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WIW - Can this outfit be saved?

Angie_T

I'm still in dress rehearsal mode for my big event next week and after reading here about wide leg trousers, I bought a pair (on sale thank goodness). Wore them today and was feeling *pretty* good about myself. Sashaying around the office thinking I looked willowy ya'll!
Then at the end of the day I asked a coworker to take my photo and when I looked at the resulting photo I was shocked...shocked I tell you....to realize just how UN-willowy I looked. It's so bad I felt I had to blur my face. (Kidding. Sorta) After my weight loss, I thought I was lean enough to pull this off. But my sister confirmed it after work. Nuh uh.

#1 - I was feeling pretty good about this one, but now I'm even doubting it.

#2 - Is there ANY way to make this work? Mind you I am asking for honest opinions and in the spirit of Angie's blog earlier about judging the outfit, not the person - I will not take any comments in the same spirit. Not personally.

Any suggestions? Is it the color contrast? Is it how i have evidently hiked my belt up too far? Is it just that I'm not thin enough?

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15 replies

Latest reply was from abc

Angie_T

Oh gosh, it's embarrassing to see after it's posted! I think because the pictue I had in my head all day was just so different.

Gigi

Veteran

Angie, first off, #1 is absolutely stunning and sexy! I looked at your pix before I even read your write-up, and when I saw picture 1, I thought, "Wow! She looks GREAT!" So please don't doubt how good you look! That one is a 10 out of 10, and "killer to the power of killer," if I can use Angie's phrase. If I were a guy, I would say you looked HOT.

As for #2, I am not very good at pinpointing style problems, but I wonder (1) if the pants are a little *too* wide legged for you, especially at the bottom (do wide legs ever come in somewhat-tapered styles?) and (2) what would happen if you wore a sleeker top, to balance out the fluid fit of the bottom?

I think the proportions may be off a little bit in #2. I think the pants are a little long for the length of the shirt, which is maybe why you feel like your belt is hiked up. Maybe try wearing the pants with an untucked shirt to improve the proportions?

Deborah

Veteran

Angie_T please don't be embarrassed and don't think the rest of us don't have the same experience:)

#1 is gorgeous. I love the nice long lean line of the outfit (column of colour). The jacket the scarf, all looks modern and lovely to me.

#2 I am goint go out on a limb and say that I think you may need a lower heel? This doesn't look to be the most flattering pant length (PPL). That is easily fixed. I am looking at the fit of the pants and the crease pressed into the leg but it kind of disappears at the top of the pants and looks a bit random. My sense is that you could iron out the crease altogether and these pants might work nicely with something worn over them. Say a sweater with a shorter hem line. Even a little volume on volume like Shannon posted today.
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....kles-plaid

Shannon did decide to semi tuck but I liked the outfit without it as well. A semi tuck could be an option for you also.

Check out Angie's outfits because there will be some ideas this. I am thinking of something like this but without the shirt.

BTW being thin or otherwise has nothing to do with it. I tend to feel with the right fit and proportions size is irrelevant... and you are gorgeous.

DonnaF

Veteran

Don't be so hard on yourself! You DO look chic in #2, but styled *as is* it is not quite as flattering as #1 which is outstanding and demonstrates the power of a column of color. I love your polka dot shoes in #2, but they appear to make your pants look a bit short. If they nearly grazed the floor, they would give you a longer line. Do you have shoes with a lower heel that might work? A low contrast top would give you a "column of color" like you have in #1, and you could go with that blazer or another one. Or just pop on that yellow blazer for a modified column of color. The belt also looks like it should be loosened a bit so that the bottom part of your waistband doesn't show.

I should also take pics of myself too, but my house is so dark that I've left the house in colors different from what I thought I'd put on.

carter

Veteran

You totally rock #1! I agree there's something off about #2, but those polka dot shoes are the bomb!

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

The advice so far is great. I agree #1 works beautifully and #2 needs some tweaking - I also think lower heels and a tuck out of semi-tuck. I just want to agree that I have taken plenty of shots of my outfits (outfits that I have worn) and absolutely been shocked by how awful they looked. That is how we learn (I hope!).

Anonymous

1 is super as is.

2 the pants look a little short and the rise might not be hitting at the best place for you. You might find Angie's tips on Adorable Apples to be helpful.

Don't worry, you've made the hardes step which is posting some WIWs for comment! It is honestly the best way to figure out your style direction.

Angie_T

GiGi - Thank you. My #1 Man did really like the first outfit. I might try a different top and maybe in a less contrasting color, but that belt is just jacked up no matter how what. lol.

Deborah - the heels were only 2". But I did have the pants pulled up too high I think. They seemed to feel too droopy beneath my tummy if I didn't. I really appreciate your comment about being thin as I am quite self conscious about it after loosing 50lbs. But maybe some styles just aren't going to work no matter what?

Donna - I will try the column of color because I just love this wide leg look on others.

Carter - I almost donated these shoes last fall. Now I'm glad I kept them.

Shevia - I'm glad I'm not the only one that has gotten this kind of photo surprise. I just don't understand how the mirror can lie so convincingly!

Ceit - Thanks for the suggestion. I'm off to search for the Adorable Apple posts!

Ya'll are just great for helping me. I really appreciate the time you took to comment.

Vildy

Veteran

You know what, I don't think it has anything to do with weight or shape or style of pants but there's something about the way these are cut or worn that looks like they're not draping correctly. They do seem too short but it's more than that. The grain of the fabric is off somehow. If you have them on and unzip them and experiment with pitching them forward, say, does that give them better fluidity? If so, and I know you've already worn them, you might try a size up.

Neel

Veteran

Oh please Angie!! You look lovely in pic 1! Sexy stunner!

Pic 2 - obviously is you again and you could still look stunner. I think a semi tuck, a lower rise and longer pants might help you feel better. I am an apple myself and I find full tucks very challenging.

Sunee

(website)

Good job deciding to try new things and being brave enough to share your experience!
Agreed on #1, great look.
As a style & body shape expert, i can share some secrets of why you didn't like the look. In truth, it isn't the style (wide leg) of the pants that doesn't work, it's the particular cut. Simply put, they don't fit well at the top. Something fitted on top and that has a little bit of flair at the bottom would be good for your shape. If you still want to wear the pants, try wearing them with an untucked shirt that ends just in the middle / below the zipper. And you may find that you like them better with a top that is a slightly less of a contrasting colour.

The belt is interfering because it's in a position to draw attention to an area where you really might not wish to focus on. Wide belts with big buckles can be used to distract FROM and area that you want to draw attention but in this case, it's drawing attention TO it instead.

Greyscale

Veteran

First, outfit #1 is EXCELLENT. Great use of color, and it's so flattering on you.

Compared to outfit #1, I can see why #2 feels a little less fab to you. It's not hopeless by any means. I agree with what people have said already. Wear your shirt untucked over them and wear flats. They're not quite long enough with the heels for my taste (wide leg pants often look best when they're grazing the floor) and they look a bit off in the hip area, maybe half a size too small or just not the right shape for you.

But, the wide legs in #2 and the skinny legs in #1 definitely both work on you. Bravo for trying the new silhouette. With a bit of tweaking it'll be a great look.

(Those shoes are great, by the way.)

Suz

(website)

Veteran

What the others said. You look sensational in #1. So do not fear. As for #2, you can absolutely wear wide leg pants, but you may have to do a bit of tweaking to get the proportions just so. It may be the rise, or the cut of these particular trousers, or as Vildy says, something to do with the fabric -- hard to say. A bit of fiddling around with a semi-tuck might help.

Especially after a big weight loss, you are going to want to experiment with lots of styles that felt off-limits before -- and so you should! GO for it, I say!! It's the only way to learn how to dress your new body.

In the midst of all that experimentation, you'll probably discover that some of the styles you try just don't feel like you -- so you'll happily let them go. And then others just won't look all that great (even if you like them) -- even though you are much slimmer. I don't think this is one of those situations -- I think in this case it's the particulars that are the problem. But your basic intuition is right -- regardless of weight, we don't all look good in the same things.

We often imagine that "thin people can wear anything," but it's just not true. Body shape and proportion is at least as important. But it's only by experimenting as you're doing that you can figure any of this out. The photos are super helpful for this!

Angie_T

Incredibly helpful feedback. Thank you!

abc

Veteran

#1 is super super fab! I think the ladies have you sorted on #2. Keep on posting. As you will see it really helps so please don't be embarrassed.