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WIW Too Bold and Confidence Musings

Lisa

Veteran

Hi,

I've worn this blazer to work twice now. And I came home ready to throw it in the trash after wearing it the second time. All day long all I heard about were references to St. Patrick's Day.

"Be sure to wear that on St. Patrick's day." Or

"I expect to see you wearing that in a few weeks on St. Patrick's day."

Or "You are so bright and colorful, just like St. Patrick's day."

Well gosh I know I've been trying to push my style envelope lately with bold blazers, striped blazers, and color and pattern mixing. But now I know why I typically favor a subdued color palette and mostly neutral colors.

And I know the comments shouldn't bother me, but I can't help but wonder how I'm really supposed to react to them. I've just been smiling and nodding at the person. It's not like they are saying I look good or anything.

Sigh.

Thanks for reading!

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23 replies

Latest reply was from Scarlet

Mamapicklejuice

Veteran

Ha, it sounds like you work with some very sartorially-refined folks! (haha)

I think you look terrific...maybe it's just a knee-jerk reaction to a color-themed holiday coming up. Seriously, at this time of year in the northern hemisphere, we all just have our eye on spring.

(But I would NOT wear that on St. Paddy's day, you don't need any further tie to that occasion.)

ETA - this is one case where I would just smile and nod. Shrug it off. I'm guessing you won't get as many comments on the next outing for the jacket. At least, I hope not!

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

Your co-workers are not fashion-saavy at all. If they were, they would know that kelly or emerald green is a hot trend this spring! You can say, "didn't you know, emerald green is the latest fashion color." Or, "didn't you know, St. Patrick's day kelly green is the new black."

I love the blazer! Do not get rid of it, it looks great on you as you've styled it.

Jilly

I think you look GREAT in color. Obviously, your co-workers have too much time on their hands!

Elly

Veteran

I think February and March has most of the country so ready for winter to be over that they need a serious drinking holiday. Hence the fact that everyone has their mind on St. Paddy's.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Dear sweet, Lisa.

First, you look absolutely sensational in that blazer and the combo! Wow!

I wonder if the comments were ill intended? People think of Kelly green on St. Patrick's Day and it's a fortnight away - so it's on their conscience.

In 1994/95, I wore a mid tone (not quite a pastel or bright) lime green trouser suit with matching blouse to work with silver shoes. (Granted, I was a fashion buyer and in the RAG trade). I had comments flying left right and centre about how I looked like a lime milkshake, gelato and sorbet. I don't think the comments were ill intended so I always laughed them off. I LOVED my lime green suit and it made me smile. There was nothing that was going to stop me from wearing it at that time.

And then I moved into wearing black from head to toe for a while

Chin up! You rock that green blazer with the best of them.

Lisa

Veteran

Mamapicklejuice-Thanks! Great point. I'll be sure not to wear this blazer come St. Patrick's day. I do like the color and I want to be able to wear it through spring and summer without a holiday reference everytime.

CocoLion-Thanks! You are correct. My co-workers are not fashion savy at all. I want to put half my department on What Not to Wear. I often have comments on my outfits from them but I usually shrug them off. I like how I dress and that's all that matters in the end. I think I was just feeling extra sensitive that day.

Jilly-Thanks! Sometimes I think they do have too much free time.

Elly-Thanks for making me laugh. I think you are correct. At this time of year everyone is starting to itch for spring days.

Angie-Thanks! It's nice to hear I'm not the only one who has comments from time to time on my outfits. I do like my green blazer, it makes me smile. And I plan to keep sporting it throughout spring and summer. Maybe if I wear it often enough I'll make my coworkers numb to it.

DonnaF

Veteran

Wow! I LOVE that combo! Have your cow-irkers been hanging out with Transcona Shannon's? However, since you said half should go on WNTW, that should be validation that you are on the right track. Glad you plan to keep wearing the jacket.

RandomThoughts (Andrea)

Veteran

Yay, Lisa! It looks wonderful on you and I think the others are right - it's just that St. Paddy's is so near. I love kelly green and have liked blazers in that color since last spring. Keep it and rock it!

MsMary

Veteran

People? Are idiots! They just say the first thing that pops into their heads, and most of the time that's something idiotic!

Keep wearing that fab jacket and I love the "Haven't you heard? Emerald is THE hot color for spring!" comeback!!

Diana

Veteran

First off, you look fab in emerald green and I really like it in combination with the blue!

I think St. Patty's day references when one is wearing emerald green are sadly inevitable. There's nothing to be done but to ignore it. Which reminds me, it's getting warm enough to wear my "leprechaun" dress. (So called because someone at work memorably told me I looked like a leprechaun and said "I didn't realize St. Patrick's day was in September!")

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

You look great! Don't listen to the nay-sayers and keep on rocking the emerald green blazer because you look fab in it! It looks great with the cobalt too. Perfectly on-trend. Your coworkers are the ones who need fashion intervention, not you.

Amy

(website)

Veteran

Obviously I don't know your co-workers, but I spend quite a bit of time with people who make similar comments. Generally, I think they're just trying to be nice and come up with something clever to say. It shows that they're noticing you and your efforts--which really is a nice thing.

In situations like those you describe, I would either smile and say "thanks, I'll keep that in mind" OR (and this is far more likely given my personality) I would make a joke about it and say something like "it's clear to me that the Irish are smart people since they have have adopted this splendid color as their own. I'm happy to be smart by association!"

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I really love the green and blue combination on you ... I would imagine that these other people probably don't have any idea they're making you feel bad (or I guess they could be really catty!)

I second the advice not to wear the blazer on St. Paddy day though

Sara L.

Veteran

The other thing to remember is that each person who makes a comment about St. Patrick's Day doesn't realize that you've already heard the comment a dozen times already. They think they are the first and being extremely witty. I know how annoying it can be. The blazer looks great on you and hopefully after St. Paddy's Day passes and it's not on everyone's minds, you won't hear about it anymore.

Kim

Veteran

People often state the obvious, and think they sound witty, but as posted above me you've already heard that tired old comment 100 times...Not so wittty to you anymore. Just ask my 6'7" hubby about how many "How's the weather up there?" comments a man can take before he wants to roll his eyes at the next person who says it...LOL

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Well, I think this colour combo is superb on you, and I also love the cut of that jacket for you! So phooey on them.

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

Ignore them all. Bwahahah.

Just joking. The jacket looks fab on you. The cut and color are beautiful and it is the color combination of blue/green that another member (I forgot who) posted from the Ann Taylor site. You are just ahead of the curve and your co-workers need a few months to catch up.

Wear it and enjoy.

Jonesy

Veteran

People can be boneheads, it's as simple as that :). I think you look fabulous, and they will eventually get over it. Do you get comments when you wear your bright orchid blazer? Maybe it's just this emerald green, with St. Patrick's Day right around the corner?

Girl X

(website)

Veteran

You look great and the jacket is gorgeous - and it sounds like your coworkers actually LIKED the jacket. St. Paddy's day is coming up soon, and they've requested that you wear it again. It's all good.

Anonymous

I love it on you. And I *would* wear it on St. Patrick's Day too. I never have anything green on, and I get razzed for that too. Sometimes you just can't win.

Mander

(website)

Veteran

Ah, yes. We do tend to think that we are the first ones to come up with a particular joke.

If I had a dollar for every time a British person has made a joke about 1) my accent, 2) how the Americans were late to WWII, 3) soccer vs. football, 4) various aspects of American football generally, or 5) common differences in vocabulary and dialect, then I would have paid down a substantial portion of my student loan by now. And sometimes people come up with something that they think is clever, and repeat it all the time. My late uncle was notorious for this. Whenever you turned on the lights on coming into the house, for example, he would say something like "well, that's thrown some light on the situation". Every. Single. Time.

Anyway, sorry for that rant! I think your co-workers are just clueless. I think the blazer is cute, and as long as you don't wear it with a Guinness t-shirt or one of those plastic shot glasses on a string of beads that they sometimes hand out in the bars on St. Patrick's day, everyone will forget about it soon enough.

Incidentally, I had almost forgotten about the wearing green thing since moving here. It is not really much of an event here, as far as I can tell, and the actual Irish traditions seem to be pretty different as well. The first time I asked whether there was any place in town that would be serving green beer, my husband looked at me as if I had antlers sprouting out of my head. Nobody makes corned beef or colcannon, and in fact the only corned beef I have ever seen here is a cheap reformed sandwich meat, not the big tasty seasoned brisket that my mom always makes. *sigh, drool*

Lisa

Veteran

DonnaF-Thanks! There is a very good chance my coworkers hang with Transcona Shannon's.

RandomThoughts-Thanks! I'm happy to hear you have seen kelly green since last year, I would like to keep this blazer for more than one season.

MaryK-Thanks! You are correct, often people are boneheads. If we all thought before we spoke a lot less problems would result.

Diana-Thanks! It sounds like your coworker has been hanging around mine. I bet your "St Patty's day" dress is really lovely on you. Kelly green is a great color and appears to pair with a lot of colors, making it quite versatile.

Goldenpig-Thanks! I'm happy to green and cobalt worked together. This was a bold color pairing for me.

Amy-Thanks! You are probably right, and my coworkers were trying to be nice. I find compliments difficult to accept when they are obvious compliments!

Lyn*-Thanks! I actually have a necklace of clovers that I like to wear but I will not pair with the blazer. That is too over the top for holiday for me.

Sara L. and Kim-Thanks! That is so true. It was hard not to roll my eyes after the 3rd or 4th comment.

Suz and Dianthus-Thanks!

Jonesy-Thanks! I used to get comments on the orchid blazer I have, but it was because I would pair it with a turquoise color that was similar to a brand I worked on. All day I would hear how I looked like my "brand." (I'm in medical marketing) I confronted the person who kept commenting and told them I didn't care for their constant comments. They did stop but I also stopped pairing the two together because of it. It was easier than listening to comments all day long or wearing something that would be temptation for comment.

Girl X and Clearlyclaire-Thanks!

Mander-Thanks! I'm sorry to hear you are also getting comments about things you cannot change. People are just not original I guess.

Scarlet

Veteran

That is a really pretty jacket. I hope you keep wearing it.