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WIW :: Day 3 - Flavia Goes to the Library

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

Today I've let Flavia down a bit and chose to wear something that is neither perfect, nor flattering. Although I love this deep red cardigan, I know all too well it does not figure flatter me, but enhances my pear shape. It falls too flatly from my narrow shoulders and hits my hips at the widest part.

However.

There are two roads I know about of getting to that magic place of being happy with the outfit. One is to wear things we know flatter and look great on us. Another one is to wear things that make us happy for entirely personal reasons and for which no amount of reasoning about what doesn't work will overshadow the emotional satisfaction.

This cardigan was the wardrobe workhorse during my pregnancy 7 years ago and wearing it brings back many happy memories.

So, thanks to the red splash in Flavia's glasses cord, which is the exact shade as the cardigan, I have reached for this cardigan after quite a while and wore it with exactly the same base outfit as yesterday.

Btw, I am sure Flavia is too smart to be very late with returning the books to the library to end up paying painfully high fee. Auch!

I am also sure she regularly enjoys some me time with the best espresso on the planet. Italian, of course.

Happy Friday dear fabbers. Thanks for stopping by.

23 replies

Latest reply was from qfbrenda

Adelfa

Veteran

The scarf's points hang down past the line of the cardi and sort of "fudge" the line. Looking good! And love what you said about the emotional satisfaction, that's how I felt wearing my orphaned sweater yesterday

lyn67

Veteran

Love your insights and Flavia inspired outfits, Ornella!! I almost could envision her with her red corded glasses! I think Flavia trully deserves to learn at some point that she became your style muse! If I were you, I would not think twice to spread the magic

This outfit is once again a simple but functional, classic but powerful one and cardi is still going strong I see. The red shade is one I like, too-and you are so right-about emotional dressing!

I don't know if it's only me, but I am often associating crucial events in my life with clothes I (or somebody else related) was wearing then. I can't help, but I remember entire outfits:-) Happy to see am not alone, I trully was womdering if it's only my personal weird thing, better to be silent about it, all:-)):-)).

unfrumped

Veteran

It works for you but I also think it just works.
The red adds "weight" to the top, as does the subtantialness of the knit, and though you put yourself in the pear category, girl, you have long legs and so must be a hybridized pear!

Gaylene

Veteran

I'm following the Flavia series carefully because I really think you and Claire are on to something that I've been trying to figure out for a while. My quandary is about the role of colour in a curated, "effortlessly chic" style. I'm wondering if keeping intense color in small doses--a scarf, a glasses frame, a lining, a pin, a shoe detail, or something similar--is partially the secret to this subtle, yet "effortlessly chic", style of dressing that both you and Claire have been showing us these past few days?

The first two Flavia outfits you showed us were an interesting play of neutrals in both scale and harmony. In your case, the personalization came from the choice of a dramatic pattern and size for the scarf while, in Claire's recent outfits, her personalization was through her use of a touch of pattern and metallic. What I found so fascinating was the way that both of you made your outfits seem so uniquely yours.

To my eye, today's outfit draws attention by using a bold-colored sweater which, oddly enough, seems less individual until one hears your story about its providence--something that wouldn't normally be known by the casual passerby. The dramatic choice of the scarf is muted because the color of the sweater also demands to be noticed.

I'm floundering here because I'm still trying to figure this whole thing out but is it possible that relying on a big dose of color to add punch to a neutral outfit might just work against this particular style of dressing? I know many women on the forum use color as a signature of their style and it looks fabulous on them. I'm starting to wonder, though, if I lean towards to a wardrobe of neutrals, maybe I need to re-think the concept of "punch of color"--maybe a little goes a long way with this style of dress? We all know that color can be a pretty powerful statement but can it sometimes overshadow some of the other ways that we might want to personalize our outfits? Am I completely out to lunch here? Help!

MsMary

Veteran

Ornella, you just own this color combo! So effortlessly chic and elegant, and so unmistakably you!!

Debra

Veteran

I love this simplicity.....now I am wanting a check scarf and a coffee

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

Adelfa :: if you only knew how much I love the term fudge used in this context. I agree and you are right. I did play with the scarf to compensate for the cardigan's shortcomings.

lyn67 :: I promise you I'll spread some magic and talk to Flavia. 'Talk' being very vague since her German is still very basic and my Italian stops at ciao bella. But, I'll think of something
It's not the first time I hear someone remembers the whole outfits from certain situations, so no - you are not alone.

unfrumped :: I'm organic pear, 100%

Gaylene :: it took me a while to recover from your comment. Firstly, thank you for taking time to share your thought process and for making me think things through once more.

I believe you too are onto something with your analysis. I am saying this because Flavia-outfits happen as a result of a thought process which at first start only with looking for the new ways to wrap the very memorable scarf, so I want to make it look different and new (i.e. not boring (?)), but then I catch myself setting very clear boundaries: go for the simplest options regarding the rest, repeat as many basic clothing items as possible from previous day(s) and don't overdo the colour (e.g. my red dress is totally out of question for this series of outfits - too much colour).

I actually hesitated introducing the cardigan into today's outfit because it felt like it would take away some limelight from the scarf. Everything else red that I have is even louder and not suitable for what I'm experimenting with right now. So, you're right with recognising two divas on the stage today. In any other scenario it would be fine for my own liking of bold colours (red especially) worn with black&white, but in this case it's less Flavia and more Flavia-inspired.

Colour as the style element is another thing I'm pondering too. I love colours, they play a huge role in my dressing choices, they express my moods or are used to help me achieve some moods. I am not ready yet to give up on big splashes of the colours I identify as mine. I know that's partly due to feeling so style-starved for most of my life when I felt my clothing choices were so limited and I felt trapped, lost and confused - I know I am still making up for that time.

However, I feel very strong desire to reduce. Not necessarily minimize, although I aim for certain level of minimal, but reduce as in cooking - let everything evaporate until I'm left with the essential, end flavour which reflects me. This is the personalization I want to achieve. I'm far from that simply because I have the episodes when I thoroughly enjoy wearing very unlikely for me outfits, yet they still feel like me on the day and I don't see them stopping any time soon. But, taking Flavia as inspiration turned out to be walking the fine line of "Is this boring?" and "Can I actually wear essentially the same thing all the time and feel like I'm not missing out on something?" and "What value does wearing different things add to my life?" I'm searching for the answers.

carter

Veteran

Ornella, I love these Flavia posts. The outfits have been great and oh so chic. Love the story of the sweater today.

Gaylene, your thoughts resonate with me so much. I have been pondering the same thing for years. To me, my stepmom epitomizes effortless Euro chic. More often than not, she dresses in a neutral column and adds one statement piece of color. Sometimes it's almost hidden (coat lining), sometimes, it's a chunky bracelet, sometimes it's a very long luxurious mohair sweater coat. Whatever it is, it's intentional, not just something that "goes". I think that's the secret, but I have yet to master it!

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

carter :: I loved reading about your stepmom. I wonder how much intentional there is actually in effortless. Probably a lot, but the key is in...? Not overdoing it? Carrying off the look? More things to think about.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I am finding this discussion fascinating. I'm not quite at the place yet, I think, where I am ready to reduce or refine quite so much....mainly because I haven't yet determined the main ingredients. I have the list of possible components, but am not sure where to eliminate.

Maybe I need to try an experiment like this.

I know I do get bored if I have to wear the same colours again and again...maybe less so, if the "colours" are my neutrals. But then -- in winter especially -- I become colour starved if I stay away from colour too completely. Meanwhile, colour blocking (thanks to Gaylene's suggestion) was the style saviour of my summer.

As for pattern -- I haven't figured this one out at all. I just know I love the Flavia inspired scarf on you...and I think I also need some coffee.

Day Vies

Veteran

Ornella you are too hard on yourself. I said "ooooh!" when I saw the thumbnail on the forum so I clicked on the thread. I love the strong contrast. You make me want to get a similar scarf. This is my favorite shade of red. It's clearly your favorite shade too because you look so gorgeous in it. I love the simple elegant backdrop of black with the splash of red trimmed in black and white. I am not sure I see narrow shoulders and hips. I see balance. Red as a warm color comes forward and enhances the areas where you wear it, making the black recede -- minimizing the areas black covers. By my assessment you did everything right including wearing the pattern around your neck and letting the ends fall straight -- which provides structure to the outfit where you see none. Marking as a favorite because this outfit would also work for me.

Gaylene

Veteran

"Whatever it is, it's intentional, not just something that "goes". I think that's the secret, but I have yet to master it!"

Carter, thanks for articulating what I was fumbling to say. Yes, it's that intentional drape of the scarf, or the flash of jewel on the wrist, or the deliberate way the shoe seems to just be exactly the right shape for that particular length of pant that intrigues me. As Ornella says, it's in the distillation where everything seems to end up more than the sum of the individual elements.

Obviously color is one way to create a personal statement when we build an outfit. As Suz mentioned, I love color blocking in summer but that intensity feels a bit off to me when the light gets softer and grayer in the cooler months. That's why your Flavia posts strike such a chord because your outfits are just as exciting but in a different way. I wonder what Flavia would say if she knew the impact she is having on some of us!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Ditto on the effects of the light, Gaylene. I wear much stronger colour (in larger blocks) with happiness in the summer. I am more drawn to neutrals in winter...and then eventually need a shot of colour, or else! But maybe the secret is making it that one item. It could be a large item (like Ornella's cardigan...or a coat). Or it could be tiny - a cuff, a small bag.

Off to ponder some more on this.

Lisa

Veteran

Gorgeous scarf, I adore how it jazzes up a basic outfit. And that red color is great on you, so what if it's not a figure flattery shape. You are happy wearing it and a smile from a happy wardrobe item is also flattering. I adore sweatercoats desptie the fact that at 5'3" tall, they tend to swallow me whole. But I sport them anyway, because I enjoy the cozy vibe they bring. And I am jealous of your cuppa coffee, you can't get a "real" cup in the states.

Adelfa

Veteran

Ornella, Gaylene, and all.... I am tongue-tied in the presence of some very deep comments! I too wonder how to use color in an elegant way. I know that an all-neutral wardrobe is not for me. I also know that I rely very heavily on neutrals and that when I use color the wrong way (wrong for me) it makes me feel tawdry. I've actually been actively thinking about how to wear color for 30 years and I feel I'm barely beginning to know how!

Joy

Veteran

It's fun to think that Flavia has become a style role model to women around the world who have never even seen a picture of her, just your thoughts and wonderful outfits. Each of your Flavia outfits is an inspiration. I want a statement scarf!

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I think you always look great and am very impressed you have a sweater that has held up for 7 years! Mine are gone in 2. May I ask what is the fabrication?

Vickie KY

Sometimes I wear things just because I like them - even though they aren't the most flattering. Good for you. Although I don't know if your assessment was entirely correct. You look very nice in this outfit. You have created a
slimming effect by having all dark colors underneath with the sweater
having the pop of color. You are right the scarf breaks up the line
nicely. Vickie

E

Veteran

I loved hearing the story of your sweater and agree so completely with this:

"There are two roads I know about of getting to that magic place of being happy with the outfit. One is to wear things we know flatter and look great on us. Another one is to wear things that make us happy for entirely personal reasons and for which no amount of reasoning about what doesn't work will overshadow the emotional satisfaction."

I love your writing style, I could read it all day. Your outfit is wonderful too, and I don't think it emphasises your pear tendencies: all I see on bottom are legs for days. And up top that gorgeous red and the graphic scarf just emphasise your bright eyes and wonderful hair cut!

I'm very interested in the discussion of colours and neutrals going on! I love colours (all of them including neutrals), they're often the starting point of outfit creation for me, so I'm always curious about others' philosophies of colour. Thinking about it, if I include solid colour (vs neutral or colour in a pattern) in an outfit, it's almost always in at least two places instead of just one 'pop', unless the colour is muted enough to read as an almost neutral. I clearly am not usually aiming for the sophisticated, 'effortless chic' look (hehe), so I'm not sure I have anything to contribute to the conversation, but I appreciate how it's made me think!

Astrid

Veteran

I think you look lovely! I only noticed the length of the cardigan because I read your description before looking at the pictures, I don't think I would have seen it otherwise.

As for the library fine - I'm just leaving you with this:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/177047829072076843/

Lantana

Veteran

OMG, I can Smell that coffee!
Lovely post Ornella, you still manage to look charming in an old favourite.

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

Suz :: I'm where you're at right now, I don't know the main ingredients yet, not all. Eliminating is not yet possible simply because I still want to try many different things, but the satisfaction with what feels most like me will probably help elimination in the future once I'm ready for it and more than compensate for not having/trying it all.

Adelfa :: for me personally the challenges through which I focus on one aspect of clothing/outfit for about a week have been the most productive in terms of refining and learning about my preferences or winners. Focusing on how I feel in certain something helps me identify what I want to replicate.

CocoLion :: it's some poly blend, nothing exciting. It's not especially cozy or warm, I bought it purely because I loved the colour and knew I'd need some colour kick during my pregnancy 7 years ago. But, it also does not pil and after wearing it for a long time the cardigan comes out of the safe storage once in a while, so it is not in constant rotation. That might partly explain its still good condition.

E :: Thank you Every contribution is constructive. Btw, that is exactly how I would very frequently dress - colour X (at least two places). But, thinking about colours in terms of random splashes or single items, like what what I've observed with Flavia's outfits and which I'm trying now, has already taught me just how little can go very long way. As I wrote above to Suz, I am not yet ready to give up on a lot of my wardrobe, outfit formulas and occasional 'wild' choices, but I also became aware these days just how serene I feel about my wardrobe.

qfbrenda

Veteran

Beautiful! I'm enjoying the discussion, especially as I find myself pulled more and more towards a Euro Chic-limited color palette-type wardrobe.