Fuchsia Suit Deconstructed: Styling Fun! PIC HEAVY - YouLookFab Forum

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Fuchsia Suit Deconstructed: Styling Fun! PIC HEAVY

Suz

(website)

Veteran

You've seen the suit as a unit and as a two piece top and pants. (http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....-pant-suit).

Here it is broken up into various combos.

1, 2, 3 - top and pants with various jackets.

4/5 - jacket, pants, and a white shirt. Could also do with tonal shirts, of which I have several.

6 - trying Joy's idea of layering the top over a silky blouse.

7 - trying to show the pants shorter. I am sorry - it is near impossible to do. They can't be pinned up (can't get them on then over my calves) and when I roll they bunch. They are lined. The CAN be shortened I think, without too much trouble; the question is, should I? I think I know what Angie would say.

8 - jacket with white skinnies (that hubs PUT IN THE DRYER TODAY! EEK!)

9 - with stripes and Saras.

10 - this one is for Mary K, with love.

11-14 - various possibilities for the top.

15 - belting the jacket, as someone suggested (I am sorry...my memory fails me for the moment who!)

16/17 - with the leaf print skirt. Hubby thought this was WEIRD.

Bonus shot of the process!!

Obviously, I will wear the top. Sveta, I do not share your feelings about Mandarin collars; I love them and always have and feel perfectly comfortable in one. So for me, that's not an issue. I know the buttoned up look is not everyone's cup of tea, but I like it.

So I guess the real questions here are:

1. Should I shorten those pants? They can't be narrowed a whole heck of a lot and still go on me, by the way - they are already QUITE narrow at the calf, though fuller up top.

2. Can I wear the jacket successfully? I typically don't wear longer jackets because they cut me in half (due to my short legs). I think when it is a column of colour this is not such an issue. But it might just be too much as a column of colour.

Your thoughts are most welcome!!

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Dressing

45 replies

Latest reply was from Kirti

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Suz - there are soooo many fabulous options here! I really think you have bought the consignment deal of the year!

Here are my pics for what works: 1 (denim goes with everything in my book), 2 (love brown and fuchsia together and the crop and shape of the jacket are perfect with this) 4/5 (for a conservative formal event), 6 (holy moley...STUNNING!), 7 (that pant length is perfect IMO but I also like the original pant length as well), 8 (great colour combo and a mix of dressy and casual), 9 (I have to try this combo myself - LOVE IT!), 11 (another nice more casual mix), 12 (love brown and fuchsia together, the Report booties lengthen leg line and bookend the jacket), 13 (another great mix of colours and shapes), and 17 (which is absolutely GORGEOUS together....gorgeous).

I don't care for the combinations with the jacket from #3 - the shape of the mandarin collar of the shirt with that lower scoop of the jacket doesn't work to my eye.

You must be exhausted now!

Meredith1953

Veteran

1,6,8,9,11,15 are my favs! I love the dark blue combined with the fuschia. What a glorious color on you!

christieanne

Veteran

6, 8, 9, 11! Love those. I had to type the #'s quick before I forgot them

I like it as separates and yes you can wear the jacket length. It's a different silhouette (and you wouldn't want all your jackets in that one as it's slightly boxier than you need) but it is a special color and fabric and fun option. It's not like you would wear something like that everyday after all. What about the pants on their own? It looks like they are just a bit big in the thigh - maybe you could check on having that area altered? They would be perfect then.

Sarah A

Veteran

so i have about 2 seconds to type but wanted to say i love it! my fav's are 6,8, 9, 11, top look from 13 paired with bottom from 12. gotta run!

MsMary

Veteran

SIX!! OMG it's FANTASTIC!!! And NINE!!! And OMG ELEVEN!!!!

*swoon*

Ahem.

Yes, I think the jacket totally works on you. Love 4-5! I like the pants shorter but I also love 'em as is, maybe narrowed a little.

And 10 is super fun! *waving at my scarf twin* Love you back! Mwah!!

I actually really like 16/17. Fun and different!

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

The blazer worn by itself is the best!

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Again, I love the jacket with everything...but not with the same trousers. They seem to be too loose on the top for this jacket (see pic. 5). Have you tried to tuck into them? If you tuck the same top they may look like a jumpsuit!:-)
My very fave one is 9 - you should wear it tomorrow. No, today! I also like when you use the top as a vest - cool!
The only ones don't like are with the jacket (3 and 14), it just does not work with this mandarin collar IMO.
So much fun - what a steal!

catgirl

Veteran

Love everything with the pants and jacket. As far as the mandarin collar outfits, I only like 10, 11 and 16. I have a bit of poison eye for mandarin collars, and with another strong jacket layered over it just it too much collar conflict for me.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I am SOOO intrigued by this Mandarin collar response. It never occurred to me that they were an item towards which a person might have a poisoned eye. Just goes to show you, right?

I agree wholeheartedly that the scoop neck jacket doesn't work with the Mandarin neckline, though. You are SO right about that; thanks for pointing it out!

The pants, the pants. There will be no tucking into that waist, I fear, as it is very snug on me! And the hips have lots of "slouch" for want of a better term. I could take them in there, but there is something very comfortable about that looseness.

It is interesting...the very thing that some LIKE about the pants, others DISlike. I had a feeling that opinions would be mixed on them. I wish it were easier to make adjustments to the width/ length. It's really tough to do and then get them on. I will have to take them to the seamstress and have her pin while on me, I think, to get any real sense of what it might look like shorter, narrower, or whatever.

I'm also not 100% clear that it would be worth it to shorten or narrow them. If I only wear them once in a while as a fun change, maybe they are just okay as is. Meanwhile, I can wear the other two pieces more often.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Here's "Shannon's philosophy" FWIW: I think you love this suit and the individual pieces (I know I do!). And I think it will be fun to wear the few times a year you wear it. When we post pics of something that might not be our "normal" style, there will always be a variety of responses, some favourable and some not. In the end, there are times where we're just gonna go for it anyway because it speaks to us on some level (me and my newly thrifted green jacket for example - despite many negative replies, I just feel happy and good in it so am keeping it). I suspect you're going to have to trust your gut on this one Suz!

You've already mentioned that the bottom of the trousers are already quite snug therefore I don't think narrowing them will work and you want them to be comfortable.

catgirl

Veteran

What Shannon said. There are some things I still love and wear despite YLF policy (corduroy) because those things make me happy or are necessary to my lifestyle (gear). My only worry is that I hope it's not disrespectful to Angie. At least now I know when I'm committing a fashion crime. In the eyes of the law, that's worse (intent!) but in style, it's a step forward for me.

And I see no fashion crime here!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Thanks, Shannon. This is useful.

I also think Jonesy makes a good point - it might make sense to narrow them at the TOP (in the area that's slouchy) and shorten them a fraction. But...since they are lined, that's more of a job than merely shortening, and we'd have to think it would make them killer to make it worthwhile.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

I agree with you Una that I do worry about being disrespectful to Angie and her craft when it comes to this type of choice and decision. Besides it's easy for me to say about keeping my green blazer when she hasn't seen it because she's away!!! (lol)

Is it possible to keep the items until Angie is back and can weight in with her expert opinion and then return if she feels they are not worthy of you?

harmonica

Veteran

#2, #8, #9, #13 and #14 are my favorites.

Could the trousers be shortened with a slit on the side? Would that help with your calf / trouser leg width?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Oh, I'm keeping, regardless, because for $20, even if I throw the pants in the donate bin immediately, I still got more than my money's worth! I can't imagine Angie will tell me to toss the jacket and top.

I think we should start a thread - Look Away Angie! - the mischief we got up to while you were away!!

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I started liking them at #8. And many of them are great when you just use one piece from the suit. I think the pants in particular are more troublesome and I know I'm not in the majority but I def. don't like all three or really even 2 of the suit pieces together.

I think the pants might look better altered and in my mind I see a solid dark or bold non-printed long sleeved blouse that is silky, sheer sleeved and somewhat fitted (at least in the waist and torso) but could have more billowy sleeves to help balance the visual weight of the pants. Dressy heels and dressy bag - a very "night out" look.

HelenInCanada

Veteran

Go with your gut on this one, Suz. The mandarin collar is *amazing* on you. That piece is a statement for *your* style!!! I don't get the mandarin issues here, either. My first impression when I saw that top was WOW. The neckline is SO elegant yet different from the more widely-worn modern classic pieces - and that gives it extra interest in my eyes!

Your outfit permutations - I'm overwhelmed. I had to write them down. My picks: 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 13, 16, 17! Love that last crazy-bed shot! I've always imagined what cyclones YLFers rooms must look like in the midst of these pic-heavy posts...lol!

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Suz, you are 100% right: even the jacket alone in this color, quality and fabrication is worth more than $20. Can we see the trousers with the top exposed? I am curious how they can be tight in the waist and loose in the hips - you are hourglass, right? For me it is usually another way around...:-)
I don't have an issue with mandarin collars per say, it is just I had that sleeveless mandarin collar top which was voted down by Angie but I like yours much better, especially layered over shirts!

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

#9 is k-worthy for sure!! 4-5-6 (given an alteration of the pants), and 15-16-17 are also very fab!

I see now that the pants are lined. I would take them in in both the thighs and calves, but that may make it difficult to sit down as this isn't a stretch silk. An alteration could easily exceed the entire cost of the outfit. Hmmm. What to do?

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Love the "Look Away Angie" thread idea - lol!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Harmonica - great suggestion to add a slit at the calf. There's already a small one. If I shorten but keep a slit, it could help.

Sveta - yeah, I'm an hourglass but tending toward rectangle. And these are just cut full in the hips. Jonesy suggests narrowing that area and maybe shortening a touch. Since she is the queen of pants, I am listening hard.

I'll try to get a pic of the top later on. My daughter's out now. The come up to my natural waist, what my daughter called a CRAZY high rise.

lyn67

Veteran

Missed your first thread on this suit (what a bargain!), but I am so delighted about that fuchsia on You! LOVE LOVE LOVE. I like many of your stylings here, particulary the 1,6,8-9, 10-11, 12-13-14(my faves), 15 (sans belt!) and actually quite loved the nr. 17(so dressy and different) but nr. 18 is THE BEST!:-)
I like the longer jacket with a skirt, so the length of a pencil changes proportions to my eyes (so doesn't cut you in half anymore!) I very much like the mandarin collarred top, and also like the pants as they are, but would like them better with low vamp shoes, parTicullary kitten heels, or ballet flats of a kind (maybe with a bit of wedge or inch heeled).
But LOL! You have such a gorgeous smile and do, I'm sure people don't really mind what you are wearring:-)

Diana

Veteran

I like 8, 9, 13, 14, and 17. 17 is actually my favorite - I'm not surprised that I like the "weird" one!

Maybe a crazy idea, but could the pants be lengthened? Is there any hem allowance at the bottom? Otherwise shortened to the length in #7 looks good too.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I'm not sure, Diana - good question! I'll bet there is an inch there to play with, which might be enough, eh? I'll have a look.

ETA - TWO inches. Probably couldn't let that down all the way because you'd want some finishing to hold the fabric...and I don't know if there is that much extra in the lining. But lengthening is a definite possibility.

Maybe I'll wait til Angie returns and start a "shorten/ lengthen/ slim/ leave loose on top thread."

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

Time to add my thoughts on your deconstructed versions, and you'll be seeing quite few #s: I really like 1, 4, 6, 8, 9 (Sara twin!), 11, 13, 14 (the bookending is quite nice here), and, of course, 18, because we can all identify with this photo, which is so real and precious. I think we've all committed a few fashion crimes, as Una, has said, and Angie weighing in will be helpful. Among others, mine is probably PPL violations. I don't want you to get rid of any of these three pieces, Suz, and I think the elongated slit could work very nicely.

ETA: I was also thinking about lengthening, because that's more of what I personally like, but I forgot to mention it, so I'm glad Diana said this in her post.

sarah

Veteran

Suz, I like the pieces on their own the best (well, not entirely on their own, but you know what i mean). I LOVE #9. I also like #16/17 quite a lot. I actually like mandarin collars, and I think that this one looks best when it's not competing with another collar. And I think a mandarin collar suits your style. I also like 8, 11, and 12.

What fun!

fern

Veteran

Just gorgeous - what a color for you! I like mandarin collars, for the record This one suits you.
I love 9 & 17. Perfect.
I can't imagine wearing 5 (so much fuchsia!), but you look fantastic. I hope you find the right occasion for that one. I do see what others are pointing out about the extra fabric in the pants.

Anonymous

I love #9 thru #13, #16 and #8 with a different shoe. My favorite is #17. I do prefer the deconstructed versions overall.
ETA: Don't give up on the pants just yet. I think they can be tailored to a more modern cut. If this was me, I would wait for Angie to return and ask for her direct opinion on them. If you can get around the pants issue, a nice two piece suit is killer.

mm88

Wow! This is awesome!

Thanks for sharing. Lots of great ideas here. I agree about the mandarin collar. Gorgeous and so classy!

I especially love 11, you were able to make it more casual/relaxed with the jeans. Who would have thought?!

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