Wearing Trendy Black and White in the Fall

Hello.

Today's outfit for a hot fall day was inspired by Angie's blog post today: Outfit Formula: Trendy Black and White.

#1 to #5 - White WHBM Denim Jacket, Stripe WHBM Top, Black WHBM Mid-Rise Pret-A-Play Shorts

Black and white is a classic look and it's very easy for me to put together outfits around those two colors. Yet, while this outfit looks fine to me, I felt "off" all day. Mainly because this look isn't in line with my current style preferences. I find it interesting that an outfit can look fine, but just not feel fine.

#6 to #8 - Swapping Stripes for a Colorful Tee

I decided to tweak this outfit for the future. I swapped the striped top for one of my favorite Life is Good Tees and now this outfit feels more like "me" at this point in my style journey. Since the polar bear on the tee and the denim jacket are white, and I kept the same black shorts, I'm going to consider this option my version of trendy black and white for fall.

Thanks for looking!

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White House Black Market

Flirty Denim Jacket

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Ecco Soft 7 Casual Slip-On SneakerWomen's

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Custom Find

by Lisa

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Nordstrom

Maui Jim Byron Bay 62mm PolarizedPlus2 Sunglasses

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2 months ago

Joy

Veteran

Looks great. I especially like the striped tee.

Star

Of course they are equally good but I too love the striped Tee one. I recall you previously mentioned you are not feeling striped tees currently. The shorts are very cool, the zippers give interest and they seem quite structured, which I like in shorts. Very interesting how an outfit can look good but we don't personally feel it. I agree that we need to feel good too.

Staysfit

I like both versions. I typically reject outfits that may look fine and yet they don’t feel right. My clothing is the outward manifestation of my personality, it’s my brand, my costume, my armor, etc. and it needs to be congruent with me to work well. This is a nice adaptation of a stylish trend to fit your personal style.

kellygirl

Both look great but I can see how the graphic tee suits your current style a little more. I've been off stripes for awhile too. When my striped tees wore out, I just never replaced them. I love how you adapted this black and white pairing to make it your own! YLF! Did I tell you how much I'm enjoying your casual polished style?!!

Jenny H

I very much like both outfits but I love the striped one the best. But I totally know what you mean about not feeling a particular style for a time --like you aren't feeling the stripes look now.

I just saw someone on YouTube mention she likes to pack up items she isn't feeling at the moment and then bring them out again in the future. She mentioned it helps her with novelty without the need for as much shopping. That really resonated with me.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Super cute, Lisa! The striped version is very punchy - and not off at all

That said - you might be off stripes, so good job switching to a tee that feels right. Adorable! And BLUE.

Yes, an outfit can look great and feel off. Follow your feelings because you're the one wearing the outfit.

Jaime

Stripey verve chic!

Lisa

Joy - A stripe tee is a classic that always works well, especially when paired with black. Thanks for looking!

Star - How one feels in an outfit is so important, after all we spend all day in our outfits! The WHBM shorts Mid-Rise Pret-A-Play shorts have been a favorite of mine for a few years now. They have enough structure to drape well, but the material is light weight which is nice when it's hot outside, and they dress up or down very easily. I own this style in a few colors.

Staysfit - I agree, clothing is a reflection to the world on one's personality. I'm a mood dresser and shopper, and that's one reason why I try to always shop with a list. It's too easy to get distracted by pretty things if I shop without one, I'll just start buying everything that makes me feel good in the moment, instead of buying stuff that will work for outfits.

kellygirl - I'm definitely in more of a graphic tee mood than a solid or stripes tee mood lately, especially when it's to hot to layer my outfits. Not replacing your stripes when they wore out was a solid move and one I may repeat myself. Thanks for the kind words, with WFH I'm able to be much more casual and playful with my style, instead of the business casual conservative look I had for years.

Jenny H - Packing up out of favor items into a holding zone is a solid strategy. And if you never reach for the box, then you've got an easy donation too, it's already packed up! Thanks for the suggestion.

Angie - I certainly liked this outfit much better with a bit of blue added in. Generally, I'm liking black less and less over time, and seriously considering switching my core to blues like you've done previously. It's nice to know that kind of switch for a core color in a wardrobe can be done, because the thought of doing so sounds a little daunting. It'll have to be a baby steps process. But going with one's feeling is most important and I feel washed out with blacks and non colored outfits more and more often lately, especially if the black is near my face.

I know what you mean, Lisa. I switched from black to navy slowly. Started with the tops. Wore black and navy together. It took years!

1 month ago

Angie - Starting off with pairing black with navy sounds like a great jumping off point. I do think it will take a while to switch over, but that's okay. Wardrobes are always evolving anyway, and now I'll have a direction to go in.

Helena

Lisa, these are cute! I love to use a third colour to soften black and white ... Great strategy!

Helena - Indeed adding a third color helped make this outfit feel more "me" since I'm really into colors at this point in my style journey. Thanks for looking!

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