Outfit lab-Linen cardigan and silk pants - YouLookFab Forum

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Dressing

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Outfit lab-Linen cardigan and silk pants

Traci

Veteran

I've been meaning to photograph these two pieces to ask for styling help for months. I'd say this is the best outfit I've put together with these items yet. However, when I bought them I envisioned so much versatility and I'm just not reaching for them as often as I'd expected.

The Pants.
They're a lovely lined silk. Part of my beef with them is the length. I like them pulled up, like shown here, they almost have a harem feel, but they are a bit outstanding this way because they'll fall occasionally. Should I just get them hemmed? If yes, to where? And should I have them tapered with the hem? I feel when they get shorter they'll lose the taper and I'm not sure that will leave them looking like I'd like.

The cardigan I bought myself for Christmas, made to order of a linen denim that will fade and soften even more with age. Every time I wear it my daughter comments how much she loves it, so I know it's not a total miss. I pictured it becoming my 3rd piece I always grab to give architecture and softness to every column of color outfit I could imagine. In reality it's been tougher to style. The volume calls for more structure in the outfit. Now that it's warming and I can show more leg it may get easier.

Anyone want to brainstorm ideas with me on how else to style these two pieces? Apologies for the shoddy pictures. My bathroom mirror gets the best light, for detail, but doesn't have the best space for full body proportions.

All feedback welcome!

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Dressing

25 replies

Latest reply was from lyn67

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I like the pants worn full length with the t-neck. My preference would be for a less covered top when you pull the hems of the pants up.

The linen jacket is lovely. Good colour on you. Yet linen with a Wintery T-neck looks seasonally confused to my eye. You need a crisp cotton to go with the linen.

Traci

Veteran

This will be tricky. Crisp isn't generally one of my monikers, but I can see how the drape needs some balance.

I'm pretty sure I'm the poster child for seasonally confused. My personal thermostat seems to run at odds with what most people expect for seasonal consistency. I have hot feet and cold shoulders. I choose comfort over preconceived seasonal norms. Probably because of how I run, I don't have a poison eye for seasonal confusion.

Here are some different attempts. I tried the coulottes and cocoon combo, in pic 3., although I need a good belt if I want to try to actually wear this.

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Anonymous

Are you looking to style /wear the two pieces together?

Traci

Veteran

Lisa, no. I was trying to come up with ideas of how to wear them separately. I've been meaning to take a picture of the cardigan for styling ideas since I got it. The pants and turtleneck outfit is just what I ended up wearing today. I thought it would work fine enough as a base to show the cardi and I ended up not hating the 3 pieces together.

The pants I keep pulling out every couple of months. I like the idea of them, but I think the fit is off for them to be really great wardrobe staples. I'm not sure if they're worth trying to save.

RobinF

Veteran

I do like the pants long, would you wear your loafers with them? I think the linen looks good with the dress but with the cropped pants it seems too long (although that could just be the camera angle).

Traci

Veteran

I feel like for the proportion of the pants to work right long I need to be able to pull the waist higher, but there isn't enough rise for that. I'm also wondering if I made a mistake getting black, rather than a color.

Traci

Veteran

I started the day in this shirt, but the semi tuck kept coming out. It looks better in the photo than it seemed in real life. Hmmm..

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RobinF

Veteran

I like the sort of harem look of these. Cute with the pink shirt.

Liz

Veteran

It sounds like you're having to fuss with the pants to get them to do what you want (pull up hems, keep them in place, pull up waistband, keep things tucked). That leads me to suggest that you have them hemmed / altered so they work better for you.

Bonnie

Veteran

My favorite outfit so far, is the one with the striped top.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Traci, I much prefer the second set of outfits. Linen in very Summery. Warm and hot weather only, is my personal preference. Works with cotton, linen, cotton blends, rayon, viscose and polyester.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Outfit with the striped tee is my fave. And those are other pants.

LaPed

Veteran

Yes, I think the draped jacket needs structure to anchor it. I like it with the cropped pants you show with the striped tee. I have a very hard time wearing unstructured pants unless it's the height of summer. What's supposed to look luxe and relaxed often just feels schlumpy on me. I do like your black silk pants better on the longer side. I wonder if you tried rolling them just to the ankle bone or a smidge above? That might be a good length for hemming. They look quite nice with the pink top. The button front shirt and the semi tuck lend some structure. I bet a crisp white poplin shirt would look good too.

Traci

Veteran

Thanks everyone. This has been very helpful.

Figuring out how to bring structure to the cardi will be tough. I really like the look of a fitted dress underneath a topper like this...on other people. On me I feel like it just frames my apple tum.

LaPed, I did try rolling the pants, but the soft, drapery fabric just won't stay put.

Inge

(website)

The cardigan looks great on you, Traci! Do you have a midi tube skirt? I have a maxi cardigan (not as voluminous as yours) that I want to try with tube skirts and untucked (drape front) or semi-tucked tops for warmer weather. Perhaps that could work with your cardigan too?

I'm also wondering how it will look with wide-legged jeans or trousers (that are fitted on the thigh). A bit like this look:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/246642517071906987/

Anonymous

I like the pants jogged up a bit. Cute! I think you should get them hemmed, yup.

For the jacket, I think of it as a 100% summer item, and think a column of white linen underneath would look fab, or some skinny jeans.

Traci

Veteran

Inge, I read the pencil skirt suggestion and thought I'd struck gold. I ran upstairs and put it together and it fell completely flat:(

Smittie, I think you're right on both counts. I think I'm rushing the cardigan. I'll live in it this summer, when I'm hot but hate having bare arms. It's just not time yet.

I don't think I'll be happy with the pants unless they're shorter by a good 4 inches or so. To the tailor with them!

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Anonymous

I agree with the comments about linen being very summery and the jacket needing to be balanced with structure. My favorite outfit is #3 of your second set of photos ( striped top and loafers). If shortening the pants would help you style them, go for it. In summer I like linen and silk together.

rachylou

Veteran

I like the cardigan the way you've done it in the first set of pics ... the unfitted artist's look. I find the more fitted pencil too stiff for the cardi.

I think you should alter the pants to be happy.

I think light weight fabrics go best with these two items. Thicker ones feel conflicted to me...

Traci

Veteran

Am I the only one who feels weird wearing the same fabric in multiple variations in one outfit? I'd feel strange wearing the linen cardigan with a linen top. I realized I'd feel off if I put a silk blouse with the silk pants. I seem to have a thing about too many pieces of leather in an outfit too, like I feel weird carrying a leather bag while wearing a leather jacket, even thought I know it must be done all the time.

rachylou

Veteran

No, I feel that way too. I prefer varying textures. But I think weight, thickness, weave, drape and the way things are layered matters. Like, a heavy coat over a thin dress makes sense to me - and vice versa doesn't, unless one has an artsy style. A knit top with woven wool trousers is ok to me, but a suit jacket with a knit tube skirt looks off to me, if that makes sense. Not always, but most of the time.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I like the very first outfit with the turtleneck and shorter length pants. I like the linen jacket but imagine it with jeans or lighter pants and a white tee or top of some sort. It also works with the striped top. I see a lot of potential with both items.

Inge

(website)

Ah bummer, Traci. What didn't you like about the look, was something off with the proportions or was it that you didn't like the fabrics together?

Style Fan

Veteran

I am the same way with textures Traci. I prefer to have one piece of linen or leather in an outfit. I think the linen cardigan is more of a summer piece. I can see it working with summer textures.

lyn67

Veteran

Love nr 1 from initial set, for the pants. and nr 3 , from the second, for the linen maxi cardi. Yes, you said it so well:"The volume calls for more structure in the outfit. Now that it's warming and I can show more leg it may get easier". Nr 3 is a wow outfit to me!