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browns: WIW + keep or purge?

MuseumGal

Veteran

I have a complicated relationship with brown. I have brown hair, brown eyes, brown skin, and my glasses are brown. So when I wear brown, I sort of feel like I disappear. I go back and forth between "I'm a winter and so I should wear black" and "I'm an autumn and so I should wear brown." But some of my very favorite wardrobe pieces are brown, like the granny boots with brogue detailing and suede Nehru jacket pictured here and I don't want to purge them. So this is an attempt to make brown work.

Pics 1-3 are what I wore today. (This very much feels like an "E" outfit because of both the colors and boots.) This blouse blouse is another item that is on the perennial chopping block because I'm not sure about how the muted colors look on me. I layered the blouse over a LS T and then added my newish olive pants, the granny boots, and the wonderful suede Nehru jacket that doesn't get nearly enough play. I feel like this works because the T shirt and jacket are deep enough to not wash me out?

Pics 4 and 5 are of a brown and black dress that I want to make work, but I think is going to have to go. (Yes, I just pulled it on over the T shirt, pants, and boots, but the fit is same without the extra layer.) The waist band hits too high on my boobs, so I thought maybe if I wore something over it? But the jacket looks weird because of the banding, and the navy wool sweater - well I don't spend a lot of time worrying about trying to look thinner, but I'm also not keen on looking even shorter and wider than I already am.

So ... does the first outfit work? And do I need to give up on the dress?

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17 replies

Latest reply was from Michelle

calmwave

gosh, you have such a great smile! i think the brown jacket is a keeper - looks especially good buttoned up. The blouse works well with the olive pants. The dress looks better with the sweater on, to my very humble and inexperienced eye.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I will just toss out my impressions: brown and blue are a great combination on you and I think you look great in the first outfit. I am not crazy about the dress style on you (or maybe in general) so I would let that go.

Beth Ann

Veteran

Hi MG! What about buttoning the blouse in #1 at least one button higher -- I think it would sharpen the shoulder fit a bit and look more modern.

I like the brown jacket! And I like it paired with blue!

I could see the brown dress reworked into a skirt (I think the shape of the dress as skirt in #5 is fab on you).

Blue and brown are both good on you, although I'm guessing that putty or lighter browns would be less effective.

Dee

Veteran

I like the blouse, especially in the close-up pic where you can see the detail. I know you're asking about brown, but I think blue is a really good color on you!

I agree with the others about the dress. It seems a little too long and too much brown by itself, but it works much better as a skirt with the blue sweater. I wonder if some of your concern of looking shorter in pic 5 might come from your shoes/pants breaking up the leg line more than anything else?

E

Veteran

I don't care for the top part of the dress but as Beth Ann said I really like it as a skirt! But if you don't have any sweaters that would easily work over it, it might not be worth it to hold on when you need to downsize your closet anyway. (Although I don't actually think the navy blue sweater makes you look shorter or wider, just cuter! lol But if you're not comfortable in it that's that.)

You look really good in outfit 1 (and thnx for the shout out)! In fact, I think you look more boho than usual; maybe because of the pattern on the blouse? I like the browns; even though the jacket is a warmer brown it still seems to complement you in the close up. Seems to me like having a mainly 'winter' palette and mixing in some richer browns to change things up is a good solution! I've found my brown shoes go with a lot, and I don't have your bookending advantage! There's something earthier about brown shoes which could work well with your boho aspirations.

Gigi

Veteran

I do like outfit #1, and I think you look great in the blouse. But for some reason, when the brown jacket is added, it seems to me to make the outfit more ordinary. I wonder if you wore a necklace that had more vibrant color if that would solve the "disappearing" feeling you have when you wear a lot of brown. Maybe brown bottoms would be better than brown tops? (Note: The necklace may be more stunning IRL; it's hard to tell on my screen. Or you could maybe use a scarf that picks up the blue from the blouse.)

I don't think the dress is so flattering, though the sweater does improve it lots. I agree with Dee that if you are able not to break up your leg line below the skirt, it would make your legs appear longer.

This is interesting, that you have this feeling about brown. I too have brown hair and brown eyes, the same shade as yours, although I have pale skin. But I have been eyeing a sweater dress that comes in brown, and although I thought that I *should* buy it in that color, I wasn't feeling attracted to it. Maybe I will get the same "disappearing" feeling...perfectly coordinated but ho-hum.

MuseumGal

Veteran

Thank you for your honest feedback all, I do appreciate it.
Beth Anne, I button my shirts like that b/c my boobs are so big - one button higher would gape and strain across the bust. You are absolutely right that puttys and taupes are death on me.
E, the blouse always seems very 70s to me (something about the color and floral pattern and soft collar) which probably reads as boho. I wished I had a lacy camisole for a full on E-effect.
Gigi, try the brown dress and see if you like it - not all browns are created equal.
I am surprised that most of you like the dress with the pullover - I felt about 4 feet tall and 4 feet wide in it. But when I look at the pics today, it seems more or less fine (thought not great). I want to make the dress work because it was a hand me down from a very good friend and also because it's an expensive (for me) label (Igigi). But it just doesn't fit in the boobs of wrath, even though it's 2 sizes bigger than I usually wear. I've been envying all of you your plaid winter skirts though, so I think I will try to convert it to a skirt and see if I like it that way.

Lisa

Veteran

I like the brown jacket on you. I'm curious, how do the bold colors look on you versus the muted tones of the blouse in #1? Are you a winter? I can see navy, purple, and red working well on you.

Astrid

Veteran

I think the idea of making a skirt out of it is a good one, I find skirts much more versatile.

MuseumGal

Veteran

Lisa, I look amazing in cobalts and purples, and navy is the core of my wardrobe, so yes I am probably mainly a winter, although I think my skin is actually neutral not truly cool, since I can pull off some warm shades, especially in the summer when I am a couple shades darker.
Astrid, I was writing on your thread as you were writing on mine - your WIWs are one of the reasons I'm gonna try to convert it to a skirt!

Astrid

Veteran

I hope it works out! I only ordered mine because they were a real bargain, but I've come to love them and they fit very well into my style now.

TraceyLiz65

(website)

Veteran

Just agreeing that the skirt idea is a good one and the blue is a great color for you. Also just a side note that I cringed when I read your reasoning for wanting to keep the dress. A hand me down from some one else can all to often become an albatross across our necks. Perhaps I've watched too many What Not to Wears where people with the best intientions gave items that didn't work for the receiver. We have to love what we chose to adorn our bodies with...

cuffcat

You have a beautiful smile! I noticed that you're smiling in the photos wearing the brown jacket and the blue shirt and not smiling wearing the dress alone or with the sweater. That's usually my own indicator whether something works for me. I say pass the dress along.

Anonymous

MG, if you convert the dress to a skirt, you'll be able to wear it with tops other than the sweater, like that brown jacket for instance. You might like that look better than the lines created by a pullover.

I'm a Soft Summer, and I have a tricky relationship with brown. I had light brown hair when I was younger, so I assumed I could wear brown, but it's not a slam-dunk on me the way it is on some of the warmer seasons. I think you might be on the cooler side of the spectrum like you said. Maybe you could try just wearing a little brown in an outfit, or mixing brown with black. I love the blouse on you!

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

MG, I wish I could wear brown as well as you, because I have a few pieces that I can't part with, because I like them.

I love the blouse and the brown jacket, as shown in 1, 2 and 3 and I vote to keep, because they look very nice on you.

It may be time to purge the dress since you are not happy with where the waist sits. I agree with Shevia that brown and blue are good colors together.

Alassë

Veteran

The dress looks good as a skirt!

Michelle

I agree that the dress works as a skirt. You mentioned that you've got big boobs and I do too. I love wearing surplice or faux surplice tops and dresses. I find that I have to have the correct bra on too. Something that's going to give the girls a little lift and have strong support at the sides. That really lets what might be a regular waist on someone with a flatter chest become more of an empire fit on me but it looks better I think and might make the dress look different, you said it hits to high on your boobs. Also, I think the dress is fine but maybe with a heel and a bright, complementary necklace. The dress looks like there might be some hues of other colors you could pull out but I can't really see the material up close. Just my .02 cents.

Love the jacket!