making workpants work and new hairstyle

I have been on the hunt for good quality pants that I can wear to work and was very lucky today. I went into a thrift shop in a posh area before going to the hairdresser and found 2 pairs of practically brand new trousers in my size in the brand I like (country road). Each were $24. They fit perfectly. I always struggle to style them with my shape (no bum, big bust and a tummy) and can't do suit jackets. Using the Yin Yang theory, I have paired them with a feminine blouse tucked in and a longer cardigan. Tried it with a necklace as well. I probably need to work on getting better toppers/cardigans. My friend said I need more feminine shoes instead of docs. Not the sexiest look (pics 1-3) but does it work? pic 4 is one of the pants worn with a top I got from the same place. One pant is navy and one is black but it is hard to tell the difference. Last photo is of my hair. I have a new hairdresser and he decided to make me really blonde!

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4 years ago

slim cat

Veteran

I love your new hair - fab look!
Both pants fit well and look great with printed blouse and the cardigan.
Your shoes add character and some toughness ( I like them ).
The blouse in #4 feels a bit less interesting without styling/accessories but has potential.

Mirjana

I like your hair, love color. Both pants look good on you. You can wear more feminine shoes or maybe silver, light gray or other colors, it is really personal choice. I prefer color, not black shoes.

Sally

@ slim cat. Thank you. Yes I will need to think about how to style the new blouse. I might even wear it with jeans as it feels too heavy to wear with the trousers.
@ Mirjana. Thank you. Yes I have some silver shoes which I can wear with the trousers to dress them up. I will also look out for more feminine shoes to spice up my trouser outfits. I would probably wear these docs or boots to work though for comfort.

Staysfit

1. Love the new hairstyle! It makes your face bright and eyes sparkle.
2. Pants look like they fit well! Lucky find!
3. I like the direction you are heading. Thinking about Yin Yang factors seems to make sense to you and is helping you refine your sense of style.

chewyspaghetti

Great find!
I don't think there's anything wrong with the docs. I do, however, have a problem with the way you describe your body- especially after seeing pictures. Try to be a little kinder to yourself!

Bijou

Great new pants, and the new do is fabulous. Like Slim Cat, I like the docs, but think it is fun to have some more Yin footwear choices too, of course the docs are super comfortable, so no need to change them up if you don’t want to.

RobinF

Great find! I quite like them with the docs but I am a fan of stompy shoes in general.

Janet

(website)

What lucky finds! I have trouble with trousers too but for different reasons. They look great, and I even like them styled with Docs. Your hair looks terrific too!

Anonymous

Your hair is gorgeous! Great colour ! The pants look great - and I know the difficulty in fitting pants all too well. I might agree with your friend who suggested a different shoe, but that's only a personal preference. There are some really great oxfords around these days in metallics, or with chunky soles, and they add nice polish to a work outfit without making it look dull.

Liesbeth

Great finds. What about fashion sneakers or oxfords or loafers with those pants? You can go more feminine for a classic vibe but I think you'd lose some of the edge that I associate with your style.

Suz

Gorgeous thick healthy beautiful hair!

The pants look fantastic, and what a buy. I like the direction you are going with these yang/ yin blends. Nodding along with those who have suggested experimenting with different footwear (not that these are bad or wrong -- just to continue the play and see what combos you like best).

The new hair style looks great on you. Mine was that color before it turned more white. I liked it with taupe shoes and pants, sometimes found in undyed linen.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

New hair looks amazing! Great new pants, and what Suz said.

Jonesy

What a score! Did you get a rush of adrenaline when you found them and tried them on and they were perfect? I love thrifting for this reason.

I love the top in 4--I'm trying to figure out the bottom part--is that part of the top, or what you're wearing underneath? I think this top would look awesome semi-tucked into some of your new pants :).

Your hair looks gorgeous.

smittie

Firstly: hair is amazing. YLF . Goes well with your skin and eyes. Beautiful.

Secondly: I like the collared shirt and pants outfit. I think a blazer would also work.

Love the pants! Love the hair! Docs are great It has been a year since I colored my hair, it is all different colors especially underneath...silver, white, blonde, brown. I hope it turns out as nice as yours!

Thank you everyone for your kind words. It gives me the confidence to keep going in this direction towards a more considered style.
@staysfit. Yes the yin/yang idea makes a lot of sense to me and explains where I have gone wrong before.
@chewyspaghetti I didn't mean to come across as negative. I actually have an appreciation of my body. I have been doing ashtanga yoga for 2 years and have developed a love for what it can do and how it supports me. I was just reducing it to parts for the clothes analysis.
@Bijou I think adding the yin factor in shoes and accessories would add variety to basics as you said.
@RobinF...I like what stompy shoes say, "no nonsense" etc
@Janet...you always look great in trousers so you're obviously styling them right.
@ Lisa p. thank you...good suggestion about the oxford and chunky shoes as they are both really comfortable option but in the right colours could add some panache or yin.
@Liesbeth you are right in that there needs to be a balance to considering yin/yang with the body but still consider personality and personal style.
@Suz I am having fun thinking about the combos that a change of blouse, shoe and accessory can make to a wardrobe of good basics.
@Joy a lot of my natural colour underneath has gone white and I'm finding I can wear a lot of natural colours that I couldn't wear before. I'm sure it will keep changing.
@Angie, I'm so pleased I got your approval on the pants because you do have the expert eye for the fit.
@Jonesy - yes I did an adrenaline rush because I hadn't been able to find them in the retail stores because most pants are cropped in the stores or of a flimsier material. In outlet stores all trousers in my size are sold out. The bottom of the top in picture four is actually part of the top. I might try tucking it in for a different effect and then semi-tucking as you suggest.
@smittie thank you. I did try blazers in several stories (zara, country road, cue) but none of them fit or they make me look bulky. I think i need them longer I'll keep looking.
@nikki - Thank you. I only ever colour and cut my hair in the school holidays so i leave the colour for 10 -12 weeks. I have a lot of grey and white hair underneath so the hairdresser has to blend it all in.

Jaime

Gorgeous hair! And of course I am vicariously thrilled when anyone finds great second hand finds. Love the mix of tougher shoes and softer top and necklace. YLF!

rachylou

Hello! Gorgeous!!

unfrumped

Fantastic hair! You look happy and sassy.
Outfit in pic #2 is excellent. The tucked- in blouse is perfect juxtaposition, as well as honing in on well- fitting pants.
I understand about using more feminine shoes to add to the yin factor, but it is very hard to get comfortable shoes like that with fussy feet, since most rely on a heel, a pointy toe, a low vamp for those qualities. So in 2, I think the Docs work fine- they work best I think when pants are fitted well, not saggy.
If you’re not chilly, you could push up your cardi sleeves some, which lightens up the outfit and is a substitute for focusing on daintier shoes. ( I always like to push up my sleeves- shirts, cardis blazers, but not if I need serious warmth. )
This looks like a really good direction in mixing elements.

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