Trip report - YouLookFab Forum

My fashion goal this year is to get this business travel capsule down pat, hence my follow up report to this post

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....ee-weather

....so I can dissect what worked/didn't work. I've put this under "shopping" category because this trip made me feel totally overwhelmed -- there are so many items I need to round out my wardrobe!

CLIMATE = LAYERS
First, I didn't need to stress over the temperature change, as we wound up in a chilly meeting room most of the time, barely seeing the light of day, except to go out to dinner and by then it had cooled down substantially. That said, the room we were in kept varying from too hot to too cold, so the lesson is layers!

WHAT EVERYONE ELSE WORE = FORMULA DRESSING
Here is how "casual" was interpreted by the ladies:
1. Dark wash skinny jeans + waist surrendering long top (knit or silky) + chunky watch + ballet flats/booties/pumps
2. Dark wash boot cuts + dark neutral high-quality knit top + chunky watch + interesting ballet flats OR booties.
3. Black dress slacks (classic cut) + shell + long cardigan + sensible shoes

In general, the younger/slimmer/fitter women went with #1, the older women with #3, and the rest fell into #2. Personally, I'd like to adopt formula #2 for myself.

WHAT I WORE & WHAT WORKED/DIDN'T WORK
To fly I wore the AG Nikki's, booties, white Jcrew tee, and black BR V-neck sweater. We were supposed to be on our own for dinner that night, so I wasn't expecting to see anyone, but it turned out a big group was going to dinner when I arrived. I had no time to change but I felt fine and comfortable as most people were dressed down.

The next day I wore ponte knit pants, SW ballet flats, and a VC striped top. And this was a flop, because my tummy was all bloated from the air travel, so I was self conscious about unruly stripe placement, and also the room was freezing. I wound up popping a jean jacket over it to keep warm. Also I have to say, as comfy as those flats are, I felt so darn short.

On the third day I wore the black AT slim leg trousers, red patent wedge Aerosole's, and navy print AT Legacy blouse tucked in. This was perfectly comfortable... but I kept wondering if it was an "aging" look and if I'd had been better off wearing jeans instead.

On the last day I wore AG dark wash high rise skinny jeans, with a different AT Legacy blouse (animal print) worn untucked, with black booties. This was probably the best outfit of the trip. I felt perfectly comfortable and as if I'd hit the right note. I also got many complements on my blouse. Plus, it traveled well (and it was a long day traveling back). The problem with those jeans, however, is that they stretch out a lot, so I can only really get one wear out of them. Otherwise, I'd have worn them twice.

SHOPPING WISH LIST
1. Dark wash boot cuts with stretch. Mid rise to deal with inevitable tummy bloating that is par for the course when you are traveling -- and being fed a lot of food all day long!
2. A trouser cut jean may also be handy to have, but I am seeing very little options around these days.
3. High quality knit tops, long sleeve/3/4 sleeve/elbow sleeve. With scoop or cowl neck. Relaxed fit. Darker neutral colors. I think I will check out Eileen Fisher for this, but if anyone has any suggestions, let me know!
4. Chunky watch

FINAL NOTE
I'm really enjoying seeing what everyone wears around the country, not just in my neck of the woods. Sitting in the airport people-watching is a lot of fun. And this travel may just nudge my personal style needle in new directions.

12 years ago

catgirl

Veteran

Thanks for the update! I am going to a conference in San Francisco in April and expect a casual professional atmosphere so I am taking notes.

shiny

I'll be there in April too. PM me and let me know your dates!

Oh wow! Mine are April 26 - 30. Fingers crossed!

Anonymous

Shiny, I enjoyed your observations and see the same types of dress in those age groups at events here, except not bootcuts in particular; mostly skinnies. While my wardrobe won't function without black pants, I almost hate to wear them because of the aging factor. My compromise is skinny (sized up) black jeans or black leather pants. I'd love to hear your observations on international dress.

DonnaF

Hi, Shiny;
Since you mentioned trouser jeans, I've never owned any but was wondering if I
should own a pair, so these Jags have been on my Nordstrom Wish List.
They are now $40% off.

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/ja.....n=wishlist

Caro in Oz

So interesting - I feel the same way about black pants. I tried ponte pants but they felt so wrong on me. I do have some more cigarette style pants that feel great but I know not every one likes the length.

Another pair of trouser jeans:

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/vi.....n=wishlist

Suz

(website)

What an interesting report. I find the analysis really valuable even though my own travel is quite different. It's really helpful to ask ourselves what worked, what didn't, and WHY. Thanks for this.

Una, we'll just miss each other, unfortunately!

Joy, I like the black dress slacks not because they are black but because they are more comfortable, easier to fit, and I think more flattering too. With a heel, a long hem, and a slight flare/bootcut, they elongate my figure and also balance me out. In a 3-season wool they stretch and breathe and stay looking sharp. This is why I would like to find a pair of trouser cut jeans -- same flattering silouhette, but in a denim to nod to "casual." My boss has jeans like this and she looked amazing.

I thought the women at the meeting wearing black dress slacks all looked polished and perfect; it just unsettled me that all of them were "women of a certain age," and made me wonder. It's funny but I steer clear of black jeans -- I avoid them like the plague! Because black denim tends to be even more stiff and uncomfortable. I do, however, love my 5-pocket ponte knit pants and wear those very often.

DonnaF- I saw those in my search; it is not clear to me how the waistband is? Is it similar to other jag jeans, with elastic waistband? Or is it a true waistband? With trouser jeans I would like to be able to tuck -- not half tuck but full tuck. That is a good look for me as it hides all the midsection issues and if the pants have some fullness in the legs it gives me a waist, balances out my IT shape, and elongates my legs too, with a bit of heel.

Caro - the black pants I wore on day 3 (AT slim leg trousers) were just like cigarette pants. This was my attempt to look "casual." They are hemmed at a length that works with my red wedge heels which has an ankle strap. The hem is short enough the ankle strap shows. Truth is, I'd have preferred my other AT trousers which are more classic shape and longer - more elongating. Both those trousers are part of a suit I bought when interviewing last year. I have the jacket, pencil skirt, and two different styles of trousers.

Suz- we did a DiSC assessment at this meeting (if you know what those are?) and my type (Conscientious Creative) is prone to over analysis. LOL. I suspect there are many in YLF who are also this same type. This is a bit of a change for me; usually my travel is mostly for vacation, not work. The challenge is that each type of trip seems to require a different wardrobe capsule, depending on whether it's in office, offsite/internal meetings, or a customer event, and where (regional differences). Complicating factor was that I didn't want to wear the exact same items or outfits I had worn the last time I saw these same people. And maybe that wasn't the best strategy? I regretted not bringing a few items that I knew worked the last two trips.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

Arms are sore and can't type a proper response, but just wanted to tell you Jennifer, that I loved your report and hearing about your insights. xo

Adelfa

Shiny, this is a wonderful post! Love your reporting on what others wore, and your analysis of how you felt about what you wore. I didn't know black pants were aging, especially narrow ones! Sometimes I feel like heck, my kids are almost 30, I don't care if my clothes telegraph that I'm not 30 myself! Not sure if this is a good attitude.

Maybe next trip you can wear one or two repeat items and experiment to see if you feel fab or boring? If they're great items I bet it will work for you.

Thanks again!

Adelfa, I'm not sure it was the "black" that made them aging. Honestly charcoal or navy or taupe or cream dress slacks would have been just as aging. It's more, I guess, about the fact that the older you are, the more likely you are to equate looking professional with dress slacks and not jeans. Does that make sense? These are women who came into the workforce in the 80s, as I did, when there was no such thing as business casual.

Yet the women in the jeans managed to do it just right -- they still looked sharp and professional, and the jeans fit to perfection no matter what body shape or size -- not too tight, not too loose, not too low, no muffin top in sight (or if there was, it was artfully concealed with just the right relaxed-fitting top). The jeans, whether bootcut or trouser or skinnies, were dark wash, no rips, no fades. And which fit a woman chose depended on her body shape.

The guys, of course, had it easy. They wore dark wash premium denim with a long sleeve button down dress shirt, nice loafers, and called it a day.

I think I might have mentioned this in one of your other posts, but I've never been able to do the kind of effortlessly stylish, perfectly-fitting jeans look you mention. When I try to do it, I end up with some incredibly boring top chosen mostly to hide muffin-top and not be "too" anything and whatever shoes seem least awkward and most flattering with the jeans length, whether or not they're ones I'm particularly excited to wear. And I spend the day counting the hours until I can take the #%&#@ jeans off.

And I'm in my mid-30s, so I should instinctively know how to do this.

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