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Keeping it real- purge?

Susie

Veteran

Super casual day today. We were at the lake both Friday and Saturday so today was low key with sleeping in and laundry on the agenda! I did have to do a couple of errands so I had to put on a bit more than lounge wear. And real shoes! But no make up and my hair is washed but not dried.

The shorts are a light weight knit, basically gear. I like stripes in theory and love them on others but not so sure about this top. Is it just that the stripes make me look even wider than I am? I tried a semi tuck but didn't like how the stripes looked. Is it time to purge the top and stick with my solid knits for casual wear?

An and all feedback appreciated!

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23 replies

Latest reply was from Susie

DonnaF

Veteran

I am a stripes fan and love their crispness on you. How do you like it with the top untucked when you are wearing those particular shorts? Right now, the proportions of the top and bottom are the same.

carter

Veteran

Can I tell you how much time I have spent trying to get the semi-tuck right on my beloved stripes?! It's not easy. It works best for me if I just tuck the 2-3" right at the belt buckle, then pull the sides out and over the hips a bit. A heck of a lot of work for that "devil-may-care" look I'm going for;-). I don't see anything worng with either of the two pieces, except as Donna pointed out, the proportions are equal. I would think the side adjustment may fix that.

Susie

Veteran

Donna, I didn't care for it untucked because it's too long and fitted through the hips. Your point about the proportion is a good one. I think I will try it with either crops or shorter white denim shorts. If those don't work, I give up!

Carter, I'm giggling at your post because I have the same struggle sometimes!

tricia w.

(website)

While the proportions may be equal, If I saw you out in public I would be thinking, "Wow, she looks great and so put together." Love the whole ensemble.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I think stripes are a great pattern on you but as the others have said, the proportions here may not be ideal. I like your plan for determining whether to keep! The top looks great with the sandals, BTW. But then, we know you always have the right footwear for any situation!

Anonymous

I think you look great! Especially for the kind of day you have planned, this is a wonderful outfit.

Tanya

Veteran

I think you can pull of stripes nicely, I would just go for then in a looser and more drape-y top. Love the shorts and sandals!

Gigi

Veteran

Hmmm...I didn't reply to this thread earlier because I wasn't sure what to say. The outfit looks good, but I agree that there is something about it that prevents it from entering "super-fab" territory! However, I didn't think it was the stripes. I see that others have pinpointed the proportions, which I agree might be the case. If you don't like the top untucked, how about trying a white belt? That might visually extend the top enough to change the proportions at least a bit.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Susie, I wouldn't write off stripes. I like the top on you! And I think this outfit is super cute for running errands. Perhaps this particular top isn't working the way you want because it's not quite the right fit (re: your comment about it being too narrow at the hips to wear comfortably untucked; a top that is a little looser will also semi-tuck more easily, in my experience).
All of that said, I wonder if you might like the overall effect better if you wore the top with white bottoms. You may find the stripes are accentuating a strong shoulder line in relation to narrow hips, with the darker color on the bottom. Again, something I wouldn't notice if I saw you on the street. It only occurred to me after some study of the photo.

Debbie

Veteran

I would like to see this with white bottoms. I love the stripes on you.

Marlene

Veteran

I would try rolling the sleeves so that it changes the proportions slightly. You can also try rolling the shorts so they are a little shorter. Then you won't be the same on top and bottom. I do like that shirt so its worth it to try and make it work!

Deborah

Veteran

Susie, I think you look lovely but comfort and how you feel is just as important. I have a love hate relationship with strips and have almost eradicated them from my wardrobe. I still have a few tops that I use as under layers. Being large busted myself, I always feel strips make me look huge, but then we do tend to judge these things more harshly than others. Personally, I like you in solids and if you feel more "put together" in solids then go in that direction.

unfrumped

Veteran

I think it has something to do with the very strong lines of this bold and crisp stripe. Hard to mold that into a semituck so you have to pick your cutoff point-- decide where it can stop. It is also just a bit more fitted and high- necked, so gives that very strong horizontal shoulder.
I think Firecracker is onto something with the white bottoms-- that may soften it.
You might like lower- contrast colors, with your hair, narrower stripe , less defined shoulder. and a more open neckline.
I would not notice this " on the street" as any sort if faux pas , so it is more about your question and if it's important to you to focus your style and outfits. I'm asking myself these sorts if questions too-- if there is something I really like about an item, then I'll make allowances for certain issues. Versus the question, would I buy this today?

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I love the colors of the stripes -- blue and white. I think that color scheme is a winner on you. As well as the neckline. What I hesitate about is the fit. If it were more fluid, a touch more oversized, it would look more modern to me. But that's really the only fault I can find. Which isn't really a fault. A tailored fit isn't dated, it's just more traditional looking. Hope that helps.

Aquamarine

Veteran

Agree with the other comments that something about this particular top is not a 10 on you. Perhaps it is too graphic, perhaps it is too crisp. I love stripes but they have to be fluid or appear fluid in color or thickness to work on me, otherwise they can make my top half look very square. As an IT, that is not a flattering look on me.

Lisa

Veteran

I like stripes and I think this top is lovely on you. I also experiment with different width of the stripes, perhaps larger or smaller stripes would strike your fancy? Or maybe less or more stripes (compared to the background color) would catch your eye more than this top, which has the stripes evenly spaced and paired with the background color.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Super cute.

LOVE those white sandals.

Susie

Veteran

Thank you all so much for your helpful feedback; I really appreciate it! I know one thing that looked off to my eye is the fit. I've gotten so used to more fluid fits (and prefer them) that a more fitted top is now unusual. And not as pleasing. It might be the preppyish vibe too. I will try it with white shorts or jeans.

Thanks for the sandal love, Angie!

catgirl

Veteran

I wear my stripes on the bottom - like the VC tube skirt - as I am a top heavy IT. I have purged all striped tops. They just make me feel awkward. Don't ignore how you feel intuitively!

Gracie

Veteran

Another vote to try it with white bottoms, the top is cute if more traditional in fit.

tricia w.

(website)

Having a figure similar to yours, and loving stripes, I have found that a thinner stripe, placed farther apart, and ruching on the shirt, help my boobs and tummy not look so prominent, (I have two such shirts by Micheal Kors.) I have yet to master any kind of tuck, without making my stomach look
bigger

juliamay

Ultimately it comes down to you feeling awesome or not. Personally I love stripes and I think this tee fits you, well, to a T.

I appreciate & agree with the comments regarding proportions. I'd love to see it with white jeans/pants or shorter shorts. (Is rolling your shorts here an option?)

I am fairly new here and look forward to learning lots and maybe being brave enough to post some of my own outfits.

Julia in Woodinville

Susie

Veteran

Hi Julia and welcome!

Good thought on shorter shorts but they are too wide to roll. I'll try the top once more with white shorts. If that doesn't work, out it goes!

I encourage you to post pics when you feel comfortable. People here are so helpful, honest yet kind. As you can see, no one told me that I look fat and awful in stripes! But they gave specific feedback and suggestions. So often we don't see what others see and it's so great to have that discerning eye.