https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-0522-wavering Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Fri, 24 Apr 2026 04:58:22 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-0522-wavering#post-1263589 Thu, 29 May 2014 00:52:22 +0000 ameelizabeth 1263589@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hi, I think this looks great!&nbsp; I was really surprised to hear you say you were "busty and large waisted," so the outfit must be doing something right!&nbsp; I am trying to get over a fear/uncomfortableness with being dressy or too fancy myself.&nbsp; I work at a greenhouse, so my work attire is REALLY casual!&nbsp; I don't get many of opportunities to try being stylish, and when I do, I usually feel really conspicuous and awkward.&nbsp; </p> <p>I'm a curvy pear-shape, and one combo that I've found recently that I actually DO feel comfortable in, was a maxi dress, a denim jacket, metallic (but not flashy) gladiator type sandals, and a long pendant necklace.&nbsp; It just felt great, and felt casual on my body, but actually looked pretty good, I thought.&nbsp; I wore a spanx type thing under the maxi dress to just keep things smooth.&nbsp; </p> <p>Just wanted to say I think the outfit is a keeper, and fits the bill for casual yet stylish! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-0522-wavering#post-1259875 Sat, 24 May 2014 04:47:24 +0000 Neel 1259875@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Tee hee! Mutual fashion respect ;). Aaahhh ... How I love it when it happens! But truly you look gorgeous </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-0522-wavering#post-1259834 Sat, 24 May 2014 03:47:11 +0000 MsLuna 1259834@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>@Neel: you kidding me???? Your last outfit (black sundress with colours) was a TOTAL KNOCKOUT! The way you combined the colours and wore that shape was just so amazing! I loved EVERYTHING about it! :)</p> <p>@cciele: let me know how it goes!!!!for some odd reason I haven't had luck with those dresses (meanwhile, I can wear wrap dresses which some IT/apples supposedly aren't a fan of). Post some WIW so I can see how you wear this dress! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-0522-wavering#post-1259829 Sat, 24 May 2014 03:39:36 +0000 cciele 1259829@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yeah, Una mentioned it's super-flattering on IT/apple shapes, so I thought there was potential. As a matter of fact, as a rectangle/apple type, I ordered it to try myself! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-0522-wavering#post-1259827 Sat, 24 May 2014 03:33:40 +0000 Neel 1259827@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Girl .... There is no meh or obscene in sight! This is a stunner look. I love your sweater, jacket, jeggings and the shoes! I like everything about this! Gosh your meh outfit is better than my "woot woot" outfits! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-0522-wavering#post-1259825 Sat, 24 May 2014 03:29:29 +0000 MsLuna 1259825@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks again, ladies!</p> <p>@celia: you are right about taking a risk. I wore the mentioned outfit today, and guess what? It was a success!!! WIW to come.</p> <p>@cciele: thanks for the recommendation! I haven't had luck with similar cut of dress but I'm open to trying it out again, just as I did with shift dresses!</p> <p>@Aida: yes! The 50/50 works best for me indeed! I kind of do a more polished edgy/casual, I realized but there's still a bit of casual nonetheless!</p> <p>My gosh, Aida if you were my coworker, I'd look forward to what you wear too! And you know, after a while, the guys are fine with me and another woman was added to our team (we are friends too!). My work environment progressed since last year and I've never had complaints about how people get along with me </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-0522-wavering#post-1259687 Fri, 23 May 2014 23:45:08 +0000 jackiec 1259687@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hey frockstar you look awesome! The long over lens is totally my way too, and top lengths like that are my reality too. The shoes up the dressy factor and I think you are underestimating yourself. You really look polished-casual to me. Love it, I really do. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-0522-wavering#post-1259673 Fri, 23 May 2014 23:38:39 +0000 Aida 1259673@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>MKK, the pants&nbsp;read as skinny jeans to me so I think the shirt length looks fine (even if it felt a bit off). You do rock the long-over-lean look! Maybe you are like me, where everything feels best in the middle:50/50 polished/not, 50/50 dressy/causal... Finding that balance is the key, and sometimes it's tough. You said earlier that many of your dresses are jersey, which I think is a great 50/50 dressy/casual compromise. Paired with, say flat shoes and faded denim, then it's dressed down even further and would fall into smart casual. I wouldn't worry about what that one&nbsp;coworker said years ago; you should be YOU and I'm sure your fellow coworkers would appreciate an authentic MKK than a "trying to be one of the guys" MKK. I'm overdressed for both my job and my profession. The people I've worked with seem perfectly fine with that. Heck, half of them have told me they&nbsp;look forward to seeing what I'm wearing on the occasions that I have face-to-face time with them You love your dresses, it's definitely worth pushing through and finding a way to wear them that makes you feel happy and comfortable at work. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-0522-wavering#post-1259568 Fri, 23 May 2014 20:56:03 +0000 cciele 1259568@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think you look fine, but I get where you're coming from re: the jeggings!</p> <p>And it definitely can be frustrating, when you have all these lovely dresses and not be able to wear them at work Have you checked out this James Perse dress that Una has? It is on sale now at Nordstrom and I think would be flattering yet on the casual side for you. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-0522-wavering#post-1259563 Fri, 23 May 2014 20:51:17 +0000 celia 1259563@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I like your outfit but your first outfit sounds very nice. I understand that you don't want to be overdressed but taking the risk might be the only way of achieving an happy medium between what you would like to dress and what you find appropriate. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-0522-wavering#post-1259560 Fri, 23 May 2014 20:47:16 +0000 MsLuna 1259560@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>@E: Yup! If I can get it together and find a mini shift dress that doesn't make me look like a brick, the mini dress can totally double up as a tunic in cooler months! And yes, there are specific style elements that I look for in clothes, though there are also qualities I'm not quite sure whether they are too different.</p> <p>For instance: I love bold graphic prints (as you can see with my dresses) and I love drapey things (dresses and tops). But I also like those light, ethereal-looking flowy Eileen Fisher-like tunics and I tend to wear this in a more edgy/avant-garde style. I have this weird mix of avant-garde and romantic with a modern classic base and sometimes I lean from one extreme to another. I am concerned, at times, that I'm not communicating the right message.&nbsp;</p> <p>And thanks so much for responding Good to know that you had the same concerns as I did when you were posting WIW's! Glad I'm not the only one!</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-0522-wavering#post-1259482 Fri, 23 May 2014 19:20:47 +0000 E 1259482@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>That makes more&nbsp;sense! I would argue though that even though your two uniforms/formulas vary in formality, they share enough in common that they still belong to your style. The lines, colours, etc. Maybe it's more obvious to others than you? I suggest that because I had a similar worry.</p> <p>When I started posting WIWs, I started with some skirt/dress outfits &amp; was a bit nervous to post a trouser one. I worried that the change in silhouette, and relying on skinnies (which are much more 21st century than full knee length skirts), would make my outfits not as much my style, but the forum was very reassuring that I still looked like me. Of course, the same nervous worry recently&nbsp;happened again&nbsp;before posting my first shorts outfit, lol, but once again I was very reassured by the comments.&nbsp;(Speaking of which,&nbsp;yay for finding shorts that fit well! Definitely not an everyday occurrence. )</p> <p>Which is a long way of saying, to my eye, you have a very definite sartorial point of view that comes across in all your posts!</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-0522-wavering#post-1259425 Fri, 23 May 2014 18:14:21 +0000 MsLuna 1259425@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks for the feedback, ladies I really appreciate it!</p> <p>@Gigi: I definitely need to do some shopping. My aesthetic is a weird one. I like polish but I don't like to be "too polished." I like casual but when I feel "too casual" I just don't get anything accomplished for work! I leave most very casual looks for the weekend! And I'm with you about "overloading" on a specific style. Sometimes I do that - with my dresses, for instance, but I guess a part of personal style is discovering what we like and are most comfortable with. And you're right - the different silhouettes keeps our style balanced out (and things never get dull!)</p> <p>The comment by that particular coworker was made a couple years ago. I don't think he thinks that other people find me so, but it's his personal point of view. And as for changing the way I dress for work: I'll never wear ultra-casual outfits at work because that just KILLS my own productivity (It's psychological. The more polished and dressy I look, the better the productivity. The more relaxed I look, the less productive I get).&nbsp;</p> <p>I guess what I have issues with is my wardrobe - it's too dressy at the moment, and I really need to shop for more items that "dress down" a look. It's so much easier to find very good dressy clothes, and it's hard for me to find quality, well-fitted casual clothes!</p> <p>@fuzzylogic: I'm going to go Smart Casual, for sure. That's always what I aim for though my looks cross the line of business casual (if I swap out the open toes and rugged tall boots for closed toed pumps). I'm going to check out Ingunn's looks then. Thanks for the recommendation!</p> <p>@leopardluxe: You know... I didn't actually intentionally style the sandals to match the top but wow! Thanks for pointing that out and I'll remember this next time! I guess to me it just looked like a "natural" match together. Those sandals are "marginally edgy" in my books and I "satisficed" for the sake of comfort. I think it's good enough though not the level of edge that I like. And yup - I'm on a lookout for more casual (yet fussy-feet approved) footwear and jackets. For some reason casual jackets are just so difficult to find! Everything's just so big and baggy! I really like something polished and tailored yet in an unusual fabric (like worn out leather or denim).</p> <p>@Deborah: You and I are alike in that sense. When I'm "too casual" I don't get work done. I wonder why that is? Even when I was a working from home as a freelance designer/techie, I dressed up everyday. And when I mean "too casual" or "too relaxed" I'm not necessarily talking about flowy/drapey comfortable stuff but mainly the vibe of the outfit too. Interesting how that is, eh?&nbsp;</p> <p>@Viva: The brand of sandals are Aravon. I find most of their stuff a bit matronly yet my feet will thank me later. These are one of their cuter looking shoes, and to me, they don't look so bad. They do the job. This is one of the few times I've had to compromise looks for comfort, but really it's not that huge of a compromise.&nbsp;</p> <p>Yeah shift dresses are sooo easy to wear, but I have a difficult body type for it. Being busty, large waisted - it's not easy finding a good shift that doesn't make me look like a heavy brick! However, I've worn shifts in my youth - I was slimmer but I STILL had the same body type (large bust/large waist) so I KNOW a good shift exists for me somewhere. I wish I had enough time otherwise, I'd make my own shifts!</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-0522-wavering#post-1259071 Fri, 23 May 2014 11:34:32 +0000 Anonymous 1259071@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think this outfit looks great! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-0522-wavering#post-1259067 Fri, 23 May 2014 11:28:41 +0000 viva 1259067@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have to say that I love this outfit on you -- the sandals are amazing (what brand?) and the jeans don't read as leggings to me.</p> <p>I like the idea of looking for shift dresses because they can be easier to wear in a way that reads less dressy, but they still meet the frock desire. Or maybe it's just that I LOVE shifts. Anyway, they can be hard to find. I'm not sure where you live or shop, but check Madewell.com and Anthropologie.com, and don't skip their sales sections. Both are good sources for shifts. </p> <p>Good luck! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-0522-wavering#post-1259061 Fri, 23 May 2014 11:22:59 +0000 Deborah 1259061@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Firstly, I really like this outfit. The pants look like jeans not jeggings to me so all good. I think you may have to just decide how YOU want to present and not worry about how casual your work place is. My workplace is unbelievably casual. It that just doesn't work for me. If I'm too casual at work then I actually struggle to get anything done. I need to look the part to be the part. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-0522-wavering#post-1259011 Fri, 23 May 2014 10:34:07 +0000 Anonymous 1259011@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Another vote for seeing the 'jeggings' as jeans. To me the look like rolled skinnies. I think you look terrific! I love the bold black and white and I think your jacket and sandals are great. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-0522-wavering#post-1259009 Fri, 23 May 2014 10:30:13 +0000 leopardluxe 1259009@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think this outfit looks fabulous on you. I love how the style of the sandals mirror the stripes on the top --and the jeans read as jeans, not leggings, to me. I know what you mean about just not feeling great in something, though, even if to everyone else it looks fab. And I agree with rabbit's suggestion to try more casual shoes and toppers with your frocks to see if that makes them feel a bit more casual for your office while still keeping your "happiness factor" high. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-0522-wavering#post-1258991 Fri, 23 May 2014 09:06:07 +0000 fuzzylogic 1258991@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great 'architectural' look, MsKatieKat! I'm sorry your not loving it, though. What are you going to do about your casual work environment? Happily dress up? Or ease into smart casual? Check out Ingunn's posts. She does smart casual with aplomb! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-0522-wavering#post-1258894 Fri, 23 May 2014 03:43:19 +0000 Gigi 1258894@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This outfit looks really great, not meh at all! I agree that it is a polished casual look.&nbsp;I don't think the jeans look obscene at all! :^) I have those same jeans from AE.</p> <p>I agree with ambergreen that maybe you need to do a little shopping to fill out your wardrobe for these times when you want to be more casual but still polished. Maybe you will come back to your dresses before long? I find that sometimes I "overload" on one aspect of my style and then overreact in the opposite direction for a while. Then it balances out.</p> <p>It's too bad that you feel alienated because of your coworker's comment. Do you think that coworker knows for sure that you are "unapproachable," or is that just his own opinion of what he *thinks* other people are thinking? I do think that our clothing is a reflection of our personality, so I would hate to see you change the way you dress just to have to "fit in." You should be able to be yourself, as long as it's within the boundaries of your work's dress code. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-0522-wavering#post-1258881 Fri, 23 May 2014 03:26:37 +0000 MsLuna 1258881@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ladies, thanks for the feedback. </p> <p>@Rabbit: thanks for the suggestions! I'm trying to find a way to RATE the looks up a bit but still ensure that I'm comfortable and that I feel good. Sometimes, when the item is "too RATE" or too casual, I don't feel good in it. I guess I have to find that right combination.</p> <p>@K: yeah... I tend to be a bit sensitive about that. At one point, a coworker said that I was unapproachable to my all-male team because I'm not out being "one of the guys" in t-shirt, jeans and drinking beer (I stop at talking geek talk, and I'm an even bigger geek than some). It's also a comfort thing for me too. I like standing out but I still like to feel like I'm a part of the group... If that makes sense. </p> <p>@dustt: yes! Blank canvas dresses! I'm in a serious lookout for shift dresses at the moment, and I haven't had real luck yet. 90% of shifts I've tried on don't seem to flatter my body type, and theoretically a busty, wide waisted girl like me shouldn't have problems! </p> <p>@ambergreen: I'm in a minimalist wardrobe building process so I'm definitely shopping for things but being very discerning. I should only shop for things I know I'll love, is comfortable and matches my style. Definitely a lot of multi functional items.</p> <p>Most of my frocks are winter/fall pieces as well! Everything will be too hot to wear once it reaches a certain temperature. Also, I own a lot of polyester jersey dresses so I doubt them being heat-friendly. I'm tempted to restrict them for the cooler temperatures because comfort ranks high in my wardrobe priorities. </p> <p>I agree with you on some tank dresses!!!! I owned a Karen Kane tank dress once, which I LOVED but after a while it felt a bit sloppy. I seem to prefer tailored cuts, draped cuts, wrap dresses and a-line shifts because there's a certain polish to them. </p> <p>E: oh I didn't have to pick between long over lean or dresses. I guess I just am concerned to see how I can make them all work together. My dress style is just different from my pants style. I tend to favour tailored in dresses but with long over lean I go all-out casual. I'm even entertaining adding shorts in the wardrobe for weekend only. I lucked out finding shorts that fit decently (extremely rare) today and am thinking about committing to buy. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-0522-wavering#post-1258774 Fri, 23 May 2014 01:55:45 +0000 E 1258774@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I definitely 'read' those as jeans, not jeggings. You look great in that outfit!</p> <p>Why do you have to pick between dresses &amp; long-over-lean? Why not do a bit of both? Minimalism is supposed to make your life easier, not more stressful. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-0522-wavering#post-1258769 Fri, 23 May 2014 01:50:31 +0000 Suzanne (ambergreen) 1258769@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I really like this outfit a lot, it looks great. But I just want to say, I have totally been there with the too-dressiness. And my solution, I realized, is that I have to add pieces that do what I want them to. So it sounds like it's time for you to shop a bit. :)</p> <p>In fact, I'm in a similar but different position to you: I realized that except for one wild orange vintage dress with white polka dots, my frocks are really all fall-to-winter pieces, mayyybe early cold spring. I don't have that many frocks overall, but--pretty much no spring or summer dresses, casual or not. So I have one on order and we'll see how that works...</p> <p>Part of this is my fault in the sense that I have long known I don't care for the traditional "sundress" so I haven't owned any in decades. For example, I burn easily, and I can't wear spaghetti straps unless I want to show bra (no thanks). And I have recently realized one reason I don't like many, many sleeveless summer dresses: the scoopy, cutaway tank-style bodices so common to them just look...really sloppy and too casual to my eye. I have an eye on a couple of sleeveless maxis that do suit my taste...anyway, sorry to ramble on and on about me. It's just hard to identify what works sometimes and easy to get frustrated with what doesn't.</p> <p>I say you should go forth and find what you need. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-0522-wavering#post-1258754 Fri, 23 May 2014 01:35:42 +0000 dustt 1258754@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>you look great but if doesn't make you feel great - then wear the frocks!! - as Rabbit suggested - it's fairly easy to causal them down with shoes and toppers. perhaps a few casual more "blank canvas" summer dresses would fit the bill </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-0522-wavering#post-1258746 Fri, 23 May 2014 01:29:54 +0000 Kristin L 1258746@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I would have never guessed your pants were leggings. I think the slightly over-sized top works great with your jeggings. I understand what your feeling about being overdressed. At one of my last jobs, if I wore a denim skirt, other students and professors would stop me and ask why I was so dressed up. I wish I hadn't let it bother me like I did.&nbsp;</p> <p>And I love your term frockstar.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-0522-wavering#post-1258740 Fri, 23 May 2014 01:24:29 +0000 rabbit 1258740@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Well it looks great on you to my eye, and not too tight. &nbsp;I love how the criss-cross on the sandals picks up the b/w vee on the shirt.</p> <p>With casualizing dresses, I try more RATE boots, flat sandals, sneakers and&nbsp;oxfords and steer away from blazers and toward leather or denim jackets or cardigans.&nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-0522-wavering#post-1258723 Fri, 23 May 2014 00:59:06 +0000 MsLuna 1258723@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Sometimes I don't feel like wearing a frock - like today. This morning, I had on a beautiful cobalt jersey frock and an edgy modern blazer... Yet I changed into this. I'm realizing that my dresses are just too dressy and I'm very frustrated. I wish I did not care so much that I'm too dressed up for my casual work environment, but sometimes (and this is all in my head), I feel very alienated. I love dressing up and I love a polished look, but lately I've just been feeling like looking polished.... Casually.</p> <p>As for the outfit.... Meh. It's been a strong of "meh" this week so far and I'm not in the least bit happy about it. I felt slightly obscene because I wore Jeggings and the top isn't long enough to cover the crotch area. Mind you, this is a thicker, structured denim legging, but it's still a bit tight for my tastes.</p> <p>I wishy-washed again about my minimalist wardrobe, I'm a frockstar but I still love my long over leans. What to do, what to do....</p> <p>Top: INC<br /> Jacket: LOFT<br /> Jeggings: American Eagle<br /> Sandals: Aravon </p>