Angie Challenge: Day 1, is it me?

I have found everybody's explanations of how their lifestyle/situation plays into their style so interesting, so I'll share mine: I work from home as a freelance writer (note the writing chair and house shoes in the background of the photo). As a result, I need what I wear to be comfortable -- my sweatpants are approximately 20 feet away at any given time, and no one will know if I put them on. For the sake of my mental health and productivity I need to get dressed in real clothes each day. But I also need simple, reliable outfit formulas so that I neither burn an hour playing in my closet while on deadline, nor am I tempted to just throw my hands up and forget it (see above re: sweatpants). On the plus side I don't have coworkers to look at me funny so I can indulge my creativity with my outfits. I don't have a commute to contend with, but I do run cold, so my outfit formulas must take that into account.

Today's outfit has so many "me" elements!
-Cognac riding boots, check
-Skinny jeans, check
-Tunic-length top, check
-Vintage jewelry incl. heirloom rings, check
-Fair isle, check
-Cardig-- **record scratch**

Cardigans will always be my first and enduring love, but this year I've been adding some pullovers to my wardrobe. Partly just to switch things up, partly for a simpler fallback outfit formula, and partly because I find tops so hard to shop for (so I have tons of cardigans but nothing to wear them with)!

I spent several years avoiding pullovers entirely because I found them unflattering -- I have a short torso with a small bust, wide ribcage, and no defined waist, and often I just feel like I look blocky in pullovers. However, I think I have worked out that I can wear:
-Tunic-length pullovers that lengthen the torso and create my favored long-over-lean silhouette
-Shorter pullovers that are somewhat deliberately boxy/swingy etc., and without a welted hem

This is the first outing for this sweater. At first, I wasn't so sure about it. But I think my eye has adjusted as the day has gone on and it is just fine, or at least JFE. You all can tell me if I'm fooling myself.

Initially I layered the sweater over my white tuxedo tunic, but I did not feel like me, I felt like Hermione Granger. I like it much better over this plum silk tunic. One of the pitfalls of my style is that I like preppy pieces, but I need to wear them in a non-preppy way: I am more girl-on-the-moors than coed-on-the-quad iykwim.

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5 years ago

KMM

Active Member

The tunic/sweater combo is unique and very fab! Love the boots as well.

Bonnie

Veteran

I wear a similar combination and it's one of my favorites. Your explanation helps me understand why it works for me because I have a similar body type. I really like your version and the way you have styled it.

Suz

(website)

The Fair Isle, cozy-factor, colours, and overall proportions are definitely you! I, too, am enjoying everyone's explanations of why their outfits feel true to themselves.

Joy

This is so inspirational! I have a similar body type and have never tried to create this style. Tunics alone do not work and make me feel stumpy. Thank you for explaining why this look is a favorite. It looks great on you.

kkards

Ok true confession...if I worked from home I wouldn’t ever get dressed in “Street clothes”. So good for you for even making an effort.
I really like how you’ve prepped down the sweater...subtle prep, IMO is the best way to go.

Jaime

It is fun reading everyone's self descriptions on this challenge. Interesting about pullovers - I am the opposite and feel that cardigans look me look broader on top than pullovers. I love how you combined a classic fair isle in an unexpected way with the tunic!

Mainelady

Girl on the moors, I like your style! Long over lean, riding boots, vintage jewelry. Looking forward to seeing more!

karen13

First you are a wonder for looking great when you don't have to - I am still in my xc ski gear from this morning. But you inspire me.... tomorrow.

I love the tunic buttons peeking from the v neck - I need to steal this idea. And the sweater is lovely - and unique - I haven't seen a v-neck fairisle style at retail - who makes it?

cjh

Really nice combo and great explanation. You look comfortable and confident.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

YAY, SarahD8. I thoroughly enjoyed your write-up, and it makes perfect sense now that I've seen your style over the last while. The puzzle pieces fit!

This is a great Seattle Casual look. Classic, cozy, casual, a little rugged, a little earthy, covered, natural, ready for rain, some pretty, and refined adornment. The peplum effect of the layers work well. And I can't imagine you looking blocky

Nicely done.

rachylou

Nice! I hear you about not being On The Quad. My prob as well.

ChristelJ

What an ingenious use of proportions and great way to use neutral dark colors! Can't wait to see more. I like the earrings, too.

SarahD8

Thanks, KMM! The boots are definitely faves! I have to make a deliberate effort not to just wear them every day.

Bonnie and Joy, thanks for the vote of confidence — and I’m so glad my musings were helpful to you! Look forward to seeing your tunic + pullover combinations.

Kkards, I’ve been doing this for 20 years...I guarantee pajama day would get old after a while! I like what you said about de-preppifying, I think you’re a real master of that so I always look to your outfits for inspiration on that score.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Very interesting and insightful analysis of your style. I really like this outfit. It has a bit of quirky attitude and creativity, and the subdued colors look good on you.

I find dressing for myself a fun creative outlet, too; on many of my days off, I could run around in sweat clothes--and sometimes I do for a few hours, say, after a workout--but I don't enjoy hanging out like that all day. I guess I just like to see myself dressed in street clothes when I pass the mirror.

Stagiaire Fash

You know the title made me chuckle. You are always questioning! I think that's a good thing, as it doesn't seem to tail over into angst often.

This is a great look for you, and I do know what you mean about being a GOTM as opposed to preppy.

High five on the small bust and wide ribcage--that's me too!

jussie

Girl on the moors! Yessss. Your pullover is very cozy and you-looking.

Katerina

What a great outfit! A very clever and interesting outfit formula - it suits you perfectly. Love the sweater. You look FABULOUS.

Thank you all for your kind words! I started replying while making dinner last night and then everything came together much more quickly than I expected, apologies for not following up sooner.

shevia one thing that YLF has done for me is made me truly grateful for the variety of cuts/colors/etc. available for clothing, because different options really do suit different bodies. (Though, I did see your cardigan pic yesterday, I am not sure if I managed to comment directly on the thread but I did not think you looked wide by any stretch!)

Mainelady, cjh, and ChristieIJ thank you so much!

karen13 well I pretty much spent our whole recent Seattle snowmageddon in leggings so I think snowstorms get a special dispensation! The pullover is by Land's End -- it's not current, I found it on Ebay, but maybe they occasionally do something similar?

Angie, thanks! I like the peplum effect too. I usually avoid peplums at/near the natural waist because of that same blocky effect -- but the dropped waist proportion makes it work here. I guess there's a reason I sometimes look to the 1920s as a style reference...

rachylou I think you are so good at those arch, subversive references to conservative looks (preppy but not preppy, etc.). It's a real inspiration!

Firecracker, I agree, why not create some aesthetic pleasure, even if it's just for our own benefit?

FashIntern, ha, yes, always questioning and analyzing! I do think I've expressed some angst on the forum and I'll own that -- although a switch of some sort seems to have flipped lately. Not that my wardrobe/style is completely sorted, but I feel more confident that things will come together eventually, and more able to be patient while they do.

jussie, I know you get the girl-on-the-moors thing, high-fiving my fellow Liberty lover!

Katerina, thank you! I think it's wonderful that we have such different styles but are able to genuinely appreciate each other's outfits.

Sara L.

I love your boots and sweater together. This seems like a great work-from-home outfit. I have to force myself to get dressed on days that I'm home, whether it's a weekend or I'm home for some other reason (sick kid, sick me, holiday, whatever) or I feel like a slob.

I feel more confident that things will come together eventually, and more able to be patient while they do.

Wonderful!

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