The Learning Curve and No Repeat November

So here it is - the good, the bad, the...well, not so good for November. The month started off with bunion surgery on the 1st, and the boot (aka Frankenboot) is staying with me until at least Dec. 13th. Frankenboot has a platform, so wearing other footwear is tricky. I tried my cognac boots and my gray boots, but ended up with a backache so I was/am forced to stick with a black boot that I pulled out of the donate pile just after my surgery (good thing I never got around to making that trip to Goodwill).

What did I learn this month? When the going gets tough, get going on Pinterest! I relied quite a bit on outfits I had pinned. Numbers 1, 5, 6, 9, 10, 13, 14, 17, and 18 all came from pins or other inspirations (#9 was from Angie's animal print skirt post, #10 was inspired by an outfit MaryK wore, and #13 was inspired by a store mannequin).

I'm still not loving my drapey tops (#7 and #12) but I'm not ready to give up on them just yet. I do love my skirts, and those white jeans are my new favs.

Comments/suggestions for me and Frankenboot are always welcome!

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12 years ago

MsMary

Veteran

Karie! I am sitting here squealing with delight at your fabness! And so honored and thrilled to have inspired such a fab outfit!!

Honestly, I just can't get over how many spectacular statement pieces you have in your closet! I am swooning over the argyle top, the bird sweater, and that fab mixed-media jacket, to name just a few! And please tell me - what is the striped top in #18? And is it black-and-white or gray-and-white? Inquiring minds NEED to know! LOL

All in all, this is super-fantastic! Well done!!!

ETA: High five for Team Pinterest Copycats!!

Suz

(website)

Well, Karie, I am going to join the chorus -- super impressed with what you did -- especially given the constraints of Frankenboot. I can see a real development in your style over the year and it is getting more and more clear. Seeing a bunch of outfits together like this is really interesting.

Nodding with Mary K about your fun collection of sweaters. And my favourites here are 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, and 16, which just blew my socks off. For which I am furious at you, since it is COLD here.

Karie

Thanks ladies! MaryK, the striped top in #18 is gray and white. The argyle is a sweater dress that I usually wear with red fleece-lined leggings (these are a purple-y color) and red booties.
Suz, it's super cold here too - all my leggings are fleece lined, and the skirt in #16 is like a tweed blanket - it's super warm!

deb

You did great Karie! I love them all.

Anonymous

Everything looks great, even with the boot! And I love how you have not one but two stylish animal sweaters.

Gigi

Beautiful, beautiful! You said you're not loving your drapey tops, and you said one of them is #11. Is that the right number? What I see in #11 looks stunning on you. It comes across as a sweater dress in my book.

I agree with Gigi - I think #11 is more like a tunic and I think it looks sensational on you! The argyle pattern is really great on you.

The only one I am not as crazy about on you is #4, and I am not sure if it is the draping or the colour, or both -- probably a bit of both. I have come to learn for myself that certain kinds of draping won't work....I just look lost in it or something. It's a shame, because I love how it looks on others.

Gigi, I typed the wrong number, I meant #12, not #11 (I corrected it above). Number 11 is actually a sweater dress.
Suz, the top in #4 almost made it to the donate pile this go-round. I don't mind the color, but I'm not fond of the draping either. I kept it to wear with the camo & lace scarf, but I think the scarf would look much better with a deep brown, burgundy, or black top to make it "pop."

FlorenceFearne

Active Member

So, favorites for me are 3,8, 11, 13 (pants version),14, and 15. Especially 3 and 15. You really rock that button-up with a sweater combo! I feel as though 2 and 4 aren't doing you justice. I think it's the oversized tops without a fitted arm that the two have in common. Especially interesting is that I love 8 on you but I think it's because of the more fitted pants, where 2 pairs the blazer with a skirt.

Thanks, FF. I agree about #2 and #8 - I wasn't happy with #2 - I liked the outfit in my head, but not so much after I saw the photo (and I need to learn to look at the photo before leaving the house in the morning). I also really liked the same jacket with #8, the white jeans. And I think the top in #4 is going to hit the donate pile.

What's neat about doing an exercise like this is that you can see the patterns. Now you have a whole series to look at -- there are combinations you'll definitely try again, and some you won't. And there are cuts and styles that immediately jump out at you as your best and others that are just so-so. So it's great to have the retrospective.

Jaime

Terrific month! I love the jacket in #2 and #8 and am always happy to see the one in #9! It is so interesting to see how the no-repeaters retain they distinct look even with all the variety. Great job!

Thanks Shevia! The jacket in #2 and #8 is one of my favs because of the '80's vibe, but it can be a bit more difficult to style. I'm finding the Mural Bomber, however, to be quite versitle. I wore it during the warmer months as an outside jacket, and now that it's colder it's earning a place in my fall/winter wardrobe as an inside jacket/blazer.

amiable

Wow! You hit it out of the ballpark! You're inspiring me to do a retrospective of the month.

TraceyLiz65

It's so fun to go back and look at a month all together! I love that you turned to Pinterest and with such success!

Lisa

Bravo for dressing with a frankenboot. I had bunion surgery myself a couple years ago and it was not a fun recovery for me. You have a lot of interesting prints in your closet which really help to jazz up your looks. Great job!

I am super impressed by how stylish you look, Frankenboot or not! Wishing you a speedy recovery.

Amy

I don't see a single "not so good" outfit in this bunch. Lady, you've got style!

columbine(erin)

I really like your pattern mixing, with the stripey top and floral scarf. I might have to find a stripey top like that and try it.

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