Actually wintery olive and black- plus a question. - YouLookFab Forum

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About: Outfit Formula: Summery Olive and Black

Actually wintery olive and black- plus a question.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I’m going to a dinner then movie tonight and intend to wear pic 1 outfit.
This is my new dark green cardigan (4th wear) over a longsleeved black mesh top, my favourite pants (olive snakeskin) and the olive snakeskin boots from 2020. I will take and possibly wear my olive animal print puffer over, as it is a rainy cool late winter day.
My question is regarding the longer green duster cardigan ( coatigan?) in pics 2/3. It’s from 2019 and is in the holding zone since buying the new cardigan. I wore it to the shop when I bought the new one and the SA said it was a beautiful colour. It’s had 137 wears so owes me nothing, and I put it into holding because it had been incredibly useful but I slowly wondered if it didn’t suit me that much? Over time I have felt that I might be a Kibbe “soft gamine” for whom long droopy garments are not recommended, soft gamines are supposed to wear more cropped items which highlight the waist and I feel my more cropped jackets suit me better.
However I also wonder if I would miss its warmth and “throw on and go” style?
Thoughts? They don’t have to be complimentary thoughts! Any are appreciated

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18 replies

Latest reply was from April

DebD

First, you nailed the dinner/movie outfit: perfect blend of chic and comfortable for the occasion. Second, I think the long cardigan suits you fine and it is a rich, beautiful color as the SA said. More of a moss green, which goes great with the lighter variations in your snakeskin boots. If it were me, I would not vanquish it to the holding zone UNLESS you're tired of it after all those wears. The cardigans have very different vibes, so maybe you could use the new dark green one when you want to look more tailored and the long one for casual wear.

Star

Veteran

Totally agree with DebD. My first thought was why do you have to vanquish it? Two different items with different uses imo. Love the subtle animal print mixing. Love the idea of the animal print puffer too! Btw I go on and off long cardis myself. Sometimes I love the swoosh and other times I feel a bit like a frump in them.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Thank you DebD and Star! As I had put the long cardigan on to take photos and the day was still chilly I finished up wearing both cardigans and the olive puffer!
Two couples went out this evening and the other woman commented on my boots.

Jenny H

Veteran

I absolutely love your olive and black going out outfit!

Personally, those two cardigans are so very different from each other so I wouldn’t feel any problem with keeping them both (assuming I had enough storage space). The different lengths in particular make them serve different style purposes.

RobinF

Veteran

I really like them both on you! I agree with the earlier comments, these are different enough that you could keep both if you’d wear them.

Runcarla

Veteran

I think you nailed it when you described the older cardigan as long and droopy! It looks too big across the shoulders, and long in the sleeves, too. The new, shorter cardigan is so much more flattering. Since the older cardigan has been worn plenty, I’d suggest moving it along, unless you need such a garment. I’m sure you have other, better items in your closet that can come forward and serve the same purpose.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

You look great in your movie-dinner outfit and I can easily imagine how those boots sparked joy! I like the texture of the new sweater and the deeper green.

As a gamine who also wears long cardigans against Kibbe advice, I say, always go with what works for you, personally -- and some long cardigans do work for me.

Not all, though. And not for all purposes. I have one long cardigan that I use essentially as a housecoat or loungewear -- it's to ward off chill on cool mornings. I'd bought it for regular wear but it quickly found a different role in my closet. Why? Because it has droopy pockets. You can even see this a bit on the model. Also, it tends to pill. However, I shave off the pills and continue to use it and will continue to do so.

Meanwhile, another long cardigan with a hood that I bought much earlier in has never gone out of regular rotation and by now has hundreds of wears. There is something unique about the shape of this one that makes it not droopy and weighed down.

I am with Carla that in the photos, this one looks as if it may have run its course for regular wear, or perhaps it's just that the fit is off a bit -- sleeves too long, shoulders too big. But if you find it useful for at home because of the cozy length, they why not keep for a while? Assuming you have storage space for it.

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Sal

Veteran

I love your outfit for the night out. It was a cold wet night here too and I saw the all blacks were playing in the rain.

I would go with how you feel on the older cardy. It is a lovely colour and I too find long cardigans comfy and cosy. I can’t wear shorter ones so well though. I have one older long cardy - I really wear it mostly at home or occasionally for to and from yoga or similar. I can’t quite get rid of it- it’s currently in storage along with about a third of my clothes whilst our reno is on. If I get rid of it I would look for something in the same role which makes me keep it as it does have a use.

kinnick

The lighter green sweater is a gorgeous color. I am short and have not been able to figure out the formula for me for wearing long cardigan sweaters other than possibly as a slightly shorter layer over a dress. But this sweater would be too long for that look.

I think the olive is a bit drab. You seem like a happy, cheerful person. It would be great to see that reflected in colors near your face. Maybe a scarf? I think the reason we like the lighter green sweater is bc the color is so becoming.

Love the snakeskin but not sure if I would wear snakeskin pants and boots together. It is just a lot of snakeskin and green. I say that as I am sitting here in a teal blue t-shirt and matching sweats not feeling comfortable about so much of one big block of (brighter) color so this could be projection.

Brooklyn

Veteran

I have a slightly different perspective, which is related to silhouette. A long, loose topper works well with slim pants. I think I am right to say that you wear slim and straighter leg pants exclusively (no wide or loose leg pants)? For those bottoms, I think a longer, looser top gives great balance. It’s your classic long over lean formula. So I think it’s a useful item to have and keep. If you don’t like the slouchiness of the cardigan, maybe you could keep a look out for a longer (more structured) jacket or coat in a similar colour? I like the olive tones on you.

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Jenni NZ

Veteran

A lot of good thoughts for me to consider.
Thank you JennyH and RobinF and Sal.
Kinnick, thanks for your thoughts on colour. I do love brighter colours but I wear them more in the Spring and Summer seasons, interspersing darker with occasional brighter outfits in winter. I often feel more subdued in winter and am happy to wear darker clothes often then. The outfit was not seen by many as the food court type area was cold so I kept the puffer on and only took it off in the movie theatre!
Runcarla and Suz, I feel the long cardigan is a bit droopy, I think I will keep it on the holding zone shelf for now and see if I reach for it for warmth or find other toppers to use over tops or the shorter dark green cardigan. I have space to keep it there for now. I can wear my beautiful dark green duster coat over this outfit but it is not quite so warm and comfy.
Brooklyn, you are right, I wear slim or straight exclusively except for one very slightly wider grey knit pair from 2023. So yes, something like the dark green velvet coat is definitely the long over lean silhouette.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

You have received great advice and I don't really have anything to add but you do look fab in your movie outfit.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I'm nodding along with Brooklyn and Suz.

I like the long cardigan because the proportions work well over slim bottoms, which is your preference, Jenni! #3 is my favourite of these looks in terms of proportions.

As far as the droop goes - a long cardigan with heft might be more to your liking. Better weight and therefore drape!

Wear what makes you happy

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I love the dark olive greens on you, Jenni, and I think both outfits are fab. I had similar thoughts to Brooklyn about the long-over-lean silhouette and the usefulness of the longer cardigan for that look. I can also see the unstructured aspects of the dropped shoulder line and the drapy fabric as being less polished looking, and agree with Angie and others that you might keep an eye out for something a little more structured (yet still comfy). Meanwhile, I like your idea of hanging on to the long cardi.

Joy

Veteran

I will have a big try on for olive pants and a topper. That is my go-to outfit for fall. Thank you for the guidance as to what works best on a short skinny figure.

Lisa

Veteran

The dinner outfit is great, you nailed that look. I vote keep to the long cardigan. It looks cozy, and the color is lovely on you. I wore cobalt pants this weekend despite reading an article stating it was a 2020 look. I like to follow fashion, but it's even more important that I follow my heart and wear things that I enjoy no matter what the current trends are.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Thank you Jaime, Angie, Sharan, Joy and Lisa. The comments are all appreciated. The cardigan has been extremely useful over the past 5 years so I will see how much I wear other things in the next year. I have a couple of other long cardigans in bronze tones that I am keeping.

April

Veteran

Another vote for the long piece, which I actually much prefer to the one that ends at the waist.