July Challenge: First Seven Days - YouLookFab Forum

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July Challenge: First Seven Days

Sal

Veteran

Hi All

My challenge is to wear all my winter appropriate clothes and make an outfit with them that fits my style aspiration of being bold, relaxed and elegant.....

I did a count and came to 47 items to wear but there is a grey area of some tees that are summery but I wear in winter...and some gear that transfers over to my main wardrobe. I have one dress I will have to find an occasion to wear but I may have this occasion on the 1st August so might extend by a day....and I started early by a day too......so it could be a 33 day challenge. Sounds easy doesn't it..... Oh and I am trying to add an accessory to each look.

Outfit One - worn on Sunday to do some errands with my sons and friends (photo 1)
Outfit Two - worn for work (photo 1)
Outfit Three - working from home and a haircut (photo 2)
Outfit Four - Going to the velodrome to watch Jon in a track cycling challenge (photo 2) - featuring new hoodie added in June.
Outfit Five - work and to the movies (Yesterday which is a feel good movie) (photo 2)
Outfit Six - to work (photo 3) featuring two YLF treasures in a pendant and a ring.
Outfit Seven - working and meetings (photo 4) - ankleboots are new black Django and Juliette.

My apologies about the dark photo for the last outfit - it is mid winter and very gloomy on some days.

Accessories worn include three different bags, one scarf (2x), chunky white bracelet, pendant,a locket and some sparkly socks.

With the hoodie I did not wear any accessories as it was so casual.

I also had two casualties.

My favourite boots (camel) have a broken back zipper so need a repair. Even though they are about six - seven years old I think they are worth repairing.
And a new cable sweater has developed dye rub on the back - and the drycleaner and home attempts have failed. I am going to attempt to dye it - as it is 100% cotton I think it will work. Sadly it is new (one month old and worn about three times) and a nice light neutral. I clearly do not have Angie's superpower.

So far I have worn 20/47 pieces....

I personally feel none of these are a disaster, but a couple are only very average. I take the hoodie one out of it as it perfectly suited the occasion where most people were in lycra cycle shorts.

Which is the best and any you think need reworking to meet my aspirations? And are the silver socks fun or twee?

Thanks in advance!!

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25 replies

Latest reply was from texstyle

Joy

Veteran

Your work outfits are my favorite. They seems to meet your goals as they look elegant but casual. My least favorite is the hoodie. Can it be worn under the red leather jacket?

Anonymous

My faves are the first two outfits , and the one where you are wearing the silver socks . I’d personally not wear metallic socks here -I’d be tempted to go a little quieter , as it were . I don’t wear Maryjanes though , so I might be overly critical here . The hoodie /jacket in the first pic is awesome !

Sal

Veteran

Thanks Joy. The hoodie is a warm coral red and the leather a bluer red.... I prefer the hoodie colour. I agree this is very very casual and I am never the keenest on myself in skinny jeans. The hoodie is a lounge/ walking/ to the gym piece in the most part.

Thanks Lisa. I like 1 too - but it is the only way I really like this knit hoodie. I have gone off the flares in 2 as to me they look and feel a bit saggy. I was in an experimental mood with the socks - going to try again with jeans and my cream oxfords I think. The Mary Janes are on their last legs and I plan to edit out soon....... I have an attachment to them for some reason.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

So much good stuff! Love the scarf outfit, the gold sweater with white jeans, fantastic black boots and so on!

Runcarla

Veteran

Have we seen you in those flares (#2 outfit) before? My goodness you look like a long drink of water in that outfit! I like how the dark/light scarf bookends your dark/light hair. (You have such great hair!). This outfit certainly ticks the bold AND elegant boxes. #1, #3 and #6 are bold and relaxed. Sneakers give a relaxed vibe that fights the elegant discriptor. The topper in #1 is very cool and it is interesting (in a good way) how you have styled it in a dressed down fashion. It DOES give off an elegant vibe and might be worth an outfit creation 'workshop' session. The silhouette in #6 is second best to #2 for figure flattery. I think #5 could be improved with a scarf that picks up the blue of the jeans and red of the jacket, or by styling the scarf so it is higher/closer to your face. The last outfit (winter layers) is elegant and the pendant is a lovely piece. (Also, I just really love black and blue worn together.)

I would try the Adidas hoodie with the white cropped bottoms and your white sneakers. Adding the yellow bag would be a bold move!

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I like almost all of these. The new hoodie is great I think for casual and hopefully a good replacement for the one your husband was tired of! I especially like outfit 2. Flares look good to me though not so much to you, you say? The scarf looks great in that outfit. I somehow don’t like the scarf as much in the leather jacket outfit. As usual I don’t know why, sorry! Although on reflection, too much going on??I love the gold top as well. That is predictable for me to like that one.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

PS I vote the silver socks are fun, never twee.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Coming back to this to say counted my winter items... actually I count winter/spring/autumn all together with a separate category for summer, as the transitional items get worn the most and I tend to run cold, always have really.So my three-season clothing totals are I think 77 currently, with 23 pairs of shoes for those seasons. That's 100 which makes your 47 look quite minimalistic!

Anonymous

I like the flares, scarf and the white, gold outfits best! Ditto to trying the hoodie with the white jeans and bright bag too! The socks don't look twee to me either.

Anonymous

I LOVE this challenge. Thank you so much for thinking it up. I must have at some time known that your style aspiration was "bold, relaxed and elegant," but seeing it again was a surprise. It was the "bold" that I had forgotten. So I paid special attention to your WIWs to see if I saw "bold."

As always, you look stylish, relaxed, and superbly elegant. I am wondering how I would define bold? Is it color, accessories, statement pieces? If I don't see it in your outfits, it is because I don't quite know what to look for. You can instruct me and I'll be better next time.

My favorite is the third, followed by the second. That scarf is bold! So is the yellow bag! Those shoes are fabulous. I like the silver socks. They are subtle.

Anonymous

Jenni and Sal -- the number of items in seasonal capsule has to relative to the length of the season. By Jenni's stardard, I would have a minimalistic winter capsule, but when you measure winter in terms of weeks .... well, you get the idea. I am unfamiliar with the length of your winters. Perhaps, Sal's capsule is exactly the right size to meet her needs?

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I love the first two outfits, especially the second, and the one with the red jacket.

The silver socks are fun, even though I am not a fan of Mary Janes. I like the way they lighten the outfit.

nemosmom

Veteran

Those flares are fantastic on you! My favorites are your work outfits, and the first outfit, although I cannot pinpoint the reason why. Red is so beautiful on you, so I think your casual outfit for watching cycling was spot-on. I like the colorblocking effect of the camel sweater (jumper?) with the white pants. I don't find your silver socks to be twee - and think they are a great accessory to brighten up an outfit in the gloomy cold weather.

bj1111

Veteran

sal--you have an admirable range of clothing. i love love the boot cut jeans look in pic 1. the other pic 1 outfit is also all kinds of fab.

how are you doing on the number of items left to wear?

kellygirl

Veteran

You do sporty casual chic so well! My fave is the boot cut jeans outfit in 1--you look so chic in those. Every one of these works and is interesting and looks authentically you. Well done!

Helena

Veteran

Beautiful! I envy how well you wear shades of beige and tan ... So sophisticated on you!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

You are a joy, Sal. You are another who gets her lifestyle, dresses for it, is happy about it, leads a full life and takes it in her stride, and looks fabulous in the process. I'm impressed!

It's your '70s looks that are my fave every time. LOVE Outfits #2 and #7. Flamboyant Elegance with a Sporty touch

Hope the boots are as good as new soon, and good luck with the dye-job.

(Since we were born in 1970, I GET the appeal of the Adidas hoodie. Soooo our era).

Sal

Veteran

Thanks Angie - I am going to try the sweater one more time in Oxyclean - I have managed to get rid of about 90% of the mark......finger crossed.

Helena - thanks - as long as it is a warm camel it is good - too cool and it is one of my worst colours!!

Kelly - thank you! Maybe the flares will live a bit longer. Flares/bootcuts are good on my shape so I want them to work.

bj1111 - I have 24 left and (yesterday was a lounging day with jobs and a walk) today am wearing three of those. I am pretty confident I can wear them all - it will be finding outfits I like and are aspirational that might be harder..

Nemosmum - thank you. They were all comfortable and appropriate outfits to wear. I found the flares annoying a bit as they did sag as the day went on (bought on sale when they only had a larger size in stock and they do fit - but smaller would have been better).

Janet - thanks. The flares are popular so I will maybe try a different belt or look out for a new pair and be a bit fussier (flares and bootcuts are not that easy to find though here).

Sterling - Jenni and I have a similar climate but I would be slightly cooler in winter (and damper) and slightly hotter in summer as we are inland and she is coastal. But roughly the same. Definitely transitional clothing is the biggest need - jeans, tee, light jacket could work most days of the year... I don't always achieve boldness or elegance (I think I always look a bit relaxed though even if I am not actually relaxed). What I am aspiring to is to have one strong statement piece or colour combination or an edgy pair of shoes or something to make the outfit unique. I do wear lots of classic pieces but try to put them together in a not too classic way..... Some of this is aspirational though!! And I am pleased you are enjoying the challenge.

Suntiger - I have worn the hoodies with the white jeans (once) and it is a fun casual look. Thanks for chiming in.

Jenni - yes we do need transitional clothing. Once I learnt to minimise thick jumpers and sunfrocks and buy more light sweaters and mid weight pants my wardrobe suddenly worked much better. My least favourite two looks were the red leather jacket and the last one. I agree that the jacket might be better without the scarf....I don't suit too much going on in a look. The gold sweater does not photograph well from a figure flattery perspective but it is a piece that gains a lot of compliments because it is such a lovely texture and a very good colour on me.

Carla - thank you. I agree re the red jacket - I will try this again with a different scarf or no scarf.... I will wear the Adidas hoodie with the white jeans and yellow bag one day too....And I should do an outfit lab with the black merino hoodie.

Shevia - thank you! I love these new boots too.

My learnings:

Try the red jacket in a new combination
Keep going with the flares
I will wear the silver socks again with a different combination (I have one in mind)

My own thoughts:

I do struggle with my winter style - I get it right in summer so many more times. This is partly the colours, partly my mood, and partly that I have more pieces to choose from.
I think I am finally ready to pass these Mary Jane's on. I have loved them and they have served me well (10 years old) and have been reheeled and fixed at least twice. I will look for a new pair of slightly dressy shoes with a low heel.
Taking decent WIW is hard!!

JAileen

Veteran

I love outfit 2 in photo 1. You look so long and lean. I do like the silver socks with the dress. It’s cute but not twee. I might use a different bag that tied in with the socks, or add a scarf that tied the two together. The dress looks great on you. I like the shoes, too.

Anonymous

Geez, I really like those flares on you and hope you don’t stop wearing them . Or at least find a new pair that feel better ? You look so good in them .

Sal

Veteran

Lisa - they are on reprieve (I think a different belt might help). Open to looking for another pair.

JAileen - thank you. I wore a silver and glass pendant (and a silver ring) but I think it gets a bit lost in this look.....

Neha Shukla

So much good stuff. I really like them specially your scarf outfit, boots, yellow bag, dark blue jacket.

Bijou

Veteran

These are all great, but outfit #2 knocks it out of the park. Love the elegance and 70’s vibe of this one. I also think the silver socks are cool and add a fun element.

rachylou

Veteran

Whoa #2!!!

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I esp. love #2 and #5 - both with scarves. Very nice on you!