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Angie's Outfit Creation

Beth Ann

Veteran

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

I have been mulling over Angie's blog post about outfit creation and the value of copycats and inspiration photos. http://youlookfab.com/2013/11/.....-creation/. I was feeling bold last week, so I decided to use one of Angie's look in the post, featuring her love of strict, minimal lines, and apply it to my "form with flow," curvy self.

1.
I don't have a well-fitting white shirt at the moment -- mine is gapping in the bust. sigh. I do have a slightly oversized blue/white striped shirt, so I decided it would fill in nicely. At first, I felt my hair (on my way to the gym, so in need of styling that it would not get until later) was too full for the strictness of the look, so I threw it up in a topknot for the pic. I don't have wedge sneaks, but my classic cons fit the bill. My pants are cotton skinnies. I wonder about trying this look with my black wide legs? hmmmm...

2. Released the hair. This is my favorite of all the shots. I think the loose hair gives the look the flow that I need. My structure/flow balance is inverted from Angie's, both in style and body type.

3/4. Decided to try taking the outfit in a more romantic, maximal direction with pewter flats and a necklace or scarf. I didn't like these in pics at all, although I kind of like the starts and stripes aspect of #4 IRL.

5. Playing with the menswear look in #5 -- Might try this with my black pencil skirt and heeled oxfords or my trouser jeans. I don't like it much as is.

6. What I wore to do voice over auditions. It was too cold for cons and a lightweight shirt, and the jacket lining makes a swishing noise when I move the sound booth. Yes, I needed "quiet" clothes, but a little layering to adjust to the temperature of the studio (not my closet this time, but a real recording booth). The sweater is less purple and more burgundy. The sun went down, requiring the flash that gave me creepy eyes (sorry).

I learned a lot from Angie's post, and from playing with her outfit. I'll try #2 as is, or with wide leg trousers when the weather cooperates!

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Dressing

31 replies

Latest reply was from rachylou

Angela K

Veteran

What a fun exercise! I like the more layered versions but the " noisy" one #6 is my absolute fave! The saturated color of the sweater is very complementary with your skin tone. And I am always partial to outfits accessorized with scarves. They are a weakness for me!

Diana

Veteran

Your favorite is my favorite too! I have a similar blue/white striped shirt that is pretty much an orphan. I need to try it with my black blazer and Hi-nesses!

Jewell

Veteran

Way to have fun with fashion! You've created some great looks here. Number two looks more "you" than number one so it's one of my favorites along with pic three.

deb

Veteran

My favorite is # 1. I like your hair up.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

I love #2 as well - your hair adds the diva touch. Looking good

Lantana

Veteran

Beth Ann you are unfailingly gorgeous in everything you post and these outfits are no exception.
The striped shirt has photographed best in #2&#5. Elsewhere it has lost its rich blue colour.
I like the vest outfit very much and I agree that your hair adds a lovely fluid line to the overall strictness of these looks.

Karie

(website)

Veteran

I like them all and can't really choose a favorite. I also think #5 would look fantastic with your black pencil skirt and heeled oxfords.

Anonymous

How fun! I think you look great in all of these.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Fabulous post and what interesting insights. I agree wholeheartedly that #2 looks most like "you" while remaining true to the inspiration. You look very comfortable and beautiful there.

I like the other looks, too, but agree they've lost something of the interpretation and that may be why (in part) they appealed to you less. I agree the vest look would be great with one of your pencil skirts.

And the last outfit is fabulous, too, creepy eyes or no!

What a super exercise to try. I like that you picked someone whose colouring and body type differ and whose style has overlaps but is not identical. That makes it a much more difficult exercise (not a strict copy), but also a much more exciting one.

carter

Veteran

Love 2, 3 and 6! What fun. Hopefully I'll have a chance to go try something similar while everyone else is in their post-dinner turkey coma.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Fun! I like #1 and #2 the best.

MuseumGal

Veteran

I think these all look great on you, and very wearable.

lyn67

Veteran

My faves are 3,5 and 6. What a great exercise! I never saw you with the hair up before, but agree, loose hair gives your looks just the needed flow, and a dash of exuberance! But ,YLF as always in all of these, of course!

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

What a fabulous exercise Beth Ann and I think every one of these outfits works in its own way. Like you, #2 is my favorite. I think it has a "crisp simplicity" that really suits your style.

Lol at your creepy eyes!

pil

Veteran

Hope your auditions went well! The hair down in 2 really makes a difference, whodathunk? Even though it's not one of your favorites, I really like 5. Then again I do like your menswear vest(s), you have another darker one don't you? What about a stricter, more structured, look for the scarf? The colors in 6 are absolutely beautiful on you!

Oh, and I thought of you the other day when I read this book review on Bach.
Bach: Music In The Castle of Heaven
http://online.wsj.com/news/art.....1993833414

Anonymous

I think my favorite might be #3! I like the more feminine accessories contrasting with the shirt and jacket. And I really like the combination of the scarf in #4 with the shirt, and am wondering what it would look like tied with the ends hanging down.

From an entirely self-interested perspective, I'm so glad you did this post! It was really useful to see how such a tailored, menswear-inspired outfit could work for those of us with long hair and curves.

Beth Ann

Veteran

Gotta rush to the gym before the Turkey fest this afternoon, but I wanted to pop on to say thanks so much for the input!

This outfit copy was intended to be a stretch in a different direction -- to find out how to "try on" someone else's brilliant outfit and make is work for my wardrobe and body. Copying someone who looks like me would seem to be most natural, but oh, what great things you can discover for looking outside the obvious. Look what Ornella and Bella accomplish with photos!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

That's what makes it so instructive for all of us, Beth Ann -- now I want to go copy somebody very different, too. You have emboldened me to give it a try.

Anonymous

Beth Ann, you're such a do-er, heading off to the gym on Thanksgiving Day! You put us all to shame.

I saw this post late last night and just did not have the brain power to comment intelligently. It deserved some thought, as you put a lot of thought into it. First, you have such a beautiful face. Not many women look so beautiful with their hair completely brushed away! Even though pic. 1 isn't my favorite, I could so see you with your hair loosely tied back sometimes. That would give you more visual room at the neckline when wearing a scarf (unless that would defeat the entire purpose of keeping as warm as possible). I love number 2, but number 3 is my personal fave, because I love the dressy shoes. It would be fab with or without the necklace. I also love the last picture because you know I love you in those saturated, royal purples, even if your eyes do look possessed (as we say here, lol) because of the flash!

Happy, happy Thanksgiving my musical diva friend!

Lisa

Veteran

Fun outfits. I like remixing because then I can pick my favorite one or two combinations and bam, instant FFBO.

minimalist

Veteran

What a wonderful exercise, Beth Ann!

Even though the strictest replica isn't your usual look, the sleek hair brings out dazzling features of yours (eyebrows, cheekbones!) we don't usually see, because they're obscured (or we get distracted) by your fantastic hair.

This got me thinking about my tendency to focus on highlighting "best" assets and distracting from features in myself I don't care for as much. The other day, a sizeable young woman on the bus was wearing leggings with a loud horizontal pattern. And she looked great! Everything about her outfit, posture etc worked. She owned it.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Beth Ann

Veteran

Thanks, all, for taking a break on a big day to comment. I appreciate the details y'all notice and help me see! I'm back from the gym, have loaded up the pies, the huge pot of green beans (southern style), and the spinach strawberry salad, and must get dressed before I head to my brother's house. I'm so glad I did this experiment in outfit creation, and I plan to try something like it once a week to help me see my wardrobe in new ways.

Pil: I adore Bach, even though he forgets that singers are wind instruments and need to, well, breathe! I'll check out your link tonight, when I'm recovering from Turkey.

Aubergine: My style rubric: form with flow / energy with ease helps me adapt "strict" looks from someone like Angie, but I'm just a beginner. YLF has helped me to "see" more broadly what an outfit will look like on myself or someone else. It's come in handy when looking at an item on a 6 foot tall catalog model!

Suz: Yes, copying someone different is sometimes the best way to find the "you" in an outfit --- we're not expecting to "match" the inspiration anyway!

Amy K.: I know exactly what you mean! I'm trying to focus somewhat on figure flattery, but am trying to avoid what I call "camo" dressing -- dressing to hide something or camouflage a "flaw." Instead, I think of learning what "creates" a good line in my body. For example, dresses with a structured waistline seam, front and bat, give "structure to my midsection. Add a belt, and that bit of extra fluff is locked and loaded, and I've actually highlighted my waist, not tried to obscure it's "flaws."

karymk

Veteran

I love number three on you because of the shoes and necklace! We don't always have to be so "stripped down" to look clean and sharp. I love the vest, it's super cute and I wish I had one like that. I'm not so sure I like big scarves on anybody, not just you Beth Ann. I know its cold where you are and so it makes sense. But I just love the cleaner look of the shirt neckline. Your hair looks as good up as it does down. Don't you love having that versatility? Thanks for the pics, I'm inspired!

E

Veteran

What an interesting exercise, and thanks for documenting it with pics so we can all follow along! That star scarf is so fun! And I just adore you in that vest. I like every version actually.

Beth Ann

Veteran

Thanks for chiming!

E: Like the stars and stripes, eh? I could certainly see you in a menswear style vest. This one has darts -- which is essential for me!

Karymk: Never fear, minimalism consistently eludes me. In true Diva fashion, I just can't say no!

I'm back from festivities and ready to get one really good night's sleep before the holiday season begins!

Day Vies

Veteran

Love the improv! #2 is my favorite. The cons are so unexpected and I am of course biased in favor of a blue and white shirt with the blazer. #5 is lovely with the vest. I actually like that variation slightly more because the vest and jeans suggest the casual nature and I am a bigger fan of ballet flats than cons.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

So fun and I'm impressed, Beth Ann. I love all your renditions. I also like your favourite best - #2. Blue and white is extra fresh. #5 is divine too. You gorgeous creature.

Beth Ann

Veteran

Thanks for the inspiration, Angie! I'm learning that, when I feel at a style impasse, it's helpful to use YLF style and Pinterest to help me see my wardrobe, and even my shape, in new ways.

You inspired me to buy the Cons last summer and, while they do represent my "core" style, perhaps, they take me in fun, new places. I think a menswear look, because it seems like such a juxtaposition with the soft, but dramatic lines in my face and body, can be powerful if I do it right -- and I try many things that don't work. Perhaps that's why I love Kate Hepburn, even though she looks so different from me.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I love how you're having fun with fashion, Beth Ann. You are self aware, and it comes through in your outfits. That is very stylish.

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