Keep or toss tweedy tartan outfit? - YouLookFab Forum

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Keep or toss tweedy tartan outfit?

Jenni NZ

Veteran

In the spirit of Sal's, Thistle's, Sterling's and Roxanna's posts. I tried an outfit today where the items are definitely under-worn.
My last pair of true ballet flats, 2013, wear #9.
Matching tweedy petite jacket, 2014, wear #6.
Grey merino/acrylic pinafore, 2013, wear #15.
Tartan shirt, 2013, wear #21.
Not sure I like how the collars go together. But 3 compliments at work today.
Just I have other stuff I like better, you know? They're #30 wear fails.
Do they deserve their place? I enjoyed the 3 compliments!

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32 replies

Latest reply was from Katerina

Jane

Veteran

They are cute! I’ve a soft spot for tartans. And you do suit red I think.

I think I would keep but may be wear them in different ways.

So try the jacket with dark may be cropped trousers and a dark top.

Mirjana

Veteran

Jacket is beautiful and flats also. Maybe better with pants, as Jane said , or jeans if you wear them, I think it is little longer for this length of skirt. Definitely keep it, great especially with these flats.

Lucy

Veteran

I think the jacket and shoes are adorable! I'd wear them dark jeans.

rachylou

Veteran

Ya, I kinda really love it, the matching jacket and flats...

The Cat

Veteran

I vote: Keep the jacket & shoes. They look chic, interesting and timeless and can be remixed with plenty of items, in particular autumn and winter items in red, white and black.

ChrisM

Veteran

JenniNZ, I agree with all the above. The one thing they seem to be missing is the something that makes them “you” and I think the key is in the styling. The pieces on their own are lovely, traditional, conservative, perfectly serviceable and the colors are good basics. To my eye, what’s missing is the fun, quirky thing you enjoy.

To me, the question becomes: do they fill a need in your wardrobe for a quieter, more traditional but beautiful outfit? If you put a column of dark under the jacket, keep the shoes, put on fun jewelry to scratch that funky itch - is that an outfit that fills a role in your closet?

Sometimes we get rid of stuff because we don’t wear it all the time, but life occasions arise when having an outfit like that is the right thing. The fit looks good, red is a good color for you. If either of those things was off, I’d say thank you and good bye.

Anonymous

Wow- I find this fascinating. That jacket ( and shoes because I am a matchy matchy kinda gal) would get a total workout in my closet. I would wear it with dress ( as you do- nice) but also with dress slacks/ jewelry for parties and black jeans for shopping errands/ appts etc. with you going into your cool season I would grab it as a warmer day jacket instead of a sweater for a more polished look.
The shirt might not get as much wear as I have a black watch plaid that I love in theory but also doesn’t get as much wear and I have no idea why.
I usually wear it with jeans and vest.

Anonymous

I am a sucker for a tweed. I too vote keep the jacket and shoes. Dump the shirt.

What was so interesting about this thread is how the Forum immediately grasped what the underlying issue might be and why these items are worn less rarely. (Again, I adore a Woman that counts. So much information can be gleaned).

But I digress. I think the jacket and shoes can be worn much more if you tweak the ensemble. I especially like the idea of wearing them with jeans. Using the jacket as a light weight jacket in cooler weather is brilliant. Finally, using your creative mind to bring in elements of your personal style is also on pointe.

On the other hand. I am currently working from an incredibly small wardrobe right now (for me). I have 37 items in my work/casual wardrobe. There are no items in my closet that have not been worn at least once since March, but I am finding there are still items that do not get reached for all that often. How can that be???? What is the reasoning???

Could it be that you have other items in your closet that you just like so much more than those three items???? You always reach for a select grouping of clothing items that make you just a little bit happier???? Or are you saving some garments for "special" purposes that just never arise????

I am going to explore the reasoning within the context of my own wardrobe in July. Join me?

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Thanks all. I think I'll take Jane's/Mirjana's/efbgen's/ChrisM's ideas of the dark jeans: in spring when I don't need socks or tights I could wear my cropped dark jeans with a dark top and the jacket/ballet flats, that might help. As I usually wear trousers and booties in winter that may be why I don't wear these shoes, as I think they look odd with socks. Hence tights, today.
The tartan shirt I like less but could try the same outfit with a different jacket or vest, where the collars don't fight, and maybe tartan tights for quirkiness plus my gold brogues. That's what I wore last year for the ceilidh I went to.
I will keep them for now. I'm pretty happy with much of my wardrobe for now, much more so than when I joined YLF 18 months ago, thanks to all of you x

Staysfit

Veteran

Jenni, I think these embrace the maximal trend and have potential, but I agree they are missing the fun factor that makes them unique to you. I think this look reads conservative (and maybe old) instead of warm, wise and smart. It’s missing the warmth and joy we see in your looks. If there is a way to add that, then I would keep these, otherwise, I would pass them along.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Yay Sterling and Staysfit! The tartan tights and gold brogues might help with fun.
Sterling, I keep analysing. I'm getting better, slowly, and will certainly join you in July. But I haven't lost any weight and I have 183 items not 37!

lyn67

Veteran

Grey merino/acrylic pinafore is a bit on the short side, others may easily be rescued if wanted, I still like them but not all together!:-)

cindysmith

Veteran

I agree that they would probably work better styled in other ways,

but can I just say how much I LOVE LOVE LOVE that plaid against that tweed? It was unexpected, and a bit of a contradiction/juxtaposition; I think that's what I loved most about it.

I like the jacket and shoes together, it kind of makes me think of Angie's "bookend" idea, even though we're not talking about shoes and head

JAileen

Veteran

I wouldn’t toss them. Do you ever wear dressy shorts? That might make the outfit more fun.

Bijou

Veteran

My overall impression was that this looked too dark for you. A bright scarf or sheer hosiery would lighten this up. I love your tweedy jacket and shoes together, we just need to inject the Jenni factor into this.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I think the pattern mix IS the fun element we associate with your style...and might be one reason you got compliments. It's an unexpected and quite inspired pairing. But I also think it's a lot of "dark" for you and these items might work better in different combinations. A tweed jacket is such a useful item in fall and spring. I'd wear this one with jeans or trousers rather than a dress (because of the proportions). Try it over another patterned top, maybe? I like mine with graphic tees, believe it or not.

RobinF

Veteran

I like the jacket and would love to see it in other combinations. I'm not super matchy so would ditch the shoes but do think they look fun with it.

Bonnie

Veteran

OH, you should definitely keep this fun tartan set.

Jules

Veteran

Ballet flats really work best worn sockless with some ankle showing, IMO. In my climate that makes them a closed toe late spring/summer arctic office/early fall shoe. I would try the jacket and shoes not just with black jeans but also any other denim you have - especially anything faded or distressed - for a cool juxtaposition between classic and not classic.

L'Abeille

Veteran

Jenny is it really only 18 months you've been here?

I have a similar jacket and a similar problem, in that what seems like the "obvious" way to incorporate it into an outfit ends up feeling way too fuddy-duddy for me.

This is a post where I tried to address that using an Angie formula. https://youlookfab.com/welookf.....nd-a-movie

Btw I'm a lover of all things tartan. If I had those shoes matching a jacket I would never ever give them up.

Cardiff girl

Veteran

I m just looking for my bag pipes as I type this,KEEP BOTH,classic but funky at the same time and very you.

LaPed

Veteran

What a cool set! I would wear it in a heartbeat, and like many others would probably pair with jeans or black ankle pants, and, as Suz mentions, perhaps a graphic tee.

Do you have any sheer black socks? Not great for truly cold days, but I've found that having a couple pairs of sheer black socks (one is solid, the other has bit of pattern/texture) helps me get some mileage out of transitional shoes that would otherwise get very little wear in my climate.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I'd def. keep the jacket and shoes and would pair the jacket with something like a v-neck shell or even a graphic tee and jeans. I personally wouldn't likely wear the shoes with the jacket but I'm not very matchy and I like to wear only one maximal thing at a time.

Anonymous

Jenni -- I have never in my entire life only had 37 items in my wardrobe. It won't last long, I can assure you.

While I can, I am taking the opportunity to assess those lesser worn items. So far, I am finding it is a matter of comfort for me. I have one shirt I adore, in theory, but I never reach for it because the collar feels like razor blades against my neck.

I also discovered that if you buy short sleeved tee shirts in a heavy fabric, you will wear them less because they are heavier and therefore hotter than others in your wardrobe.

I am making the bold move the cull these three items.

More on that in July.

Sal

Veteran

I agree with the others - I like them too! I think jeans or ankle pants would look wonderful with the jacket and shoes. Perfect for Sept- Nov and March- April.

I have several pieces like that - I like them - but I don't often wear them. It is okay to have a few - they might only get worn once a year but it is a sunk cost anyway.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Agreeing with Sal here... my tweed jacket really only gets worn about 6 times a year (in spring and fall) because our transitional seasons are so short -- yet I'm really happy to have it -- somehow it's just the right weight for those times and the texture also makes me really happy. And I got it for a good price on sale, so it seems worth holding onto. As a classic, it has wardrobe longevity.

Emerson Rose Zip Front Tweed Jacket

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Runcarla

Veteran

The jacket looks like the classic Channel-esque style (see pic #1) and so would be a keep, along with the matching flats, which are also classic. However, you don't have to always wear them as a matchy-matchy set. The plaid shirt might work under the jacket, but on it's own over trousers or a skirt (See pic #2). Like other's have suggested, try various different trouser shapes and styles - jeans rolled to show some ankle or a cool bootie for juxtaposition (pic #3) or a slim dressy trouser or coulottes/wide leg crops for a dressy office look. (#4+5)

I'm not a fan of the pinafore (looks short). You've got shapely pins (!) - sheer hose would be better with the ballet flats. Wear them any time you do an outfit with red or black, or even to ground a white outfit.

(Your hair and make-up in these pics is very well done! You look lovely!)

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Jenni NZ

Veteran

Returning to this thread a couple of days later, as been thinking. Thank you L'Abeille for the link to your old thread, that was really helpful. And to LaP re possible sheer black socks which might look better than the normal opaque black socks I was thinking. I may have some old ones and I think Ezibuy sells some classy ones if needed. But I don't like to spend too much to "rescue" things I'm not wearing enough, IYKWIM.
One thing interests me: several of you said this was too dark or a lot of dark for me. But it's winter, and I wear heaps of dark and feel perfect in it many days. Especially in June before June 21, as it gets darker, I get some SAD ( well aware of it and just wait it out and concentrate on work) and so I feel sombre anyway. Black and darks suit my mood well.
I think maybe I'm not posting my dark outfits? May need to remedy that?!

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Oh and thank you Carla for the ideas and the compliment x

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