Office polish for RATE people? - YouLookFab Forum

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Office polish for RATE people?

rachylou

Veteran

So, I was pondering whether or not there's a place for the tube skirts in my closet... how casual v. how office-ready they are... and then I got to thinking about the matter of polishing my RATE self up for the office while not derailing stylewise...

Anyways, the long and short of it is: I tried to wear my Express office trousers today and they didn't do anything to polish things up. Today is not the best example, I admit. My outfit is not an outfit but stuff I just felt like wearing today hell or high water. Shoes are too high for the pants and they're too far apart in genre, I think.

Still, I think the basic thing is the pants have been defeated by my RATE-ness. I haven't worn them in a long time because I'm not sure how to make them look better without going too far afield stylewise. Skinnies are straightforward, slouchy harem pants are working great... but the conventional trouser, not so much.

Clever suggestions folks? Or is my problem these pants have become dated? They're pretty old, I'm sure.

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Dressing

30 replies

Latest reply was from Angie

ironkurtin

Veteran

Rachy, my two cents:

- Your hair looks great!
- I love the tops.
- I think the pants are too short, that they should almost brush the ground rather than be a bit above the shoe. Also, it's very hard to wear wider-leg or bootcut pants with flats -- are those flats? Whatever the heel height, I don't think the shoes are playing their nicest with those pants.
- I thin the pants can work, but maybe not with a top with so much volume. You're getting volume on top and then flowyness around your feet. I can see this outfit with slimmer darker trousers and looking fab.

rachylou

Veteran

IK - Shoes are heeled - '70s style ankle-strap clogs. They're the wrong shoe both in style and height. I agree slimmer pants would be better. I'd really prefer trousers more fitted through the thigh. I should make a date with myself to go looking for some.

But back to these pants. They probably look best with little pumps, but I hate the thought of wearing little pumps and these trousers. I think I used to wear these pants with more fitted knit tops, which have gotten off to somewhere. I'm sort over fitted knit tops. Maybe I need to resurrect them to address the volume problem. But I don't know. I recoil at the idea of being so precious. Maybe if I were back in suburbia, I'd be more inclined to dress that way...

ironkurtin

Veteran

What about more streamlined boots? Those are very cleancut trousers, more angular shoes might carry the line better than rounded clogs.

Anonymous

I like Dana's suggestions!

Caro in Oz

Veteran

I think the pants are too short too. IK is right, this style of pant seems to look best brushing the floor & with heels (which is why I don't wear them). Love the top & what I can see of the shoes

How would the pants look with really flat shoes/sandals & a fitted tee & jacket?

Diana

Veteran

Hmm, so when I bought "classic" wide leg trousers, I bought them a little too big and a little too long, so they are kind of slouchy. I also wear them with platform shoes so they break kind of "hectically" as Angie put it. I rather like the effect, but it's definitely RATE. So I'm thinking your trousers need to be slouchier and longer. Can you pull them down a little on your hips or maybe let out the hem?
Caveat: I hardly ever need to look "officey".

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rae

(website)

Veteran

I also thought of booties and a slimmer top/jacket. What about your new VC booties?

Sarah A

Veteran

I'd consider letting out the hems if you other boot/booties are this same heel height. Otherwise a flatter shoe to get those hems closer to the floor. The shirt here works to my eye.

Carla

Veteran

My first reaction was the same As Ironkurtin....love the hair!

Also, the slight flare of the trouser kind of mimics the kick-out of the hair, and I like the colour. A pointy toe flat might save you fooling with the hem, but open toe booties could be interesting as well.

I think the top should be body con, can you do a little 'muscle shirt'? Kind of hot weather louche? Top it with a jacket ( bomber or moto?)

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Well I really like the pants except I want them to be longer with those shoes. I like the whole thing apart from that actually.

Adelfa

Veteran

For the moment I do not wear that style of trouser because I do not feel like myself in them. I admire the look on others very much. Do you even want to wear trousers?

ManidipaM

Veteran

Diana's already suggested going tunic length, I see! That's an option if plain body con bothers you--add length so it is, for dearth of a better word, a bit sloppier in silhouette. Or how about a still loose but sleeveless top, would that be a possibility in your office environment? Again, reins in the volume up top.

As for shoes, I like these! Flat versions of similar? Loafers, perhaps, rather than pumps? Those slipper flats Angie loves? Heeled sneakers with a T-shirt or sweater type top?

kkards

Veteran

hard to see exactly how long the pants are, but what about pointy toe flats (1st choice metallic or patent leather). i would wear a fitted tee and blazer, but i'm a structure kind of girl.

cinnamon fern

Veteran

I really like this trouser shape and find it way easier than skinnies. Plus I am consumed with envy that someone is wearing closed-toe shoes. How about tucking the top in all the way? I don't think you need a body-con top, but with those pants I think you need something to be fitted (either shoulders or waist).

Inge

(website)

I like the trousers on you, Rachylou, agreed that they are too short with these shoes. I'm thinking this type of top can still work faux or semi-tucked if it's perhaps a little shorter. (I mean, so that the hems hanging over the trousers would be a little shorter both in the front and back).

Or maybe with a mesh sweater like this:
http://youlookfab.com/store/20.....c-sweater/

Going lower contrast might also change how you feel about the look, the trousers are a lighter colour and the top is quite dark, right?

I would also like to see it with a cropped, boxy sweater, for example one with the "new look" round shoulder (balloon shoulder). Or another cropped top or sweater that exposes the waistband. E.g. http://pinterest.com/pin/18577417185200484/

Footwear: perhaps a sci-fi metallic (flat or heeled) oxford, or a peeptoe bootie?

rachylou

Veteran

I should just try and copy Diana! YLF!

Ok, I'm going to have to print this thread out and try all these suggestions. Love the ideas of boxy cropped top, mesh top, metallic shoes,
pointy shoes, angular shoes (do I have any?), and fitted blazer. My brain is loosening up - thanks guys! - although Adelfa you may have been right in that I really haven't been wanting to wear these pants.

I haven't been loving these trousers with any shoes. I think tucking would make a difference, but I've gone back to the ol' insulin shots - and tucking gets in the way. Also, I don't love the back view on the pants. I seem to have
lost some weight.

I have these pants in more colours. I'm gonna try these ideas out with those too.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

What Shevia said. But if you don't want to wear them, banish them from your kingdom!

rachylou

Veteran

I guess it's a catch-22, Suz. I want to wear them, but then I can't get them to work quite right, and then I don't want to wear them. What I want is them to work and/or for me to find a good replacement (that's the ultimate goal).

I have to scour my closet for funky 2" heels. Don't think I have anything like that, but it would help. These pants were made for 2" heels.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

If the trousers were 3 inches longer, and you added a burgundy belt to pick up the shade in the clogs, this would be a great outfit! Love the longer hair

rachylou

Veteran

Oh whoa. Angels sing and Angie blows my mind. Lol. That's, like, heavy serious stuff. I need to throw in a *dude* around here somewhere. Whoa!

I might have 3 inches in these hems, actually. And hmm... a burgundy belt. I'll have to think about how and where those can be had. That is so far out of my realm of thinking, I would never have to thought to think about it.

Did I mention, that I had to throw out the belt I was wearing when I got home? Little pieces of the stitching were falling off of it all day

p.s. Thank you for the hair props, one and all! I'm relieved, because I constantly worry it's a mess.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Your hair suits you by a billion percent! And you'll probably find a burgundy belt in the menswear dept.

rachylou

Veteran

Oh! Menswear. Who would have thought of that? I'm thinking about going to one of the Nordstroms in the City today. I loathe the thought. But mine seems to be out of stock of everything!

abc

Veteran

Rachylou, it seems like you're all sorted out but I just wanted to tell you I really enjoy reading your posts. I think it is your writing style combined with your quirky descriptions and straight up honesty that get me laughing every time (in the most respectful of ways). So thanks.

rachylou

Veteran

Thx, abc. You are most kind, most kind!

Deborah

Veteran

I'm glad to be commenting after Angie as I thought quite similar. Lengthen the trousers and add a more distinct belt. I love the semi tuck here and the volume on volume. And your hair does look very fab x

MNsara

Veteran

Wow, I'm super impressed by the wealth of ideas! Lots to try, rachylou!

I'll just add that I was thinking the pants should play up a masculine vibe, so maybe some sort of masculine (not really too masculine - you know) loafer or oxford. Flat shoes, or whatever it takes to get the PPL thing here - or extra length like Diana.

Love the belt idea, but if you're not into tucking, then a fine gauge slighty oversized sweater. Fine gauge so the oversized is fluid, and not really much volume. Could do a faux tuck too. . .

Hope shopping was successful today

ETA: Don't you think we're just tired of wearing some looks (like officey trousers, or whatever) and we need a vacation from them? I do! Sometimes we just need a break, other times I'm not at all interested in going back.

rachylou

Veteran

I'm fired up to lengthen the trousers now, Deborah. Even do it myself - which is a hilarious thought considering my overflowing mend pile.

MNSara - that's pretty darn brilliant - menswear and oxfords. A heeled oxford which I indeed have. And yeah, maybe I also do just need a break from officey trousers. They were/are getting on my nerves... lol.

Inge

(website)

Ooh and how about adding a waistcoat too, Rachy, à la Katharine Hepburn?

rachylou

Veteran

I love waistcoats. I had one I loved to death. Excellent thought. I should move a new one back up the list.

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