Maya, I like your top - it's fun and a little funky and it works on you. (Whereas I would probably look very overwhelmed!)

Here's my outfit for today. I was really excited about finding this denim skirt at J.Jill...it fits exactly right and has lots of casual and smart casual possibilties. I wasn't sure what call to make on footwear though. I ended up going with the wedges, since the gold flats flats (second pic) didn't seem to mesh with the purse.

http://jesusredeemed.us/h_linked_images/41708.jpg

http://jesusredeemed.us/h_link.....1708_b.jpg

(Pardon the leaves...I need to sweep the porch!)

I should mention this is partially YLF inspired by way of the white tie wrap and yellow purse! Usually I wear a brown open-weave sweater with this green top (which I adore and will barely survive another season), but all the talk going around here about using white to keep things fresh inspired me to try it out! I'd prefer a white or cream cardi because it's a bit wide in the shoulders and the tie things rides up and looks weird, but it was all I have for the time being.

Maya, that top is so cute on you! I'm watching this thread because I hope you can solve the what-to-wear-for jeans dilemma. I have a similarly voluminous top - it's a knit in a solid inky blue - that called my name, and I'm having similar struggle to figure out what to wear with it. It doesn't look right belted, and I can't wear a cardi over it because the sleeves puff too much and I loose the detail on the sleeves (I probably *shouldn't* wear puff sleeves..... but as I said, the shirt called my name!!!). It doesn't look right to me with jeans, because it's too much of one dark color.

My top *does* work very well with skinny walking shorts (seersucker ones from BR). And it also works tucked in with a high-waisted, A-line skirt (also BR).

Otherwise, I did wear it out once with a pair of khakis that are rather on the full side - they go straight down from the hip, and are as close as I'll get to "wide leg" trend. It was a volume-on-volume look that should've been a no-no, but somehow, it seemed to work.

My only other thought is that perhaps a pair of heels with those skinnies would give you just enough extra length to balance out the look? But I think you don't wear heels.

HannahMichelle - cute outfit - where did you get the purse? I have been wanting something similar! And I actually like it better with the gold flats. Not sure why that is. Perhaps because it seems to extend your leg, and the metallic gives it a touch of unexpected. I tend to treat metallic like a neutral, so I don't think it clashes with the purse. Gold and yellow should go together just fine! And I think the cardi works just fine too... for me, it gives it just a touch of bohemian look.

Shiny, you need white jeans if you don’t have a pair already. Everyone should have white jeans. Off set your dark moo moo top with white. So fab.

Hannah, so glad that you opted for white! I’m tickled and you look adorable. Brown and green are so Autumn-y. Brown is so Autumn-y unless it’s paired with yellow AND white. Always with white. I’m not a fan of brown in Spring and Summer time in any other colour combo, unless it’s with white. Okay. I think that’s crystal clear now. Sorry to have gone about that.

Your skirt is great, Hannah! Looks like lovely quality. A better length than the black one that you took back. And I adore the gold flats. Much prefer them to the other shoes. It’s fresher! Well done.

Maya, I was going to suggest heels, but I know that you don’t wear them. Boot cuts!

Angie, you mentioned several times that brown only looks good with yellow and white in Spring/Summer. Does that apply just for this year because yellow is trendy now or it's for every Spring/Summer. I do love the combination but just wanted to have more since I have several brown things, pants, shirtskirt, pencil skirt, etc.

Yeah, I had the same experience with trying to put a cardigan over it Shiny. Besides, it wouldn't really be practical now that it's warm out.

Here are the bootcuts, which are for some reason a bit too long with these shoes. Maybe they have always been long and I just never noticed.

http://img.photobucket.com/alb.....G_0948.jpg

HannahMichelle, your skirt is gorgeous. I wish I could wear that length!

Love, love it with the bootcuts Maya! It looks perfect to me! And those flats are adorable.
HannahMichelle, I also prefer your cute outfit with the gold flats.

Angie, with regard to brown, I also like to wear it in the warmer weather with aqua/turquoise, and (separately)various shades of cream/tan (no beige near the face) with wooden jewelry for 'earthy' look ( I might throw in some metallics as well). Would you discourage from this two color combos? I thought they looked OK.

Maya, that is much better! And I think those jeans look great on you, your thighs don't look big at all. They balance out the shirt so it doesn't look as tenty. Love the shoes! Those are the Me Too Swann flats, right? I am definitely going to have to get myself a pair of those.

HannahMichelle, love the bag and the skirt is really nice. Go with the gold flats, for sure.

Tanya, brown and turquoise is one of my favorite color combos too. I love turquoise in general. It looks great with just about every color I can think of. I like the earthy color combos you described, especially with a metallic. It sounds like a really interesting earth/space contrast!

Ana, the problem area of my thighs are covered in this particular outfit so it doesn't bother me in this case. Those shoes are indeed the Me Too flats, which are pretty comfy, but I must caution you: I felt a bit of scratching from the stitching on the inside, but it was far from unbearable so I just let it go. I walked for hours like that, then when I got into the fitting room at H&M and took off my shoe, I realized it had actually been cutting me with every step and I now have a big gash and a blood stain in my shoe (hence the post in the other discussion) :(. It didn't even hurt that much, and I don't have a high pain tolerance so I was surprised! Anyway, being a graphic designer came in handy--I happen to have an x-acto knife on me at all times, so I just cut away at the part that was irritating. It actually didn't hurt until today. I'm not sure what shoes I'm going to wear now =\ I think it might be a fashion sneaker day.

Gold flats it is! Thanks for all the responses. They're more comfy anyways. ha.

Shiny, I got the purse at a local Plato's Closet. It's 100% leather, but there's no brand tag inside so I have no idea where it came from.

Maya, I agree on the bootcuts instead of the skinnies. They look great!

Maya, the bootcuts are perfect! Angie was right again. I think the length looks fine - but I know sometimes even if it looks good, it can annoy if you feel like they're dragging on the ground.

Angie - I used to have white jeans, 20 lbs ago. This is on my replacement list. Meanwhile I do have white slacks and also white walk shorts and yes you're right - both look fab with this top. I love navy and white together. However, it's still not quite white-pants weather here in Boston. Soon, I hope.

Regarding brown in the summer: I wear a LOT of brown too, anytime of the year. It's a softer color and looks better on me than black. In fact, I was rotating my closet last week, and I realized wow I have overdone it with the brown summer dresses!

I like brown in the warmer months with with pastel pink, white, citron, turquoise, lemon yellow... and with natural jewelry (stones, wood, leather) and/or jewelry with a bright pop of color.

But I also have a brown & white striped dress (one that's currently offered at BR) which I tried on the other day with my black short-sleeve cardi and wedge esperadrilles, and it looked adorable.

(I'm about to start a new thread I think - we are on page 3!)
Julia, I think that brown looks great with ALL bright colours in Summer when you add white into the mix. I love yellow, so that’s my fav Spring and Summer combo with brown. But a sour turquoise (as Maya points out), or tomato red is also super. Even pink. As long as there is white or cream in the ensemble. (I think I’ve been a fashion buyer for too long. As a buyer you really want the seasons to look different when you buy them in for retail stores). White is our black in warmer weather.

I have a hunch that yellow is here to stay. It was the last primary colour to make a comeback. Primary colours work with almost everything. It has become a basic. Go for it.

Shiny, are you Shinypenny – Jen?

Love the moo moo top with the boot cuts and the smashing new Chanel-esque Me Toos, Maya! You look fab and are rocking your arty farty style. Well done. Try a bit of mole skin over that area of that shoe too, Maya. I find that helps. Sorry to hear about your gash. Hope that your shoes end up working anyway.

Tanya, those colour combos sound great. Metallic’s add the freshness. Throw in a white bottom, cami , shoes or accessory and you’ll have kicked it up a notch. I have this thing about brown with white when it’s warm. Otherwise its’ dull. See whether you like it that way too.

Shiny, yay for white jeans. Definitely on your shopping list. I’m already wearing mine and it’s going to snow tomorrow. Sigh…
White jacket, cardi and shoes with the brown dresses?

Yes, that's me.

I don't like white shoes - they get dirty too fast!

Angie, do you think the bootcuts are too long? I feel like they look a bit bunchy on my leg, but of course I wouldn't want to make them too short.

Angie, You have referred to Maya's smockish top as a moo moo top a few times. Is that really what that style is called? I always thought of a moo moo as a house dress kind of thing or a caftan. Just curious.

Ha, I was a bit perturbed when I heard Angie used that term. I don't want to look like Mrs. Roper =\

But since it was never used negatively, I guess it's okay.

Sorry. It’s NOT a moo-moo. You are not Mrs. Roper. It’s not negative! It's an A-line voluminous woven top . I prefer to use the word moo moo from time to time because everyone understands it.

I wear my boot cuts for flats at more or less that length, Maya. You could hem less than an inch if you like?

I just wanted to jump in at the end of this looooong thread and say lovely outfits ladies. I envy Shiny's layering skills, and love Anna's dress and Hannah's sunny yellow purse and green top. Maya's top looks fun and fantastic as well. Now I'm on to reading part 2.