WIW Nov 14 & 18: Humour-inspired

On the topic of "having fun with fashion", here's two humour-inspired WIWs. I would adore feedback on how to do better / have more fun / push my boundaries!

Photos 1-2 date to last week (2012/11/14), and was inspired by a conversation I had with my husband. I was complaining to him how gosh-darn trendy everybody looked online and how boring I felt in comparison; in response, he dragged me into our closet, where I post my style statement, and pointed at the words "minimal modern classic". When we were done laughing I put together this outfit, which attempts to incorporate as many trends as I could handle in one outfit. I had a blast constructing this outfit, but wonder if it works? ( note: if you can't see the houndstooth pattern on the skinnies, try photo 2 of this post )

Photo 3: I call this look "aspirational trucker", because -- and I'd love to be corrected -- most truckers don't wear turtlenecks with angora, boots with heels, or vintage purses. When I was putting this together in my head, I thought the angora turtleneck would break up the head-to-toe denim more than it actually did. Is it still true to a casual, minimal modern classicist, though?

( apropos of nothing in particular, indoor outfit photography is hard!! )

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11 years ago

Lyn D.

Veteran

You know what? Pic #1 DOES work!
I could see the collar 'popped' in outfit 2 and, if you are still looking to push your own
boundaries, you could tie the shirt at the waist for definition.
I do believe though, that this forum is all about being fashionably true to oneself, so cudos for posting out of your comfort zone!

rute

Love 1!! The scarf is gorgeous!

bj1111

charm, you got the look in #1 so right! the houndstooth is suble from this distance that it looks classic and modern up close. that scarf references the western theme that isabel marsnt has going on this season. i can see you pulling it over your nose and going on a caper.

for the second, go wild and tuck in the buttonless half of the shirt loosely and pull out some of the turtle's hem on the other side. pop the collar, take a photo and post!

Sara L.

I love outfit #1 - it's not boring at all with the lovely scarf and patterned clutch.

I think you've done a good job with the turtleneck under the denim shirt. but I have to admit to having a poison eye for all denim. I live in the southwest US and I see cowboys (real ones) dressed like that all the time and just can't wrap my head around it being "fashion".

rachylou

Both looks are awesome. #1, the cuts are wonderfully modern and hip, the scarf just the right amount of "push" into "fashionable territory", esp. with the clutch. #2 is so much like this incredible, incredible look I saw this woman wearing in Nordstrom about a month or so ago: the two shades of denim and boots. I wish I liked denim now and could pull together such an outfit!

Diana

I really, really like #1. Love the shapes and proportions and subtle pattern mixing.

Isis

I like everything but the scarf in #1--it looks too much like a fussy bib to me (but I see I'm in the minority). I love the clutch, the shoes, the pants....great outfit! Did you wear it somewhere?

I really like #2! The softness of the sweater tones down the denim; it's great!

JulieJohn

Both outfits are darn cute, though I feel the scarf swamps you too much in #1. Maybe just tie it differently?

That husband / closet thing cracked me up! You are being inspired to think outside the box. That happens to me sometimes because of YLF. My style words are
simple, colorful, upbeat, natural, retro. But lately I am excited to try a Suz-inspired neutral palette, or an Annagybe-inspired edgy-modern look. So it's good to know what is you, and then leap away from it when you're feeling playful. As you have done very nicely!

catgirl

I LOVE the first outfit and I actually don't see it as super-trendy at all. The turtleneck with light denim top is a poison-eye for me, see too much of it up here.

#1 is really great! But then, I like my minimalism dressed up a bit. Yeah, I know, that's kind of an oxymoron.

#3 just comes across plain and boring, I'm afraid. In general, I find real minimalism works best when the minimalist has a really nice figure, which you do, but we can't tell in that outfit.

Charmian

Looks like #1 is passing the YLF style filter -- I'm so glad you could see how much fun I had putting it together!

And also thank you -- all of you! -- for both the boosts and the suggestions for tweaks. Please keep them coming.

@bj1111: I'll confess that I went to a few frothy "MUST HAVE TRENDS FOR FALL/WINTER 2012!!!!!!11<code>1</code>1~~~" sites and checked off as many as I could handle in one outfit (eg, burgundy, daytime clutch, etc); how observant of you to catch that mischievous look in my eye! A caper sounds like fun!

@Sara L. & @alaskagirl: heehee, I thought denim-on-denim might get a negative reaction; thank you for your honesty. I'll admit that it sounded more fun on paper than when I actually wore it (too much denim for my taste too). However, my eye hasn't been poisoned yet so I'll tweak it a bit and see if I can convince you that it could work

@Isis & @JulieJohn: yes, I wore it to work the very next day! And I loved it so much it's going back into rotation (thank goodness it passed YLF's approval -- I'd feel awful sneaking around in an unblessed outfit). I will try a few different scarf ties; this scarf is new to me, and I think I got a little carried away showing off its awesome print.

@JR: I don't think it's an oxymoron at all! I look to Angie's "smart casual" outfits as an example of how you can be casual/approachable and "dressed up" and minimal. And thank you for your kind words regarding my figure; I'm having a bit of an off-forum struggle and appreciated the sentiment greatly.

Jaime

(website)

Well I am loving everything burgundy and grey lately so add me to the fans of #1!

Aida

H, I think #1/2 is brilliant! I'd happily wear that out and about (I'm waaay into silky muffler scarf ties these days). For #3, I think the denim-on-denim is fine but I am really not a fan of the top unbuttoned like you have here. I'd MUCH rather see a blazer or jacket if you want the vertical line from the sweater, or button the shirt up sans turtleneck and pop on a colorful statement necklace/printed scarf.

Suz

I just love your posts. Always.

You are so thoughtful about your wardrobe. And often funny, too, and now you are both in one!

As others have said, #1 actually looks super on you. And I love that phrase "aspirational trucker." Perfect.

Anonymous

As soon as I read your style statement, I knew I'd love your outfits Charmain! The first one gets all of the attention for the trendy-classic factor, but I get weird enjoyment when I know an outfit seems ho-hum at first glance (outfit #2) but on closer inspection has some luxe features. Very aspirational trucker, indeed! Maybe a slight tweak will make you want to wear it again. Love your vintage Coach bag!

@Aida: That really helps, thanks! As Claire noticed, it's the luxe contrasted against the traditional connotations of denim-on-denim that tickles my fancy, so small tweaks like tucking or larger changes like conjuring that same image without actually, ya know, resorting to denim-on-denim seems to be key here. Thanks for helping me gel that thought together!

@clearlyclaire: I know! We do have awfully compatible styles :). Thanks for noticing the thing I liked the best -- the concept around which I built the entire outfit -- luxe vs pragmatic/practical! I really wish the texture of the t-neck could have photographed better. PS: speaking of poison eyes, my husband has the mother of all poison eyes against (modern) Coach bags, especially their prints. At Chez Charmian, I'm meticulous about calling it "the ebay bag" or "the gray bag" or "the vintage bag" -- anything but "Coach"!

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