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WIW -- Time to "Reframe" the Picture

Beth Ann

Veteran

I haven't posted in a while. I'm crazy busy, it's crazy hot, and I'm not feeling fab. Don't get me wrong, for the most part my closet skills are growing, and my wardrobe works, even if it's not quite where I want it to be. I just feel, well.....bulky. Still, I know how beautiful and fab I find all the women on YLF, regardless of dress size, so I'm trying to do a little "reframing" as I look at these pictures. I want to up my style quotient, but still be as generous to myself as I would be to others.

1/2: An example of my "statement top + bermudas or clams formula) Great for the heat. I changed to my denim pencil skirt to teach. Does this silhouette work?
Top: Daisy Fuentes from Kohls
Bermudas: Lee, from Kohls
Bag: Apt. 9, Kohls
Shoes: Dr. Scholl's

3: Simple dress formula. Here I've added some Ugandan Fair-Trade paper beads for a little somethin-somethin.
Dress: Target
Shoes: Dana Buchman (last year)

4. Another statement top / shorts outfit
Top: Rafaella
Shorts and shoes: same as above

5. New hi/lo dress from Chicos. Love the color, but I wonder if it lacks sophistication. Sometimes I worry that I dress like a giant crayon. This is why I spent the 90's in black! Feedback?

1. Dress from Chicos -- more Ugandan beads
2. Shoes, same as above

6. This dress was on the Goodwill pile. I love the dots and it's is amazingly cool. But......do I look like I'm wearing a nightie? Also, I show the profile, because this sleeve style isn't really doing any favors. I think I'd love this dress on someone else.
Dress: Target, last year
Shoes: Cage Sandals from Macy's this year, I wore these to teach. The final photo shoes what I wore to ....... WalMart.

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27 replies

Latest reply was from anne

Makrame

Veteran

Can I just say how much I like the two colorful tops on you? #1-2 and #4. And the beads/dress combo in #3 is gorgeous! I also like the other two dresses. No giant crayons on my screen.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I can't take my eyes off #5! Absolutely KILLER. That's the best outfit you have ever posted, Beth Ann!! No crayons on my computer screen :). Just a very stylish lass rocking a high-low hemline with the best of them.

Good grief. I need to recover from seeing you in that turquoise dress. Flattering, on trend, elegant and dazzling.

*lying down*

Anonymous

As the newly crowned Queen of Turquoise, I say YAY! to #5, sensational!

Anonymous

*waving to my turquoise sandal twin*
You look fabulous, tanned and svelte! I love your sleek white shorts and the patterned tops are great. I love the bright dress as well, why on earth would you think you look like a crayon? I love crayons anyway. Still. A wide elastic belt might save the last dress, and you could always but a blazer over it for teaching. And those black cage sandals are SUPER-fab! Thanks for taking the time to post. You're like a breath of fresh air!

Kate

Veteran

Beth Ann, you look great in your white shorts! I especially love those two colorful tops you have paired with them, and the turquoise dress is simply stunning on you. And yes, the denim pencil skirt looks fab. The silhouette works perfectly.

Jamie

Veteran

Wow! Well done! If I had to pick favorites, I would choose #3 and #5! And I have to add that you have such a lovely, warm smile. That's the topper to each one of these great outfits!

rae

(website)

Veteran

Are you crazy?? #5 is beyond fab - no crayons in sight! LOVE it! How is the sizing? I remember when the dress went on sale, but I had no idea about their sizing.

MNsara

Veteran

Woohoo! I saw Angie's reaction to that gorgeous blue dress No giant crayon. You look tropical and chic, and your tan makes you look super healthy and vibrant!

MY next fave would be #1-2 because the top is SO cute and colorful and you've styled it so well with the clams and the skirt.

In fact, they're all great outfits! I'm glad you're reframing your thinking because you're being unfairly hard on yourself. Summers are hot and we don't feel very fab when we're sticky and hot, nor when we hide indoors in the AC.

K. Period.

Veteran

Gorgeous! I love your colorful pairings. I almost never associate color with unsophisticated. I think it takes a lot more confidence and panache to step forward with color than it does to hide in the background with neutrals. You look awesome in the bermuda shorts outfits. The high/low dress is anything but crayon-like. I look at it and think "fabulously stylish. Now that's a gal who knows how to make a trend her own." I like the dress in 6 and 7 too. The fit is nice. If anything is "wrong" with it (and I put those parenthesis in because I want to make sure I"m clear that there isn't anything wrong with it to my eye!), it seems a little conservative compared to the other items. Maybe you aren't loving it because it doesn't seem as bold as your style?

Beth Ann

Veteran

I have just a couple of minutes before I teach again, but your comments were a great boost. Thanks, Angie (BTW -- my daughter keeps track of the "killers").

Rae: Chico's is pretty generous. This one is generous in the middle, but TTS in the hips, I'd say. I wear a "2" in this, and I'm usually a 12/14.

Claire: Yes! We're shoe twins! BTW -- I tried a narrow black obi belt, but wasn't sure that it didn't make me look busty and shorten the skirt too much. I may try it tonight and repost, if I can find a moment! We'll see what you think.

K: I think this dot dress is actually just lacking in a little structure for me --- making me feel a little like a woman walking around in a house dress and slippers. It's a georgette fabric, which makes it quite flowy, almost boho. It is incredibly cool, which is a plus this summer!

Now.......back to helping my singers, then feeding my kids, then working on a website, then...........

Jjsloane

Veteran

I'm loving you in 1, 2 and 5!! I think a longer top with the bermudas (but love the pattern and color of top in 4. The colorful beads are great in 3. I love the idea of the last dress, but the arm area says put it back on the pile. Cute, but not killer.

Meredith1953

Veteran

I have missed your posts "firebritches"! I love all the outfits but am particularly wowed with #1, #4 and #5. I don't see any "nighty" effect in 6 and 7. You look lovely and radiant in all these outfits. You look gorgeous!

Anonymous

What a great set of outfits. I'm with Angie, that blue dress looks spectacular!

Abie

Veteran

Beth Ann, you look fantastic! I think 6/7 is very cute and breezy. It does not look like a nighty to me at all The skirt works very well with the statement top. My absolute favorites are #1 and #5

I find that I feel less fab during this part of the summer too. For me, it's only about half way over.I envy those with fall on the brain. I can't even really put my head to that yet. It's hot, so no matter what I wear I'm slightly uncomfortable out. I get tired of not wearing much clothing, no layering etc... While I know my outfits are usually good, I just get bored. I just added some new pieces from summer clearance sales though so I'm hoping that will keep me out of the summer funk. In previous years I've worn all my summer stuff until it was almost falling apart.

Mona

Veteran

BethAnn, you are simply breathtakingly beautiful in #5. Even if you are not feeling fab, you sure are looking ultra fab in all these outfits.

christy

Veteran

"I want to up my style quotient, but still be as generous to myself as I would be to others."

We are usually our own harshest critics, aren't we? Keep that thought above in mind!! In any case, I ADORE 1/2, 3 is simple yet beautiful and 5 is an amazing color on you! I think in 4 I want the shirt to be just a *tad* bit longer. The dress in 6/7 does not look like a "nightie" at all! I'm wondering what a low-slung belt would look like with this dress?

You look great so I'm sorry to hear you aren't feeling all that fab...

JR

Veteran

Wow.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

I don't know what you're seeing in the mirror Beth Ann, but I see a gorgeous, stylish, smokin' hot woman!

You look fantastic in every one of these outfits but like every one else has pointed out, that turquoise dress in #5 is beyond STUNNING! Fab colour, fab fit, fab style. You also rock white Bermuda shorts like nobody's business.

Onward Ms. Gorgeous...

Parsley

Veteran

Beth Ann, when I look at your pictures I see a beautiful, dynamic, and confident-looking woman, so if you're not feeling fab you're not showing it!

All of these look great. 1, 2, and 5 are my favorites, but they're all winners.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

#5 is stunning! Absolutely not lacking sophistication - you look smashing. I also like the navy dress in #3 and, really, you look great in every outfit here.

Anonymous

All these outfits are just hot weather gorgeous. If I were to make any suggestions, it would be for the blue statement top to be slightly longer. My feet always ask for Dr. Scholls but I don't think I've seen the style that you have on. Are they 8 hour shoes for you?

Vix

Veteran

Hi Beth Ann --

I fear the heat has made you way too hard on yourself -- all these look great to me!

I especially love the top in 1/2 on you...the colors and face-framing action suit you so well.

KathyL

Veteran

I agree with Vix, you are much too hard on yourself. But I guess we are our own worst critic in some ways. You look so amazing in all the pictures, but the turquoise dress is by far my favorite! I just bought a pair of white clams and will be copying your "statement top + clams" formula. They look great!

Beth Ann

Veteran

Thanks, YLF women, for picking me up! I needed that!

Jeannie/ Christy: Thanks for pointing out the length issue in the second top. I wasn't completely satisfied, but I hadn't put my finger on why. I should have sized up in this top for pants. Also, Jeannie, you're right that it's that blasted flutter arm that sets me back in the polka dot dress. Who does this flatter (lol)? Also, thanks for the encouragement!

Abie: I hear you on summer malaise! I live in Chicago, which has short, but intense summers, and my summer lifestyle is more casual, with far less work. I've gotten a lot of inspiration this season from your summer posts. I'd like to try some Kiyonna tops. I imagine the length and styling would suit me well, and I didn't know (until you posted) that she had a size 0 -- probably perfect for me.

Joy: Yes, these are very comfy, although I'd suggest sizing down 1/2 size, unless your feet are very wide. I don't see them on the website anymore, but there are lots of wedges with similar style and the same memory foam footbed. The footbed, and the slight platform and sturdy wedge, allow me to wear them all day easily.

Deborah

Veteran

Beth Ann, you have some serious style going on here. As far as I'm concerned everything here works. The tops could be a tad longer, but I think they work fine. Great colors. The black dress is fab and so flattering and the hi low dress is gorgeous! The polka dot dress is so pretty and I think I would skip the belt and layer a long, heavy ish pendant over it. The heat has a tendency to make us feel less than fab but all I can say is I wish I looked this good in the heat.

Traci

Veteran

You look great! I especially love 1 and 3, and number 5 made my heart skip a beat when I saw it. That is most definitely not what crayons look like around here!

anne

Veteran

Summer is hard and you are doing really well. My favourites were the first 3 outfits. My only suggestions on any of them is to remove the belt in polka dot dress. I think it is too narrow, but rather than belting with a larger one, I second Deborah's suggestion of a pendant.