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WIW: Crisis of confidence

catgirl

Veteran

I'm feeling a bit shaky these days, partly because I can't seem to come up with any new outfits easily. It could be related to the "Great Jacket Mistake" of yesterday, but I think it also has to do with the season changing. I'm not used to shoes instead of boots, for one thing.

Case in point: this outfit started out with the same Equipment blouse, grey skinnies and electric blue booties. That looked awful, so I went with this much more conservative get-up. The tucking is way outside my comfort zone. I do have non-stop client meetings today, so I need to look professional. Equipment blouse, Halogen skirt, same oxfords that Amy has (Crown Vintage?).

Feedback and suggestions welcome.

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31 replies

Latest reply was from Meredith1953

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

I don't see anything at all wrong with this outfit. In fact, I think it is quite nice on you. Perhaps you just need to train the eye to see how good you look tucked.

I also saw the jacket "mistake" and thought it could work with skinny pants and booties. I didn't think it was a definite mistake and had some really good potential.

bj1111

Veteran

good looking outfit. anyway, why should looking effortlessly stylish be effotrless. all good things are worth the effort.

Anonymous

I love that blouse tucked into the skirt! The two of them are a match made in heaven, so relax it's very good on you. I like how you added a little UWP flair with the tights and shoes, which will likely be tucked under your desk or conference table. Very cheeky, that!

ironkurtin

Veteran

Hm, something about this strikes me as not very you. It is certainly professional! The shirt matches the skirt. And the tights match the shoes. But I'm not sure they match each other.

cinnamon fern

Veteran

The top and skirt look great to me. But I agree with IK that the shoes and tights seem like they go with another outfit ... I think something less muted would be better. Black sheers and black shoes/boots?

kellygirl

Veteran

I love this. It's is very striking and polished and the hosiery/shoes add an element of fun. It's not UWP but it is gorgeous!

ironkurtin

Veteran

Don't get me wrong, Una, you transform everything you wear! I just wonder if you'd be more comfortable in your own skin with maybe a different top - that's the part that's striking me as hard to style, but it may just be me.

cinnamon fern

Veteran

It occurs to me I should probably not make suggestions to you, AG - I look at this top and this skirt and your hair and think: knee-high, pointy black boots. But I cannot imagine that on you.

Isabel

Veteran

I have to agree with IK, this doesn't strike me as "Una". The pieces individually are great, but I can see that you don't feel good in this. I think that the skirt may be too long for you. IMO. It comes across as being more conservative than the rest of your outfit..I think that if it was shorter it would be "sassier".

I think that weather transitions are always tough. Footwear is especially hard, as is outerwear, for me. I also think that no one can be 100% ( ok, maybe Angie but do not compare yourself !!!! ) so don't beat yourself up for the jacket misstep. Trust your instincts a bit more..you have great ones...and tailor your clothes to make them more YOU !!!!!!!!! I really think that if you take the skirt up, it will help a ton !!

Hang in there !!!!!!! You are inspirational to me.

harmonica

Veteran

I like this a lot! I love the colours of the skirt and the blouse together, and the tights and shoes are great too. The blouse looks super when tucked. Effortlessly stylish, as others have mentioned.

UWP??

Anonymous

Don't feel bad!

This outfit may not feel 'Una' and it probably feels wrong, but it doesn't mean you won't ever be able to put together an outfit again.

It's the same with any other creative endeavor. Some days one is prolific with churning out amazing results, some days one has too much occupying their head space and can't come up with anything.

You are definitely not a beginner, and you definitely have taste. Here's an Ira Glass quote for you!

“Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know its normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story. It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I’ve ever met. It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take awhile. You’ve just gotta fight your way through.”

Everybody goes through cycles of feeling like they aren't producing fantastic results, and everybody should learn from their mistakes.

Just have hope your creative spark will come back

Isabel

Veteran

Sharon, what a GREAT quote.

Sylvie

Veteran

Do you have to wear shoes? It occurs to me that your fantastic heeled grey boots would look really nice with this outfit. Somehow the oxford color isn't working for me with the grey tights + bright colors.

rachylou

Veteran

It occurs to me that your skirt and top are 'spring' and your shoes and stockings are 'winter' (albeit not an Alaska winter). And that is the problem of spring. I find spring to be not its own season so much as part winter, part half-hearted attempts at summer. I don't feel this way about fall. You get hot and cold days too, but they're more vigorous. Spring is tentative. I think this makes it a very, very tough season.

Btw, your skirt and top are great colors for this spring. You should run with that. Or, if not, I should!

Sarah A

Veteran

I dont perhaps have much outfit advice but love sharon's description of trying to make "our artwork" reflect ourselves. also, it is so nice to hear we all have frustrating days since when we are in that conundrum it is frustrating and can be overwhelming... hope your non-stop meetings go well and that tomorrow is a happy fashion day!

morethanbeige

Veteran

Una, it seems I am often cycling through feeling confident and then lacking confidence with my style. Whenever I try something new, it always upsets the apple cart! Could this just be growth?!!

Heather

Veteran

Millions of Warm Hugs!

Okay, Lady! You got this!

Black skirt, black tights, quilted booties, Equipment blouse and JCrew tomato red jacket. BOOM. When you are sick of that blouse, you are welcome to mail it South.

I do indeed enjoy this blouse with the Blue. So....rocking it with the blue skirt, I suggest changing your hosiery and shoes....also for casual wear.....wait for it.....THE BLUE SKINNIES. Also, a pair of dark jeans with this blouse and the JCrew Tomato Red jacket and boots (of course)

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

Una -- you should feel very confident in this outfit. It is polished, professional and very stylish! The silhouettes are all classic -- the pencil skirt, the silk button down, and the lace up oxfords. But there it stops. Everything else is very on trend but in a subtle way -- stripes, cobalt blue bottom, patterned stockings and shoes that tonally match the stockings. I really think this is one of your best!

ETA -- First of all, LOVE that Ira Glass quote! Thanks Sharon.
Second, I see that I am an exception in my opinion of this outfit. I feel that black boots, sheer black stockings -- all of that would bring the outfit into a more predictable sphere. The only comment I paused on for a second was to shorten the skirt a bit. But it also works at this longer length, which is the style right now.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Ok...I've looked at your outfit about 6 times in the last hour figuring out what I think and what I see...so take it FWIW.

I really like the blouse and skirt and think they work well together - both in colour and in proportion and I really like them on you. But there's something about the tights and shoes that aren't working with the outfit. I don't know if it's the colour or if it's the heavier texture with the spring-y outfit. I think if you change out the tights and shoes, this could really work very well.

Don't beat yourself up Una - we're all allowed a day here or there where we're not sure. You have WAY more hits than misses girl!!!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Urgh! I feel your pain. I am having similar seasonal problems. I think we should be excused for an extra long recess until "breakup" is over.

Sona

Veteran

Una I'm loving the skirt and blouse but the lower half isthrowing me for a loop. not sure if the palette in total is not making it for 'my eye'. I'm hoping Angie chimes in soon! But no matter what you are always and ( look) fab !!!

celia

Veteran

Una, I am sorry that you feel like that.I think we all go through periods like this, but they happen before a great leap forward.
Personally I don't see anything wrong with this outfit .Transitional dressing is hard, don't be too hard on yourself.

Anonymous

The tucking may be out of your comfort zone but it looks really good. I like the blouse and skirt together. I think the problem is the tights and shoes are muted and don't stand up well to the brightness of the upper half.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Also wanted to say that I am wondering if the lighting is affecting our view of the colour values of tights/shoes. Sometimes I notice that happens, particularly with tights. So the discrepancy some of us have noticed may not be visible IRL.

Anonymous

You might have a point Suz, in fact I had just taken a second look and decided I liked the tights more this time. The shoes still aren't working for me thought. (Maybe I should take a third look : ) )

Aida

Veteran

Hmm I think this blouse needs either something less classic or more tough on the bottom for you. I love Heather's suggestions! Did you ever find a work-appropriate leather jacket? That could also work with this outfit as styled here.

catgirl

Veteran

Aida, I haven't! That was my hope for the stupid quilted jacket purchase. Thanks for echoing my concerns. Maybe this blouse will work with the slouchy orange pants?

ironkurtin

Veteran

My sister is a lawyer and I always wanted to dress her. If I'd made that sort of corporate salary, I would have SO splashed out! Man, the beautiful suits I would have worn...

But back to you. You do friendlier-type personal law, right?

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I love that blouse on you and it works with the skirt. It is the tights and shoes that bother me - maybe they are the wrong tone for the skirt? Would love a look at those oxfords though!

I share your feeling of lack of inspiration lately, but I think it is just the normal ebb and flow of things. I love the Ira Glass quote and it says it all.

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