Once again thanks for all the wonderful suggestions!
One of my favorite silhouettes is to wear a pencil skirt like this with a loose button free blouse tucked in. I went back and tried tucking the blouse in once again. I still was not completely convinced that the blouse worked for me. I then tried to change the necklace, oh, and I changed the camisole to a neutral tan color instead of grey. Yesterdays necklace had some navy blue in it and I love the combination of rust and navy. However, I put on a simple crystal necklace that fell above the neckline of the blouse. I thought that looked a bit better and it added some light to the top. Next I tried switching out the booties for a pair of black ones. I liked the suggestion of balancing the black in the top with some shoes. I thought that improved the look. I wanted to try the top with jeans, and black and rust pants. I did so and the result was similar.
Unfortunately, in every case, I felt like the look was wearing me, instead of me wearing the look. I definitely did not feel comfortable and agree that the look is too bright and bold. I bet that if I keep the blouse it will sit in my closet untouched with the tags attached.
With my coloring (I have been told -soft autumn) I should wear warm soft and muted colors and this blouse does not meet any of those criteria! I am having a hard time finding blouses like this. I default to Ivory. I really want something with more color or pattern, and without black if possible.
I am certain that I come across as bold to the people around me, but not because of wearing bright colors or patterns. It would be more my personality mixed with my unique fashion sense which definitely stands out in my community. One example would be in the work place where it seems that when everyone else is dressed informally, I am dressed up; when I am wearing jeans and a t shirt, everyone else is dressed more formally. I get away with this, but no one else can pull it off. I am always floating above and below the levels of informal and formal, but I never conform to the same level of the majority of my co-workers.
I most certainly have a long neck. I think my neck is perfectly wonderful as long as I remember to sit/stand up straight and don't hunch my shoulders and jut my neck out! ( Where is my mother?) However, I am very attracted to scarves and layered necklaces, boat necklines, and crew necklines, necklines with interesting collars and ruffles. I really don't like turtle necks or things that constrict my neck. However, I like a mock neck, that is what attracted me to the Charlotte Gainsbourg for Current Elliot blouse I purchased for fall this year. I knew this Tracy Reese Kurta Peasant blouse didn't have the ideal collar for me.
One of my current goals is to purchase only items that make me feel great, look great, and fit great. They need to meet the standard of being equal to the most excellent item in my closet in their category or they do not enter. (So if it is a patterned blouse, I have to love it as much as my favorite patterned blouse, etc.) In the case of this blouse, the verdict is that it will be returned. It does not meet my standard.
