The Three-Faces of Quirky Waif - more pics - YouLookFab Forum

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The Three-Faces of Quirky Waif - more pics

rachylou

Veteran

I'm starting the winter sort. Woo hoo! Haven't quite made it to the winter bins quite, but I'm packing up strictly summer.

Going through my clothes, I see that Quirky Waif has multiple personality disorder. And more specifically that the Three Faces of Quirky Waif are Put A Bird On It, Country Punk, and Folktale. Of course, I'm in the process of showing "Birdie" the door... but I notice Folktale is having a brief moment on the catwalk.

It's so easy to just slip into hippie-boho with Folktale, tho. I don't want to do that. But I'm thinking I could step it up for the heck of it... except I can't think how. Right now my only approved-version involves black tops with embroidery and black moto half boots. Thoughts, dear-heart peeps? Ideas? Inspirations? Should I just wear my Ren Faire cape around?

... actually I could do that... hehe

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27 replies

Latest reply was from rachylou

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

You'll have to indulge me, Rachy. What does "Put A Bird On It" look like?

rachylou

Veteran

Well I have this pic on hand, but I was getting my hair cut so am sans topper...

1

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

You've written quite an enchanting tale here and all good stories need some pictures. Bird and cape, please, with a little punk-hippie-boho thrown in, too.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Aha. And how does this reflect a style that you want to show the door?

E

Veteran

Lol! I love a touch of folktale myself and spent my errands and walks today wearing a cape. I'm good w heading into boho territory though.

Here's what I think of w folkloric:

embroidery and other fabric embellishments
combinations of white w some dark or woodsy neutral and splashes of red or blue
aprons (!) or layered skirts that look like aprons
poofy skirts (if we're talking European folklore)
kerchiefs/scarves
chunky shoes w round toes
layered hosiery
braided hair
wool & linen fabrics
velvet & faux fur
stylised animal & plant prints

...clearly my version of folklore is all about European peasant traditions. I'm excited it's having a catwalk moment though; hopefully that will filter down eventually. For inspiration, there's Ulyana Sergeenko's early shows, especially these two.

MuseumGal

Veteran

I'd think waify folklore could dovetail nicely with country punk.

rachylou

Veteran

More Bird pics.

#1 - Closer-up of skirt above. It's a wrap around skirt, one side this sort of denim, the other tiny pink flowers.

#2 - Tiny pink flower side. Note that skirt was made by a local pop-up, cottage-industry style manufacturer (girl with sewing machine in kitchen).

#3/4 - Upcycled pink shirt. Also pop-up fare. Note random decorative machine stitching.

#5 - Another tiny floral.

Notable things about Put A Bird On It, besides the cottage-industry ethos: it's cute cheerful, lots of little florals, pinks, teals, yellows, cheery reds, grass greens...

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5

rachylou

Veteran

Ooh, what a great list and link, E. I want this dress.

MuseumGal - if I could do it like Ulyana Sergeenko(!)

Angie, I guess I'd like to show the door to perky girlish cuteness and urban rusticism...

1

Suz

(website)

Veteran

This is fascinating.

I am unable to offer direction.

But I am listening.

amiable

Veteran

I used to have the shirt in #5 of your second pic set!

rachylou

Veteran

Did you give it away, Amiable?

Ps: country punk is *totally* different from urban rusticism. Yes.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I don't quite get what you're wanting to do. When you say "step it up," what do you mean? Are you looking to get more folktale looks into your wardrobe?

E

Veteran

I just thought of another folktale accessory: shawls!

And yes, I love that Sergeenko dress too.

I think to avoid boho but add touches of folktale, you could keep the lines sharper/more fitted vs the relaxed slouch of boho. Or do more urban colours, like the red & black of that dress. Tougher shoes. Or try to find the shapes in dressier/more formal3 fabrics, the kind that boho wouldn't like because they don't allow for spontaneous dances/naps in fields.

Now you've got me wanting to add more obvious folktale touches to my outfits; I'll have to ponder how to do that w my existing closet! And I hope you do WIW posts as you explore Quirky Waif options.

ironkurtin

Veteran

I'm not sure what's going on here. But you sure do have a lot of stuff!

rachylou

Veteran

You don't know the 75% of it, IK. Lol!

That's what I was thinking, Firecracker - to get some folk tale looks in but not, you know, take up residence in a candy cottage in the woods.

Those are more great ideas E! I love a good apron, and maybe I can work on the shawl angle. I think you're onto it re fabrics.

Diana

Veteran

More later but I wonder if the descriptors "city boho" or "urban poetess" might appeal. Both have been used here to describe some of my outfits. In my head it's like boho/romantic elements but tempered with a lot of hard edge, definitely black leather instead of brown suede. For someone like me (and I think you too) who is always being called "cute" it's easy for true boho/romantic to quickly get way too sweet/young/unsophisticated.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Yeah, Diana has a point there. You want to temper the cute or it will get all treacly and stagey. Or veer into camp.

Astrid

Veteran

I'm with Suz, I'm not able to offer any input, but I find this interesting for sure. I also found your Bird pictures fascinating. Would love to see you post more pictures of actual outfits when you're exploring this.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I agree with saying bye-bye birdie to the put a bird on it collection. It seems too girlie for your style. As for the folkloric, if you keep those pieces to a minimum within one outfit, you may feel safe from being a Boho cliche.

rachylou

Veteran

Diana / Suz Denise - I appreciate your comments / strategy tips. I think you guys are 100% right. I need to write this down on the back of my hand: don't overload on it, and add something to make it a little tough.

Astrid - No doubt I'll need to post some style lab threads. I wish I'd started taking WIW pics before joining YLF.

Here are more Bird pics...

#1 practically at dumpster diving
#2 ruffles - enuf said
#3 kinda the epitome of Put A Bird On It: teal, purple, orange and some funky beads

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abc

Veteran

Rachy you are my hero - was that a post-it I spotted on your phone? Love you to bits. And what an interesting thread. I love your writing!

rachylou

Veteran

Lol, abc. Yes, that's a Post-It with handwritten notes.

Man, the smartphone allows me to do all sorts of things - everything but the thing I bought it for.

jackiec

Veteran

I can't keep up..but am LOL about the post-it on the phone. Totally me too.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

It is hard to want to change you, but an apron would be right up your alley, no? I did feel I got it with your epitome of bird shot above. Yes, or I mean no.

columbine(erin)

Veteran

You make me smile, Rachy! And I totally put post it notes on my smart phone too. Will be following this post so I can learn more about you and be more helpful another time.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Rachylou, I thought of you as I was doing this craft project for a Christmas present. I'm making a tote bag, and I'm trying my hand at stenciling the fabric, using a swamp grass and . . . you guessed it!. . . bird motif. I'm literally putting a bird on it!

I do like E's ideas for you. I think you could draw some inspiration from the Anthropologie website and catalogs, too, perhaps.

rachylou

Veteran

Ohmigosh, I love it, Firecracker. Put a bird on it! Anthropologie is a great idea. I must do some surfing.