K/R these 3 Kettlewell tops?

Zaeobi

Finally got my order of pussybow blouses from before, but should I keep them?
https://youlookfab.com/welookf.....-blouse-89

-Photos #1-3: Orange pussybow blouse
(Are the wrinkles & shiny sheen too much? More coral than orange in real-life - still warm-toned enough on me?)

- Photos #4-6: Multi stripe breton top (Like the warm colours but how to not look like a giant toddler in it - any tips?)

- Photos #7-9: Green pussybow blouse
(Same problems as the orange - how does it look tucked into the maxi skirt?)

-Photo #10: Shows the real colour of my dark green maxi skirt in photos #4-8 (& my self-inflicted manicure )

PS - Please excuse my 'Corona chic' flip-flops & hair! The returns window has been extended to 3 months, so thank you all for your styling advice & Keep/ Return judgement in the meanwhile

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4 years ago

Dressing

24 replies

Latest reply was from Zaeobi

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

PS - These 3 tops were from Kettlewell, a UK brand that's built around selling smart casual clothes & accessories according to your seasonal analysis.

4 years ago

Mirjana

Veteran

I like stripe top and green blouse , lovely on you.

4 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Same as Mirjana - I think green blouse and stripe top.

4 years ago

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

Thanks, ladies. The green blouse isn't too light? I've been trying to adjust to the seasonal advice of being a 'warm/ deep autumn' but it's difficult to judge which colours are dark enough...

The striped top is a comfy joy to wear (the split hem gives my hips room to breathe!) but I may need to play around with some more outfits to mitigate the 'giant toddler' effect before I commit. Or maybe it's just all in my head?

4 years ago

Star

Veteran

Striped top looks more nautical than toddler to me - I really like it. And I love the green blouse on you, does not look tight.

4 years ago

Star

Veteran

Oh, sorry you said light, not tight. No color is fab on you.

4 years ago

Star

Veteran

My shorthand is confusing, I mean No the green is not too light on you.

4 years ago

smittie

Veteran

I am absolutely loving the pussy bow blouses. They must be tucked and I love how you styled the green one with the long skirt!!

I think the pussy now blouses are better than the Breton top. Not because the Breton top looks worse (it looks fabulous) but from a Kibbe perspective, the drape and fabric of the blouses I think might be better with your curves.

I think your side profile looks wonderful in the skirt.

4 years ago

slim cat

Veteran

Like striped top and love your green blouse. The color of the long skirt is teal in your pictures - perfect color combo with emerald green blouse.
Flip-flops are cute .

4 years ago

Jane

Veteran

I’m nodding with others, keep the striped top and the green blouse. FWIW I have several Kettlewell silky round neck fitted tops and they wash and wear very well.

4 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Like the others, the green blouse and striped top look fab. Super cute fun hair you have too!

4 years ago

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Agree with the consensus. The neckline on the striped top looks great with your hair up. The green is beautiful on you.

4 years ago

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

Thank you @all for your responses! It's a shame I wasn't able to find a replacement for my orange pussybow blouse, but maybe the green one will become a wardrobe workhorse instead. I'll try to be patient until the next orange opportunity comes along

@Jane thank you for confirming the washing quality of Kettlewell's clothing. I'm trying to adapt to slow 'fashion' sustainability, so I checked the overall structural integrity of the garments (no loose threads etc) first. The real test will be the washing machine, though

@Smittie Oh I've tried to figure out what my Kibbe type is in the past but that's a whole other can of worms, haha. It's a very fine line to find clothing that work with my curves & preferred modesty levels without looking too frumpy or dowdy - it's very easy to find flowy blouses for my body type but casualwear (like the striped top) is harder to get right. I think @Shevia may be onto something with the combination of a wider neckline & my hair up, though. Glad you think it's cute too, @Angie - sometimes I wonder if the hair up with the pussybow blouse & modest skirt is too stereotypical of my profession (teacher) but I suppose stereotypes exist for a reason!

Lastly @Star & @Slim Cat do you think the striped top works OK tucked into the skirt? Or should I wear it more long with trousers (like photo #6)?

Thanks again, everyone!

4 years ago

Star

Veteran

I think the striped top works in and out, but I prefer the more long look.

4 years ago

Joy

Veteran

A jacket or topper or scarf that picks up the colors of the striped top may help you feel less toddleresque. I like the striped shirt best worn out in #6 than 4/5. The shiny bow blouse dresses up a casual outfit. I like the orange best but then I really like to wear orange.

4 years ago

Liesbeth

Veteran

I like all of these. To me the striped top actually looks best tucked into the long skirt: fab proportions!

4 years ago

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

I *knew* there was a reason why I was still a little iffy about keeping even the green pussybow blouse - did a little SMC (Shopping My Closet) & I remembered this green shirt that I already own. It's thinner & less shiny than the Kettlewell one but it still drapes, which I think may work better with my lifestyle & body shape. What do you honestly think about its fit - too big in the shoulders? Debating whether it needs replacing (with the blouse)...

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4 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

My dear Zaoebi, I'd have loved to have had a teacher who dressed like you

4 years ago

Star

Veteran

I think your old shirt is great, and fit seems right to me.

4 years ago

Brooklyn

Veteran

The fit seems fine on the older shirt but I think it has a different vibe for the newer one you are considering, The new one is very glam 70s. I think you could justify keeping it, even though the colour is similar. Looks great with that skirt.

4 years ago

Aurore

Veteran

My first thought when looking at the first photos was "wow, that orange blouse look so great on her!" The shine and color seem perfect to me.

I like the green blouse too - but for some reason I don't manage to clearly identify, I prefer the orange one.

The breton top fits you well.

EDIT : I have not read the previous comments to avoid being influenced, now that I read them I realise I seem to be the only one to like the orange blouse better…:)

4 years ago

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

Haha @Angie aww thank you - it's always in the back of my mind that I don't want to be dressed too distractingly & colourful in class, though!

@Star & @Brooklyn I agree the green shirt has a different vibe to the green pussybow blouse, but I'm trying to evaluate how much use I'll get out of the 'glam 70s' look for my lifestyle - it may be too shiny for an interview, so the only other formal situations I can think of are parties (usually casual/ going out) or weddings (for which I already have traditional South Asian clothes, or use my 'going out' clothes because I've never been to a black tie event). I think I'm also a little apprehensive about how thick the material is - it still drapes well, but I've been looking for lightweight sleeved summer tops, of which this decidedly is not.

Aurore Thank you You think the orange colour is flattering? It's so hard to tell in the dark lighting of my flat whether the coral-orange works for me or not. The breton top is interesting because, laid flat, the stripes don't align perfectly - I thought this would annoy me but actually, once I put it on, the 'gaps' in the stripes curve well enough around my body to mitigate this (in my opinion, anyway).

Sorry for writing so much (again) - I've got 3 months to make my decision so I may leave this thread open for a week & then put the blouses in a holding area so that I can be sure. Thank you for indulging me, ladies - my Kettlewell haul may not have been perfect, but that hasn't put me off trying again (maybe once I'm back home in the UK though, so I don't get burnt by international return fees)!

4 years ago

Anonymous

I like both of the blouses a lot- beautiful colors!

4 years ago

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

Thanks, @suntiger - I agree the colours are pretty but ultimately I don't think I can justify keeping them for my lifestyle, climate or laziness (I think I may be allergic to ironing, lol).

4 years ago

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