Angie's post on simple and classic not being the same thing as boring was very timely. This week I have been trying to dress a little more simply and more subdued, either by sticking mainly with neutrals/subdued color, or less patterns/pattern mixing, or fewer layers. Suz's comment struck a nerve with me too when she said that those of us who come to fashion late sometimes go haywire for ALGO to try to compensate for our previous lack of style. I am totally busted on that count. Since joining YLF I found that really like bright colors, patterns and pattern mixing. And I have the tendency to feel that a simple outfit in plain solid neutrals is a little too boring to deserve a WIW. Also, before I never used to wear jewelry, accessories or belts, so throw that in the mix with the bright colors and patterns and it can get pretty ALGO pretty quick! Not that there's anything wrong with that, but it's nice to change things up a little too!

So this week I've been trying to tone it down a bit. I was on call this week so I was working every day at the hospital. I had to stick to comfortable heels and I didn't want to dress too loud since I was working in the hospital. But the surprising thing was I was still getting compliments from both coworkers and patients, maybe even more so than when I wear my crazy colorful outfits. Maybe the restrained outfits have a broader appeal. So I'm still trying to find my balance and trying to figure out how to create outfits that look nice but won't bore the "new" me.

1. This kicked off my LIM week--Black long sleeved Anne Fontaine shirt, Classiques Entier grey pants, red Clark pumps and red Fossil tote, and a strand of fake pearls. I tried adding a belt, but in the end left it simple. I thought it was a little boring but I wanted to try something totally different. But someone at work told me I look "stunning" so I guess it's not all bad, right?
2. Subdued ALGO. Most of these clothes are pretty old and I was happy I could remix my old clothes in my new style. The brown/cream/light blue floral skirt is one of my old Ann Taylors. Cream H&M top. Cream snake print Michael Kors belt from Bluefly--first time wearing it. The brown top is super old (it even has shoulder pads) and I don't know why it keeps surviving all these closet purges. In the past I've worn it buttoned up as a fitted top, but this time I tried using it as a blazer. Another closet orphan rescue! Old Banana Republic brown extreme pointy kitten heels. And my Fossil floral bag. This outfit felt very subdued to me, even though I now realize that it's actually a triple pattern mix (skirt, belt and purse)!
3-4."Banker look"...ivory tie neck blouse and navy pinstripe midi pencil skirt. Very very conservative and I almost didn't wear it because it was afraid it was a little staid, esp compared to my new bright colors and patterns. But the blouse has tiny little bees and crowns on it if you look closely, and I wore red pumps and my red tote to bring in a bit of color. So I feel like it's "simple and strong" but not boring--it has just enough interesting detail and color to keep the "new" me happy!
5. Black Anne Fontaine shirt. Classiques Entier Apollonia grey blazer with lace detail at the waist and skirt with black lace at the bottom. Red Clark pumps and red Fossil tote. One of the nurses came up to me and said, "I thought your slip was showing but I guess it's part of the skirt." LOL!
6-7. I posted this WIW earlier in my K/R leather jacket thread. Banana Republic black wrap dress with silver/bronze chain pattern detail. This wrap dress is old too and as Rita and DressLover pointed out, it looks better on me than the DVF and other wrap dresses I was trying. I guess I already had a great wrap dress in my closet! Worn with my old black Nine West boots and old Jack Georges brown briefcase satchel. And a small (fake) gold and diamond V-shaped Calvin Klein necklace. First time wearing my hair up in a clip! Another outfit made up entirely of my old clothes! This outfit is very simple but as Rae pointed out, the pattern keeps it from being entirely Minimal.
8. I loved this cognac Lafayette 148 leather jacket so much, I ripped the tags off and wore it the next day! I guess that's a sign! I think I'm going to get so much use out of this jacket. Especially happy with how well it goes with my floral Fossil satchel. Wore it with a Banana Republic cowl tee, Lafayette 148 tweed skirt with leather waistband, and brown suede La Canadienne Galaxy boots.
9-11. I decided to keep the black Tahari leather jacket with the suede panel details because I agreed the other one was too aggressive and this one would be more versatile and work appropriate. So I wore that the day after the cognac jacket! I'm definitely Team Wear! I ordered this Halogen red and black houndstooth pencil skirt online, but when it came it looked much darker than on the website...it's actually a purplish wine color. I had a Splendid cranberry cowl neck top that I bought on sale...I was going to return it because it's so low cut that it's not wearable by itself. But it matches the skirt, and I put a black H&M tank top under it, so it was saved. Black Nine west boots. I wore an old black and silver necklace...thought about using a bigger necklace with more color, but then remembered my "theme" for the week and went with a more subdued dainty and neutral necklace. I like this outfit because it feels rather bombshell without the jacket, and then the black leather jacket toughens it up a bit. But it's still polished and I actually wore the whole outfit to work, leather jacket and all! I am excited that I can use my two new leather jackets as "blazers" for work...I love non-suit suits!

So there you have it...a week of Team Minimal, done by a Team Maximal player! Comments and suggestions welcomed!