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Alana in Canada

(website)

Veteran

Hello everyone!
In two and a half hours I went to three stores--and didn't find anything until the last one.

As per Angie's recommendation here, I went looking for a slim fit pair of dark wash jeans and either a white wide leg linen pant or a white jean. I really wanted white jeans.

When I asked for boyfriend jeans, the salesperson brought me distressed jeans. I couldn't even try them on. They made me want to cry (I'll share why in another thread.)

White jeans didn't work. If they fit the thigh, they gapped like mad in the waist. I was all ready to buy a pair and talk to you guys about having the waist taken in when they started to fall down from the crotch area--if that makes sense. So, obviously, they didn't even fit in the hips.

No one knew what I meant by harem pants. "Loose pants" I said. "Slouchy pants." "Oh MC Hammer pants" one salesperson said--and then brought me what I would call pyjama pants! In the last store, when I asked, the salesperson brought these white pants--I was so happy! I had just ruled out the white jeans.

The shark hem top was a total impulse buy. I really wanted a woven top in a pretty colour--but the hemline on this (and seeing Angie's post on plus sized slouchies) completely distracted me. That and the fact that when I put it on with my skirt it looked like I had on this really cool dress--and nerd that I am, putting a top and skirt on and making it look like a dress is my favouritist sartorial trick ever.

So, let the fashion parade begin.

1. Sharky with skirt = sharky dress.
2. White wide leg. (Linen/viscose. This is going to need ironing, isn't it?) In her 13 year old wisdom, my daughter pronounced I should not wear this top with these pants because the black in the middle calls too much attention to that area. Is she right? Is this combination best avoided?
3. I think I will hem them to this height. Any words of advice? I'm pretty sure I can do it.
4. Dark wash, slim fit, soft comfy jeans. Dressed like this, I feel like I am ready to go inukshuk building at the beach!
5. Same as #4, unrolled, with sharky.

What do you think? Are they keepers?
Thanks for looking.

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Dressing

18 replies

Latest reply was from Alana in Canada

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

Hi Alana,

I think it's petty normal to have difficulties shopping once you discover YLF. You simply can't allow yourself to settle for so-so any longer

I think these are all keepers. Sharky top is fun, the jeans in 4/5 look great and the white pants too (welcome to the white brigade).

Hemming them a bit might be a good idea because they might sweep too much dirt and you'd probably not want to wash them after every wear. But, I'd wait for Angie to chime in on that one.

Your daughter raises interesting point about the striped top and white pants, but for me personally it's more a question of proportions - I thing the top is too long to be worn with this style of pants. Something around where the last white stripe finishes might be better. Perhaps it might worth taking photos with the top rolled under at various lengths to give you an idea which proportions work better and why?

Adelfa

Veteran

Wow, you are learning fast and looking good!

1. Absolutely love your "dress"! Elegant and fun all at the same time.

2. Love the white pants! I agree with your daughter, but not for exactly the reason she gave. The way I would put it is that for maximum flattery it's best for most of us (definitely me included) to avoid such a sharp, high-contrast line of demarcation in the middle of the body. (Called "cutting yourself in half.") I usually like tops that are somewhere in the tonal ballpark of the bottoms. So with white pants I enjoy wearing soft pink or champagne. Or you could wear a column of white with a contrasting topper, for instance, white pants with white tee, with your denim jacket over it. The column extends your line. (I think I'm going to wear something like this tomorrow.) Or your shark top might work because it's lighter at the bottom--you could try it and see if it works.

3. It looks good to me, as long as it doesn't drag, but I'm not an expert on hems so I'll defer to others.

4. Great jeans, great top, great outfit. Love how the strips of leather on your sandals echo the stripeyness of the top.

5. Very nice!

Wow, you really scored on this trip! Good job being persistent!

greycat6

Veteran

Lovely outfits, Alana! The smile on your face says it all. Great job practicing being picky and patient while waiting to find perfect.

You will get a lot of use from the white, wide legs pants - especially if you make peace with the crease. If not, make good friends with your iron. IMHO, the black stripe shirt looks just fine. You might try shortening the top slightly to elongated your leg line. I especially like the boxy over slim silhouette you created in 1,4 and 5. Very flattering.

Alana in Canada

(website)

Veteran

Thank you! Boxy over slim--I like that phrasing. The white pants throw that silhouette out the window.
Anyone have examples of wearing something boxy on the bottom like the white pants? I am more than happy to go look up other threads. Is there a way to search? Thanks.

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

Open The Wall (main Forum page, big button on the right - you might need to scroll down a bit to find it).

All recent outfits are there at a glance - that might be one way.

Btw, apologies for numerous typos in my previous post, the auto correct / text prediction had really made me red-faced I hope all is corrected now.

Windchime

Veteran

. Your sharky top/skirt combo is smashing!
2. On my monitor, the pants read cream and the shirt reads black and pure white.
The two variants of white don't seem to be playing well together (might be
different in real life.) I wonder how sharky would work with these, or else a
long tank in the same color or a very soft pastel.
3. There are hemming tutorials on youtube that might be helpful.
4. Jeans look good, and the shirt works well with them.
5. Sharky is going to be a workhorse! This works, too.

Thanks for inviting us to your fashion parade!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Alana, you are a trouper!! I just love your attitude. I could have taken lessons from you when I started on YLF. You should have heard the whining and kvetching about shopping in my neck of the woods. I had such a hard time finding stuff that fit, that I liked, that bore any relationship to my lifestyle, etc. But I promise you, it gets better. You will learn where to go, how to order online (when necessary), how to deal with ignorant sales associates (always politely, of course!), and how to find what you really want.

You are off to a great start. The shark bite top is super versatile and works well with your new jeans and your skirt. Score! I think it might also work with the linen pants with a bit of careful accessorizing.

For hemming, wait until Angie weighs in -- she is the expert. But for wide leg pants you want them almost to sweep the floor. Yes, it means more washing, alas -- and you will probably have to iron those -- although if you air dry them after washing the wrinkles may mostly fall out; viscose has a lovely drape.

I think your daughter is correct about the pairing of that top and white pants. It is possible that it could work with a semi-tuck but that would mess with the stripes' integrity. It's for the reasons the others said -- the proportions are wrong, and also the colours feel a bit off.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Suz has once again, in her very eloquent prose, put down what was in my head!

I think you have done smashingly well Alana for a YLF newbie. Angie is indeed the lengths expert for pants so wait for her comments on the hem for the white pants - which are gorgeous by the way.

You will see the term PPL from time to time when discussing hems and it stands for Perfect Pants Length.

Alana in Canada

(website)

Veteran

Thanks everyone for your compliments. You all make it very easy to learn!

Ornella--no worries about mistakes and auto correct--sometimes, I think there's a malevolent genie in that ac.
Suz--thanks for the encouragement. In another thread someone had suggested a particula brand and pant line--sold through boutiques--I found a couple in my area and, excited, called. No, they do not carry plus sizes. Dissappointed, for sure. So, hopefully, I will figure out where to go!
I tried tucking the top--um, no. Just no--to any top, any tuck, anytime.
oops--just noticed the time--gotta run.

rachylou

Veteran

You look fab! Everything fits and hangs so pretty on you!

Eliza

Veteran

First of all, you are quite the shopper and on your way to a great wardrobe. There are a lot of pros here and I continue to learn from them.

Love your sharky dress and that top with the black soft comfy jeans. Fun and very today, while looking so wearable in real life. Major score.

Know that you are not the only one who has to spend some time thinking about proportions when it comes to wider leg pants. Slimmer bottoms with more voluminous tops are a "go to" look, and the prevalence of flowy tops really helps. With wider leg pants, you may want to try a solid top (perhaps lower contrast) that is loose enough to just skim over the torso and structured enough not to cling. You may not want lots of loose draping and you don't want it too long. Your black and white top may be the right idea, if you found something like it in a different pattern or color. Can you tell I work to make wider leg pants the best they can be for me?

You may enjoy trying a top with an asymmetrical hem to create interest and a nice line with your slimmer bottoms and then see if it works with the wider leg pants as well.

When I started to pay more attention to my own fashion needs and preferences, I found having a handful of outfits I felt good in made all the difference. Then it builds on itself and you have a direction emerging.
Very impressive start!

Elizabeth P

Veteran

I was also going to say almost exactly what Suz said. And Shannon was thinking. Canucks unite!

In fact, I had wanted to chime in on your weekend/early week posts, to commend you on your attitude and willingness to put yourself out there, esp as a newbie. But my life has been nutty, and while I did a lot of reading, I didn't do a lot of commenting.

Love sharky, what a great find. Agree with Eliza (how could I not! ) that an assymetrical top might be great for you. Also agree with your DD, that top is great with the black, but not as good with the white. Great start Alana! Look forward to seeing more.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

You are a fast learner. WELL DONE.

The linen pants will absolutely need ironing. I vote shorten about an inch. They creep up shorter through the day as they crease.

In #2, there is a very high contrast between the hem of the black top and white pants. A curved hem would have been more flattering and less "horizontally cutting". But the same top works wonderfully over the black pants because the contrast is low. Hope that makes sense.

I love #1, #4 and #5. xo

Inge

(website)

I echo everything the other ladies said, Alana. You did a brilliant job, and all your new pieces are fab. Now have fun wearing them and experimenting with how to incorporate them in different outfits!

I'll see if I can find some examples of boxy at the bottom outfits for you.

viva

Veteran

Seems my reply got lost .... on a plane!

I love 1 and 4 especially. The illusion of a tank dress in #1 is brilliant, and #4 is incredibly modern and flattering.
Good for you for soldiering on after a few stores let you down. I know how hard that can be, but YLF has taught me not to compromise. I'm so glad you kept going!!!

Inge

(website)

And here are some ideas and examples:
http://www.kiyonna.com/plus-size-clothing/33121801
The model is wearing a belted top, but you could also try this with your new white trousers and the light grey lightweight pullover from the other thread (last row) that you loved so much.

http://www.kiyonna.com/plus-size-clothing/33121811
Banded hem (or welted top) and your denim jacket

http://www.kiyonna.com/plus-size-clothing/41131804
Flared skirt with a simple top (no need to tuck) and a denim jacket

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/ei.....rigin=cate
Your white trousers + a V-neck jumper with asymmetrical hemline

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/ei.....n=category
Easy breezy linen shirt over your white trousers

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/mi.....07301?orig
This type of top will also work because the volume of the top is reined in by the ties at the bottom.

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/mi.....3706950?or
Or something like this because the volume is controlled by the waist-defining.

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/se.....onalizedso
More voluminous bottoms with a rounded hem top.

http://us.asos.com/Pink-Clove/.....38;cid=957
http://us.asos.com/Alice-You-P.....#038;pgesi.
Faux or semi-tucked top and denim jacket (or another jacket, cardi or blazer)

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/241435229994331143/
Wide-legged trousers with a peplum style top

http://youlookfab.com/2012/01/.....ay-or-nay/
Blouses in a soft, lightweight material like the two in the pictures at the top of this post

I hope this helps.

Alana in Canada

(website)

Veteran

Oh, Inge, this is so incredible! I've looked through these.

I like the last two tops in Angie's post.

I like all of the Kiyonna tops--I actually secretly adore the empire leopard.
The v-neck jersey with assymetrical hem from nordstrom (EF) --if that colour looks good on me, I'd take two and another in black. (Shame there's only black and coral.)

The boxy tie thing
may be verging into PJ territory for me--

Anything which requires structure with a horizontal line lower than my bust is too far outside my comfort zone at the moment--though I'd love to try on the rounded hemline and just see what it looks like.....

Alana in Canada

(website)

Veteran

Rachylou--thank you!
Eliza--great suggestions. I'm going to look for your WIW posts!
Angie--thanks for the hem length suggestion. I'll wash (and iron) them first. Thanks for your specific feedback--I am grateful. I "get" it with the hem thing--I want either low contrast or a curve. (Inge's examples were very helpful to me to understand this!)
Thank you, everyone! Honestly, I think my world just tilted on its axis a bit for me this week--