WIW Black Tie Weekend - YouLookFab Forum

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WIW Black Tie Weekend

Anonymous

So I went to the out of town event for DH's office. I stuck to a low carb diet for 6 weeks and managed to squeeze myself into my one existing full length dress for the main event. I stuck with white jeans and easy tops for travel, casual events and free time. I didn't get a picture of the linen top I wore with the jeans for the flight down. But I wear it a lot, so it will probably rate a WIW at some point.
I took the picture of the dress before I remembered to put on my bracelet.
I'm thinking I'd like to hem the jeans to above-ankle length, even if they are boring straight-legs. Opinions?
As always, I'm would love feedback and suggestions - I'm still pretty hopeless at accessorizing.

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23 replies

Latest reply was from JAileen

Joy

Veteran

Everything looks like such a good fit. The gown is lovely and the white jeans look like a perfect fit. You look like you enjoy a classic style. Maybe a bit bigger earrings and some bangle bracelets or just one special one . Another accessory idea...these outfits look like they could use blue shoes.

Joyce B

Veteran

You look fabulous in that gown.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Beautiful dress. I had wondered what was happening about that. Well done on fitting it! It fits well. You look great in everything else too.

Bijou

Veteran

You look fantastic in the blue gown. I would add a metallic bag to accessories and keep the focus on the amazing dress. It would look more formal with your hair in an undo and statement earrings.

You totally rock your white jeans, amazing casual looks and congratulations on your discipline of sticking to the diet - six weeks is a long time.

Barbara Diane

Veteran

You look like you packed and wore just the right things. You look lovely in your dress and casual and also stylish in everything else.

RobinF

Veteran

Good job with the diet, that dress looks fabulous! I like your white jeans outfits, the cuffed length looks better to me than full length so might be worth cropping. Although you would lose the flexibility of wearing them either length.

Anonymous

Looks pretty great to me. With some of the higher necklines, I'd concentrate the accessories on earrings or bracelet.

Tisa

You look great in that dress. Very nice.
My favourite casual look is #5. I prefer a more tailored top on you, which is why I like #5 more than #2. Also, what a great watch! Love the combination of that watch and that shirt.

I second Joy's opinion about blue shoes, they would be a good idea.
Your white trousers look nice as they are to my eye, but I think you can do anything you like to them and they will still look good. You wear them really well.

Anonymous

You look fabulous, Ryce. That dress is such a lovely color. Those white jeans fit your perfectly and I love how you styled them. I am not certain I would hem them. They seem like the perfect length in number 1.

Anonymous

You look fabulous in your dress. What a great choice.
I laughed at your 6week low carb diet. That would have been my approach too

I think the white pants look great at the longer length with your black shoes (those are really nice btw!), but I think cropped jeans are a nicer option for summer.

Emily K

(website)

Veteran

Ryce--you look fantastic in your formal dress! I bet it's really nice to have something like that in your wardrobe for when the need arises.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

You look beautiful in the gown. And I need to go on your 6 week low carb diet myself. I just tried on my shorts and half of them don't fit. Yikes.

The white jeans are terrific. I like them at the more cropped length, so I would chop away.

Anonymous

Joy, Bijou, delurked, thanks for the accessorizing tips - "finishing" an outfit is my current struggle. I've declared this the season of jewelry and shoes so your ideas are greatly appreciated!
Jenni, Joyce B, Barbara Diane, EmilyK thanks for the votes of confidence! I think this is probably the last appearance of this dress - too much work to make it wearable! Though I think less work than shopping for another age-appropriate formal dress - they are in short supply.
Robin, Sterling, thanks for the thoughts on the jeans length. White jeans season is very short for me, so it probably does make sense to leave them longer for versatility.
Tisa, I do prefer tailored silhouettes! Nice to have that preference confirmed - thank you.
Smittie, it was a LONG 6 weeks - I never knew how much one could miss bread! Of course, some heavy duty shape wear was also involved!

Vix

Veteran

Hi Ryce --

I'm cheating a bit on comments since others have said it so well. But had to chime in about that dress looking awesome on you -- amazing cutout details!

[All my various ethnic backgrounds feature carb-heavy diets and I have to stay lower-carb than I like for health and vanity so I feel your pain on the deprivation!]

My fav top with the white pants is #1. I just think the length of the top plus the lower-contrast plus the tailoring at the shoulder line combined with the slim fit are winners on you.

Summer

Veteran

You look lovely in that beautiful dress, Ryce.

I was going to suggest cropping the jeans, but I understand your hesitation. They look good at either length, and you can always just cuff them for warmer days.

Anonymous

Suz, haha! I did not find the low-carb thing enjoyable, but it also isn't particularly difficult and yielded surprisingly effective short-term results. Whether any of those results will be maintained after transitioning off is an open question. I do think my desire to snack has lessened, and very much hope that continues since I know it is better for me nutritionally.

Thanks much for the feedback, Vix. I used to just KNOW which silhouettes, lengths, etc. suited me, but since menopause everything has shifted a bit and I just haven't gotten the hang of dressing this altered shape of me. So objective analysis is greatly appreciated!

Summer, I think I would prefer the jeans cropped, too. But since I only have a few more weeks to wear them (if we are lucky!) I will probably wait and take them to the tailor when it is hot.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

You look stunning in the long dress. Great choice.
I like the white jeans in all these outfits. I really like the wide cuff you've done; it looks very cool. So I would keep them long to be able to do the cuff, and to wear them as you have in outfit 1, which looks terrific.
I wonder if I could go low-carb for even six weeks. That would be a looooong six weeks for sure. I'm impressed!

Sal

Veteran

You look lovely in every outfit here, I hope you enjoyed yourself on the trip as well.

Anonymous

Firecracker, Now that you mention it, I realize I haven't noticed the wide cuff on many YLFers. Never thought about it, but it is really common here. Could it be a regional thing?
Sal, this was an obligatory business thing. Very little in the way of fun. But I did get in some enjoyable recreational shopping with a couple of fun spouses also at loose ends. Mostly window browsing at interior design-ish places. Houston has pretty amazing shopping!

unfrumped

Veteran

Just super fab. You made great choices.

It is SO hard to maintain even the tiniest formal wear capsule- for me, anyway. Dresses are so hard. I love a dressy pants outfit but still find it hard to hit the right note. "Cocktail attire" is easier, but sometimes you just want to go all out!.

Sisi

Veteran

What a beautiful evening dress! You look stunning. I also like very much the last outfit - it's fresh, sporty and chic. A 6 weeks diet seems a reasonable period - even if I can understand how difficult life is without bread, sweets, pasta and pizza!

Anonymous

Unfrumped, I don't mind cocktail attire either, but I really find full-legth dresses to be annoying. Hard to negotiate cars and stairs and can only wear one heel height.
Sisi, you are very kind. I preferred to focus on the yummy foods I COULD eat - smoked salmon, steak, grilled veggies, egg salad, etc. Viewed that way, it wasn't much of a sacrifice at all!

JAileen

Veteran

You look wonderful in the gown. Your white jeans look great, too. The top in 2 is cute.