help with casual styling of an almost bandage skirt - YouLookFab Forum

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help with casual styling of an almost bandage skirt

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I have not yet worn this skirt out. It's BCBG's version of the Herve Leger bandage look but not quite as snug as a true bandage silhouette. I am trying to find a way to make it casually fun more than sexy. Here are just a few different choices of tops I tried to work with. I have many more but want to know what direction I should be going in. Tanks? Tees? Button downs, or cardigans. I'm thinking I need more coverage or volume on top to balance it. I also could pair it with tall black riding boots but I wore the flats for these shots. Ideas? Any advice or comments would be much appreciated - especially the direct honest type if it just ain't working!
I like #6 the least but it's the only t shirt shot for comparison.

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Dressing

31 replies

Latest reply was from Mo

Mellllls

Veteran

Where are you planning to wear it? my favorite is #5 but I also like 1 and 2.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I haven't gotten that far! I'm just trying to find a way where I will walk out the door in it without having a hot date night or dancing on the agenda lol. Thanks for weighing in.

Mellllls

Veteran

well i think the long sleeves in those outfits really helps with that.

Anonymous

Mo - I happen to like #4 and #5 but I think the skirt might be too high for casual. The sexiness factor is up at 100% so toning it down might be hard.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I was afraid the hemline might designate this a going out or date night item - but I'm trying to rework stuff as best I can. Thanks for the insight.

Anonymous

I hear you:) You can always layer under it, with leggings, though. They don't need to be full length, actually something "clam digger length" could be quite cute. Pair it with some flats and you are in business. Let me see if I find what I'm talking about and I'll get back to you.

celia

Veteran

I do love #2 but find it would be better for a more date night kind of a thing.
For a real casual outfit I would go for #6.It looks casual althought it's a short skirt and you don't look as if you're trying too hard.
The first thing I thought was that a turtleneck would look good but somehow #7 doesn't say casual.
Hope someone gives you more articulated advice

Anonymous

mo - here it is...

http://youlookfab.com/2010/04/.....-outfit-4/

The formula is with a jean skirt though. Maybe others will chime in and let you know if this will work with your skirt!

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Hey, thanks, Zapotee. I hope no one got the idea I'm the gal who wants to be the sexpot in the room! Maybe my last few posts have seemed so - quite the opposite. I DON'T want to be overtly sexy and so I'm searching for ways to tone stuff down while still feeling stylish or hip. You gals have been a huge help so far. Thanks! I have leggings, btw, but they are closer to ankle length. Maybe dark tights would work with either tall boots or these flats?

Anonymous

Nah Mo - forget about that. You live in FL, it's hot there!

Srujana

Veteran

I really like #1 and #2. You look casual and comfortable to my eye. #5 is great too, but I think due to the fabrication of the shirt, it looks more dressed up. I don't think you look like you're outfit goal was 'sexy' at all, due to the fact that you covered up on top and wore flat shoes. Besides, it looks like your skirt is a couple finger lengths lower than where your arms fall - which was my high school's edict for a proper skirt length

Kari

Veteran

I think you've got the right idea of keeping it covered on top since the skirt is short, and I love the layered looks of #4 and 5 especially. What if you topped #5 off with a denim or white denim jacket? That might tone down the look and give off more of a casual vibe.

Jonesy

Veteran

I love the idea of some capri leggings with this skirt.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I'm with Jonesy. I'd like to see the skirt with black leggings!

Have you done the sit down test with that skirt, Mo?

Ana

(website)

Veteran

I think ankle length leggings or tights would be fine. Do you have a denim jacket? That might help with coverage up top.

jen321

I like #1, 2, 5, and 7 best. I don't think it is too sexy, because of the lack of clevage and heels. It looks toned down with the long sleeves and flats.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Thanks - I do have some ankle length leggings that are charcoal grey I could try here. I have some black ones back home I can grab next month. Angie, the skirt is quite stretchy, so no problems with the sit down test! I actually have sort of a different problem with it and another pencil skirt. The hem of the skirt seems to kind of flare out when viewed from the side rather than gently come in along the legline. Is this just something I need to get accustomed to? Maybe there simply needs to be that much room in the material so we don't have to wiggle rather than walk with teeny narrow hem openings lol?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Great to hear that you'll try the skirt with leggings! Could be fab.

My dear Mo, the "sit down test" is to determine whether skirts are too short. They tend to creep up when you sit down. Cross your legs and things get a little ....ahem....indecent. Soooo, that's why I asked about the sit down test and bare legs. While you have fabulous legs, that's a rather short skirt

Marley

Veteran

Mo - I think this skirt would look great with a dolman sleeved top - and leggings!

Irene

Veteran

Hello First post ever on YLF!
I'm very young and not really an expert on fashion, so maybe my idea is not age-appropiate nor good, but I would pair that skirt with dark tights (though not opaque) and riding boots. And shirts in 1 and 2 look great to me. It wouldn't look too sexy at all, just modern and youthful 7 is good as well, since you are not too big on top, but it does look a bit more formal...

Mellllls

Veteran

Leggings are a good idea. I think charcoal would be better than black to create a contrast between the skirt and the leggings. What about black opaque tights and ballet flats?

Scarlet

Veteran

I quite like the layering in 3. The only tops that are really not working for my eye are 5 and 6. I am curious how this would work with cropped leggings. I like the blouse in 5 a lot, just not tucked into this skirt. The top in 6 isn't doing your fab shape justice.

lady

You've got good advice here already so I'm not really adding anything new. I really like #3 and #4 for a casual vibe. I think pairing leggins underneath is going to nip the sexy quotient and pull you back over into young, hip, stylish territory.

Though your amazing legs will make this a great date night item as well. Gotta love versatility!

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I took the advice on the leggings and frankly, I'm not a fan. And Zapotee was right, it was too hot! So I ran out of the house to do errands in knee length black shorts instead (#3). I think I like the gladiator sandal and tee shirt with this skirt as an attempt to 'casualize' it (if that's a word). Maybe the black capri legging would be better but I feel oddly like I'm dressing young with this legging attempt.

So I'm still up in the air on this one other than dressing it up for a night out.

Angie, I did the sit down test now that you explained better what I should be looking for. I was thinking you were talking along the lines of pulling and such. It's close, but not showing any bits lol.

And I know it's a different subject, but the last pic is the flare of the skirt from the side. Anyone else experience this? I'm tempted to alter the hem to come in just a tad but if it won't help, I needn't bother. (please ignore both my posture and expression! ugh)

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catgirl

Veteran

Mo, I see the flare and I think that's probably what happens with knit fitted skirts. I think the leggings look great but frankly in Florida I don't think the t and glads are too risque at all. In a hot climate I think there are different perceptions on sexy vs. practical - the amount of cleavage I see in Hawai'i always astounds me, but it's a beach culture, after all!

Scarlet

Veteran

I actually like the leggings, especially if they were black. I actually quite like look number 2 as well. I would wear that as a casual look. Some how the gladiators seem to change something. I don't see the flare in photo 4 as a problem I wouldn't alter it. It probably helps you to have a good range of motion.

Anonymous

Mo - I think that the leggings are OK. I think what's throwing you off is the fact that they are full length. Do you have cropped ones? If not, roll the leggings in pic #1 to below the knee, jus to test if a cropped legging would work. See if that makes you change your mind.

I thing AG is right. Your "predicament" for lack of better terms, reminds me of this assignment I had two years ago, where I had to go to Boca Raton, one week a month. I was working for a corporate client yet it felt like if I was trapped in a resort, with a bunch of accounting people. LOL. I must have looked like a prude with my longer hems and conservative tops

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Yes, Zapotee, I think the length is what's throwing me off and I'm very tempted to find some black capri length ones. You guys are right on the predicament of the climate. What I came to feel appropriate in in Tahoe is not the same as here and making that switch is all the more difficult being that milestone age of 40 lol. Appropriate has as much to do with my surroundings as my age and body and it's a fine line I'm walking here trying to find that balance. Thanks for the guidance along the way, everyone!

jen321

I like #2, cute shoes. It looks more casual like you wanted it to.

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