Outfit lab: messing around with culottes and boots - YouLookFab Forum

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Outfit lab: messing around with culottes and boots

catgirl

Veteran

Unlike SarahTheWhite and others, I have very limited patience for this sort of exercise - this just shows how desperate I am for a new winter silhouette. I'm trying these WHBM culottes with three different boot heights and two different tops, one more fitted (and no longer worn much) and one longer and flowier.

I see a definite favorite, but would love to know what you see and if you have any other suggestions (such as shorter hems, higher heels, etc.). As an aside, these are most likely to be worn with some kind of tights and not bare-legged. I also think they will work with my OTK boots. Please ignore my "I can't stand doing this" face.

Boots: Harley-Davidson (highest shaft), Rag & Bone (mid shaft but highest heel); low heeled blue booties. Not trying to match colors here, only looking at boot shape.

Shirts: Some drapy sweatshirt from Penneys, Club Monaco sweater

All feedback welcome!

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Dressing

39 replies

Latest reply was from ananthimathur

Dee

Veteran

Well, I know very little about proper culotte proportions/styling so take this with a grain salt, but my favorite is the second pair of boots. They seem sleeker/narrower. And both tops work but I prefer #4 because of the streamlined proportions.

rachylou

Veteran

I like the second and third pairs... Seeing a little Angie structure, ie skin. I like the 'purple' top best with the third pair for the same reason.

kellygirl

Veteran

I like the ones in 3 and 4 the best. Sleeker seems to be better with culottes. At least to my eye.

greycat6

Veteran

I'm not very good with proportions but I have to agree with Dee. I like the proportions with second pair of boots and the cropped sweater best. I think the drapy sweater is more interesting and certainly just flattering enough.

Thanks for posting this. All these cropped pants posts are helping me get over my poison eye.

catgirl

Veteran

greycat6, glad I'm not adding to your poison eye with my lack of skills here!

carter

Veteran

Love #3 best! It looks sleeker than the others to me and like every item in the outfit was intentional (not just this will do)

catgirl

Veteran

Carter, you picked my favorite. The only issue is that I don't think I can wear these Newburys any more - the heel is just too high.

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

I like #3. Perfect proportions.

Marley

Veteran

Hands down the R & B boots.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I like the boots in 3 and 4 best, by far. I like that there is a bit of skin showing (and I think thin socks or tights would work also) and that the boot shaft is closer fitting. I prefer the shape of the rosey top with the culottes, but I think the asymmetric draped one can work, too.

I also think your tall boots are going to be great with the culottes.

Kari

Veteran

I don't have much wisdom as I'm new to this look and am getting used to the proportions of culottes on me as well, but I love your trials and am watching this thread eagerly. 3 is my personal fave; somehow the boot shaft and culottes look more intentional rather than accidental at their respective heights, and I like the structure from the hi-low hem.

Carole

Veteran

I'm trying not to cheat to see what everyone else says...I like 3-4 best with a little of your skin showing...not sure if that's right or wrong because I know NOTHING about this new silhouette.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

#3 (and #4) are the clear winners to my eye.

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Much preferring the mid height boots, because they are closer fitting, as well as the bit of skin showing. I do think your OTK boots would work, if they are sleeker and less "stompy" than the higher shaft ones.

Tops... I think I prefer the reddish one. The other looks a bit over-powering, too much volume. But I think you have a lot more options in your closet.

In some of the looks, I wonder if the culottes are a bit long. I'd be curious if anyone else thinks the same.

And I hear you on the outfit lab patience thing... I don't have it either, but wish I did. About the only time I can do it is if something is new, and even then it's throwing things on in my excitement, not finishing the "styling" - often keeping the wrong shoes. Which are key! I wish I did have more patience for it, as I think it helps a lot, esp if doing a K/R.

Anonymous

I can't stand doing stuff like that either. But - it was probably worth doing....I see 3 and 4 as clear winners too. I like the idea of a bit of leg showing about the boot.

lyn67

Veteran

Great culottes but IMHO they scream dressier than nr 1-2 boots, so they work best with last 2 boots seen in nr 3-6-no matter the heel height. Love both sweaters with it.

TraceyLiz65

(website)

Veteran

Oh wow, thanks for pushing past your dislike for this type of fashion exercise. It's so timely as I just went through this myself, no pics because I hated the tops I tried. I was,always thinking knee high boots iny pairings, but the little leg showing in Pic 3 struck me immediately as the best silhouette. I may have to find time to play with mine again, keeping this in mind. You've been a great help as I was at a loss.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

#3 is best.

catgirl

Veteran

Thanks ladies! Agree on 3 but 3 is the least wearable due to bare legs and too high heels.

Angie, thanks for chiming in - don't want you typing!

So what could I improve? Are these culottes too long? The last ones were deemed too short. And does the need for showing some skin eliminate them as a winter outfit?

I'm wondering if this is going to be too too difficult after all. We are expecting snow today and bare legs are no longer an option!

Sara L.

Veteran

I'm the odd one out here because I like the first boots best where there is no skin showing between the boot and culotte. I like the second pair of boots as well, but they don't seem as practical to me since you are looking for a winter silhouette. I thought I saw somewhere (maybe one of Angie's posts?) that having the boot shaft higher than the culotte was one way of styling culottes for winter.

I hate doing outfit labs too but I enjoy seeing the results of other's efforts.

Elizabeth P

Veteran

I wear mine with my knee high boots in the winter... given the dressier nature of these culottes, I think your high boots could be your best option once the weather turns. I think they just need to be more fitted through the ankle than these higher ones. Let's see them!

shedev

Veteran

My favorites are 1 and 3.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I like three the best, and in general still think you need a narrow / streamlined boot. I'm curious to see if the OTK boots will work or add too much bulk around thr knee.

Word Lily

Veteran

Weighing in even though I'm disagreeing with the strong majority (and therefore probably wrong). I like #1 best. I think what I like best about it is that there isn't actually a visible gap between the boots and the culottes.

catgirl

Veteran

Word Lily, I agree with you - I'm confused about "closing the gap" vs. no gap. I think wearing my OTK boots will resolve that issue!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

High five, I have no patience for doing this kind of thing either.

I like 3 the best also. However, I think I would like 1 the best if the boots were sleeker -- I'd like to see a slimmer profile through the ankle with no leg showing.

I also feel your pain on the R&B Newburys. I am keeping mine and will wear them, but no longer for days when I'll be on my feet a lot. Somehow, over the last two years, my heel tolerance has diminished. Over 3" is getting tougher.

unfrumped

Veteran

Mama Bear boots win.

Are these what WHBM calls cropped pants--wool blend?

Kari

Veteran

Again, with the I'm-totally-a-novice disclaimer:
I think the culottes would need to be a bit higher to wear with boots that have no visible gap, having the hem end closer to mid calf.
Where are the too short culottes?

Kari

Veteran

Ah-found it. http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....-dashielle

The above culottes are really soft and structureless, and I like the grey ones on your post here much better. The shape and structure aren't overwhelming on your frame like the others are. I wonder if the length problem with the other pair is due to their volume and shape.

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