Wow, Hil, this was pretty challenging! I had a look through SarahtheWhite’s past posts, and the things that jumped out at me were: soft, ladylike, draped but fitted, muted colors, pumps and high heels, and and open neckline with no necklaces. OMG! How am I going to make that work?! Another aspect of STW’s style is that her platinum pixie (and lack of necklaces) really focuses attention to her face.
So here’s what I did – I put my hair up, put in my contacts, and put on makeup so that there’d be a similar focus on my face. Then I chose some pieces from my wardrobe that I felt had a sort of a soft ladylike STW feel and am showing them 1st, how I’ve actually worn them in the past, and then styled to reflect a STW influence.
1) - This is a rather ladylike dress that I’ve only worn once because it’s so … well… ladylike. When I originally wore it (March of last year) I tried to funk it up a bit with lapis jewelry, a suede jacket, and groovy granny boots (2 left photos). This time I let the femininity take center stage – nude(ish) pumps, pearl earrings and braclets, a clutch, and an open neckline (right photos). And really, this was too ladylike (and bodycon) for my comfort. I'm keeping the dress, but when I wear it next, will wear some light shapewear underneath, I think, and of course a cami for cleavage control, and I quite like the original way I wore it with the big lapiz necklace.
2) - Another ladylike dress that I actually wear quite often in the summer because it's so dang comfy. But usually I go boho as you can see in the left photo I wore it with a lapiz necklace and flat toe ring sandals. This time I wore brown pumps, a brown belt, and this Brahmin bag I thrifted but never wear. This incarnation felt very "ladies who lunch," and I could see myself wearing it this way to do exactly that (although I'd leave off the belt).
3) STW often wears skinnies, pumps, and a flowy cardigan over a fitted top. This grey flowy cardi has been previously worn with skinny jeans, so instead of pairing with yet another lapiz necklace and dansko sandals, as I've done in the past (left), today I added (right) a leopard print tank, purple pumps, and dangly earrings (STW does sometimes wear long dangly earrings). I would totally wear this in public although I'd add some funkier jewelry.
4) - Finally, this is what I'm actually wearing today and I'm including it b/c I think it's still somewhat STW inspired - same jeans and tank and earrings, but my grey Cons (she recently bought a pair herself), and - here's where we get back to MG territory - and old flannel shirt of the husband's, and my tassel necklace.
This was hard! But really useful, b/c I used to dress in a much more overtly feminine manner (I still have the pieces, obviously), and it no longer feels really comfortable to me. Thanks Hil for a great challenge, and I hope STW approves!
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