https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-first-wiwwarning-fashion-faux-pas-committed-here Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Thu, 16 Apr 2026 00:04:10 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-first-wiwwarning-fashion-faux-pas-committed-here/page/2#post-366088 Mon, 13 Jun 2011 23:00:30 +0000 LoP 366088@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great first WIW! Your outfit looks lovely to me even with the pant length. Can you roll the hem and take another picture maybe? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-first-wiwwarning-fashion-faux-pas-committed-here/page/2#post-366081 Mon, 13 Jun 2011 22:53:18 +0000 Aida 366081@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great comments here already! Love the orange on you, it's great! I'm another vote for slim hem openings on this length of pant, if you're going to wear them. I also agree with Jenava on the shoes, having a more updated shoe is going to help if you want to wear cropped pants (whether it's flat or heeled).</p> <p>In the photos of Audrey that Mary posted, #3 is a cropped length but note that she's also wearing a similarly toned sock and shoe which really makes the whole leg line unbroken (and look at how slim those pants are). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-first-wiwwarning-fashion-faux-pas-committed-here/page/2#post-365811 Mon, 13 Jun 2011 14:57:26 +0000 Di 365811@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You look so put together!</p> <p>And I'll be honest-- I actually really like that pant length. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-first-wiwwarning-fashion-faux-pas-committed-here/page/2#post-365789 Mon, 13 Jun 2011 14:37:52 +0000 Lisa 365789@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You look lovely in orange! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-first-wiwwarning-fashion-faux-pas-committed-here/page/2#post-365575 Mon, 13 Jun 2011 00:28:23 +0000 Jenava 365575@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I believe Angie once told me that even Audrey would have looked better in a different length... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-first-wiwwarning-fashion-faux-pas-committed-here/page/2#post-365557 Sun, 12 Jun 2011 23:20:22 +0000 Suz 365557@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oooh, Mary K - great pics! Thank you! </p> <p>It certainly does look as if she was blessed with relatively long legs in addition to her other blessings. Fascinating stuff. And I agree, Kristine. She probably knew she could wear those ankle pants well and it was almost a signature style for her. So that is another direction to take: Ask myself if THIS "signature" item won't work for me, what will? </p> <p>Great to meet another writer, Kyle! I wonder why there are so many of us here? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-first-wiwwarning-fashion-faux-pas-committed-here/page/2#post-365504 Sun, 12 Jun 2011 20:18:17 +0000 Kristine 365504@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think the style with which Audrey wore them makes a difference too. She's so mod, it seems most of her pants were black or white and very slim cut. I don't think her ankle length pants were worn by default. But I totally agree you have to explore on your own and get to know your own preferences, that's the fun part! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-first-wiwwarning-fashion-faux-pas-committed-here/page/2#post-365498 Sun, 12 Jun 2011 20:01:34 +0000 Kyle 365498@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am one of the cropped pants rebels...and also a writer. We have a lot of writers here, so welcome to the club. I suggest following Angie's advice, as she is uncanny in her ability to elevate a look, style or outfit. She just gets it right very time. I like your style now, and can't wait to see it in six months. Keep posting and, again, welcome. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-first-wiwwarning-fashion-faux-pas-committed-here/page/2#post-365494 Sun, 12 Jun 2011 19:53:38 +0000 MsMary 365494@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Looks to me like Audrey H's legs were quite long compared to the rest of her body. That, along with her very slim upper body, seemed to balance out the cropped pants.</p> <p>Alas, those aren't the proportions with which most of us were blessed! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-first-wiwwarning-fashion-faux-pas-committed-here/page/2#post-365381 Sun, 12 Jun 2011 14:42:12 +0000 Suz 365381@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks for those Audrey stats, Dianthus. A 20 inch waist! Sheesh! She was extremely slim. You're right; most of us aren't built that way! </p> <p>It might be interesting to know whether she was long-legged or short-legged, too. That could also make a difference. </p> <p>Mellllls, that kind of outfit for me is casual, doing errands, taking my kid to various lessons, hanging out at home, or maybe teaching on a warmer day (though I'm usually not in the classroom in the summer months.) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-first-wiwwarning-fashion-faux-pas-committed-here/page/2#post-365373 Sun, 12 Jun 2011 14:14:50 +0000 Mellllls 365373@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Having read ylf for as long as i have, i have come to the side of no cropped pants as well for the most part. But, for me, I have a few pairs that I wear to work on 100+ days....I don't feel comfortable going to bermuda length at work, long pants are too hot and for some reason a skirt or dress won't work that day. So on those days I embrace the leg-shortening, wear high heels and just go with it (Please don't condemn me Angie...this is a rare thing!!). Anyway, my point in this was I was wondering where you were wearing this outfit. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-first-wiwwarning-fashion-faux-pas-committed-here/page/2#post-365372 Sun, 12 Jun 2011 13:50:01 +0000 cheryle (Dianthus) 365372@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am not sure where but just last night I saw a pic of Audrey and her stats. She was 5' 6 1/2", weighed 103 lbs and was a 32A, 20, 35. That is unusually tiny which may be why she could carry off looks that would stumpify the average woman. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-first-wiwwarning-fashion-faux-pas-committed-here/page/2#post-365361 Sun, 12 Jun 2011 13:04:46 +0000 Suz 365361@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks, Sarah! I suspect Audrey has to stay out of the discussion because most of us are not Audrey! Happens all the time in writing too. Someone will point out a problem with a story I've written. "But Alice Munro does it," I'll whine. Unanswerable answer: "And you're not Alice Munro!" </p> <p>I'm still not convinced that clams are a good length for me, either; in fact, I'm pretty sure they are WORSE for me than ankle length pants. Maybe if they are sufficiently tapered they could work, but otherwise, I think they would just make me look stumpy in the worst possible way. I will roll and take pics, though, for comment. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-first-wiwwarning-fashion-faux-pas-committed-here/page/2#post-365359 Sun, 12 Jun 2011 12:53:48 +0000 sarah 365359@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Tee-hee. Once I tried to bring Audrey Hepburn into the conversation, but Angie told me to leave her out of it. I think we need to ask Angie why Audrey was able to make things work fashion-wise that the rest of us can't! I did very successfully make some white pants that were cropped ankle-length into white clam-diggers, and I wear them ALL THE TIME! (I think that Jonesy included a link to that post). So, don't rule out shortening those pants into clams - I think they'd be brilliant, and they'd be perfect for hot weather. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-first-wiwwarning-fashion-faux-pas-committed-here/page/2#post-365358 Sun, 12 Jun 2011 12:49:50 +0000 Suz 365358@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks, Angie, and thanks to everyone else for the warm welcome! </p> <p>I'm here to learn, and as a writer I am used to lots of rejection, so I can take the criticism if criticism comes. After all, I'm here to learn! And I am pretty good at taking that information and sifting it through my own personal lens. </p> <p>I really like what Vix said in my other thread about learning how to choose clothes both analytically and intuitively/emotionally, and going for items and outfits that satisfy both sides of oneself on some level. That's just a brilliant piece of advice and one I had never heard before. It seems to me that we can help each other on both dimensions here. Through WIW critiques we can hone our own analytical sense, but also the intuitive/emotional sense. </p> <p>Example: I "know" intellectually that cropped pants are a pretty dumb look for someone with my body type (or maybe anyone). From Angie and the rest of you, I can learn why, and see examples. If emotionally, I still feel drawn to wearing them, I can ask myself why. (I know, this is still analytical, but bear with me.). So, when I ask myself why I like them, I come up with answers like this: </p> <p>Comfort (right for in-between temps)<br /> Ease (as a petite person it is very hard for me to buy pants that fit in length; with these, I don't have to be so fussy, or I imagine I don't...)<br /> Images of Audrey Hepburn floating around my brain. </p> <p>The first two are easy to deal with. I can figure out other kinds of outfits for those temps; I can accept my stature and resign myself to getting things hemmed and be done with it. </p> <p>It's the last, intuitive/emotional draw to those pants that probably makes them more appealing and probably makes it harder to say no to them. So then I can get analytical again and ask myself, okay, so maybe cropped pants isn't my route to an Audrey-esque look, but what else could I try to get that look? </p> <p>Thanks again, all! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-first-wiwwarning-fashion-faux-pas-committed-here#post-365311 Sun, 12 Jun 2011 03:38:38 +0000 Angie 365311@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Another congrats from me! You look radiant in that orange, Suz. Just gorgeous!</p> <p>I am on Team Leg Shortening here unless the hems are tapered and you wear heels. The low contrast colour does help in this regard, but it's not enough. I 100% vote shorten and taper. Or just shorten. </p> <p>Suz, I am basically sticky about one thing - lengths! And I am very consistant about how I feel about lengths. I hold very strong opinions about wardrobe items that are too short or too long. Of course, it's just my opinion - and fashion and style is very subjective. So do take my opinion for what it is worth to you :)</p> <p>Look forward to seeing more great outfits! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-first-wiwwarning-fashion-faux-pas-committed-here#post-365284 Sun, 12 Jun 2011 02:53:40 +0000 Suz 365284@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Very interesting, Kristine, about the "soft autumn." I followed the link and know that's definitely not me. The colours in the examples make me look my absolute worst. </p> <p>I think the photos are making me look a lot warmer toned than I am in real life. Or maybe I was just blushing! </p> <p>So. I experimented with rolling the pants today. No go. Unless I go all the way to shorts, that is. I am not sure pics will work because they just look strange rolled (it mucks them up in the thigh so the line is hard to judge). But if I can manage some, I will. Stay tuned! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-first-wiwwarning-fashion-faux-pas-committed-here#post-365270 Sun, 12 Jun 2011 02:33:15 +0000 rae 365270@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Everyone else has the advice down, but welcome to WIW! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-first-wiwwarning-fashion-faux-pas-committed-here#post-365219 Sat, 11 Jun 2011 23:24:37 +0000 kitty400 365219@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Welcome and congrats on your first WIW! Those are great colors on you I tend to agree with everyone else not a huge fan of the cropped pants but can't wait to see those pants rolled </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-first-wiwwarning-fashion-faux-pas-committed-here#post-365185 Sat, 11 Jun 2011 21:44:17 +0000 tarzy 365185@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I wonder if your coloring is similar to forum member San? </p> <p>I remember she had the same problem - could never figure out if she was "cool" or "warm." I think she changed her hair color and that made all the difference. </p> <p>Hopefully she'll weigh in! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-first-wiwwarning-fashion-faux-pas-committed-here#post-365177 Sat, 11 Jun 2011 21:24:58 +0000 Vix 365177@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've already welcomed you elsewhere but congrats on your first post with "real" clothes! </p> <p>I hate to nitpick, but I'm with the others re cropped pants for you.</p> <p>I *would* say that if you've been dying to wear a light-colored gladiator-type sandal then it wouldn't hurt to try them with these pants. You might be able to create a longer leg line that way (and I know you said that's something you're interesting in exploring). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-first-wiwwarning-fashion-faux-pas-committed-here#post-365173 Sat, 11 Jun 2011 21:17:53 +0000 Kristine 365173@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Nice work on your first WIW! It looks great, polished but casual.</p> <p>I'm somewhat similar in coloring (although my hair is darker) and, although I only put so much stock in it, I settled on a soft autumn. I always thought autumn meant warm colors, but cool colors look better on me. The orange definitely works here but I think in part because there's only a little showing. </p> <p><a href="http://www.prettyyourworld.com/the-soft-autumn.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.prettyyourworld.com.....utumn.html</a> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-first-wiwwarning-fashion-faux-pas-committed-here#post-365092 Sat, 11 Jun 2011 16:45:52 +0000 christy 365092@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Congrats your first WIW! It's a little stressful the first time, isn't it? The ladies have given you some great ideas, so I don't have anything to add except to have fun trying new silhouettes, especially while you are starting out. You might find that something you've always thought you couldn't do really just needs a few tweaks to be just right for you. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-first-wiwwarning-fashion-faux-pas-committed-here#post-365078 Sat, 11 Jun 2011 15:53:12 +0000 Carolyn 365078@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Love the outfit! You really are beautiful! I too have a love of cropped/capri pants and have quite a collection. I'm trying to wean myself off of them slowly! I don't think my eye is trained yet to "see" what is so unflattering about them but hopefully it will come with time </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-first-wiwwarning-fashion-faux-pas-committed-here#post-365062 Sat, 11 Jun 2011 15:25:06 +0000 Suz 365062@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Jonesy, thank you so much for those links! They are VERY instructive. I love those blue and white striped pants altered! </p> <p>And Mo, you are absolutely right..just because I paid a pittance doesn't mean I shouldn't get some life out of the pants if I can. I will roll and we can see what we think. Thank you! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-first-wiwwarning-fashion-faux-pas-committed-here#post-365048 Sat, 11 Jun 2011 15:15:02 +0000 Jonesy 365048@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yay for your first WIW! I think you should definitely consider shortening the pants to just below knee length (capri) or just above (bermuda). I'll bet they would look really cute and you would get lots of wear out of them. Here are two recent posts from forum members re. shortening their pants, just for inspiration :). Both women are petite (I think):</p> <p><a href="http://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-refashioning-pants-into-bermudas" rel="nofollow">http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....o-bermudas</a></p> <p><a href="http://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-long-and-the-short-of-it" rel="nofollow">http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....hort-of-it</a> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-first-wiwwarning-fashion-faux-pas-committed-here#post-365044 Sat, 11 Jun 2011 15:04:14 +0000 MsMary 365044@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think everybody's got you sorted out with the advice, so I'll just say congratulations on your first WIW, welcome to YLF, and man! You look great in that bright color!! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-first-wiwwarning-fashion-faux-pas-committed-here#post-365038 Sat, 11 Jun 2011 14:52:41 +0000 Mo 365038@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Just wanted to add that I never wore knee length shorts before. I had short shorts and I had capris, and nothing in between. Well, those days are gone! I did actually have a $10 pair of capris altered to be more bermuda length (I am a super bargain hunter so that wasn't an easy call). I've been wearing them to death so far this summer!!<br /> So, yes, try them rolled up and see how you feel. But I would caution against outright discounting the notion of altering inexpensive purchases - you may give them a whole new second life and get tons more use out of them. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-first-wiwwarning-fashion-faux-pas-committed-here#post-365017 Sat, 11 Jun 2011 14:02:04 +0000 Suz 365017@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you, everybody! What a great community. I was nervous...so nervous that I bit my husband's head off when he asked why our daughter was taking a picture of me. Poor guy. </p> <p>Re the pants: I won't alter them because it's not worth the money (they are $10 thrift store pants, bought just so I would have something to put on.)</p> <p>By the way, I consider my current wardrobe, apart from a very few pieces, an "experimental" wardrobe, because it is mostly thrifted, or culled from what I already had (some altered, some not). So it is okay to tell me to ditch stuff and what to replace it with! I really am starting from nothing and at this point just throwing together stuff that is really, really inexpensive, and hoping to learn this way. </p> <p>Anyway, even if I don't alter, I like the idea of rolling them up to experiment with the length. But you know what? I'm just about 100% convinced that "clam" length pants are not going to work on me at all. The shortness in my legs is mostly in the lower leg rather than the thigh. So there isn't that much territory to play with. In the past, I've found that any pant that hits anywhere except the near the ankle is just horrible. But I'll roll and take pics, and get your thoughts. I totally agree that pictures tell a very different story from the mirror and it is SO enlightening! That is a brilliant feature of this site! </p> <p>I agree, clams or even ankle pants might work better with a different shoe, a lower vamp and higher heel...but my eye has not yet got used to heels with super-casual outfits. A wedge, yeah (these shoes actually have a small wedge). But not heels. And it's not just my eye that rebels; the fact is, I walk almost everywhere, so overall I vote for team flats, at least for casual days. (I do like platforms, though, and can wear them.) </p> <p>In the past, I never could wear to-the-knee shorts, either. I am not sure now if they will work with my new shape, but they used to look dreadful on me. I guess it makes sense in a way, if I'm right that my leg length is in the thigh vs. the calf...to stop the pant at the knee could make the calves look stumpier. </p> <p>Hmmm. Maybe there is a reason I've mostly voted Team Skirt vs. Team Pants in summer? </p> <p>Still, I really do need a casual pant look that works for the summer months; skirts are lovely and cool and I'm comfortable in them but they are not always perfect for the playground! </p> <p>Thanks for your vote of confidence on the orange tank! The one value of that colour consultation is that I found out I'd actually been picking pretty much unerringly for myself for many years. Also, I did make a new discovery: plum tones, which I'd never really tried for some weird reason. (Weird, because I like the colour, just never thought it was "me.") </p> <p>By the way, my skin tone reads warmer in the photos than it really is, although I do have a bit of warmth now due to being outside; I'm one of those blondes who (without SPF) burns then tans, not the kind who never tans or the kind who tans instantly. </p> <p>Thanks again, wise women! I will keep honing! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-first-wiwwarning-fashion-faux-pas-committed-here#post-364991 Sat, 11 Jun 2011 11:56:52 +0000 ButterflyLady 364991@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You look gorgeous in those colours! I can't advise on the pant length (I posted a thread asking about this recently, with loads of photos, and I am in the process of shortening quite a few pairs, after the advice I got here!), but I like the combination of colours (pants, top, cardigan).</p> <p>I think you have quite 'neutral' colouring, which is why when you had your colours done, they couldn't 'place' you neatly in one category. I am similar (a warm-ish skinned blonde) and have a swatch book made up of various different 'categories'! </p>