When to bookend and when not to bookend (or: help me analyze these outfits)

Yesterday's outfit (1-2) made me think a bit about bookending. It's quite similar in components to a previous outfit I've worn (3-4). Both have printed pants with a white cuff, black shoes, black top, and my white denim jacket. It seemed like most people liked the first outfit best without the white jacket, whereas people liked the second outfit with the white jacket. For the first outfit, some of you commented that the jacket seemed like too much contrast. On the other hand, people liked the white jacket in the second outfit because they felt that the bookending made the white cuffs seem intentional.

So what makes the bookending work with the second outfit and not the first one? I have some theories but I'm curious to see what you think.

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12 years ago

deb

Veteran

To me, the contrast between the top and the pants in the second outfit is not as great making it more eye pleasing. Also, the pants in the second outfit have white in the print. The first outfit has not white making the jacket look out of place.

Adelfa

What Deb said. Also, the black top is shorter in the second outfit making the jacket look more proportional.

Deborah

I didn't get a chance to comment on yesterday's Post Diana, but I have to say WOW! I love both these outfits. I think they both work well with or without the white jacket.

#1 works because the white jacket bookends the roll of the pants. AND because the green is a 'lighter' tone.

#2 works because the black toppper works in with the black in the pants and the sandals.

#3 works but I don't think the white jacket is necessary (unless for warmth). It does bookend with the cuff, but the closed in black shoe kind 'negates' that. I do think it works best without the white jacket in this case.

At any rate, I would wear both these outfits and you have given me an idea to remix this one I wore last summer, I hadn't thought of rolling them.. thank you xxx

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Peri

I'm not good at this so I'm going to play just to see if I can come close to the "right" answer!

I don't think it's really about the bookending. I think in the first outfit the contrast between bright pants and black top is striking and the jacket gets in the way of that. The second outfit is dark over all and the white helps brighten it up.

Did I win?!

catgirl

I'm confused, because I love both and see enough bookending in subtle details. And that AS top is so fab with everything!

Suz

(website)

I like them both, but I agree with Deb that the light parts of the print in outfit 2 make the jacket seem more cohesive with the rest. If you carried a white or bone bag in #1 I think the jacket would work equally well. And it already does work, to my eye!

Susie

For me, my preference for the first outfit without the jacket was more about the proportions of the top and jacket together rather than the color.

Diana

Oh, this is interesting! My theory is similar to Peri's - that the second outfit seems dark all over so the white cuff kind of sticks out in an odd way without something to bookend it. The first outfit has a lighter print (although not white) so the white cuff is not as glaring. But it's interesting that others have picked up on the exact opposite, that the print in the second outfit has white bits that are cohesive with the white jacket.

I also think that the bare arms in the first outfit may be light enough to bookend the white cuff.

Jenava

I have to run, but ladies you are making me crave some pattered skinnies!! FANTASTIC outfits, Deborah and Diana!

Sveta

I am no help because I like them both! It maybe more about the top though; it is a tunic length in the first outfit and hi-low shorter length in the second. However I think it works well in the first outfit because pants color is fresher and cleaner and white is perfect with this kind of color.

ManidipaM

Great question! Will be watching this thread.

AviaMariah

For me - I thought the white jacket in 1/2 made the black shirt look bulky and bunched where it looked very streamlined w/out the jacket. Also, I think the white cuff blends into the green pants because of the lighter color. I didn't even notice them until I read your comments. I think the white jacket in the second outfit just brightens up the whole outfit, not just bookends the more obvious white cuffs. That's my take. Now to read what everyone else said...

unfrumped

Ha. I like them both. I think the white jacket actually "goes" with the neon pants well because they're both very reflective.I do see that the blue pants have either light blue or near white in the print, and so that is a "go" concept, too, but not necessarily way better.
In both cases if you need to wear a topper, the white seems better than, say, a black jacket and it'd be hard to add another color. Not really focusing on proportions, but that can be fine-tuning as to which black tanks or other tops you may have work best.

CocoLion

The first outfit works better without the jacket because there are fewer lines and folds competing for visual attention.

I really don't think the second outfit looks better with the jacket than without. However, it looks better with the jacket than the first outfit because the white of the cuffs bookends the white of the jacket. Does that make sense?

Hope that helps.

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