Twee for Twinkling - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Dressing

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Twee for Twinkling

Meredith

Veteran

The comments on Twinkling's thread got me thinking about how the overtly feminine and soft looks aren't always a big part of our conversation around here. I bat for Team Pretty and Team Polished, and while I don't usually do head to toe girly looks, I certainly have the pieces to do so. So here is my homage to vintage pearls and full skirts and Peter Pan collars and curly hair and bunny rabbits. Yes, I prefer to wear just one or two of these pieces together at one time, but I by no means feel awkward or uncomfortable in this outfit.

How many pretty or feminineor girlyor delicate pieces do you feel comfortable wearing at one time?

uploading phots

This post has 3 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Dressing

26 replies

Latest reply was from Kirstjen

shedev

Veteran

Aww what a cute bunny. Lovely feminine outfit. I like to balance my pretty with a little tough.

catgirl

Veteran

Bunny!!!

This is a lovely outfit. I don't do twee myself but I admire on others.

Twinkling

(website)

Your outfit is so pretty!! And BUNNY <3 Oh my goodness, this whole thing just made me smile so much Thank you, I feel so happy seeing such an unabashed appreciation for the frilly side of fashion.

Beth Ann

Veteran

Yes! Best part of this forum is the inspiration we take from each other! Meredith: this is completely wearable in many environments!

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

Yay for girly, says the person who wore pink and blue and white today. And even more yay for the bunny.

Olivegreen

One. I can wear one twee item at a time. Classic pants and a blouse that is one big ruffle. Tiered voile skirt and a tailored blouse. Tiny flats with a shiny bow and raw jeans.
I am five feet tall and some idiot always pats me on the head, so I use the cuteness sparingly.
You asked
My friends always fall over when I show up with the pretty stuff, as I usually dress for business or survival. But i was a petticoat and glove and Sunday hat little girl when my mom dressed me, and she had a great eye. It is a retro style for me. I think of her and her amazing taste every time.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

CUTE BUNNY.

And GORGEOUS you. I love that skirt matched with the Peter Pan collar blouse and pearls. Your wavy hair works well too. You are stunning, Meredith. Killer look.

I bat for Team Pretty & Polished with you.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

GORGEOUS skirt and adorable bunny!

I vote pretty and polished all the way.

Anonymous

You look gorgeous and the bunny made me smile.

I definitely bat for pretty and polished.

I wear earrings and a necklace nearly every single day. Although my hair is not done, I wear makeup and red lipstick. I think I incorporate one feminine piece in every single work outfit (heels with a full skirt or silk blouse with a pencil skirt). Sometimes my feminine piece is just a color ... pink.

Sal

Veteran

Well done...a great look! Such a wonderful skirt.

I agree there are lots of pretty looks that are wonderful, and it is a look that is overlooked sometimes. You show how to do it in a stylish way!

Anonymous

If I get to carry a BUNNY around, I'lll wear anything! In all seriousness, there is nothing twee about this to my eye. Very lovely! (and so is the fireplace and mirro)

Diana

Veteran

Aww, bunny! See, I don't think this is twee (in the negative sense) but just feminine and pretty.

I tend to try to contrast my super feminine pieces with tougher items. Black stompy boots with a frilly skirt is a favorite of mine. I also have a lot of things that would be ultra feminine except that they are black or other dark colors.

milehighstyle (Linda)

Veteran

I don't mind doing lots of feminine items in one outfit, but it depends on my mood. I also like mixing it up with a tough item from time to time. I think my short sleek hair keeps it from being overly sweet when I do a big dose of girly-girl.

OH, and squeeeeee - bunny!

Meredith

Veteran

Thanks everyone! Little Prince (the bunny) says he is blushing from all the love.

shedev: Yes, balance can be key to prettier pieces feeling right for me. Your style is tougher than mine, but I do like to add some edge of some sort.

alaskagirl: Thanks! I would be very confused if I saw you in this outfit, so keep rocking your UWP style! I always like to see what you're wearing because you have many pieces that I feel could add extra dimension and interest to my polished, feminine items.

Twinkling: Glad I could make you smile! It's never fun to feel like you're isolated in your preferences and I hope to see some of your frilly fashions soon!

Beth Ann: I do really love when something on the forum inspires me to wear a particular outfit. And this look is completely appropriate for my museum job. Honestly, it probably fits in with the style around here more than what I normally wear.

UmmLila: There's always room in my heart for girly!

Olivegreen: I hear you on balance. I'd also love to wear the peter pan top with my shredded jeans. And I can't imagine how frustrating it is when people get patronizing because they perceive you as adorable. Love the story about your childhood frocks!

Angie, Suz: Thanks for the pretty and polished love!

Sterling: I loved reading about elements of your "uniform." Sounds fabulous!

Kiwigal: Thanks! Even I forget how much I like head to toe pretty.

Lisa: That is my GUEST room! Come and stay! I live in a house from the 30s and all of the rooms have such lovely details. I was definitely trying to hit a certain level of sophistication with this look, so I'm glad it doesn't read as twee in the negative sense.

Diana: Thanks for the complement. Now shoes are the one thing that I really prefer to keep in the refined polished category. I have big feet, so I think I just feel awkward in stompy boots and the like. You pull it off brilliantly, though!

Linda: You make a great point about adding elements to keep things from being overly sweet. I think that's a great way of verbalizing how I feel. I don't mind sweet, but I don't want to be candy coated.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

You look fantastic & it doesn't look twee on you at all.
I think we can all do feminine in our own way. Your kind of feminine doesn't work for me but drapey fabric & make up are my girly go-tos..

Karie

(website)

Veteran

I love to do head-to-toe girly girl.

What a cute bunny!

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

This is a gorgeous look, Meredith! I love the rich red hue with the black and white print skirt, and your classic, simple ballet flats. This look does not seem twee to me at all. To make it so, you might need some ornamentation on the shoes, say some prominent ribbon bows, and a pair of ruffled ankle socks, and a sash, and a headband with flowers on it, and pigtails, and a ruffled apron, and a little round-necked cardigan. Or any four of those things. Or heck, I bet you could add several of those things in a way that would still look simply pretty, not caricature-like, which is what I associate with "twee."

Olivegreen

Firecracker, you get the bunny award for identifying some twee icons!
How about twee as part of an anime style? Which is very cool.

Ledonna N.

Veteran

I have no idea what twee is but Google here I come. On the other hand you are giving me 50s retro realness and the bunny oh my goodness. I love the skirt so vibrant and full. Your hair color is so pretty bring a newness to the retro fit.

Chiara

"

I think we can all do feminine in our own way"
I agree 100%. Love these outfits-love this bunny!- but only the bunny would work for me
My take on feminine is often quite "menswear" shapes (eg tailored trousers and jackets, tailored, collared shirts, V neck sweaters) but in very feminine colors (eg pastels, shades of pink or coral).

harmonica

Veteran

Stunning! Please wear this more often. Bunny is adorable!

I do like a feminine touch, but not too much. I doubt I would feel 100% me in a full skirt, pearls, peter pan collar and soft curls. I think adding some kind of edge would fit my preferences better.

approprio

(website)

Veteran

I don't see twee at all here, just gamine You look beautiful.

So much depends on the raw material of how we look. I'm not much good at girly, my appearance doesn't support it and I don't think I ever looked that innocent My feminine style tends more to ladylike than gamine. But I'd totally wear that skirt. In fact, I'd wear that whole outfit. The same clothes would look completely different. It's a fantastic ensemble.

Joyce B

Veteran

You look gorgeous and you gave the best accessory. What a sweet bunny!

dakotacheryl

Veteran

Fabulous on you, a distinctive look that you pull off flawlessly...bunny is too adorable for words.

gryffin

Veteran

Awesome!! Such a gorgeous outfit and amazing furry angel!! I think I missed the whole twee discussion. I didn't know that word until I read it on the forum and then had to google the meaning. I don't like words that carry judgement so I don't personally use it. To me this is pretty, polished, elegant, poised and ladylike and is simply a wonderful outfit! Enjoy!!

Kirstjen

Veteran

I don't do girly. It's just not me. I think I do polished of course, but girly or ladylike or overtly feminine are just not my style.

I think a lot of developing your personal style is really getting to know yourself, and also allowing yourself to change over time. I think that my style continues to get sleeker & maybe less flow-y over time. Maybe I'm even getting less colorful. For me there has been a pretty significant change from black to gray & also my jewelry taste has changed.

Life is really a process. So is getting dressed.