No Black Challenge: Days 3-5 - YouLookFab Forum

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No Black Challenge: Days 3-5

christy

Veteran

Here's the rest of the week of my personal "No Black Challenge Week". I've discovered that blue in general is a neutral to me apparently! Wednesday and Thursday turned out all right. Friday...well...you guys tell me how Friday turned out...

Wednesday (#1/2): Blue Gibson knit jacket, blue paisley BCBG blouse, Halogen grey pencil skirt, Steve Madden snakeskin print bag, Nine West snakeskin print heels.

Thursday (#3/4): Coldwater Creek camel sweater, Classiques Entier graphic print blouse, Ann Taylor brown tweed skirt, Miz Mooz taupe boots (yes, that's how cool it was yesterday!), B Makowsky bag, Ann Taylor gold tassel necklace

Friday (#5): I cheated here - back in a bit of black! White jacket tipped in black, Foxcroft blue striped button down, Ann Taylor cropped pants (which need to be shorter to meet Angie's style filter!), new Bandolino black heels, Steve Madden snakeskin print bag. Probably would have been better with lighter heels, but felt like the black tipping in the jacket needed some repeating elsewhere.

So...please be honest. An entire week of no black! (Monday/Tuesday seen here: http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....ys-1-and-2). What worked, what didn't? Today's (#5 here) felt like it didn't quite work...what do you think?

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32 replies

Latest reply was from Scarlet

Anonymous

#3/4 is my favorite. You really shine in those soft colors.

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

You are a stunner, Christyg, and you met the challenge, because of the way you combined your colors! The blues and grays with the snakeskin accents (great heels and bag btw) work together so well in #1-2. Then, the other neutrals of the camel, brown and taupe lend a really polished look (that isn't black in the graphic shirt?). Finally, in #3, what are you talking about? That works in my world. I love it and while the pant length may be something off the Angie PPL meter, I think your Friday outfit is a cute winner. Congratulations!

cjh

(website)

Veteran

5 is pretty gorgeous to me. FWIW, I love the slacks, and to me the length is perfect because of the rest of the proportions. The colors and the black trim on the jacket are SO nice. 1-4 are fab, too! Thanks for sharing.

christy

Veteran

Thanks Joy, Vicki & cjh!

Vicki, the graphic shirt is actually cream and navy...so, apparently navy is my new black!

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Wow--what an amazing week. You look stunning each day. I love the blue ankle pants on you, just as they are. They are perfect with those little black heeled loafers and the black-tipped jacket. You look great in camel, a la Tuesday's and Thursday's outfits. I like Wednesday's skirt outfit for the way it shows off your legs, and I love Monday's look for its fresh take on a classic navy-and-white summer color combination. The Chanel-like jacket and white pants are gorgeous on you. Thanks for sharing!

Victoria

(website)

Veteran

I think all the oufits look great! My favorites are the first two-I think you did great with neutral color combinations. It making me realize that there is no way I could do "no black" challange but perhaps I need to branch out. Almost all of my pants and skirts are black and looking at your stylish beige/grey/navy combos making me want to expand my horizons;)

Debbie

Veteran

All of the outfits are stunning but 3 is my favorite. I love the combination with the sweater. I'm really jealous that you can wear boots.

christy

Veteran

Debbie, truly it's nothing to be jealous of. I'd give a lot for some heat right about now! It's supposed to rain all weekend...

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I like them all! Also the last outfit, it has a Rag & Bone feel to it. What about wearing it with trendy footwear, to take down the preppy a bit? That would be my only suggestion.

So, did you feel less bored with dressing after a week of color play?

Deborah

Veteran

Christy I don't thinkI could do this! I think these outfits are wonderful.. Outfit 2 and 3 are the standouts for me. Particularly 3, it's stunning. Crisp, fresh and a little bit fun. Well done.

Mona

Veteran

This is such a fun challenge. You look gorgeous in #3 and 4. You do non-black colours so well.

Midwest Girl

Thursday's outfit is amazing on you! You glow in these colors. I think Friday's outfit is a winner too--the jacket looks great with the cropped pants.

christieanne

Veteran

I really like those blue ankle pants (maybe because I have a similar rule breaking pair lol) and understand that it's a better length for workplace than a more cropped version would be. I am hopeful that when Fall rolls around we will see more colored bottoms in full lengths because currently it is hard to find unique (non-black) full length trousers.

This week has been fantastic - you rose to the challenge and conquered. Did you feel you made any breakthroughs or was it really difficult? I love the second outfit - very soft feeling and pretty neutrals

Kyle

Veteran

I like 3 and 5 the best, and I like them both a lot. My only possible critique is the way the white collar on the last blouse is blending into the white jacket and we are losing some of the wonderful crisp black piping. Also, can you imagine this outfit with a bag that adds a pop of color like red, orange or yellow? I love how much you are able to do with those blue pants and I very much enjoy your style.

melindawoodard

They are all great... but immediately when I laid eyes on 3, 4 I said WOW I LOVE THAT!

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

I love them all but especially the first and last. Perhaps it is the injection of blue into the mix.

I find your style reallly resonates with me and would love it if you had a blog so I could study the outfits to figure out the elements that are appealing. I have given it some thought and find your outfits are have classic aspects, usually only one main color, and use layers beautifully.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Honestly, Christie - for this time of year, I don't think you have ever looked better! Lay off the black for a while. Doesn't your style feel refreshed?

KILLER week.

Marie

I'm no help really because I LOVE all of your outfits that you post on the forum. It also helps that you have such a beautiful smile!

Scarlet

Veteran

You know, I am sorry to say this, but I think I am coming by to nab those nude boots, snakeskin bag, your blue and white blouse, and that big black patent leather bag not featured today. Um, that necklace in three, too, I think

You look true to your style and completely fabulous.

christy

Veteran

Thanks all for the encouragement! This was a very interesting exercise - it made me think a bit more about what I reached for in my closet in the morning.

Denise - I think you are absolutely right about wearing different shoes with Friday's outfit. If I hadn't been wearing this to work, I think I would have worn a pair of funkier shoes...but I felt like I was already pushing the envelope a bit, so decided to play it safe with the shoes.

Deborah - I wasn't too sure that I'd be able to do it either!

Christieanne - I think you hit the nail on the head with the length on the cropped pants. I feel like much shorter wouldn't be quite right for work. As for the challenge, it wasn't as difficult as I thought it might be. It made getting dressed a bit more interesting, that's for certain!

Kyle - I almost wore my coral Franco Sarto flats to add another pop of color. I think my next bag purchase is going to be a coral or orange bag...or maybe turquoise.

Dianthus - thanks for being so specific about what you think works, that's really helpful. I think I'm too self-conscious to have a blog! Sometimes I still feel a bit uncomfortable posting here, but I think that my style has only benefited from the feedback that I've gotten here over the past year or so, which makes me continue to do it.

Angie - once again, thanks to you and this fabulous community, I feel like I've been able to improve and hone my style. I will do my best to lay off the black for a while...believe it or not, I have a white suit on the way! Yes, I do feel a bit refreshed and this has been very helpful. Thank you.

Scarlet - how about we go shopping together instead! That would be a fun trip!

I really appreciate everyone's thoughtful comments and encouragement. This is such a great place to be able to explore and evolve style and figure out what works and what doesn't.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

You definitely met the challenge! I love each of these outfits, and think you've managed to give yourself a real refresher.

So why DID you reach for black so consistently, do you think?

christy

Veteran

Great question Suz, and one I've been asking myself. I think it's partly because I have so much black in my closet. It is, without a doubt, the most dominant color I have. I think it's also partly due to laziness! I know I can put on a black bottom, a black jacket, a contrasting blouse to keep it from being too dark and still look relatively put together and even stylish. I am a planner to the nth degree when it comes to most areas of my life, but when it comes to getting dressed, I just grab something in the morning and go. I really should get better about thinking it through the night before, but it just never seems to happen...

ManidipaM

Veteran

You always look fab, Christy --- that's par for the course for you. But that gorgeous use of neutral shades and pattern in 3/4 is just above and beyond! TDF!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Your style is a beautiful breath of corporate fresh air, Christy! (And I just love working with you too :))

I have a few white suits on my shopping list. LOVE whites suits. Hmm. I am deciding whether I want to invest or not. Quite the decision as I just invested big time in my suit from Japan.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Wow...fabulous, every single one of these! I'm particularly drawn to #3-4 (grey and camel), as I was with the grey and camel outfit earlier in the week. There's something almost ethereal about you in this soft colour palette. Simply gorgeous Christy.

sarah

Veteran

Christy, these are so pretty! Well done! I really, really love you in that blue in #5. That color is stunning on you.

Kari

Veteran

Your response to your own challenge really pushed your style meter higher by a few notches, I think - and it's always been high to begin with. These are among my favorite outfits on you, ever. I especially love the layering of tops in #3 (that patterned top peeking out from beneath neutral sweater/skirt is creative and SO beautiful) and I love the cool colors and pattern mixing in the first outfit.

Kari

Veteran

(Just added #4 to my style pinboard.)

Anonymous

I love these, particularly the first outfit. You look great in black, but these soft colors are already present in your natural coloring, so it makes for a beautiful, soft, harmonious look. A white suit? I can't WAIT to see that!

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