Orphans to Outfits Challenge - Post your Tuesday outfits here - YouLookFab Forum

Category

What I Wore

Orphans to Outfits Challenge - Post your Tuesday outfits here

Karie

(website)

Veteran

Post your Tuesday Orphans to Outfits here!

The "Orphans to Outfits" challenge:

Take one item that you like but have trouble wearing in an outfit, and create an outfit with that item. It can be an article of clothing or an accessory. Add why you don't tend to wear said orphans - fit, fabrication, level of dressiness, lack of occasions, etc.

I will post the thread for each day every morning around 7:00 a.m. eastern time. I won't be able to check in much during the day, and, as much as I'd like to, I definitely won't be able to respond to everyone's outfit. So I might need a little help from my friends - if you're not posting an outfit for the day, could you take a minute and comment on a post or two? Also, those that are posting, could you include a comment about the outfit posted directly before yours? That way, everyone will get some feedback on their orphans.

The poster says, "Will tomorrow ever come?" So I ask you, will tomorrow ever come for your closet orphan?

This post has 1 photo. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

34 replies

Latest reply was from Karie

Karie

(website)

Veteran

Here's mine for today. The shoes in this outfit are the orphans, and now I remember why - heel blisters! I have such a hard time wearing closed heeled shoes w/o stockings. With peep toes there's just no way to wear stockings, no matter how nude. Does anyone know of any type of heel inserts I can wear to prevent blisters? Right now they're just rubbing - and I'm not even out the door yet - so I'm putting Band-aids and a pair of flats in my bag for work just in case.

The belt came with a different dress but lucky for me it matches the shoes perfectly, which are an orangey-red color. My blouse doesn't pull across the chest like it appears to in the photos, it's the way I'm standing.

I'm not sure about those shoes - they look glaringly bright!

This post has 3 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Anonymous

I like the shoes with the outfit, but if they are uncomfortable they wouldn't be staying in my closet, no matter how cute they are. Have you tried the heel pads that stick in the back of the shoe? That or a small heel lift might improve the fit so it doesn't rub.

lyn67

Veteran

Karie, I like those peep toes, and love the outfit, too, but I can relate- too bad if it rubs your feet...:-((. Hope you'll find a solution for turning them in some workhorses:-).

I have two(!) orphans for today: the high low coral button down shirt itself and the tuck in method for styling it. How does it sound for day 2?

I bought the coral shirt last spring, esp. for white white jeans and linen trousers (as shown here). Linen pants here were bought this spring, and are high rise. I love them much more than some lower rises, which usually gave me the ugly muffin top:-((.

I quite liked the ideea of a high-low, the front length, the sleeves folding (with button on it's tie) and the drape of the shirt, but didn't like the (IMO too much) length on the back-as even I like it covers my bum, I feel it shortens my legline too much(see the picties in the first row).

Then, I tried the half tuck, too. Not much of success, here, either:-((. Tucking in is not my job, as I lave a long torso and a long rise, a bit of tummy and a flat rear, and even if I may so-so like the front view, there is the side and the back view there (see in the second row)-which gives me a big pause...:-((

Can you tell me what's wrong, and how can I improve?
(Or shall I stick with my skirts and dresses...)

ETA: You have to trust me, I went back and put on a cami under the shirt before leaving the house, as noticed it was grinning:-)

This post has 10 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Lantana

Veteran

Karie,this is a very smart outfit with the matching shoes and belt but if the shoes are uncomfortable they might need to be delgated to sit down only occasions. BTW, have you tried talc powder in them?
Perhaps you have other sets of matching shoes and belt to creat this look, green for example would be lovely.
Lyn, I recognise the appeal of a loose top for a hot day when you want air circulation but I prefer the blouse tucked and belted. Despite your misgivings I would like to see the blouse fully tucked. I think the half tuck looks too contrived.
The linen pants look great and will deservedly be a summer workhorse.
As for the coral and white, it's a completely yummy combination on you.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Karie, you look amazing in a crisp button-down!! Love this outfit - one of your best! But if the shoes hurt, you need to get rid of them. You could try moleskin or something like that --- but otherwise, when shoes are uncomfortable for me, I simply chalk it up to experience and move on to another brand. Usually a pricier one -- my fussy feet don't like inexpensive shoes, alas.

Lyn, I have the same trouble with a loose top that has a high-low hem. I have found it works great with a midi-length pencil skirt and wedge heeled sandals. Feels less leg-shortening. This one is a gorgeous colour on you and looks great tucked with the pants.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Fantastic outfit Karie - love the crisp white skirt with that fab skirt. And the pops of color with the belt and shoes is just lovely. But if the shoes hurt, that is not a good thing. I would try a Dr. Scholls heel gel insert (you just peel the paper backing off and stick it on the inside of the heel). I use these quite a bit. If that doesn't make them comfy, then out they go. Nobody likes unhappy feet

Lyn - love the blouse and white pants together. So gorgeous.

Liz A.

Veteran

Karie, I think it's time for painful shoes to get the heave ho! They look great but it's so not worth it, is it?

Lyn, I think the blouse looks fab with the pants. I agree with Lantana that your best option is a full tuck all the way around. It works with the higher waisted pant.

pastrygirl

(website)

Veteran

Karie -- I agree with everyone. Shoes that cause me pain leave the house immediately before I change my mind. I don't even know how many pairs of red shoes have come through my closet the past few years. I'm still looking!

Lyn -- I love the blouse, and prefer it tucked in. But the question is, are you likely to wear it like that? If it's an orphan now, and seems better tucked in, but you don't like to tuck... then it might remain an orphan forever.

I really like this challenge! I wanted to use a shirt today that I never wear, but even as I stared at it in the closet I could only think of how the static cling drives me nuts. So off into the donation pile it goes!

My orphan for today is a vest that I loved when it fit, but now is just too big. It has a string to cinch the waist, but cinching it as much as I'd like makes it look like a peplum. Very silly. But I put it on anyway, and got the idea to overlap it and belt it rather than use the internal cinching. I still want to find a military-style vest in a smaller size, but until then, I think this will work. And it was in my donation pile when I grabbed it this morning!

This post has 2 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

shedev

Veteran

Karie, the shoes are cute but not worth foot pain.
Lynn, the pants and shirt are really pretty together. I like it tucked but your legs still look plenty long untucked.
PastryG- I dont really think the vest looks that big on you, I really like it with the striped shirt.
I was wondering how long something has to sit in the closet before it is really an orphan.
My orphan is this blue button down. It has sat in the closet for years. On one hand it fits in the sleeves and woven shirts are almost always too tight in the arms. But I have a knit button down that looks like faded jean that I'd probably wear instead of this one. Not sure if I need both.
shirt- Passport
jeans- Jolt
boots- Mix no 6
belt- JCP

This post has 2 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Karie

(website)

Veteran

Pastry, I think the vest looks good belted - I think you can get away with this style fitting loosely.

Lyn, I prefer the blouse tucked in (fully tucked, not semi). Have you tried wearing it out and belted? I'd like to see a pic like that. And I think your blouse and my shoes match!

Shannon, I am on a free period at school - I think I'll run out and get some of those gel heel inserts!

And Suz, I have this problem with all heeled shoes, even my narrow width ones, due to my narrow heel. I've tried bare legs and peds but then the peds end up showing and I end up looking like some little old lady (Ruth Buzzi from Laugh-In but with blond hair! Horrors!).

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Karie, I hear you - I have the same problem with my narrow heels. Either the shoes simply won't stay on ( a big reason I almost never wear pumps) or they wear my heels with blisters...or both! Seriously - this is part of the reason I am almost always in boots or sandals. Those are the only shoes that don't do it to me. (Actually, I almost always get blisters from my sandals at the start of the season, too, but my feet do toughen and at least they stay on.)

Shedev, I love that shirt with your silver belt! Amazing! Great colour for you, too.

Pastry, I think the vest looks good like this. I like the tougher feel of it with the classic stripes.

Anonymous

Karie, I've yet to read the other comments but have you tried moleskin in the heels that rub? Sometimes inserting something that lifts your heel up a bit solves the problem. Nordstrom has some great hard plastic inserts that are so comfortable and don't change the size of the shoe.
Love the whole outfit!
My orphan is the Sweet Pea top shown. Today I'm at my most casual ready to deep clean bathrooms. It is supposed to get to 92 F today. Photos show the top at different lengths and half tucked. It's a breezy nylon mesh doubled through the torso not to require a cami. I think it was an orphan this winter because I needed tops for more warmth. But when it gets really hot, it can be too warm...a victim of climate. How do you like it best? Other styling ideas?

This post has 3 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

ElleH

Veteran

Karie try this. I found it works really well. http://www.drugstore.com/band-...../qxp163404

Lyn67 I love the blouse woth the white trousers from what I can make out. I can never really tell much with photos taken on the angle.

Pastrygirl I'd like to see the vest worn undone or only slightly cinched.

Shedev the shirt looks good to me. Do you have room for it or are you trying to get rid of things you don't wear?

Joy I love the top. Could you wear it with a warm topper in colder weather?

shedev

Veteran

Joy, its a cute top.
Elle, I was thinking that it's a near duplicate of something I will wear more but Ive noticed that it's staying tucked really well so I might have to keep.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I like the top, Joy. Can't believe it will get to 94 where you are; it is so cold here again today. This is why I switch my closets out seasonally, though - there are some things that just don't work for our weather in this or that season, so I banish them until the season changes.

Elle, I have tried that friction block, too, and it does help!

K. Period.

Veteran

Orphan day 2:

I've always loved Missoni patterns, but they were too expensive and sometimes too frumpy for me. When they paired with Target, they magically produced a sweater in a shape I could wear (v-neck) and colors that I love (navy, blues, citron!). I totally fell in love with this sweater. I bought it. Then it sat. And sat. And sat. I just never seemed to have the right thing to wear with it. First, it seems to scream out to be paired with something crisp. Navy and black slim pants look adequate, but they really don't do anything to make the sweater sing.

Finally, last year, I bought a pair of short white shorts that I wore all summer. Unfortunately, by the time I found them, it was much to warm to wear them with this sweater (and honestly the sweater was languishing in a dark corner of my closet.

This spring, Angie helped me find this white pleated skirt. I thought, well, let's go for a flapper vibe. When I first tried this outfit on, I wasn't sure about it. Somehow the shoes didn't seem dark enough. The skirt was too full. Blah blah blah. Then I took a picture of it and it surprised me. I think it works, but I'm not sure. So, here is my little orphan, out for the day. Does it work?

This post has 1 photo. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

ElleH

Veteran

Yes K I think it works.

K. Period.

Veteran

Back with orphan comments:

@Karie, love the peep toes too! I might be a rule breaker, but I wear my nude hose with peep toes sometimes. I just make sure that I have a sandal toe and I tuck the seam under my toes so that it doesn’t show. I figure that that is why they make both sandal toe and reinforced toe hose. I’m not sure a heel insert will really help with the rubbing—in my experience it is usually because the shoe is too small. You could try getting it stretched so that you foot slides down further into the front of the shoe. If you want an insert, I absolutely adore these and I know there are other forum members who love them too: http://www.amazon.com/Pedag-St.....ords=pedag They are soft suede, so very comfortable! However, if they don’t work and you are anti-sandal toe hose, then get rid of the shoes. Nothing is worth shoe pain. (But BTW, your outfit looks gorgeous with the shoes!) BTW, I’ve used the hard plastic inserts that Joy mentioned and they really are phenomenal. They make too-high heels much more comfortable!

@Lyn67, I love the blouse, but I can imagine that it is hard to style, especially with a high waist pair of trousers. The trousers are great. I find, though, that sometimes I need both high and lower waisted trousers to get the right shape. I like the blouse better tucked than untucked. As a possible fix, I would try front tucking, but pulling out a lot more of the tuck in the front so that it covers where your belt loops are. You should have plenty of fabric. Push it to the limits and see if that brings the front down enough to improve the proportions. You can also do that with a full tuck, making the back and front fairly long. The fact that this is a drapier fabric helps a lot.

@pastrygirl, OMG! I love the vest with the belt. It looks fantastic! Great reclamation job there!

@shedev, I love the shirt, but if it is a duplicate and you have one that you really love, I vote in favor of letting it find a home with someone who adores it. It will always be a second choice for you and what’s the fun in wearing something that is a compromise? Lovely as it is (and it really is), I’d let it go.

@Joy, I was so-so on the shirt until I saw it tucked and belted. That really works! Could you wear it with a more colorful bottom too? I’m a little stuck on it because even though it is lovely, it is coming across as a very muted color and pattern. Very background piece. Maybe, as Elle mentioned, a richer color for a topper would bring it out?

ETA: Elle, thanks! And I just suddenly realized that it would look great with mint or citron shorts. Hmmmm....

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Lyn67: I'll go a little bit against the tide, here, but I really like the blouse semi-tucked. I agree with K, you could try to blouse it a little more in front, or perhaps tuck it less (just a tad, right at front). But I like the way the semi-tuck in front brings the length up in back a bit, and I find it very flattering, as it shows a little of your nice shape. I also like the blouse untucked, and I think it would work fully tucked. It's a gorgeous color on you, and I love the sumptuous drape of the fabric. I hope you're comfortable in it today and encouraged to wear it more often now.

Karie: I love your shoes, and the belt is such serendipity! If they hurt, though, and you can't find a good fix, this season is a good one to find replacements, because the oranges are still really on trend!

K: I like your sweater with the skirt--good solution. Did you try blousing the sweater up a little bit on the skirt (treating it as if it had a band at the bottom)? I might like the proportions a little better if there were more skirt in proportion to the sweater. Or less sweater in proportion to the skirt.

Joy: I love the top semi-tucked with the belt. Maybe scrunch the sleeves, too? It looks a little too understated to me in the other pics. Though it's just my kind of top, for that reason (I like understated elements, muted colors, etc.). But I would tend to wear it under a v-neck boyfriend cardi in cooler weather. You could try some of your fab pattern-mixing with it, perhaps.

Shedev: I like the subtle silver stripe in your shirt, and how you've paired it with the silver belt. If it's taking up space that could otherwise go to a top that doesn't overlap with another one, though, you could let it go. Or, if denim-y blue is a color you often want to wear in a top, there's no harm in having a near-duplicate!

Pastrygirl: I like the vest with the belt. It doesn't look too big across the shoulders. If you let it go now, would you be more likely to find a replacement sooner? I worry about hanging on to an OK-but-not-great piece, and then subconsciously not buying a replacement becasue "I already have one like that." In fact, probably a good third of my wardrobe probably consists of such items.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Here's my orphan outfit for Tuesday. The orphan is the gray sweater. I bought it largely because I like the neckline. It's a wide but not too deep v-neck, and the back neck has a slight drape--almost like a cowl--which really attracted me. The problem is, if I'm wearing a sweater, it's cool enough that I don't want my neck exposed--I f-f-f-f-freeze! But if I wear a scarf with the sweater, I cover up the feature I like best about it. Layering under it doesn't really solve the bare neck problem, either.

Today is one of those days--a cotton-sweater kind of day, too cool early in the day to expose the neck, but expected to warm up later on.
Photo 1: what I'm wearing. The sweater, a scarf, white skinny jeans (AG Stilt), metallic and taupe sling-back Mary Janes (Fidji), a metallic belt with some bling (Calvin Klein), silver icicle earrings (maybe that's what's making me cold--ha ha).
Photos 2-3: the sweater without the scarf, to show the detail that I like.
Oh, I also tried to faux-semi-tuck the sweater in front, just for a change.

This post has 3 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

pastrygirl

(website)

Veteran

Joy -- I love that top!

K -- I think that outfit works. I really like the skirt!

Firecracker -- I like that sweater, with or without the scarf. The tucking looks great, too!

About my vest, it's fine in the shoulders, but wide in the body. I usually buy jackets/vests so that they can't close, or just barely can. This vest was a bit big when I bought it (at my larger size), and now it is billowing (to me). I would never wear it undone, it's just too big for my taste. I like my waist defined. I've been actively searching for a replacement and will probably ditch this one once I find one. (Or at least, put it in my too-big-but-want-to-keep bin in the basement.)

Karie

(website)

Veteran

Joy, I really like that top. I like it both ways, untucked and tucked.

Shedev, I like the shirt but you say you have a similar one. Is it the same color? Maybe keep it for one more season and see if you wear it.

K - I like Firecracker's suggestions for your sweater / skirt. I think the shoes look fine, but how about white, cream or nude shoes?

Firecracker, I like your sweater better without the scarf. Maybe if you're cold you could wear it with a denim jacket so you could still see the neckline.

Thanks everyone for the shoe heel suggestions. I did go and get the gel inserts, and they seemed to solve the problem for the rest of the afternoon! I will try the other suggestions too.

shedev

Veteran

BF thinks I should keep too. He even gave me an unsolicited compliment on my outfit.

ElleH

Veteran

Firecracker I love your outfit. The sweater looks great but I don't know how you would get more wear out of it without a scarf. At least with a scarf it is getting worn. I had a sweater like that. It had bare shoulders but was a chunky knit. Too cold on shoulders, too warm for non cold days.

Liz A.

Veteran

Firecracker, what if you wore a turtleneck underneath?

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

This is kind of a 'cheating' outfit, because I didn't wear it until this evening, when I went out for a friend's drinks-n-dinner birthday celebration.

The top is a true orphan, I bought it in Japan in 2006 and wore it once. Many times I put it on, and thought, if I lose just a few more pounds, it will be perfect.... Well, that day finally arrived. I paired it with last night's skirt, and the happiness factor, for me, was very high. I felt slim and retro-glamorous, but the whole outfit is stretchy, so I could eat comfortably.

It's a beautiful top - the pictures don't really show the color, which is a rich grape-y purple velvety velour, with a black lace ruffle and trim. The back is low-cut, but high enough for a bra.

I am going to wear closed-toe shoes next time. I'm not digging the open toes with the stockings like I used to.

This post has 2 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

K. Period.

Veteran

@Firecracker and Karie, agreed! I have been hitching the sweater up all afternoon. It is very drapey, though, so it doesn't have much stick to it. Karie, I tried it with my nude wedges and it was very ho hum. I think the ankle straps help make the look. Hmmm. Maybe I need some nude ankle strap shoes.

@Karie, yay for the inserts helping solve the problem!!!

@Firecracker, I love your sweater both with and without the scarf. This really brings home to me the whole "do you run hot or cold or neither" issue. Angie asked me that once and I answered neither. It was a whole fitting issue that I'd never really thought about. I have lots of open neck sweaters and I never feel chilly in them. I imagine your sweater would be nice for someone who runs hot or who is a "neither" like me. However, it looks so nice on you with the scarf that I think you shouldn't give up on it.

@Shedev, I think I'm a negative indicator for you! I'm going to have to do a George Costanza and reverse whatever first leaps to mind! (Although in fairness, I did say that I liked the shirt--I was just wondering about it being a duplicate.)

@LBD, the shirt looks beautiful! Details are hard with dark tops, but from what I can see it looks like a wonderful little sweetheart neckline, which is one of my romantic favorites. Hooray for new-old clothes!

Karie

(website)

Veteran

La Belle, how fantastic that you're now able to wear that pretty top! The photos don't show the grape color, I'll bet it's beautiful. You do look retro-glamorous. Beautiful!

Anonymous

Time for a few comments.
Lyn, the coral color is beautiful on you and with your white pants. I like the half tuck best and know from experience that it helps disguise a bit of tummy.
A full tuck also sounds like a good option. I'd definitely wear a cami with the coral top.
Pastry girl, I think your overlapped and belted vest works, at least until you find one you like to replace it. I just received a catalogue from Travelsmith and they have one in olive. I think the vest would be even better with a longer sleeved tee ( elbow length or more) or a sleeveless top, but I have a poison eye for short sleeves with vests. Love the stripes with the vest.
Shedev, the first thing that caught my eye was that great silver belt. The blue buttondown looks wonderful the way you have styled it, only you can decide if you need/ want this shirt.
K, your sweater looks fun and modern with the white pleated skirt.
Firecracker, I love the simple elegance of your sweater with the white jeans, especially without the scarf. I think we are belt twins.

12