SYB & WIBought (plus WIButchered): Some things old, some things new - YouLookFab Forum

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SYB & WIBought (plus WIButchered): Some things old, some things new

ManidipaM

Veteran

I confess! I spent almost all my May budget on Day 1.

But I'm reasonably happy with what I got. $42 (of an allocated $50) got me 4 knit tops, of which 3 are neutrals and 1 in near-neutral colour, though I went out initially seeking more colour. I was also seeking pants though, and that story... well, I'll tell it in a bit. Suffice to say I realized I'd be wearing my jeans, tweed pencil skirt and sole beige pair of dress pants a good while longer, so what works with them seemed a more handy guide.

What I bought:
- Black & cream striped banded top with flutter sleeves (#3-5 is the shortest I could wear it; #6 the longest). There's some metallic dots on the sleeve that gave me pause, but I've been searching for a reasonably versatile banded top for ages, so I went ahead for a 'making do' option ... was I unwise?
- Abstract floral-print taupe/grey and blush top (#7). It can be worn untucked, but I was very keen to see if I could tuck it into my tweedy pencil skirt. Does it work?
- Black and tan sleeveless top (#8 and #9). Colours I typically avoid! But I thought it would go with my beige dress pants and only businesslike skirt, even untucked (I prefer that with my apple belly). What say you?
- Casual turquoise-striped white T-shirt (#1 and #2).
I wore medium-wash blue jeans to go shopping, and all four worked with those, I thought. Helpful, given I mostly wear jeans if I'm wearing pants.

Speaking of pants, that saga is here: http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....ost-611252

As for what I got altered, here are two maxi skirts I lopped off to midi length as a stopgap given my futile hunt for pants -- #2 is a blue-grey wraparound, #1 is a muted green and blue self-patterned, four-gored A-line. Also, a pair of too-wide capris that have been turned into longer shorts for casual wear (#3-5), which corrects the silhouette slightly I trust --- not a great crotch fit, for sure, but I hope bearable as a placeholder.

Apologies for everything needing the iron and some weird foreshortening--- we're in mad travel mode, with time, cameras and patience all in short supply today!

I'd REALLY LOVE opinions and styling suggestions for any and all. And please feel free to be totally honest and critical to the point of nitpicky.

I can't return any of my buys because they were bought on sale, so no exchanges honoured; but even if something doesn't work, it's handy to know why, so I can watch out for that next time!

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Shopping

20 replies

Latest reply was from ManidipaM

Shu

I love 8 and 9! I think 7 could be improved with a wide belt to accentuate your waist - waist definition is one of the things I like so much about 8 and 9.

Vix

Veteran

Between shopping and chopping you've been busy, but looks like you have some winners and some "betters!"

The casual looks aren't bad for your needs, but hands down the lines/shapes of 7-9 are my favorites. Like Shu I think you should try belting 7.

Looking at the neckline of #1's stripe top vs #2's, I think I'd go with more items like #2 -- a closer-to-the-neck V or scoop -- going forward. IMO, it's one of the things that make your new tops in 7 and 8 work too so hey, you're 3/4 from my perspective.

cheryl

Veteran

I think they are all winners. Love the casual tops and the wider necklines and those waist concious outfits look fab.

Anonymous

You did good Moni! And just look at that smile, you know you did! I can't believe those skirts you shortened where longer than that. They must have overwhelmed you before. Very nice job with the alterations indeed. The shorts are an excellent transformation and that is my favorite length. (I bought some that are an inch above my knee yesterday and now I want to return them. Capris are a dime a dozen, and I could shorten them like you did--thanks for the inspiration!) But I digress.

For the tops, the turquoise one is very nice, the striped with flutter sleeves even better (that's a nice detail on you) but the floral and the tan and black are spectacular on you! You look just lovely in both of them and they should be very versatile. I know the tan/black one was a bit out of your comfort zone, but there is very little tan and it almost looks like a sophisticated cut-out since it's close to your skin tone. Very chic, and good job getting them one sale and staying within budget!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Petites can't wear midis - it's such a myth!! Just look at our 4ft 10 gorgeous Manidipa rock the look in #7 and #8. You look AMAZING

Love you in #6 and #9 too. You are elegant and graceful in these shapes - and with the best locks in the world!

Jem

Veteran

I love your new purchases! Every time I saw a picture I thought how great it was and would be my favorite, but I kept thinking that with each new picture! You look fab!!!!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

LOVE 7 and 8. LOVE!!!

As Angie said, you prove 100% that petites CAN wear midis. Even barefooted!

The casual Ts are cute for your needs. But I love the other tops best.

ManidipaM

Veteran

Shu, yes, good point about belting, especially as the skirt is a tad roomy on top. I've not found the black belt I want, but on the lookout!

Vix, thank you --- excellent point about the neckline to watch for! I'd not have noticed that myself, so your expert eye is very handy!

Cheryl, thank you!

Claire, overwhelming is hardly the word for the original skirts, especially the wraparound, which puddled around my feet and billowed into a blanket! I'm much happier with this more manageable length for that much extra fabric. I was surprised myself to like the black & tan top as much as I did! Er, as to the shorts, I think you were one of the people who suggested this idea in my Keep/Reject thread for pants!

Thanks, Angie! I love that skirt, so it's nice to hear it likes me too :-p

Jem, Suz --- thank you very kindly!

rae

(website)

Veteran

Woweee in 7-8-9! The black top is magic - nips in the waist, brings the eye to your face, camoflages any possible tummy issues that we all seem to have no matter our shape! The skirt in 7 also does wonderful things for your shape. Overall, the midi length for skirts and shorts loves you - fab alterations.

Diana

Veteran

You look amazing in 7,8, and 9! Good call on chopping the skirt into a midi - it's so flattering and lovely.

I like the casual outfit in 6 too. You rock the harem pants!

Beth Ann

Veteran

Yeah, Mandipa! I'm with the rest of them -- 7 to 9 are amazing. I also think you've done a great job with the alterations -- particularly in 3 to 5. What about pairing a little red or similar tone with the beige pants? And I think you can treat the flutter-sleeve as a neutral and pair it with others colors, too.

ManidipaM

Veteran

Beth Ann, interesting that you mention red! I had to choose from about 7 tops that I thought worked --- one of them was a red sleeveless with a scoop neck! I loved it, SO hated it... so I put that one down; but I'm on the prowl for something red or plum when it comes to the couple of woven tops I plan to get. Interestingly, one of my two blazers is a red, tan and black print --- coming it will work with this combination; must check once I get it back from the cleaners.

Diana, Rae --- thank you!

christieanne

Veteran

Plum and deep teal would be amazing on you!
Back to your new things: LOVE 6,7,8,9 - and the striped new tops are fun and nice for your needed summer top capsules.
That tweed pencil skirt - perfection on you.

celia

Veteran

Oh yeah, 7&8 are drop dead gorgeous.
I also like 4 but can you tuck in the top more?
All in all your shopping trip was fantastic, you have great tops to work with your current bottoms( I will have to check the other thread to see what happened)

Aida

Veteran

LOVE #7-9 (yowza!), and #6 is following closely behind. The new black top is beautiful for you; as said above the tan stripe almost functions like a cutout for you. I do feel it's just a wee bit short for pants, and I know you don't like to tuck, but would it be possible to tuck in #9? Nice job midi-fying the skirts in #1/2, and I think the shorts in #3-5 are OK for now (great length).

Now, let's get some color with these items! Have you tried the shorts in #3-5 with any of your colorful tunics? The striped tops with colorful churidars/etc. for an east-meets-west vibe (is that acceptable to do?)? Let's see, too warm for jackets for you right? I think a colorful tee with a structured jacket would look great with the midi skirts. So maybe instead a pretty linen top and some wedged sandals?

Tanya

Veteran

Great purchases and I think they will work really well for you. #8 is absolutely stunning!

Mona

Veteran

Mani! what a great haul! the pants in #6 are so stylish and great with black and white stripes. 7,8 and 9 are fabulous. They show your lovely figure with grace and style. The pencil skirt was made for you. You are inspiring me to wear midi lenght pencil skirts.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Really I like everything here for different reasons. The blue and white is really fresh against your complexion, the black and white is a flattering pattern on you too. I think, next time, I would prefer something other than flutter sleeves - I am thinking either sleeveless or elbow length. I may be projecting because that is what I would prefer on myself. But like I said, I like the stripes on you and would definitely wear this one.

The midi skirt is wonderful on you! Both the tops you wear it with look fantastic. I also really like the black and camel trousers. And I love your hair!

Deborah

Veteran

I think you have made some great choices. The two casual stiped tops are locally and fresh looking. And outfits 7/8/9 are just gorgeous in my books. You look amazing in a more structured and fitted silhouette, excellent SYB!

ManidipaM

Veteran

Aida, yes, I definitely hope to wear some colourful tops with the shorts as well.

The striped tops are too short for wearing with Indian pants though, where the whole idea is to have the top end below the crotch (the structure on the top part of our pants is, well, non-existent --- it's like the top of a really large drawstring bag, not at all flattering on most figures, and meant to be really kept under wraps!). So I guess blue jeans is as colourful as I can get with pants there!

Jackets are out, unless I'm at the office; but light cotton scarves are doable. I'm unlikely to try that with the first two chopped-up skirts though, as they really aren't likely to go much further than quick errands. I was thinking of accessorizing those with maybe brighter jewellery or shoes there. Speaking of, sandals are next on the shopping list.

I do see your point about the black top being a little too short for wearing untucked with pants. But unfortunately, it only makes me look like a badly made sausage to try it with that particular combination. Maybe adding a jacket will help, especially buttoned to hide the hem? (Not that I have too many of those either. Umm... starting to sound like a slightly less than sound purchase now!)

ETA: Ah, I see exactly what you mean from this, Aida! http://youlookfab.com/2008/04/.....ver-pants/
Maybe adding a longer camisole under the top will help?

Mona, now seems like a good time to try a midi, since there should be more choices in the stores, in different silhouettes and fabrications? There must be a midi for *you* out there!

Shevia, yes, I was hoping for longer than elbow length myself, as that makes it easier to get a jacket on top too. But I am aware I was settling with this particular top. It had a few other things going for it (the longer length, banded bottom, versatile pattern and colour), so for now, I'm okay with making do, especially for casual wear --- until I find a better banded top.