birdy blouse: whimsy or granny? - YouLookFab Forum

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birdy blouse: whimsy or granny?

dizzys

So I have been spending a lot of time this last couple of weeks trying things on. I am trying a LOT on....but my town is small so that does not equate to a whole lot. I am trying to take some advise on trying more flowy blouses. Here is one. Does this scream whimsy or granny? I would most likely pair it with jeans of some sort for my casual every day wear.

I like the print, but something about it screams granny... Maybe its the sheen or the polyester....but I also kind of like it.....I found it in the petite section of Macy's.

Thoughts?

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Dressing

17 replies

Latest reply was from Isabel

Parsley

Veteran

I think the pattern is whimsical, but I can't tell about the fabric in this picture, so it's impossible to tell the overall impression.

unfrumped

Veteran

I sympathize! Birdies and some florals can definitely go granny and I'm really having to be more aware of that.

I think it's either totally granny, or it's certainly granny with the jeans, especially that wash, because it is giving you that pale dusty kind of look, and you're wearing it out, and plain. If you wore it with sharper colors, maybe had a lime green jacket, darker pants, or colored denim, or more contrast, maybe belted over, something like that. There needs to be some point in wearing birds.

First you have to decide what you like about it and what you want it to do for your wardrobe.

This, from the burnt toast experimenter.

Katiepea

(website)

Veteran

This is a hard one. I really love birdies (I even have a birdie dress!), but I'm not totally sure about this blouse with the jeans. Like you, I think it may be the fabrication that's possibly making me feel this way.

Personally, I vote you have a play with the blouse and try some different looks. A couple of ideas I'm thinking of include trying it fully unbuttoned with a cami/tank underneath; buttoned but worn under a jacket; teaming it with a denim skirt and booties etc (I must say that I do find a denim skirt, opaque stockings and booties is actually a really comfortable MOTG look in our winters here in Aus). You could give a full tuck into the jeans a go, or even the half tuck look (front in, back out) to see how that makes you feel?

Good luck!

Lyrebirdgully

Hi Dstalksalot. I don't think the print itself Itself is necessarily "granny", but it's true that a classic shirt style can easily look very conventional when styled with "sensible" items. I think the black booties could be putting you off. What you put with this shirt could really sharpen the look. How about a pair of modern summer pants (capris) in a colour that picks up on the shirt eg. aqua, mauve, orange or lime? that should really lift it. and a pair of pretty ( shiny?) sandals(not black) or dainty sandshoes?. And a bag in a similar colour (again not black). You could go back to the shop with some footwear and try it on with some coloured pants to see how it looks. Also, try rolling up the sleeves, that is always a less formal/conservative look; and wearing it open ( jacket style) over a coloured tank.

deb

Veteran

Looks granny to me.

sarah

Veteran

Exactly what Parsley said. I think that the pattern is whimsical, but it does really depend on the fabric - if it's super polyestery, I'd say "nay", but if it's more silk-like, I'd say "yay".

Aziraphale

Veteran

Sorry, I'm a nay vote. I think my own granny actually owned that blouse.

Beth Ann

Veteran

I've been seeing a lot of novelty prints coming into the stores for spring. I vote to pass on this one and keep looking. The idea of a bird print would certainly work in your style.

Thistle

Veteran

I like birds prints, but this one is in the granny realm. I think it is more the cut and fabrication of the shirt than the pattern that makes it more granny.

Day Vies

Veteran

I like the print but I can't say the print by itself is "granny". I think matching the soothing light blue tones in the blouse to the jeans contributes to the lack of tension -- which puts us at a "granny" impression. I think if you pulled out some of the oranges or went darker on the jeans (indigo or cobalt) you would find it looks whimsy rather than granny.

So the shirt itself to me is great, you just need more contrast in your outfit combinations. If bright jeans scare you, I suggest a scarf or a cami (unbutton the shirt far enough to let a good amount of the cami peek though) or wear the shirt as a jacket over an orange, cobalt, yellow or red cami. Either way something you wear needs to pull out one of those bright colors in a strong way to keep the shirt from slipping into grannydom.

dizzys

Thank you guys....I don't have the instincts yet to figure this stuff out and am thinking of wardrobe pieces for runs to school and grocery.... I am going to pass on this. I like the light bue but don't own a stitch of any of those colors...it just seems like too much work......maybe I am thinking about this wrong....maybe it needs to be more work than I am putting in.

Isabel

Veteran

I actually love it...it is whimsical but can look really cool too. Beverlylikehills, is one of my favorite bloggers ( probably my favorite daily outfit blog ). Here she is in birds and zebra heads ( yes ) . And I think that it is magnificent. Nothing granny at.all.

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dizzys

I love her pattern mixing!

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

The print really makes me smile.

It reminds me of all of those fun prints from the 50s and 60s, you'd see them on aprons, sun dresses, as well as for interior applications.

lynne

Veteran

I like the pattern, but the style of the shirt itself is very classic, so the combination of the two is tending to grannify the whole thing. And I'm one who loves me some bird prints.

Hil

(website)

Veteran

I'm glad you passed it up - I think your were in serious danger of entering granny realms with that.

Isabel

Veteran

dstalk, I think that is what makes it so cool...the pattern mixing. I just LOVE the polka dot pants with it.