Testing the "Equipment" - YouLookFab Forum

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Testing the "Equipment"

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

I have been lamenting and regretting the purchase of this Equipment blouse with a tiny blue, white, yellow, aqua and black floral pattern. I liked it at first and it feels wonderful on. I thought it would go with everything, from denim and white to black and grey. It seems tiny florals are trending when I look at J. Crew, etc. but I don't want this to read dated on me and maybe that's why I'm feeling some hesitation, because I think it may. I've added white pieces here in a few and I do scrunch my sleeves.

1 With grey skinnies, Vince Camuto Eliana sandals
2 White Vince Camuto jacket, denim shorts, white Cons and white belt
3 Gap BF jeans, white belt, handbag and Cons
4 White J. Brand skinnies, black MK belt, black booties (photo 5 was my inspiration and one I've held on to for some time as I like her blue top)
6 White Hudson flared jeans, denim jacket, accessories/adornments: Clearlyclaire and Marley
7 White skinnies and Cons
8 I'm only showing this citron Zara jacket as it is one of "those" that is a bit too saturated in color for me and is in the "culled and to go" area. I initially thought it would go with this blouse and it "seems" to work, color wise, but maybe not style wise for me with the strong shoulders.
9 To complicate things, I did pick up this print Equipment blouse and the tags are still on. Even though it's black and white and may be too harsh for blonde me, I really like it and feel like it's more "me" even if it may not be a designated or preferred color. Two crazy shoe pairings: Okala and Con (that's SINGULAR).

Please let me know what you think and if I should keep it or return it for something else. I’ve been wanting a solid Equipment blouse and I seem to end up purchasing a print every time and I don’t quite know why. I do have a solid Vince blouse on its way, so maybe that will fit the bill and I will happily share the details when it comes.

Thanks for taking a look and giving me your honest opinion. Thanks, too, for doing the "heavy Equipment" lifting.

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Equipment 'Ava' Flower Print Silk Shirt

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Vince Camuto 'Eliana' Bootie

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33 replies

Latest reply was from jackiec

catgirl

Veteran

Vicki, I really like this on you - it's a great fit and the color is nice enough. But it's not screaming "Vicki" to me. I think it's not defined or strong enough. It's floral but not THAT floral. Soft but not THAT soft. Not bright, not dark, not light. It's sort of in no-man's-land visually. It's neither statement nor background. Perfectly presentable and no one on the street would quibble that you look objectively impeccable. But somehow I don't feel that it's YOU?

Am I making any sense? I worry that I make no sense lately style-wise. You have such a defined style - there is room for lots of play, but this just isn't exciting enough for me.

catgirl

Veteran

Oh, and sometimes things I buy to "go with everything" end up going with nothing, and I have no idea why!

cciele

Veteran

What Una said, both times

Elle

Veteran

I like the floral print on you but it doesn't seem to have the happiness factor for you so it probably should go back. The black and white print in #9 looks much more sophisticated and reads more like a solid. I love it on you.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I don't think the citron is too saturated. I really like it. I don't dislike the blouse at all and don't really know your style, but just looking at your coloring and fashion forward hair, I would go for a brighter color reading overall on the blouse. I do have a tiny print equipment blouse myself, but it somehow reads as coral from farther away. I think larger prints are more present this year. So basically I'm agreeing with Alaskagirl.

gardenchick

Veteran

When I look at the pictures, I think that the black and white one is more flattering with your coloring. Also sounds like you aren't super excited about the floral. If that's the case, don't see a reason to hold on to the floral version.

deb

Veteran

I hear doubts. Return it and get something with no doubts.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

Keep reading,
".....lamenting and regretting the purchase of this Equipment blouse...."
This would be my cue to return it
I also agree with Una.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Well, I am going to disagree.

I actually really like the floral shirt on you. And typically I am not enthusiastic about small floral prints. I think on you this shirt does beg for strong and current accessories -- but you've styled it brilliantly (!!!) with denim and the white sneaker and belt and with the cage sandals. It also looks smashing with the citron jacket!! And the white one.

I also adore the black and white Equipment shirt on you. Of course you can wear this! The print almost reads as a grey from a distance -- it is not too large and strong for you. In fact, this level of intensity seems right for you, in my opinion. Neither too much, nor too little.

On to the citron jacket. is true that this citron might be "too strong" for you on its own, but to my view it is not at all too strong when combined with the soft, low contrast top. Just flattering enough and a fun change. If that is too "enabling", I apologize. I know you are trying to weed things out of the closet to make it more cohesive and in that case, if it feels better to let both or either piece go, so be it.

Vicki, I sense that you and I are similar in this way. We are fairly low contrast in colouring, but our personalities seem to cry out for a bit more drama, as do our features and facial characteristics. There is a lot of "yang" in us. (Dramatic classic, in Kibbe terms).

So -- technically this floral pattern might qualify as showing your "ideal" colours. Yet, even so, it feels overall a bit soft and light...on its own.

Ditto the jacket feels too strong...if that were all you were wearing (but it's not.)

In short, I think every single thing here looks killer on you if styled, and the only question is how much do you want to weed your closet out.

Because we never do wear items unstyled.

And, as Angie has taught us, it is perfectly possible to wear things that are not quite ideal (in some ideal fantasy world). Because colours only are seen in relation to one another -- not on their own.

Now, let me know if you want me to send postage for anything you don't want any more!!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Oh -- and how could I forget....what an amazing picture of you, Claire, and Marley!!!! What a treat to see you all and you are SO sophisticated and chic together. WOW.

I also adore your kitchen. And your cat.

Aida

Veteran

I like it best as styled in #1, 2, 6 (loooooove!!!), and 8. The print kind of looks like a Liberty floral, which I could see working for you. However, I do think that perhaps it's a little large on you in addition to whatever it is you feel about the print, so the fit seems a bit off to me. Whereas the one in #9 looks quite a bit better in terms of fit. And that could just be an optical thing, but that's how they come across to me. But prints are really such a guttural thing, if you don't love it now you probably won't "grow to love it" you know? So if you are still able, I would exchange the floral Equipment blouse for one that you will love and wear often

But goodness it was hard to concentrate on the other photos when #6 is SOOOOO ridiculously adorable.

catgirl

Veteran

What good advice from Suz. I am not good at solutions but thankfully she is!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

It was Vicki herself who came up with the solutions -- in her own stylings. The woman is a genius!

Plus, she has a fabulous closet, large enough to do this fab styling.

The trouble with a smaller closet is that you just can't do this as successfully. You can't pull disparate or "just flattering enough" things together in this way. A larger closet allows more room for play and for adding a "wild card" and successfully integrating it.

This is something to consider moving forward, I think, Vicki.

I am all for an efficient wardrobe. That's what I am trying to build. But small can have its disadvantages if you crave variety. It's not just sheer numbers. It's also about what will play well with what.

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

Okay, back from sushi, and my thoughts in the car on the drive back, were directed at getting home to say "Una, cciele, Elle, Ummlila, gardenchick, deb, caro, Suz and Aida, I want to give you each a HUGE hug for saying what you felt in such amazing ways! Thank you!!

Una, I can relate, very much, to what you say and I felt it deeply in my heart; you have the most extraordinary way of articulating feelings and I am grateful. Yes, how true a "go with everything" usually "doesn't go the way it's planned." So true. You also expressed, so well, how it's not doing anything and is essentially "just there," which is how I feel, too.

Suz, yes, there's a style connection we have, and you so clearly defined, how this both can and cannot work and why! I may look "yin," but there is "yang" for sure! Thank you for seeing the beauty in this "attempt" and I mean that sincerely. The kitchen loves you back and so does the cat, Cooper.

Aida, so happy you love #6; that was a great day, because I was surrounded by "YLF Power" and that is like a vitamin of happiness. I appreciate you spotting the "fit" in #9, as you did, because that, along with my "issues" about a mandarin collar, could be part of it. So, thank you for seeing that with your discerning eyes.

I'm adding a photo of what my daily Zen calendar said today. Timely!

You ALL make sense and this is why I depend on YLF and the Forum. I can't thank you enough for your wise women wisdom. xxx

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Suz

(website)

Veteran

Well, it sounds as if you are decided!

This usually means that you have a clear if unarticulated sense of where you are going in your style journey, and this piece or these pieces don't fit with that. So weed away with my blessing. Just know that you DO look amazing in all of these!!

Still, maybe that's a given. You always look amazing! You want to look amazing and completely "you" as you currently see yourself. And I applaud that.

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

LOL! I don't want a big closet and I don't want to be in a no-man's land; I think I've got my answer, as I keep curating that closet! Hey, Una, you may want to pitch this idea to your sister. There are some elements of a universal story here.

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

Thank you, Suz. How long did it take you to reach that articulated sense of your style journey?

I did the best with what I had and it does get down to feeling like oneself, doesn't it? Why I feel more like myself, with a collar, and no florals, and yet, wanting to always stretch those boundaries, we take risks, don't we, as we do in life? I loved your paragraph about being "low contrast" but crying out for "more drama." This is laden with deep conversation and I wish we were sitting around the campfire. That is some very astute writing, which I love and admire.

cciele

Veteran

Suz is a pro

Gigi

Veteran

Vicki, I like what you said about taking risks in our clothing, which mimics life. I wonder if my increased willingness to take risks in different clothing choices affects the amount of risks that I take in life?

FWIW, the blouse does look great on you, but maybe there is something about the patten that is too conservative or "safe." The black and white top looks smashing–I like that one better too.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Aw...I am no pro.

And I have not reached that clearly articulated sense of my own style.

I just listened when Angie said "urban prince" and followed where that led me. To the extent I can.

I still go for the wild cards now and again...and still make plenty of mistakes.

Prints are among the trickiest. I haven't yet learned all the ins and outs of them. I do know that too tiny and faint, or very large and high contrast typically won't work for me. The one feels like it washes me out, and the other feels like it overwhelms. When it comes to size of print, the kitty print shirts hit the sweet spot for me. (Equipment and J. Crew) I have heard it said that prints should echo the size of your features. Not sure if that is true, but it can't hurt.

I tend to prefer geometrics to florals...although occasionally florals can have a place, especially more abstract ones. I definitely do more florals in summer than in winter.

A collared shirt is really great on a long neck and short hair, Vicki. I also wear (and love) a collarless shirt like the floral Equipment you're wearing -- but I agree they can be trickier for us. I tend to prefer them with a jacket.

I love how Angie does drama. It's happy drama (if that's not an oxymoron!) -- not heavy melodrama. It's the way she incorporates white and her sour brights.

There are other kinds of drama, too. A low contrast monochrome look can also be quietly dramatic. But typically it works with solids, not prints so much.

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

I agree with your assessment, cciele, and Gigi, thank you so much for your feedback on the philosophical digressions and on the black and white Equipment, which I love enough to remove the tags this weekend.

Suz, I'm glad you chimed back in, because I reread something you wrote: "In short, I think every single thing here looks killer on you if styled," and I'm a pretty low-key, make-no-fuss kind of person, and these were pretty much styled as far as I'm concerned, but I think I know what you mean. Adding the the interest of high-low and/or tough-soft is one way. What else would you recommend? I guess I would add a blazer, jacket or moto, depending on my activities and, yes, the shoe or boot styling would be a definite consideration. Is this what you mean?

Yes, adding the drama, as you mentioned above.

Joy

Veteran

Vickie, I was going to say that the first blouse looks great on you but not what I think of as your style, then read Suz's reply. I wonder how the floral would look paired with your windowpane pants or other patterned piece.

Anonymous

Hey there Vicki! You know I loved that small floral blue and yellow blouse on you (and guys, the pictures do not do it justice) however you really must trust your gut. Something can look fantastic on you, but if it doesn't feel like "you", it will hang in your closet unworn.

The black and white blouse is a small enough print that it has a soft "reading" at any distance, coming across as a grey false plain almost. If that one feels more like you, I think you should keep it, or at least keep it as a contender against the Vince blouse you have coming. Which one did you order?

unfrumped

Veteran

I see what you mean with the print. Though blonde, you really can take more high- contrast. I like it best with the dark moto and with the brights.
I like the B&W print better , so if you love it, that's the point, but I think you can wear an even stronger / larger pattern and " visual contrast" than that , if you wanted to keep looking.

MuseumGal

Veteran

I like the top. I think it would look fab with a few open buttons at the neck to break things up a bit.

Vix

Veteran

Hi Vicki --

I'm not reading other responses because while I think you have Done What You Can Do by surrounding the blouse with great/cool/fun modern elements, I don't think this blouse is "you."

And I think a HUGE part of it is the color. Yes, there's yellow in there and you're blond, but to me your best looks -- ones that seem to capture the Vicki energy -- come from warm brights.

I also think ditzy prints can be dangerous territory for we over 40s...though I have to say I saw a photo of 10 y.o. me in a tiny Liberty-esque print and it looked pretty bad on me then, too.

I won't cry if you keep it but I think you can do better.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I'm with Suz and Aida - and possibly even more of a spanner.

I LOVE #1, #2, #3 and #6. You are TOTALLY rocking that ditsy floral - and why can't this blouse be your wild card? You pulled together the look with a Vicki-Support-Act. Brilliant and killer. FWIW, I vote end of story.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Tricky. I love #2,3 and 4 so much that I cannot be objective about whether it is because or despite the top. Not that I have anything against the top! I therefore defer to the wisdom above.

Karie

(website)

Veteran

OK, I read the first couple of responses but not all, not yet - I actually like the floral, especially tucked with the white trousers. But YOU have to love it, so as Angie taught me at the Boston meet-up, if you don't love it, then NEXT! I also love the blouse in the last photo. I think you're purchasing Equipment print blouses instead of solids because Equipment makes such gorgeous print blouses, and you look fantastic in them!

Now on to that wonderful stove in the background! How many burners are on that baby? WOW! I'd like to come over and test that equipment!

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