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WIW: floundering?

amiable

Veteran

As I ease back into life and recover from the flu (respiratory version), I'm feeling pretty uninspired by my ability to combine items into outfits. I almost didn't post these, but I figure you can help me pinpoint either what's boring, or not working. I'll give my ideas as I look at the pic - but I'm not sure what would make these outfits into something that I like as opposed to something 'meh'.

I also need to go back to outside photos - it's not so miserable right now, and the colors are so much clearer!

#1 - brown skinny cords, brown sweater, jean jacket and red bag and earrings. Leopard shoes. I wore this to run errands, and hit a Goodwill sale - bought 10 items, then purged my closet of 28!

#2 brown and black snake-skin print shirt with ruffles, black pants. It looks flattering in the mirror (as opposed to the pic, with a pretty awful pose). But I'm not sure I like it anyway - is this top worth keeping? How would you style it?

#3 The sunlight makes the black skinnies look faded - they're not (at least not much) in real life. I wore them with a chambray shirt under stripes under an ink jacket. In my mind the combo worked. I'm not sure if the photo doesn't just because of the faded look of the black, or if something else is wrong. Hmm.. The black shoeties don't work, do they?

#4 Dark wash wide leg denim with a navy t-whirt and a black/white houndstooth jacket. Navy shoeties too.

Suggestions and feedback are requested and appreciated!

Have a terrific weekend!

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20 replies

Latest reply was from amiable

christieanne

Veteran

I like #1 and #3. I think the black shooties work just perfectly - it's a prepster prince sort of look. The red bag and leopard in #1 are fantastic combo.
Good to be on the mend - this is a bad flu season for everyone it seems.

Mia

Veteran

I actually love #1 on you and I think you could also try a utility jacket or parka in olive or other hue with this. Second thing I'd try is a chunky scarf kind of looped in a cowl type arrangement to finish off the outfit as is.

Hope you feel better soon. Everyone has had something nasty here...

Nanabear

I love #1 and #4, especially the houndstooth jacket. Great pattern and colour mixing!

pil

Veteran

1, 3 and 4 are really nice. I like those wide leg jeans, and you wear a skinny jean so well too. Do you think the sleeves on the navy blazer are a smidge short? To me there isn't anything wrong with 2, I just think it comes across a little matronly for some reason.
Wasn't the houndstooth jacket one of your big thrifting finds not too long ago?

Joy

Veteran

Thinking of #2, I like the colors and print on you very much. Maybe you could scrunch up the sleeves and tuck in the blouse, belt with a fairly wide studded or rugged black belt, and toss on a cropped blue denim jacket.

amiable

Veteran

Thanks all!

You know, I had the navy blazer on the mend pile to lengthen the sleeves, and forgot why it was there - I have room to make them a bit longer, and yes, that would improve it. Thank you for reminding me!

And yes, good memory, I did score that houndstooth jacket not too long ago in a thrifting adventure. I'm glad that got it - it's so fun!

Thanks for the suggestions on #2 - I'll give it another chance or two before purging it

moira

Veteran

I think that blouse in # 2 with the skinnies in #1 might look a bit more youthful, since you are YOUNG!
I like #1 and #3 quite a lot.
I think I would like the top half from #3 with the wide leg pants from #4 quite a bit.
I would like you to get some red boots. I could see them with all four.

amiable

Veteran

Ooh -- red boots! I'll start watching for some! (I have some burgundy booties - I should wear them more often.)

Anonymous

What is it about them that you don't like? I think #1 is nice. #2 - # 4 could be improved but I think is the fit what perhaps could be better, the pieces themselves are nice. What do you think?

kellygirl

Veteran

1,3 and 4 are fun. I think the blouse in 2 looks kind of dowdy with the ruffles (or it could be a fit issue.) Have you tried tucking it? What about pairing it with a denim skirt? I think it has potential if styled less conservatively.

Karie

(website)

Veteran

I like #1, #3 and #4, especially the houndstooth in #4. I think the shoeties look good with the outfits. I don't care for the top in #2, but if you try it with some of the above suggestions, I think that it might look nice.
Put those burgundy booties on, girl, I bet they'd look great with your outfits!

amiable

Veteran

You know Zap - I'm not sure what I don't like. I felt okay with them while I was wearing them, for the most part, but when I looked at the pics this morning, I felt like I'd been dressed really dull and boringly. I think I wanted more color in my week

Thank you all for the feedback! I learn so much from your comments!

moira

Veteran

I have a blouse like #2 and I wear it with a close fitting cropped shrug with 3/4 length sleeves. It shows the frilly stuff but makes it more body conscious and less busy.

Beth Ann

Veteran

So glad you're feeling better! I think #1 and #3 are working well for you. If you're craving more pop, you could add a scarf to #1, I think. I also love the jacket in #4. What about a white top or a bright instead of the navy?

BTW -- How fortunate that you can wear both slim and wide leg pants so beautifully. You legs are miles long!

Emily

Veteran

Glad to hear you're feeling better!

#1 - I like the idea of a scarf to break up the brown pants and top a bit, but you look comfy and casual in this one.

#2 - had me humming "one of these things is not like the other". I think you wear crisp, bold, preppy looks really well and the brown print and ruffles are more romantic bohemian. What do you think?

#3 - I like the layered top, sweater and blazer a lot! Very nice. I think this combination would look great with the wide leg jeans from #4, too.

#4 - Disclaimer: I love houndstooth! That is a fantastic jacket. What about a bright top to contrast the black and white jacket? Or the Chambray top from #3?

ManidipaM

Veteran

Don't change a thing with #3 and #4. Especially number #4. That is masterfully done, with the column of colour, relatively unusual colour of *neutral* and tonal shoes, great fun jacket, and bright earrings to add still more fun.

#1 -- I wouldn't mind seeing a scarf or necklace added, but it's nice as-is too! Certainly not a train wreck!

#2 --- hang on to it if you find it flattering and comfortable, by all means! I do wonder if the styling could be updated slightly... Maybe tuck in the top or belt over it to reign in the volume just a little, with the wide legs (which are very flattering, may I add)? And add a sparkly longer necklace (or one simple, rigid collar-style one to fill in the neckline) and chunky earrings or a cuff?

Deborah

Veteran

Aimiable glad you are starting to feel better:)

#1 I love! You look comfortable and stylish, I would suggest this might be a signature casual look for you?

#2 permission to give it to you straight? I think the blouse is too big for you and as a result shapeless..not is not good e nought for you:)

#3 Fab! Like #1 I think this is your look. Black footwear looks great to me.

#4 now you must pack up that jacket and send it to me *wink*. I like the more fitted top with the wide leg...works well to my eye.

Mona

Veteran

Nice to hear that you are doing well. #1, 3 and 4 are super fab. I especially like #3 and I know sunlight does make some dark colours look faded. Also, the combo of dangly earrrings with houndstooth jacket is lovely.

Anonymous

Ah, i see. Sometimes I like to ask especially when I'm not too familiar with someone's style. I realized that in my earlier post I commented on fit but I did not expand. That is not fair at all.

What I see in # 2 is that the pants appear not to be PPL and perhaps the shoes can use some upgrading. Do ruffles feel like you? I take you as more of an androgynous type dresser, perhaps that's why you feel it is off.

# 3 is nice, the only think I see is that the jacket might be a tad big in the shoulder and the underlayer is a bit short for the pants. I'm not sure if it is the photo on the latter. Anyhow, the combo is very Ellen Degeneres and I love her and her style, thumbs up. Actually, I think the shooties work big time here.

love the jacket in #4, my only issue is the combo of shoes and leg line. I'd love to see this with a different shoe.

overall, I don't think the outfits are bad, at all. On the contrary, I think they are quite nice, I am just suggesting the extra omph!

Just my .50 so take it with a huge grain of salt.

amiable

Veteran

Wow! Thanks everyone for taking the time to chime in with your suggestions. Especially Zap for expanding your fit comments - I'm still learning with most things, and these comments are really helpful to me.

On #2 - I think several of you are right - ruffles don't really feel like me right now. I'd rather bend toward the RATE at this point. I've been keeping this top because I like the print, but the ruffles ruin it for me. I think I'll just let it go. If I keep it, I'll try toughening it up next time I wear it.

Are the pants on #2 too long or too short? (I'm really not sure - I had thought they were right for these shoes)

And I agree with you on #3 too that I wish the chambray shirt was a tad longer. I wish this of very nearly all my shirts - long torso problem, I suppose. I'm constantly on the look out for long shirts (one of my year hopes is to learn to sew a terrific shirt).

Yes, thank you all so much for your suggestions! I feel better about these outfits now, after reading your comments, than I did when I posted them.