WIW -- AJ and the Orphans - YouLookFab Forum

Well, I should have just reached for a FFBO that morning, as I was running late! If I had time, I would have changed immediately, because my first impression was that it was not working.

I was inspired by the amazing outfits posted by AJ --- she can take perfectly ordinary items and put them together in a transformational fashion. The sum is great than the parts. I started with two newer items I was having a hard time finding good uses for:

1. Caslon denim shirt (cuffs turned, because I need to move the button to make the cuff smaller)

2. Snakeskin belt -- love the colors, but it will only fit on my waist, not across my hips, so I can only wear it with a couple of pairs of higher trousers. Yeah. I'm not a small/medium!.

I added:

A ponte pencil skirt I wear a lot, but have grown tired of
My trusty menswear vest
Scarf -- which I kept on because I felt the shirt was too stark by itselt.
My oxfords.

The outfit grew on me throughout the day. Not exactly transformational, but I liked it. Although I played with pairing back to just the shirt, belt and skirt, I felt the line wasn't sleek enough to go more minimal.

WWAJD? What would AJ do? Is there something I could learn from this to make my remixes more "me?" Even though the skirt was ponte, it was still tailored. Am I missing a little of the "flow" in the "form with flow" part of my style rubric?

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13 years ago

lyn67

Veteran

Smashing, I just love the all outfit, colour scheme, textures and all! I love waistcoats, too, they add that "third piece" to a simple outfit, and the scarf is lovely, too:-)

Beth Ann, I'm SO flattered! You have made my day!

"AJ and the Orphans" sounds like a good suspense book title! "Desperate to achieve a magic closet of her own, AJ casts a spell from an ancient sorcerer's book, but found herself stuck in a land of thrift store cast offs..." : P

...but back to your FAB outfit! This has all the components that make me happy: layers, fun accessories, and a polished effortlessness. I like it with the scarf. I enjoy belts peeking out under open jackets/cardigans/blazers; it has a great waist whittling effect that way.

I have a black knit skirt that I didn't utilize much this fall/winter. However, I've recently discovered that they look good with slouchy sweaters and tees. Maybe check Target for some mid-tone pastel tops in the slouchy style to refresh your use of this skirt?

I'm not sure about the flow part with this outfit. Do you mean a bit of boho?

Adelfa

I think the outfit looks great, no hint of being cobbled together. I love the combo of vest and oxfords.

Suz

(website)

Oooh - the title alone made me eager to read! It would make a great book for a YA audience... I can just see it. A whole series!!!

And I love the outfit, and can easily see the inspiration. You're so right about AJ; she always makes the most of the simplest pieces.

Like you, I prefer it with the scarf; it seems to finish it somehow and tie everything together (ha ha).

But I think you're probably right - you are missing the flow or softness. That might be to do with the skirt being structured, or it might be the denim shirt, if it feels a bit stiff. I'm wearing my own denim shirt right now and feel that bit of stiffness.

Firecracker (Sharan)

I love the outfit on you! Love it with the scarf. (Without the scarf, it reminds me more of me! Neutrals all the way--ha!)
Maybe you could take a wider view of "flow"? Your hair flows, the scarf flows a little--providing a good dose of softness as well as color--and my eye flows like water over pebbles in a stream, from grays in the vest to the belt to the shoes. Not as soft as some of your looks, but it still looks like you, professional but approachable, polished but at ease.

Beth Ann

Thanks for such thoughtful replies!

AJ --- You are always an inspiration, and I love your book idea! Maybe YLF can have a publishing arm! As for "flow," the style rubric I made last year was "Form with Flow: Energy with Ease." It was an attempt to acknowledge that I like a balance of physical structure and flow, not boho, exactly, more a sense of movement and grace, and perhaps a little Romantic, too. I also have a great love of texture and textiles -- of fabrics. The scarf provides a little of this here, which is probably why I left it on.

Excellent idea about new silhouettes in tops with my pencil! I just ordered two from the Gap!

Adelfa -- I'm glad you sensed a cohesive look -- that's what AJ does so divinely!

Suz -- You've been watching me closely, and I'm sure you know what I was going after. I think the denim top is the heart of it. I've been wearing this vest with a soft turtleneck or my romantic tops. I did wear it with a striped button down, but I added pearls to that mix, and even then, it was a little more "tailored" than usual. Maybe the denim shirt with a flared skirt this spring? I love its shade of blue, if not its weight.

Very observant, Firecracker! Your artistic seamstress eye catches details! I suspect this is why I like the outfit better as the day wore on. It's also why I left the scarf on, despite my trend toward a little more simplicity.

Anonymous

Oh just saw this -- love the vest tying into your great shoes! I really like the scarf with it.

Thistle

I don't see anything cobbled together here. I. Think you look terrific and pulled together!

pil

This is nice, Beth Ann, especially with the scarf. Would rolling up the cuffs even more give it some adfitional movemet? Is no belt at all too relaxed?

Pil --- rolling cuffs might be a little more relaxed --- and a little "jazz age" style, to go with the vest and oxofrds. These are fuller sleeves (yeah -- compared to my other post today), so scrunching is tough.

moira

I just love the menswear additions of the shoes and the vest on such a feminine woman. Very nice!

rae

I do love the outfit, but I can relate to feeling like it is not you. I love the ideas of rolling the cuffs and unbuttoning the neck just a little to make it feel more "energy with ease." The denim shirt sounds awesome with a fuller skirt, too.

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