Nice one, Christine! Marianne, you'll look fab :0)

Oh man, that was my challenge. Oh well, maybe I'll just challenge someone to make an all purple outfit. :)

This is a great challenge Christine. I can see this being a good theme for our next round of YLF challenges :)

Thanks Christine! I'll start working on it. I even happen to have the new issue of InStyle, so we'll see if I really learned. :)
I also think it's a great challenge idea. Perhaps challenges can be recycled?

Ha, I was just kidding. We could definitely recycle challenges. It's fun to think up new ones though. Hmm......I think I'm formulating some already. :D

Love the challenge and can't wait what Marianne comes up with!

Yeah, this sounds great for the next round of challenges - create an outfit that reflects a current mainstream trend/a trend from past decades/a new fringe trend etc. Or, for example, to create an outfit based on an outfit featured in a blog of some very fashionable person(s) (academicchic are obvious candidates, as is Kasmira, for instance). Hanna - what do you think?

i love the idea of adopting and adapting trends in magazines and blogs! we can definitely cook up something along those lines.

has anyone been reading up on the travelling scarf that has made its way around a whole bunch of style blogs, academichic included? it was started by kimberly at fab finds under 50 (http://fabfindsunder50.blogspo.....round.html) - wouldn't it be cool if we did something like that too? mailed a scarf from member to member and see how each YLFer styles it?

on another note, i hope you all feel comfortable enough to issue your own challenge ideas at any time! i certainly don't mean to hog the challenge thing :P

The InStyle issue wasn't much help because much of it was beachwear. I wanted to do something fairly new, and you guys have probably seen everything in my wardrobe. So I tried to come up with something that would include a bunch of current trends - white jeans, gladiators and voluminous boho-like top. (Yeah, I know white jeans and brulees are nothing new around here). I bought the top last year but have only worn it once, and it has been officially orphanized.
http://i293.photobucket.com/al.....G_7180.jpg
just the top:
http://i293.photobucket.com/al.....G_7178.jpg

So I wasn't quite happy with the results, but I also had a J Crew catalog lying around and on a whim I decided to try their look (although with MY colors):
2 necklaces:
http://i293.photobucket.com/al.....G_7186.jpg
crazy pearls:
http://i293.photobucket.com/al.....G_7184.jpg

So there you go. I apologize for the number of pics!
BTW, I got Laura to challenge, and I am going to spend the rest of my day racking my brain. I can't think of anything she hasn't tried!

Wow!! You manged to wear so many new trends and are looking gorgeous!! I love the top with the white jeans and brulees. I also love the creativity of the first outfit. Such fun!!!Great job Marianne!

Wow, Marianne you look amazing! I like the first outfit with only the top. I think scarf creates too much visual interest. The third and fourth outfits are absolutely flawless. I would be surprised if you didn't get a killer rating from Angie!

Super color combo in the first outfit with the top and scarf and handbag. Fab!! Angie is going to LOVE it.

Now I am quaking in my boots, or should I say in my Brulees, waiting for you to issue the next challenge! Please be kind ...

All your outfits are great! That blue looks lovely on you. I like how you picked a yellow bag in your first outfit. And the looped pearls is a great look -- I need to try that!

KILLER. Both looks.

Yum, yum, yum, yum, yum, yum, yummy. My goodness!!! I LOVE the last outfit especially! It's HOT. And we are yellow clutch twins! Well done, Marianne. You look AMAZING. White skinnies with Brullees is a winning combination. You nailed it :0)

Fantastic looks all. Your orphaned top has been saved from the work house!

I absolutely love the Brulees with white skinnies.

LOVE! Love all 4!

The boho look, especially without the cardigan is FAB on you. Love the yellow clutch too. Looks like you can un-orphan that top now!

Your take on J Crew is also great; that blue just glows on you! The tucked with the dark necklces emphasizes how tiny you are, and the untucked with the pearls just screams summer and comfort.

Thank you ladies! I feel like neither of the looks is really "me" to the same extent as that Esprit dress, for example, but it was a very fun exercise! Thank you Christine!
I couldn't resist getting the yellow clutch and it works great with my all neutral outfits. And white jeans with Brulees has been my go-to combination for everything :)
Bella - I agree, the scarf is a bit too much, but I felt I needed something close to my face but couldn't decide what. Necklaces looked kind of odd too.
Cciele, the pearls are one very long strand, I secured it with a brooch. It worked quite well, I think I'll play with it some more.

Marianne, you look great! I especially love that last outfit with the gorgeous blue cardigan and pearls. You look so sophisticated but unfussy.

That blue is gorgeous on you! It really pops against your skin. I love the outfits that you put together. Well done, girl...well done! *applauding*

Where did you get the s/s blue cardi?

Marianne,

So beautiful!! I am in love with your boho top - hopefully you will wear it a lot now, because it is amazing and it also really suits you! This blue on you? Gorgeous!! And wow, yellow clutch!
Totally fab, totally trendy, and absolutely flattering. I am thinking, JCrew should consider to hire you for their next catalog ...

oh my GOSH. *falls to the floor* you look AMAZING! that blue just pops on you. and i'm with hannahc, j crew should definitely be knocking on your door any day now...

Wow Marianne - you did an awesome job at this challenge! You look absolutely fabulous, and like everyone else, I can't help but marvel at how great you look in that shade of blue. Beautiful!

Wow Marianne, I love it!!!! I'd wear that first outfit in a heartbeat - every single piece in it is amazing!!!!!

Love both the outfits. I love the combination of while, blue and yellow in first outfit. Great job!

Oh, wow! I love the first outfit, Marianne! The pewter sandals and white jeans are perfect and very fresh. I would definitely see if you could find more uses for your orphan top, the color is so beautiful on you!

Marianne, perfection! That color is divine on you. I can't even pick a fav outfit. Although, if I have to, I would go with 2 & 3. Great job!

Thanks everyone for the comments (and compliments, too)! *smiling ear to ear* I gives me courage for wearing them out, too!
Lesley, the cardigan IS from J Crew, they had this cobalt color last summer and I should have stocked up, because it disappeared in the fall. This season they have the same cardi but only in pastels. I should mention that I only got it thanks to Ana :)