Help, I look awful! - YouLookFab Forum

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Help, I look awful!

cobaltblue

Veteran

Dressing for my new two days a week teaching job is killing me. Is this shirt too long (pulled up in #2 for comparison), just too big, just too frumpy, what? I know something is wrong, but I can't fix it. My belts just make the situation look much worse. What would happen if I had to get dressed for work five days a week? Aaaaagh.

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Urgent

22 replies

Latest reply was from Michelle

DressLover

Veteran

Are you petite? Looks like the proportions are too long on the top. (See how the bust detailing is hitting you very low on your torso?)

And you don't look awful! You just need some tweaking which is easy stuff.

RandomThoughts (Andrea)

Veteran

I don't think this is awful but the top does seem too long for a skirt. Have you tried tucking? Let's see a belted photo - perhaps it looks better than you think. And what about tucked and belted?

cobaltblue

Veteran

Thanks for the ideas. I'm about 5'5", so not really petite. My torso may be short, though. I think that the top in question may be a petite size. Unfortunately, my daughter has gone to bed, and miss light sleeper can't tolerate any outfit changing tomfoolery while she is sleeping. I will just wear something else tomorrow and try again on the outfit another time.

The skirt is really high waisted - up to right under my bust. Tucking made me look like I have no waist, and not in a stylish surrender kind of way. I promise that belting looked awful, but I'll post a pic to prove it tomorrow!

Anonymous

CB, that is a perfectly lovely top and a beautiful skirt, I just don't think they were "made for each other" lol! As for tomorrow, a chain belt might work where others haven't, if you own one.

That top would look great with slim pants, and the skirt might look good with a knit top that is more body-skimming (shorter lengths look better with skirts). Printed skirts can be so hard to match, can't they? And you'd think a white blouse would go with everything!

You are training your eye, and you're doing a fantastic job when you can tell something is not quite right. We're here to help you figure out what it is and why things work/don't work. Don't give up, you're doing great!

Sara L.

Veteran

Good thinking to try on the questionable outfit the night before. At least you're not having a fashion crisis in the morning when you have no time. I don't think the outfit is awful, I think something is just a little off and can probably be fixed with tweaking.

Vildy

Veteran

In no way do you look awful.

Angie has some templates like Mom on the Go. I wonder if using the
formula for one of these would allow you to confidently put together
outfits for those few days a week.

cobaltblue

Veteran

I thought of a chain belt, but I don't have one. I guess I need to start looking. I think this orphan skirt might just have to go. It's always appealed to me, but I just don't wear the colors in it, so my selection of tops to go with it has never been good.

Do you think black pants would go with the top? I don't have anything else but jeans in the pants department (no denim at work!). I worry about the sheerness of the top over black...

cobaltblue

Veteran

Vildy, I should review the MOTG templates for Fall. That is a great idea. I think part of the problem is that if I really weeded out my closet, keeping only 10s, I would have practically nothing left. Right now I can only think of one piece that I love everything about, and even it has gotten too big! So I am having trouble mixing and matching because I have nothing to mix! Just a bunch of stuff I'm holding onto because I used to like it or my husband still likes it. I really need someone who is brutally honest to spend a morning with me in there...

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I know the feeling. My closet is in about the same condition as yours. It's tough getting dressed, especially if you have to GO somewhere. But as Claire said, you are doing great, training your eye. I'll bet within the month you have a couple of standard outfits for your teaching capsule that will work great for you.

Sona

Veteran

could you do a white cami underneath and black pants? along with some jewelry- maybe pearls or gold tones?

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

I would tuck and belt. I like the shoes with this skirt.

Deborah

Veteran

I would be keen to see top tucked and belted too... that was my immediate response when I looked at your photos :). You don't look awful at all. Top over pants could look good too I think with ballet flats and what about a cropped cardigan or denim jacket??

Carole

Veteran

I agree that the top is a little long for this skirt, I do think a belt could help. Try tucking it too and repost some pictures for us to help you figure this out. You are super cute and don't look frumpy at all.

Marley

Veteran

NO - you don't look awful! To me, the pieces are just not working together! I agree with the suggestions already made - try the blouse with skinnies. I'm not sure about the skirt - how about a cropped denim jacket?

Anonymous

I've nothing to add to the good advice you have here. They are both pretty pieces, just not together. Maybe the skirt needs a top of a less contrasting color.

kimlee

Veteran

The other ladies have made great suggestions, so I only wanted to comment to tell you that in no way do you look awful.

Anonymous

Hi there, just wanted to pop back on and say that I think the top would look fine with black pants (you can use Angie's outfit from today for inspiration!).

I have seen women wearing sheer white tops over black pants and I don't think it's a problem. They even tuck in their white cami so you can definitely see where the pants begin. It's probably a more modern look than leaving the cami untucked so that the blouse looks opaque. Shoot, you could probably even wear a colored cami or tank underneath! I'm just not that daring yet.....and I'm still not sure which of my "old school" rules to break. lol!

I just returned a printed skirt to the thrift store. Like you, I loved it but it was hard to match and it was in danger of highjacking my wardrobe color scheme and sending me in a direction I didn't want to go.

I need to find out what this 'LIST" is everyone is talking about. I thought they were talking about making a general list.....but I think not. I'm off to the search engine. Catch ya later!

rachylou

Veteran

I don't think the shirt is too long. I think it's just ever so slightly baggy. Actually, you know, you're looking very French; like a French woman on a hot summer day. At home. Which I think may be the real source of your misgivings: the look is a little too casual.

A plain cardigan would fix that; I think a black one would be especially nice.

cobaltblue

Veteran

Claire, thank you for popping back in. Due to great advice received, I ended up wearing the blouse tucked into black pants and belted. So no grinning worries. I also wore pearls. I was unreasonably excited to see Angie's post and find out that she and I were sort of outfit twins today. My shoes were even the light color found in her booties!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Hey! You did great!!

mrseccentric

(website)

Veteran

cobaltblue, you went from 'crying uncle' to 'mini-Angie' in one thread!!!!! We all wish we could make that type of progress much less at that speed!!!

seriously i know how frustrating and rotten it can feel when Nothing Works and you're really putting in an effort! but over time i've come to realize that it means you're actually doing something different and haven't got the hang of it yet - it's a good sign that you're truly making progress.

so keep at it! and have fun!!! steph

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

See? You're already naturally stylish when you're unconsciously mirroring our Angie! Also, if you do still have concerns about the shearness of the top, Angie recommends wearing a white cami underneath so that the white colour becomes more saturated and pops better, so you'd be right on target by doing that too.