WIW :: Day 4 - Flavia, the Home Party Guest

My friend's girl celebrated her 7th birthday today, so this is dressy casual outfit for the house party. Same as yesterday, there is not just a splash of colour but a bolder choice. I chose purple fitted cardigan because my friend loves the colour. so I also dressed for her. The contrast between the cardigan and the rest of the outfit is not too strong in terms of colour and everything else is toned down - I'm relying purely on the shiny pearly buttons as that pretty detail which elevates the outfit. I have added two small beaded bracelet to echo the buttons (one is pearl, another is silver), mostly because I like to have some (nod to) bling when going to little girls' parties. But, I tried the outfit without them and it did not feel incomplete.

I had the scarf with me as well and actually used it when I was cold. I'm equally happy with both variations, with or without the scarf - the more minimal version was uncomplicated, comfortable and for me had enough character because of the buttons, and the variation with the scarf was enjoyable because it is essentially the same thing as what I wore on Day 1, but it felt different because of the cardigan colour and the choice of shoes. I wore wedged ankle strap shoes.

Thank you for reading and commenting.

10 years ago

unfrumped

Veteran

Very nice! Subtle color is good. That scarf is a workhorse.

Marley

Ornella - you are so beautiful! Whenever I look at your photos I just smile in delight. I really appreciate you explaining your thought process in coming up with your outfits - its so interesting and educational too! I love both of these - but, my favorite is sans the scarf - because then your beautiful face is the focal point! Thanks for the post!

Active Member

Hurray for warm scarves in winter and for outfits that look great with them or without!

carter

Black and deep jewel tones are so beautiful on you. Another winner!

Suz

(website)

This is lovely, Ornella. It's amazing how the buttons (and bracelets) do become foregrounded with the scarf off. But the scarf is also lovely with the purple. I really like this on you. Simple and simply fab.

Jaime

This week of Flavia is so interesting (and you look so fantastic). There is value in a statement accessory!

Adelfa

I love the way the purple is dark enough to tone with the black. And that scarf! It's amazing on you. It also fits with my developing theory that black and white with color beats black with color.

Lantana

I enjoy the long fluid line you have achieved here. That is the focus for me, given the colour subtlety.
Is the scarf a square or a rectangle?

Gaylene

*busy taking notes*

Love, love this--and I'm thinking Flavia would also. What I'm taking away from this outfit is that I'm really noticing more subtle details like the matching pearl buttons and the matching bracelets. The distilling down really emphasizes the care you've taken to chose just the right bracelet. The scarf adds more excitement, but in a harmonious way as a top layer--sort of like the icing on a really good cake. The cake alone would be lovely because of the care and ingredients that went into its making, but the icing just adds that extra dimension.

Your outfits, Ornella, are really inspiring me to go back to the drawing board.

Sara L.

I love the outfit with the scarf but I agree that it looks good without it also. The shoes and tights also give the outfit character and interest.

Day Vies

I love both versions too! I especially like that scarf and all of the ways you have worn it this week. Simply lovely. I am now eying a similar scarf to add to my collection. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery

Deborah

Fab outfit. So streamlined and elegant. I am very much enjoying this 'inspired by" series.

Ornella

Thank you all. Apologies for abandoning the thread, as I posted it late last night (my time ) and I'm off to another kiddie birthday party soon (it's morning here now). I'll post the final outfit later and close Flavia series as we have Picture Perfect Challenge next week.

I'm very happy both outfits get the love from you. As days go by I become more in tune with specific aspects of my clothes, in this case perl buttons which I've never before enjoyed as such - individually. Yesterday, they became the main focus to my eye and sealed the outfit happiness. As Gaylene noticed, they also determined which bracelets I choose.

Marley :: thank you for the delightful compliment.

Adelfa :: I am a big fan of black&white with colour too. There is so much room to explore in that segment alone when fine-tuning and directing own style. I only wish there were more occasions to wear what I have so I can explore options - or should I wish for less (of the right) clothes, which will then inevitably be more in rotation and I can work on whatever styling challenge I want?

Lantana :: this is long oblong scarf. But I fold it in different ways so it's sometimes used as long scarf and sometimes as square. I can make separate post once for all different ways how I fold it.

Alexandra

Looks lovely both ways! The scarf is getting quite the workout.

Mochi

If something manages to be understated and dramatic at the same time, this is it. Perfectly chic everyday winter outfit. You look great.

Neel

I have to agree that I love your thought process to arrive at an outfit! Damn I don't put ANY thought in what I wear that is worth mentioning!

You look gorgeous!

Transcona Shannon

LOVE the strong simplicity of this outfit Ornella.

Anonymous

Ah, beautiful! I love the ankle strapped shoes! There is a strong simplicity here that is sending a very serene vibe. The color is so pretty on you, and I love the artful way you've draped the scarf.

Lisa

Pretty purple shade here, and again that lovely statement scarf. I like that the black and white printed scarves have become signature pieces during this experiment. They are too pretty to sit unworn all the time.

Thanks Lisa.

I just saw your question on one of the previous threads from the series, but rather than resurfacing that one I'll respond here - I have not noticed Flavia in printed tops. Just solids.

Btw, you have been an inspiration for this series in an indirect way. I am so intrigued by your current challenge that I was deliberately introducing new items into Flavia wardrobe only when I had to. It's a new take on SYC - seeing how far very little can actually stretch. Thank you

Ornella-I had a funny feeling Flavia wore lots of solids. I'm finding printed pieces are fun to wear, but also harder to remix if I want to keep a small wardrobe that remixes easily.

Doing a happy dance to have inspired the Flavia challenge. Did you find out you needed less items than you originally anticipated? For the DH challenge I am amazed at how little I appear to need. (For example, 5 bottoms and not 7). I've always been intrigued by minimal wardrobes and challenges are a great way to test the waters.

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