Being Me day 4 - possible failure - YouLookFab Forum

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Being Me day 4 - possible failure

Christina F.

Veteran

I was trying to create an outfit with one of my patterned, boho blouses - which are very me... in other seasons! In winter i susilly deafault to a pullover. My relationship with cardigans lately has been so so. I’m kind of off the chunkier ones, and the shorter ones make me feel frumpy except with summer skirts and dresses (they are needed then). This cardigan is less chunky, anyway.

Anyway, I ended up settling on something after a few tries. I think there may not be enough contrast in all this, or something. I think the pieces are all me individually, but not when put all together. Does that even make sense? The outfit is not bad! I’m just not feeling that it’s quintessentially me either. It might have been me a year or two ago, though.Or maybe with blue jeans to make it all feel less dark.

I think I shouldn’t have tried to force wearing a blouse for this challenge since I know we may do it again in different seasons.

Added a pic without the cardigan.I prefer it this way a bit, but need the cardigan as an extra layer at times. ETA: to be clear, I don't think the outfit fails as an outfit, but just may not fulfill the challenge in a way that satisfies me.

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Rosebud Lacy Mixed Media Top

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Curvy All Day Skinny Jeans in Black

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Dressing

19 replies

Latest reply was from Christina F.

Kathie

Veteran

FWIW, I love the blouse on you! The print works so well with your natural coloring. Perhaps you're craving more structure? So, a jacket rather than a cardigan? Or adding jewelry or a solid scarf that will pick up the colors in the blouse?

Christina F.

Veteran

Thanks, Kathie! The blouse is lovely - I think it's a "me" piece. But maybe blue jeans, as I added to the post above, would feel a bit better.

I have trouble layering long sleeves under blazers - my arms are a bit too large on top to make it comfortable most of the time. It may be that I prefer not to layer this blouse at all. I need to post sometime about my issues with layering and cardigans. There's a reason I've defaulted to pullovers most of the winter.

I do have a delicate short necklace on, which you can't see here. I wanted a long pendant but most of them are currently all tangled up. I think I need to start keeping each one in its own baggie, frankly, as I never have time in the mornings to detangle them. A long pendant is a signature of mine, and it might help make this feel more like me. I'd have grabbed earrings if I'd had more time, but creating an outfit took too long this morning, mainly because I wasn't sure how best to layer most of my blouses.

Diana

Veteran

I totally get where you're coming from! I had a very similar experience this morning, where I needed to put a topper over the shirt I wanted to wear for my challenge outfit because it was just too damn cold. Everything I tried just looked off, and in the end I gave up and just went for a FFBO with entirely different pieces. It would have worked with a very specific topper that I purged (due to excessive wear) and haven't yet found a replacement for. I think I've decided that certain items just need to be worn on their own or with only very specific pieces, and that's just something you have to live with. You can't force it.

That said, I love that blouse on you! Definitely one for warmer weather though.

Cardiff girl

Veteran

The blouse is gorgeous on you and I don’t think the cardi is that bad either,sometimes being warm is the most important thing ,shivering is not stylish!

Christina F.

Veteran

Diana - I ended up not just grabbing a pullover because my husband and I are having a date night tonight, and I wanted to be a little dressier. I need to dress up even more tomorrow, so I didn't want a skirt or dress because I plan to wear a skirt then. Jeans and a blouse are a "me" way to dress for a relatively casual date night. My blouses are probably more for 50 degrees+ weather due to my issues with using my existing toppers with them. I have a knit sleeveless vest, and while I like it, it is not quintessentially me.

Cardiff girl - no worries, I'll never allow myself to freeze! I have a Uniqlo Heat Tech layer under the blouse as well (albeit just a tank top). The blouse alone is fine for inside the office today, but in the morning and at night I will need the extra cardigan layer under my coat.

Anonymous

See my grumpylayers post
I like the outfit, blouse especially, but understand about the topper thing. On me cardi + pants feels too casual while blazer + pants feels too masculine or rigid or something. Maybe red booties with it?

taylor

Veteran

I LOVE the blouse .. with the Cardi .

SarahD8

Veteran

I understand what you mean -- that "all the pieces are me but the outfit overall doesn't feel like me" thing happens to me too. And usually it's because the overall outfit is too dark!

Do you think it would be useful to look for a bright pink/fuchsia cardi? Or maybe a stripey one? I was just trying to think of an outer layer that might inject a dose of color and fun.

Christina F.

Veteran

suntiger, I feel you. It's tough this time of year!

taylor - Ms. Neutrals! But I hear you. I am used to a little more contrast in my outfits - that's a signature of mine. It's nice with the cardigan too!

SarahC8 - that's a good idea. I tend to default to my neutral colors of black and navy for toppers, just so they'll go with everything and I don't have to think about it. I'd have to think about what color would go with the most stuff - maybe red rather than pink. I have a red cardigan but it's fitted and can't go over a long, floppy sleeved blouse. I also have a long, chunky green one in a similar green to this top. That might have worked well, and it layers over long sleeves nicely, but I didn't feel like using it this morning because it would have made me a little too warm for the current temperature, once all the layers were on. It would have alleviated the color issue a little, maybe. (See "find," which is just a pic of me in it.)

SarahD8

Veteran

Oh, the green is pretty! But I understand needing to titrate precisely for temperature.

I mainly said pink/fuchsia because I remembered how much you liked that fuchsia coat you used to have (right?). And of course it would go with the flowers in today's top. But maybe it would be worth pulling out the tops you are most likely to want a topper of this sort for, and see what colors they have in common. Then you could look for a cardi with the right specs (weight, length, layerable sleeves, color).

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

You make perfect sense, Christina. It's a very pretty blouse that looks great on you. We will run the challenge again in warm weather - promise. No layers needed.

It's not a failed outfit at all. It's STILL super cute. It lacks the high contrast punch you enjoy wearing. And you have a complicated relationship with cardigans - so there's that. Onward tomorrow.

Gigi

Veteran

I can identify with all of this: the low contrast with dark colors making the outfit seem "off," no time to untangle jewelry to lighten up the look, and having each item feel like me but not the whole outfit. The good thing is that attempts like these can be excellent learning experiences to help us pinpoint more what it is that makes our style truly ours.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I really like the outfit; the blouse is pretty on you, and you wear the tucked blouse into high-waisted pants really nicely (great demo of Angie's post today). I understand how you can put on favorite pieces and not have an outfit that really represents your style, though. And what you said about it might not be your style anymore--I'm finding through this challenge some ways that my style has shifted over the last year or two, while I wasn't paying attention.

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

Ugh, I totally hear you with the problems getting dressed. Jewelry tangled, one shoe lost, where is my wallet? Do I need a hat today? I’m having problems. In fact I find it takes at least 2 or 3 separate outfits every morning before I feel ok to go out the door! Ahhhh transitional weather!

Christina F.

Veteran

Sarah, yes, I do love that color! I suspect a cardigan would be hard to find. I’ll be on the lookout next Fall/Winter for something. As of now, pickings are probably slim.

Angie, thank you for your relentless positivity. The outfit was good, except my socks kept slipping down and I’ve concluded that these boots aren’t quite shock absorbing enough for my injury. Blah. I need to Kay off them a while. Also, I like this blouse a lot and shan’t hold it responsible for my blah feelings today.

Gigi, you are absolutely right! It’s definitely been a learning experience about how much I really crave contrast.

Staysfit

Veteran

Christina, The blouse is outstandingly beautiful, and complements your hair, eyes, and skin, We are seeing a static photo, whereas you are in motion which changes a look. Some outfits look better in person than in a picture and I suspect this is one of them. I am not trying minimize your feelings about this outfit, because they are valid. I can see the contrast concern. These situations are good reminders that we can become distracted by details that most people around us do not notice because they take in a more holistic view. I can tell from your posts that you are a lovely person inside and out. I’m glad you could pinpoint what felt wrong about outfit so you can correct it in the future.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

The blouse is gorgeous on you. I don't think you need to worry that this outfit does or does not suit the challenge - we contain multitudes! And perhaps this will make you reconsider wearing the blouse with the dark frame of the jeans and cardigan because I think it looks fab!

Bijou

Veteran

This happens to me too! Individually items that are me, but put together, not so much. Of course dark colours never photograph so well. I like this more understated look, you look lovely, but agree that this is not signature Christina and that’s OK to depart from our more classic looks too.

Christina F.

Veteran

Thanks all! I think I may just be craving brighter colors as winter drags on and on, honestly. I will make sure I'm attuned to that when I dress over the next month or so.