Making an outfit look "younger" (with more pics added)

Frances

Hi there!

This is my first post to YLF, though I have been reading the forums for some weeks.

I recently won this beautiful jacket and dress set on ebay for $40. It arrived yesterday and I love it... but it is just too "matronly" for me!

I am 28, but I do dress very conservatively. No pants, no hemlines above the knees and no plunging necklines. So I realise many people might already think I dress too "old for my age." However, thats who I am. I love a classic, elegant style!

What I wanted to know what how do you think I could change this outfit to make it look a bit younger and brighter.

I have some basic ideas:

I will be cutting the legnth to a knee legnth, as I don't find the mid calf length flattering!

I won't wear the two peices together, as they are rather "mitchy-matchy".

What kind of a jacket would you pair the dress which? What colours would work, other than the obvious white or black?

Any feedback would be much appreciated!

EDIT: I have added some photos of me wearing the outfit as well now.

11 years ago

Dressing

23 replies

Latest reply was from CocoLion

mtallen

Active Member

I am new to the forum too Frances. I wonder Wht the pros would think about adding a cardigan in an edgier color/hue? There are several great posts in YLF about wearing pastels, including forum discussions. You might try to search the topic for great ideas.

11 years ago

Neel

Veteran

Nice dress, but the style could look matronly if not paired with the right pieces. I like your idea of hemming the skirt to knee length.

A jean jacket with sneaks/loafers/birks for a casual day could be fun. A white leather vest could look nice too.

ETA: Welcome!

ETA2- Changed my sentence a bit after reading Joy's post, it really depends on how one styles it.

11 years ago

Anonymous

Beautiful! I would wear those pieces together, matchy or not. The best way to de-matronize could be with trendy footwear. I could see nude booties or metallic pointy toe pumps working with this. The dress could be dressed down with a denim jacket and maybe worn with fashion sneakers. The jacket could be paired with a white denim skirt. You might try pairing with navy.

11 years ago

crutcher

Veteran

I would hem at least to knee length...A brown linen jacket..think Eileen Fisher...a yellow jacket/cardi...a vest of creme...denims: jean, white, chambray shirt...a print jacket either stripes or floral picking up the aqua of the dress...
And that is just the topper...
For the shoes, I would go all out declaring my youth...berks for casual, sandals, something like a Stuart Weitzman black and hemp wedge..think Duchess Katherine...
For dress...heels in tri color..a natural pump with a platform, Sam Edleman d'orsay...
I totally understand your wanting classic but there are ways to wear a classic outfit and still declare your wonderful youth..Best to you...

11 years ago

MuseumGal

Veteran

Throw the jacket on over a pair of jeans and white T shirt or blouse. A pair of green shoes would be fun, but any footwear would work, including white sneaks.
As for the dress, once you have it tailored, just try on different toppers in your wardrobe until you find one that you like. Me, I'd go with a chiffon scarf/wrap, but a little white cardi would probably be great too.

11 years ago

ironkurtin

Veteran

You look gorgeous in it. My personal advice would be to emnbrace its vintage style and really go the full Audrey Hepburn: hair up, layered pearls, etc. Dressing like an elegant lady is timeless.

11 years ago

Frances

Active Member

Thanks so much for the advice everyone - you have certainly given me some great ideas!

I LOVE the ideas of using shoes to add some trendy elements! I also liked Joy's idea of pairing it with navy. I'll have to see what my closet holds.

I have added some photos of myself wearing the outfit now. This is as I received it, but I will be cutting it shorter for sure!

11 years ago

Frances

Active Member

Thanks Ironkurtin! That is also another way of doing it - embracing the vintage feel. I like the ideas of the updo with pearls, esp for church!

11 years ago

missvee

Veteran

Right away I thought of edgier footwear, but I see the other posters have covered that one. What about a white jean jacket for a more casual look. Or, if the belt is removable you could try something different there, perhaps an obi style tie belt.

11 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Nice to meet you! I'm with Ironkurtin. I think you look great in the outfit and it's youthful on you, esp. with the top button buttoned like you show. I think just letting it hang open would be more aging (like you can't get it closed kind of thing). The square heeled pumps you have on are also really good. Another stacked heel pair of pumps would be good. I think just stay away from the kitten heels and wedged sandals.

11 years ago

neonginger

Active Member

You look both youthful and lovely in this outfit! I agree with IronKurtin that you can style it easily in the ways she suggested for a vintage look.

11 years ago

Beth Ann

Veteran

Welcome to the Forum, Frances! What a lovely color and fit in your outfit! It set off your hair and coloring beautifully, too.

I like your idea for hemming -- even though I do love a midi, the soft fabric suits a shorter length. Is the belt removable? I could see a nude patent belt over the dress, in addition to the suggestions made by others already.

11 years ago

Sal

Veteran

Such a pretty colour and dress.

I think silver pointy pumps would be great.

I also could see the dress with a pink cardigan and sassy pony tail hair do.

11 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

The soft colours set off your dark hair and complexion beautifully. I think embracing the vintage might be the best way to go. But silver pointy toed pumps would not hurt! I agree it might be fun to play with different belts as well.

11 years ago

ameelizabeth

Active Member

Hello and welcome! I'm fairly new here myself! Just writing to say I hope we get to see some photos of these variations if you give them a try! I'd love to see how you transform it!

11 years ago

MsMary

Veteran

I'm going to be a spanner. I think it's just too matronly. The fabric, the cut, all of it. You look pretty (the color is great for you!) but honestly, the outfit shouts "mother of the bride" to me. I'd much rather see you in something conservative yet modern and youthful.

11 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Welcome, Frances. You have a gorgeous smile.

I'd like to see the suit with much modern shoes in a lighter colour. Add a clutch, and shorten the length of the skirt. Scrunch the sleeves and keep the hair as is. I worry about an up-do looking frumpy.

Or remove the jacket and wear a denim jacket, scrunched at the sleeves with gladiator sandals.

11 years ago

Style Fan

Veteran

Okay I am with Ms Mary on this one. Why try to make it into something it is not? If you love it then embrace it for what it is. It looks very matronly to me. Classics can be youthful and not matronly.

11 years ago

Zibbets

Veteran

Welcome, Frances! You and your treasures are both just lovely.

I would shorten it, but not too much. I love Angie's suggestion of a lighter, more modern shoe and I would be tempted to try to remove the belt and experiment with other things. I wonder if you or a seamstress could use what you cut of the bottom to make a little self belt for it.

I wouldn't necessarily never wear it together, but a white jean jacket will be fab with it, I think.

11 years ago

Windchime

Veteran

Welcome, Frances! You are very pretty, and so is your new dress. I'm another one who'd like to see you try a short white or blue denim jacket with it. Angie's suggestions are always brilliant. Do you have the shoes and clutch she suggests?

11 years ago

Deborah

Veteran

Welcome Frances:). When you said matronly, I was expecting something else;). I think you look gorgeous. Another vote to embrace the vintage vibe of this outfit. Hair down and edgy footwear could blend the vintage and modern quite nicely.

11 years ago

Frances

Active Member

Thank you sooo much to everyone! I have read all the comments carefully and have some great styling ideas.

The middle part of the dress is not a belt, but sewn on as part of the dress, so that has to stay as is.

I don't have any silver or lighter coloured shoes (my wardrobe is not very large!) but I love the idea and would love to add some white or silver modern sandals to my collection this summer. I live in South Africa, so it is winter atm. Being a very warm climate, we use sandals a lot!

Angie, I love the scrunching sleeves idea! I think that would add a great touch. Thank you for your input!

MsMary and Style Fan, thank you for your honest opinion! The dress did actually fall under "mother of the bride" so I get where you are coming from. However, this is very much my style, so I am going to embrace it - with a few tweaks of course!

I'll be sure to post some new pics once I have had it altered and I've put some outfits together.

A big thank you to everyone for the warm welcome.

11 years ago

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

My main thought is to remove the belt and wear a slim patent belt either in blue or nude or off-white. Aside from everyone else's thoughts about modern footwear. I think an ankle strap pump would be gorgeous. I don't think a kitten heel is frumpy, as long as the style is modern. A lace-up sandal would be pretty as well.

ETA -- oops I see the belt is not removable. I've added some sandals for ideas. The Sofft Bernias are shown in black but come in many colors!