Firecracker, I can sew like you in my dreams only - I really like the tunic paired with the skirt that you made.

Elle, I'd like to see a pic of the blouse with shorts, before the final "pass along" vote. I think it looks dated, not current boho, with the jeans. I vote pass on the hat.

Pastry, I'm going against the grain here and saying I like your shirt better belted over the skirt, rather than tucked in. I also love the necklace.

Shedev, great oxfords, great shirt. What is it about them you don't like? I like them a lot, and the jeans with buttons are fab.

K, I think the skirt in #1 and #2 looks a little big to me. I would either alter it or pass it along. The skirt in #3 looks perfect!

I know what you mean about the necklace, Diana - I have several orphans in that area. I like it and think it looks great the way you're wearing it. It looks great with that T shirt, so I'd keep it for at least another season.

Thanks, everyone for your help with responses! My work schedule is crazy this week as it is nearing the end of the school year (I should actually be doing work right now but this is way more fun) but I'll try and check in as often as I can.

Oh... I posted on the other thread. I'll just re-post the picture here

And tomorrow, I'll look for the Tuesday thread. <3 <3 <3

Recap: orphan jacket, had it for years, LOVE it, will never part with it until it falls to rags. I never wear it because of some half-baked idea that I should wear it for a special occasion... which I never do...

Just popping on to say I've loved everyone's outfits today. LBD - glad you found a way to wear that glamorous jacket. You would dress it down even more with jeans.

Mona - love the necklace on you and think with its colours you might wear it more in spring/ summer. Really like it with the blues today.

K - isn't that sad about the tweed skirt? But yes, it no longer fits. I had that issue when I lost weight too - styles that once worked, no longer did. Even in the right size, in some cases.

Shedev, you look good in the VC top! Hope you will wear it more often. And the oxfords are great, too.

Firecracker, I have a Simpli tunic that is more or less an orphan, too. Mine is very similar to yours except it has sleeves! And that doesn't seem to make it easier to style. Hmmm. I love what you have done here, though!

Karie, that jacket definitely works. But I wonder if it fits your developing style persona?

Joy, I like the checked shirt in all its incarnations, maybe especially with the full watercolour skirt and raspberry jacket -- that is a very fun outfit. You pattern mix with the very best!

Pastrygirl, I actually love the shirt tucked into the skirt, but maybe it feels too bombshell for everyday wear? It looks good either way.

Elle, I like the jeans! Agree that you may use the top throughout the summer. It does seem more boho than your usual style now, but it would work for outdoor music.

Very insightful comments (as always!) Suz. I don't know if the beige jacket fits my developing style persona, that's something that I plan on taking the time this summer and figuring out. I think I need to write my "style persona" out - adjectives, descriptors, etc. At least for now, the jacket works because I need it for these still cool spring days. I do like the color and the 3/4 sleeves. I have plans for future jacket purchases though - and they include popping over the border this summer to Kingston, ON to find a Danier store! White leather jacket, I'm talking about YOU!

Here's my first outfit for Karie's Orphans to Outfits challenge. I was rushing out the door to work so I did not have time to sit and think about this outfit. I bought the lace bomber that Angie has and wore so well in this outfit, and this is sort of a copy of her outfit with the lace bomber over a full skirt. But for some reason I am just not feeling like this outfit is "me". I'm finding this lace bomber so hard to style with my other tops and dresses, because most of them are patterned themselves and kind of clash with the lace pattern. Plus the silhouette of the bomber with its lack of waist definition makes me feel a bit frumpy. Help, please analyze what went wrong with this outfit, and I'd love suggestions on how to wear this bomber because it still feels like an orphan to me. I only wore the jacket for a few minutes to go to work and then took it off inside (basically wore #2), because I wasn't sure if it looked professional enough (plus it was hot today).
Thanks for your comments and suggestions!
Lace bomber
WHBM white blouse and blue pleated skirt
Born silver flats
The Sak black purse
Pewter bracelet and pearls

Natalie, I have a different black/grey lace bomber. You might start by pairing yours with denim or black jeans, skirt or clams with a neutral top. Don't you have polka dots? Try it with dots. Will it work with your Kate Spade oriental print?

Goldenpig: I think the bomber looks great with the skirt. My one thought is that you might wear a little heel to dress up the look more deliberately, if the bomber made you feel a little casual for work. I think your jewelry choices were excellent for dressing up the outfit. Also, with the tucked shirt, you kept the look shapely and feminine, too--far from your fear of dumpy.

La Belle: The jacket is beautiful on you. Yes, you do look like a million bucks--at least! I had the same thought, you could try wearing it with jeans sometimes (for a date or to go shopping, maybe) instead of saving it for super special occasions.

Mona: I like how you've styled the necklace. It's perfect with that top and sweater, and love the white jeans with the blues. However, I wonder if it's the length and style that make it hard to wear. I don't wear my necklaces that length, either, unless I can double them and wear them shorter. Is that the case for you?

Shedev: I have those oxfords in brown! I like them as styled with those jeans. I wear mine like that, with my boot cut jeans that have shrunk too much to wear with heels anymore. And I love wearing them with skinnies, so you might try that, too. I like the top on you as well, and I think you could wear it under jackets or by itself, with jeans or black trousers.

Pastrygirl: Love the first outfit on you! But if it's not comfortable, it doesn't pass my personal test for wearing. I just don't get out the door in uncomfortable clothes. Your last outfit is a keeper, too, especially if you felt more like yourself in it.

Karie: hooray for animal print as a neutral! And the jacket is fab on you. Agree the blue skirt is fun for casual wear.

Joy: I like the checked shirt best with the two jackets. Just dynamite! I LOVE your use of it for pattern-mixing. To me it seems a little preppy with the citron jeans, and it's very cute that way, but I wonder if that's the style you're going for. Personally I'm attracted to your eclecticizing of it! (But you might guess that, coming from me, huh?)

K, you are looking so, so fab in the third outfit! What a contrast. Yes, unfortunately, the lace and tweed is just not the right fit or shape to achieve the same level of fabness.

Elle, I think your look is perfectly boho. If the hat doesn't work for summer when you like to be more boho, then you might need to swap it for a lighter version. I'd hang on to the jeans; I've been seeing some boyfriend-style boot cuts, and these might work that way--unless you need some slouchy cutoffs sooner!

Thanks to all who gave me feedback on the tunic. I'm glad it's working (more or less) with the skirt I have. A pinafore look I don't really want, but a skirt in the same color is probably not going to fall into my life. (Even fabric options aren't that ideal, alas.) K, I really appreciate the link--that gives me a great image to try to copy.

LBD the fabric in your jacket is gorgeous. Just start weaing i with jeans, pants, everything.

Goldenpig I cant figure out what you dont love about your jacket but others might.

Will pop back but my first responses are for Firecracker....that tunic is fabulous! How about layering over it not under? I would wear this over skinny jeans and booties with a drapey long cardigan over the tunic;).

And K, your style has truly transcended the tweed skirt. I think you can happily send it off to a new home.

Cooking dinner, but will be back. Great thread Karie:)

Goldenpig, I really like your look! (And I love the baby gym that's in your outfit shots now. ) I wonder if it would work better with a fitted tee? And this doesn't help, but a smaller size might work better, too. What I see in the bomber-over-full-skirt formula is the banded edge ending just above or right at the hips, and it looks a little lower on you.

Regardless, I would try again because it looks like such a fun jacket!!

And thanks to everyone with comments about my outfit! I'm pretty sure I won't keep the skirt. It takes too much thought to get an outfit together. What wasn't shown is that beneath the belt, it has a big elastic band waistband, same width as the belt.

I ended up changing into jeans for evening errands because it was cool out, and I kept the shirt untucked and loved it! It's funny, because I bought a Gibson blazer the same day as that red shirt, and I've worn the jacket to death, sometimes more than once a week. I have to challenge myself to NOT wear it, LOL. Yet the shirt only made its first outing yesterday thanks to this challenge!

This is a great challenge! Here's my outift! It actually made me wonder why this skirt is an orphan -- I think it will be back in rotation this summer!