy

Veteran

Thanks so much, everyone. Who knew that the mustard skirt would be so popular? I can never tell what's gonna be a hit with you ladies :). I guess I'll have to wear it more often (I bought it last winter and this is its first wear!).

Marley

Veteran

Love that mustard skirt - but I would take it in just a bit! All of these outfits are sooo cute - just so refined, but with some pizazz as well. Those cargoes look great on you! I especially like that look. Thanks for posting!

AJ

Veteran

All of these looks are so great! My fave is #1...another mustard skirt fan! I have never thought of getting a colored skirt for fall/winter but your mustard one and Bella's tomato red skirt have me yearning for one of my own.

I also like how the mustard skirt is the pop in the outfit. I would have been trying to find another way to get yellow added in. Similar to how you have the grey repeated in #4. I have problems knowing when to repeat and when not to repeat. I'm favoriting this so I can study it more. Thanks for posting!

AJ

Veteran

Oh, also wanted to add that if I worked with you, you would be tired of hearing me say everyday that I liked your outfit! : )

Polly (thunalata)

Veteran

Interesting comments - I think I've assumed you only buy expensive clothes! But yes, as KG said, it's the tailoring and fit and the fact that you're always immaculately presented.

Sally

Veteran

I like all of them but the first and last are my favourite. I think that the mustard skirt is great. I was interested to hear you are short waisted because you dont look it( I am short waisted and never tuck anything so I'm going to try a skirt like that.) i too like the cargos . you really suit them.

Jonesy

Veteran

Sally, yes I am quite short-waisted, but you can't really tell in the first outfit (with the mustard skirt) because the skirt is a bit big on me and is resting on my hips, rather than at or near my waist! The top of the waistband is a good 4" below my natural waist. When I wear something at my waist, then I look really short-waisted :).