Wow, I can't see past that gorgeous red plaid jacket! Love it! I love all you ladies rocking the white sneakers but for me I just don't know... Anyway, you look great in both of these. Too bad the Blondos aren't comfortable because they look great.

From Nemosmom: Oh, Lisa, I totally identify with this statement, "I feel loud and crazy, not sophisticated and "cool"."

I also relate to this! Especially when I try to dress all in bright colors or certain styles. If it feels TOO trendy or colorful for me, I just feel conspicuous and decidedly uncool. I'd rather err on the side of a little understatement these days in my quest for a level of sophistication and ease.

I sometimes wonder if it's just a personality thing? I recall a manager I once worked for decades ago when I was young, encouraging the staff to be "bubbly" with the guests (a luxury suite hotel in which I worked the front desk). Even at the age of 20, I rolled my eyes at the idea of myself as bubbly. I was kind of the anti-cheerleader type myself (a better-groomed, less weird version of Ally Sheedy in the Breakfast Club, LOL). I've always been more reserved -- friendly, but reserved. I adore authentically bubbly people but it's just not me. I think dressing "bubbly" in any way makes me feel completely off. I think we've discussed this kind of thing before here, but if anyone wants to take this tangent into a separate thread, it would be fun to read thoughts on the matter.

Janet - excellent point. My personality isn't the red outfit. At all. And therein lies the rub, as the expression goes.

Kelly - here are the boots ( mine are in black suede ) . Really uncomfortable, not an all-day boot by any stretch (and it has nothing to do with the heel height),and I actually took them off twice to make sure they were both the same size. They felt the way some cheap boots feel: stiff in the last, pinching weirdly at the toe, and with no cushiony insole. I had tried them on a few times at home since I first received them and thought they'd be ok, despite not being perfect. I should have listened to that inner voice of concern. 5000 steps in them and I couldn't wait to get them off.

Ha! Janet, I just started a new thread. I’m curious to hear other’s thoughts.

Lisa- sorry to hijack your thread!

I pretty much agree with kkards’ assessment. The black outfit feels safe, the red one is, in actuality, more sophisticated. Could you construct that same outfit with the white sneakers, maybe just toning down the red a bit so it feels more you?

What a bummer about the boots. I thought they were the Angie pick--should have known better. Yes, I need to listen to that inner voice a bit more too. Hope you can return them. Kind of surprising for Blondo, actually!

Wow, just wow you look so good. I do understand its a change and may take a few wears to get used to. Love the hair color.

I’m sorry but where has the real”I only wear black and neutrals”Lisa P gone?And what on trend ,fabulous looking,l could be on Instagram person has replaced her? You look AMAZING!

Lisa, you LOOK great, but if it doesn't feel right, then it's no
- full stop. I am going through a very similar thing right now - having gotten frustrated with my wardrobe and deciding to try to "change up" my style, I am currently in the most minimal outfit imaginable and I'm SO. VERY. HAPPY.

I'm sort of thinking out loud here, but maybe we need to differentiate some things: our personal style, which is the things that we like to wear everyday and feel good in and can virtually 'forget' we're wearing them, and our hobby/creative/artistic expression/experimental style, where we try new things and put together completely different outfits from the norm, and share and deconstruct them with our fashion crew, but not necessarily endeavour to wear them much irl. (of course, this could be done is change rooms rather than buying everything - or on Pinterest!).

I suspect what would happen if I was a little better about making this differentiation is, a little of the creative stuff might work its way into my everyday wear, keeping it fresh and enabling it to evolve, but the practice of trying the new/fresh/different stuff as a hobby in and of itself might stifle to boredom that leads me to buy and wear the wrong things for me.

But I don't know, as I said, just thinking aloud here .....

Helena - that's a really interesting point/idea you raised . Very smart - and thoughtful. "Allowing" oneself to play with new looks without committing ones entire wardrobe to it is a good strategy and mindset. I didn't feel bad , per se, in the red outfit, just loud and a bit out-there. The three pieces can definitely be worn with other things, letting me calm the look down when I need to. Thanks for this idea - I like it!

cardiff girl - laughing out loud here

Kelly - I was surprised at the boots too. Might go back and read reviews if I can find them - see if it was not just me.

My two cents:

• I thought you were happy with the intro of earth tones into your wardrobe? I hope that's still the case

• The new red hair PLUS red pants and bold earthy topper can throw you over the edge when you aren't used to it! It's a lot of new in one outfit. Temper it. One new piece at a time in one outfit, and don't let it boss you around. Add back in the olive and black.

I always have that "everybody look at me" feeling when I wear red pants.

I'm not a fan of the giant sneaker thing, but other than that, what a gorgeous autumn outfit. I'm liking Angie's idea of bringing in olive or black, too, as alternative pants colors in the red look.

The other look is more the elegance I have come to expect from you, but how great to try the new color scheme, too.

I like what Angie said above. As much as I enjoy colour in life I'm fairly colour averse when it comes to my own wardrobe. I really love neutrals. I usually feel best if I wear one colour with an otherwise neutral outfit. A red jacket with blue outfit....great. A head to toe red outfit.......I feel like there's a spotlight shining on me.

You DO rock the earth tones.

Angie - you're right, I am thrilled with these colours, but am still experiencing that odd glimpse in the mirror and wondering who that is. I think the hair has a lot to do with it - and it should be toned right down in another few days.

Lisa - nice to see you again! These sneakers are surprisingly NOT giant, and are also surprisingly comfortable. I decided they are a fun (what's with me and all of this fun lately? Must stop that.) alternative to my ubiquitous Stan Smiths and leather all white Converse. I don't go for the super Asian trendy Filas , those are SUPER giant and chunky and make me laugh ;O

Ok. I didn’t realise this outfit felt off to you... you look sharp in it. But now that I do... I was thinking, it does occur to me that I often feel being fashionable looks silly and out of place. When everything you’re wearing is for good looks and has little other reason. I like loud, I like bold, but I’m extremely uncomfortable with useless. Does that make sense? If there’s no answer to the question ‘where are you going dressed like that?’ - that really bothers me.

Ditto Umm Lila! Love the red hair and warm palette on you I think the sleek shapes of the black outfit but in those warm colors would be the perfect combo!

Oh Rachy, that's really good ... I'm like that too, I channel it primarily into scarves, which must be weather-required! Same with blazers. No meeting? No blazer.