https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dressing-items-up-and-down Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sun, 19 Apr 2026 16:42:28 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dressing-items-up-and-down/page/2#post-1221440 Sat, 12 Apr 2014 13:55:23 +0000 Faith 1221440@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I do this all the time, and I would agree that the trick is often in the footwear, although I suppose&nbsp;the direction (up/down) depends on the point of reference. For example, to lecture I often wear a blouse and jacket (blazer or moto) over wide leg trousers with refined footwear (I don't wear heels). I might wear that same blouse, jacket, and pair of shoes to a small graduate seminar, but swapping out the trousers for slightly RATE jeans. I would say that in that context I am dressing the blouse and shoes&nbsp;<i>down</i> with the jeans, although looking at the outfit you might read it the other way around (dressing up the jeans with the other elements). Or, I might wear a graphic tee and silky tapered pants to teach, again with refined shoes, and then wear the same tee with jeans and sneakers on the weekend--a moto jacket also often does double duty in this scenario. There I would say I'm dressing&nbsp;<i>up</i> the tee. So I think my point of reference is usually internal and situational, but the general pattern is one element that reads in a different register than the rest of the ensemble.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dressing-items-up-and-down/page/2#post-1220875 Fri, 11 Apr 2014 19:20:34 +0000 catgirl 1220875@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I saw that too! Thanks for posting. It's interesting to ponder and I may do a challenge to myself when I get back from my trip next week! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dressing-items-up-and-down/page/2#post-1220856 Fri, 11 Apr 2014 18:54:15 +0000 texstyle 1220856@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Funny, just today I saw this on the jcrew web site (scroll down to see several examples of clothing items dressed up and dressed down.</p> </p> <p><a href="https://www.jcrew.com/womens_feature/1Piece2Ways.jsp" rel="nofollow">https://www.jcrew.com/womens_f.....e2Ways.jsp</a></p> <p></p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dressing-items-up-and-down/page/2#post-1220321 Fri, 11 Apr 2014 03:15:09 +0000 DonnaF 1220321@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><i></i>I am trying to make the shift to having all my clothes be machine washable, including blazer type thingies.&nbsp; And am kicking myself now for getting a DCO blazer dirty yesterday while I was just hanging out.&nbsp; It is several years old, so I may experiment. . . .</p> <p>I don't go to cocktail parties, fancy NYE parties, or expensive soirees, so I don't really have a dressy capsule beyond dressy sandals, dressy mules, my mom's taffeta skirt from the '40s, and a shiny top that I picked up at a thrift store.</p> <p>Oh, and I am never in court (other than for jury duty in two weeks) or even in front of an ALJ so work wear isn't Big Law formal.&nbsp; My range of clothing formality/informality is pretty narrow.&nbsp; Even at church, the only *rules* are some type of footwear and top for all gender identities and no wearing of scent in the first three rows.&nbsp; It's all uber casual, and I am among the most dressed up -- if you can call it that! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dressing-items-up-and-down/page/2#post-1220271 Fri, 11 Apr 2014 02:10:33 +0000 Caro in Oz 1220271@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Love Aida's point women needing more styles of clothing. I am an eclectic too but I've been consciously narrowing down my silhouettes which means I need fewer tops/shoes/jackets etc. to work with them.&nbsp;Rather than feeling bored I feel relieved - most of my clothes actually work together.&nbsp;Like Janet though I don't have to worry about work/not work so maybe that's a big&nbsp;difference. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dressing-items-up-and-down/page/2#post-1220260 Fri, 11 Apr 2014 01:59:26 +0000 Aida 1220260@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You know Una, this is something I've thought about <i>a lot </i>the past year while I was away from YLF. A comment my husband made got me thinking about it: he (boy)&nbsp;can wear the same thing to a wide variety of events and look perfectly appropriate, whereas I'd (girl)&nbsp;have to wear a wide range of dressiness levels to look appropriate. To be honest, that really bugs me but it seems to be right!&nbsp;It's an issue that's been percolating in the back of my mind. I am the same as you: I often stick to one way of dressing an item, either up or down, though there are some items that I can and will do both. In fact, there are certain items in my closet I would <i>only</i> wear either dressed up or dressed down, because the other direction they no longer feel like me. Unless you are feeling like there is&nbsp;a lot of overlap in your dress-up and dress-down items, I don't know that this is necessarily a lacking skill as much as a style decision. Perhaps being an eclectic dresser (as we both are)&nbsp;influences this a bit? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dressing-items-up-and-down#post-1220198 Fri, 11 Apr 2014 01:10:54 +0000 Jaime 1220198@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Umm, well, if I wear any sort of heel with any sort of skirt or dress that is dressed up for me. The rest of it is a free for all. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dressing-items-up-and-down#post-1220182 Fri, 11 Apr 2014 00:58:17 +0000 JulieJohn 1220182@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I do this without even realizing it was a skill. I think it's cause I don't have many clothes, so they must do double duty, or sometimes triple.</p> <p>I think a challenge would be a fun thing, to learn if I'm doing it right. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dressing-items-up-and-down#post-1220177 Fri, 11 Apr 2014 00:55:16 +0000 unfrumped 1220177@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ii hope to do more multi/ occasion pieces over the next year or so.<br /> Like caro I hope to focus on fewer basic items and find the finishing pieces that change the look. Like rachylou, I worry about trashing some of my better items but I feel I've got to get over that for some items at least.<br /> For me I think it's about moderation and remembering to have fun. If I really like an item I'm going to want to find ways to wear more places, and I get some satisfaction from trying to be a little bit creative with dress up/ down<br /> ideas, and also to feel less acquisitive, to do more with less. But there will be some things that probably will stay stuck in one world or another, so I don't want to obsess about it. </p> <p>It brings me back to mo's numbers. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dressing-items-up-and-down#post-1220160 Fri, 11 Apr 2014 00:37:29 +0000 rae 1220160@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I feel like I'm always dressing up jeans for work. Or dressing down office-y things. That said, my range of dressed up to dressed down is not that huge. Dressing up jeans with a blazer, or dressing up a simple sweater with a skirt, adding a fancy necklace to a tee... usually as far as it goes.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dressing-items-up-and-down#post-1220156 Fri, 11 Apr 2014 00:33:34 +0000 krishnidoux 1220156@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Start with footwear!</p> <p>Add (=dress up) or retrieve (=dress down) color.</p> <p>Wear a visible cami or tee underneath = dress down.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dressing-items-up-and-down#post-1220145 Fri, 11 Apr 2014 00:24:24 +0000 Caro in Oz 1220145@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>The smaller my wardrobe gets the more I do this. I have summer dresses I wear with casually gladiator sandals or dressier with my Okalas. I wear linen harem style pants with a tee &amp; Birkies round the house or at the beach&nbsp;&amp; when I go out I wear the same tee &amp; pants with&nbsp;either the sandals or Okalas &amp; a linen jacket. It really allows me to have fewer but better pants &amp; tops &amp; put more of my money into&nbsp;footwear &amp; jackets (which I love).</p> <p>I do the same in winter with leather coats/jackets &amp; booties. Jackets &amp; footwear&nbsp;also work to make my clothes more or less conservative - a dress &amp; the Okalas are fine for DH functions yet still feel like me. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dressing-items-up-and-down#post-1220116 Thu, 10 Apr 2014 23:58:52 +0000 Sarah A 1220116@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Well, this immediately caught my attention since trying to have a good for everything I actually do wardrobe versus imaginary life wardrobe is high on my goals. </p> <p>Love Umfrumped's comment "I have not mastered the semi-formal cocktail party dress that is also for hiking, for example." ... Mainly, because I have indeed worn patagonia gear dresses to the last three weddings I have attended. Once with a sequined topper, once with a large satin and lace scarf and the third occasion without embellishment (that wedding was outdoors and an "anything goes" dress request from the bride) ... But now that isnt what we are talking about....</p> <p>For work. Aye. That is harder I think. A wedding at night when it is dark you see the sparkly accessories much more that the poly spandex blend gear ya know? At work during the day? I like Deborah's idea... how about a challenge! And Mo is onto a ton with the shoes setting the tone for the outfit. UWP boots for RATE MOTG and something a bit more refined but that still feels like "you" seems like a good idea to play with for this. I dont see scarves or jewelry as real game changers for your style but they are certainly a conventional way to "change up" an outfit.&nbsp; </p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dressing-items-up-and-down#post-1220112 Thu, 10 Apr 2014 23:54:07 +0000 catgirl 1220112@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>TL, there you go! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dressing-items-up-and-down#post-1220107 Thu, 10 Apr 2014 23:49:43 +0000 TraceyLiz65 1220107@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Funny you should mention this as the following pics are what i put on my blog today with my Olive Cargo Joggers worn two ways... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dressing-items-up-and-down#post-1220100 Thu, 10 Apr 2014 23:41:41 +0000 annagybe 1220100@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don't dress down my dresses, though most are for the opera. I do however dress down blouses, blazers, skirts &amp; shoes. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dressing-items-up-and-down#post-1220088 Thu, 10 Apr 2014 23:29:02 +0000 Janet 1220088@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh, I do it all the time -- mostly on the dressing down an item. This is the only way I'd get wear out of some of my favorite items, because they are dressier than my lifestyle demands. </p> <p>I do the denim jacket over dress or skirt thing a lot -- I also liked combining the denim jacket with dressier trousers to dress them down too, when I tried that. I dress down silk shirts and tailored blazers with distressed or faded jeans and casual footwear. Or I'll dress down pumps with boyfriend jeans. </p> <p>I don't know why, but this feels pretty easy to me. Maybe because my life does not have the kind of work/not-work separation you describe. It's all quite casual, other than special occasions or really important meetings, which are not very frequent, so I find a dressy/casual hybrid works well to take me to a wide variety of situations and functions. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dressing-items-up-and-down#post-1220077 Thu, 10 Apr 2014 23:21:22 +0000 deb 1220077@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>If it is in my closet it has to go up and down. I started doing this years ago when I worked at the bank. It just makes my life easier. I guess the only item this will not work for is shorts. I never dress them up. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dressing-items-up-and-down#post-1220075 Thu, 10 Apr 2014 23:19:52 +0000 Mo 1220075@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I dunno - I feel like a grade A poseur in one! &nbsp;lol &nbsp;<br />But, yes, give me a moto and I feel at home. &nbsp;Again, goes to one's style core I think. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dressing-items-up-and-down#post-1220072 Thu, 10 Apr 2014 23:17:29 +0000 catgirl 1220072@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Mo I feel just the same way as you about classic denim jackets - can't ever feel comfortable in one. I do have a denim moto that is much more my style though. But the whole denim over dress thing is really hard for me - even though I love it on Shannon! Why is that, I wonder?</p> <p>I think I prefer my dressy items dressed down and my casual items dressed down. Never do I willingly go in the other direction. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dressing-items-up-and-down#post-1220040 Thu, 10 Apr 2014 23:04:39 +0000 rachylou 1220040@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I do have a wee problem with it. If I dress down something too often, it becomes a rag all too quickly... I'm rough on my clothes when I'm just out and about. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dressing-items-up-and-down#post-1220026 Thu, 10 Apr 2014 22:55:41 +0000 Mo 1220026@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>The first thing that came to my attention was that I figured dress up meant going out on the town, but you meant dress up as work appropriate. &nbsp;So, right there is a divergence. &nbsp;I have some things, as already mentioned, jeans foremost, that do this. &nbsp;Some dresses can go from day to night. &nbsp;But I remember trying to dress down my LBD last year and putting a white cotton (almost denim) jacket over it and it felt very contrived to me. &nbsp;Like saying, "look, the denim jacket means casual!". &nbsp;It didn't feel organic at all. &nbsp;I should add, I've purged all denim and denim-like jackets for this very reason. &nbsp;They did not feel authentic to me. &nbsp;More like I was playing a suburban MOTG role that is very far from my style core. &nbsp;But I digress! &nbsp;Now to dress up or&nbsp;down things, shoes are the most important factor for me. &nbsp;Period. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dressing-items-up-and-down#post-1219995 Thu, 10 Apr 2014 22:38:51 +0000 Laura (rhubarbgirl) 1219995@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don't do this much. I'm sure it's partly because I don't have to dress up much, but I also don't like the high/low look that much for me (as far as levels of fanciness goes - financial high/low is always great). Even with jeans, I have jeans I wear with tee shirts on the weekends, and jeans I wear with nicer tops and my knit blazers, and I rarely mix them up. I think that's why I struggle with the boyfriend jeans look - to me loose, lightwash jeans with distressing go with casual tops, not workwear. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dressing-items-up-and-down#post-1219973 Thu, 10 Apr 2014 22:26:06 +0000 catgirl 1219973@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm wondering if part of the deal for me is that I have to mentally separate work and home somehow. To have clothes that bridge both would be practical, but would also make it harder to feel the sense of phone booth change to alter ego. And my MOTG style is so much more RATE than I can be at work. </p> <p>A challenge would be fun, if only to learn that this is not something that will work for me! Great idea, Deborah. Maybe I'll start a mini-challenge thread where we can all post pics. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dressing-items-up-and-down#post-1219954 Thu, 10 Apr 2014 22:09:19 +0000 unfrumped 1219954@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great thread and I'm interested in more ideas, too.<br />Maybe the degree of up or down is the deal--I have not mastered the semi-formal cocktail party dress that is also for hiking, for example.<br />I have a few things where "work" would be the middle ground, church or daytime casual would allow a fun item--denim shirt or fun shoes--and evening might be dinner out or the theater, where I could wear "lady shoes" and some jewelry.<br />Since I have so little luck finding dresses, this is usually bottoms--a pencil skirt, the Leith track pants, classic or slim pants.<br />In this same vein, I'm moving away from buying tops with built-in bling, even though my magpie gene loves them and they call out to me as instantly festive. Instead I am gravitating toward something like finer wool knits and then add statement necklace or metallic scarf for dressy, and wear plain to work. The blingy things don't get enough wear.. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dressing-items-up-and-down#post-1219949 Thu, 10 Apr 2014 22:06:30 +0000 Lyn D. 1219949@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ooh- sounds like a challenge to me!<br />And I will follow with interest, because I don't do this much either- possibly because I have too many clothes? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dressing-items-up-and-down#post-1219905 Thu, 10 Apr 2014 21:19:11 +0000 Deborah 1219905@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think I do this a lot. I do for example have a few garments that I only wear to work - they are a little more classic or conservative and get worn for presentations etc - but otherwise I really like my clothes to be able to go anywhere, within reason. For example my new oversized dress can be dressed up for work or an event with the right shoes and accessories but I have been thinking I could wear it more casually with long leggings and my wedge sneakers and maybe a leather jacket for a relaxing weekend brunch.<br /> My black asymmetric hem tunic can be dressed up over skinny leg work pants or a pencil skirt, or more casually worn with with skinny jeans and flat tall boots. I tend to use footwear and /or accessories to dress this up or down. </p> <p>I would love to see you take this on as a mini project and perhaps put have a go at putting together 6 combos (featuring three specific garments) in which you show the three items each in a casual ensemble and a dressy ensemble. Post them and perhaps we Fabbers can offer some thoughts and encouragement? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dressing-items-up-and-down#post-1219903 Thu, 10 Apr 2014 21:17:19 +0000 Diana 1219903@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Sometimes if I have to go somewhere dressy immediately after work, I'll play a "dress up and down" game where I try to use the same pieces in both a lab and evening outfit.&nbsp; </p> <p>For example:<br /><a href="http://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-bellatrix-and-booties-day-to-night" rel="nofollow">http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....y-to-night</a><br /><a href="http://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-quick-change-artist" rel="nofollow">http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....nge-artist</a></p> <p>(The first one is kind of cheating as I did have a place to go and change before the event.&nbsp; The second outfit was transformed from day to night in the work bathroom!) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dressing-items-up-and-down#post-1219900 Thu, 10 Apr 2014 21:16:15 +0000 always trying 1219900@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>There are limits to this idea of dressing up or down-but basically this started with something like the LBD worn to the office with jacket or cardi, pumps, and if any jewelry plain silver or gold.&nbsp; Then for evening no jacket, glittery jewelry, high heel dressy shoes.&nbsp; And if it is winter or cold-your faux or real fir.&nbsp; This still goes, but one can make the range wider.&nbsp; But to me means a dress that looks good with a denim jacket and casual shoes (not sneekers) to dress it up a blazer, or similar jacket, and dressier shoes, like dressy sandals, heels&nbsp; or pumps.&nbsp; For jeans-there seem no way to dress up the torn distressed kind-they are just way too casual.&nbsp; IMO, plain colors in dresses, pants or all sorts, just dress up better than prints, unless the fabric is of a dressier nature. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dressing-items-up-and-down#post-1219896 Thu, 10 Apr 2014 21:07:43 +0000 DonnaF 1219896@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have a few (washable) blouses suitable for work that I would also wear with jeans, and a denim and chambray shirt that I would wear with work appropriate pencil skirts.&nbsp; Colored tights and booties also make those skirts more casual.&nbsp; My spruce green utility vest and silver down vest dresses down a look, whereas a more polished blazer dresses it up.&nbsp; A cropped denim jacket would also dress down a look.&nbsp; </p> <p>BTW, I have more dress down days by far than dress up and look professional days, so I'm better at dressing down!&nbsp; I have also decided that throwing on my pumps, which are basically sitting shoes for me, will be sufficient to make me look work appropriate.&nbsp; </p>