WIW - Ho Hum - YouLookFab Forum

Category

What I Wore

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

WIW - Ho Hum

Kiwichik

Veteran

Well ladies I feel a bit guilty about posting as I haven't been spending much time on the forum.
I'm feeling kind of unenthusiastic about my wardrobe choices & don't know why.
I've slowly been getting my hair cut shorter & shorter so maybe my normal wardrobe doesn't fit with my shorter hair.
Here are some outfits from the last couple of weeks. Don't know what to do to jazz things up am stuck in a wideleg pants rut but can't find anything else flattering to wear - arrrrrrghhhh
Feeling very dated.
1,2,3 - I am wearing 3 different pairs of pants - black, charcoal & black pinstripe (hard to tell from the photos) plus a variety if tops. 1 is my favourite.
4 - Tried out a grey jumper with skirt - felt like my grandmother in this outfit.
5- The blue top & cardi with skirt is usually worn with pants & I feel old ladylike in this outfit.
6&7 - black pants, black camisole & different toppers.

This post has 7 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

21 replies

Latest reply was from Kiwichik

Joan Joplin

I love the first one, actually. I don't think the wide legs read as too dated because the all-black, voluminous look with the standout necklace looks very arty to me. And your hair looks great!

Caro in Oz

Veteran

Love your hair & I love #7 very dramatic.

Do you have a Pinterest account?

http://pinterest.com/

I find pinning some new looks helps me see my clothes in a different way

Kiwichik

Veteran

Thanks Joan & Caro - actually 1&7 are the outfits I thought felt the best - the skirt looks to my mind are both fails & the other outfits are better than bring naked.
Caro I do have a Pinterest Page so I must do some analysis on the looks I'm attracted to.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Your hair looks amazing, and I adore #1 and #7 on you.

It sounds as if you are heading into a style evolution. This does happen, I find, when we change our hair, even a little. The necklines that once worked well for us no longer look right, and the detailing we need is different. I'll be really curious to see where you go next. And it's great to see you again!

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Wow - I love your hair short. I think all your outfits look great with the possible exception of #3. That top might be too dated for your style. But the rest look bold and beautiful!

Kiwichik

Veteran

Suz - I've read quite a few posts about people going through style evolutions but had not realised how uncomfortable that process feels.
Shevia - I adored the top in 3 when I bought it a couple of years ago. Can you put your finger on what makes it look dated because I'm never really sure about what looks classic, what looks now and whatnots dated - on me specifically.

Beth Ann

Veteran

#2 and #7 are my favorites! If I were to be picky, the sweater in #3 seems a bit short for trousers, and the proportions in #5 aren't working optimally. That said, even a classic look like #6 is done so beautifully.

And I love your short hair!

I concur with Suz that it feels like you're moving in a different direction. Pinterest boards can help us get an idea of what we love, as can making a note of the outfits we feel are working best. A couple of questions:

1. What percentage of your wardrobe do you replace in an average year?
2. Do you lean toward "replacing" items, or trying new things once the old is retired?
3. Has your lifestyle changed recently?

Lyn D.

Veteran

Nice to see you K.C!
This in between Seasons period is a tough one all round for dressing Fabulously, but you look great.
Love #2 and 7 best, and could see the stripe top in 2 with a semi-tuck and belt too.

Kiwichik

Veteran

Beth Ann I tend to wear things until they die - probably not a good thing. I'm not great at trying new things so don't really adopt fashion trends until they're nearly over. I love floaty, feminine styles but they don't feel quite right anymore. The main change is my hair & gaining weight.
Caro - thanks for the advise - the striped slouchy top is a recent purchase & I think wouldime greAt with slim leg pants - which never fit my calves.

Deborah

Veteran

No hom-hum from what I can see:) I love the wide leg silhouette on you KC. It suits you and your stylings look modern and current to me.

I wonder if #5 might work better for you if you were to semi tuck the top?

While I don't think the skirt outfits look frumpy, I had to admit that the length of the skirt is my (personal) least favourite length. I wonder is a longer midi might be something you would find more flattering?

Kiwichik

Veteran

Hi Deborah - I think the proportions are wrong in both cases with the skirt. I have a couple of peplum tops that look good with this skirt so long as I wear heels. I love heels but can't wear them often as they kill my feet. The blue top works with trousers.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

Welcome Back Kiwi! No need to apologize, posting a WIW is doing ME the favor.

I love 1, 3 and 6. I think because I like you in a fitted top that is at the length of those tops. #3 especially is so alluring and feminine. And you wear black so well, I am green with envy!

Kiwichik

Veteran

Thanks CL it's good to be back - feel like I have been dressing in the dark over the last few months of not spending time on the forum.

Jeanie

Veteran

Your hair is so chic! I think you look good in all. 1 & 7 are my favorite. I like the top in #3....I might just edit out some or all of the jewelry since the ruffly blouse makes a romantic statement by itself and add some funky boots. You have great pieces. If these are not for work you could try some dark wash jeans with the tops (if you do jeans).

Lyn D.

Veteran

I like your 'Dressing in the Dark' comment K.C.
Alot of us here are the only fashionistas in our family / friendship circle,
so feedback is not on the cards!
YLF is such a great place for keeping our looks fresh and on-trend.

Deborah

Veteran

I echo what Lyn said. I have friends who are interested in fashion and style, but they don't leave near me, so the YLF is such an important part of my day to day life, offering advice, suggestions etc.

Adelfa

Veteran

I noticed how great your hair looked, too. I adore #7. I wonder if wearing more color would help you feel fresh and current?

Lantana

Veteran

Kiwichick I am going to respond to your post first and I will check out the pix in a mo.
This uncomfortable feeling, boy, I know it well. You will come out the other side of this stage with new understandings of your style, of that I am convinced.
I have been feeling slighly unhinged by the advent of warm weather and I was so dissatisfied with my warm weather choices. I am in the process of doing a couple of exercises that are helping. One is to rearrange my wardrobe so that ALL my clothes are hanging together. The other is to hang by garment type rather than by colour. Here I am copying Deborah, thank you Debs!
This rearrangment has made me look at my clothes in a fresh way.
Now I am developing capsules, starting with thosed based on my skirts. So far I have only done two! It is very time consumng.
I'm not sure how helpful my experience might be to you but at the very least please be reassured that this style business aint easy -it takes time and effort.

Lantana

Veteran

I've looked at your photos now and I agree that the skirt silhouette is not singing sweetly for you.
How about going down the road of the striped midi tube skirt? Check out Caro's Kmart post. I think a skirt like hers would add some pop to your tops.
As for the wide leg pants, they look good so are you maybe just a bit tired of "same old same old"?
Veronica Maine is an Australian label that might be worth trying for tapered slouchy pants.
It's good to see you back on board and your hair cut is gorgeous.

Marley

Veteran

Hi there! Your hair is very cute and flattering on you.
Ok - on to your outfits. First, I'm wondering if the pants are PPL? I cannot tell for sure from the pics, but it almost looks as though they could be just a little longer. I think that the necklace in #1 could be substituted for one that just fills in the neck/chest exposed area and does not hang down onto the top. The top in #3 is a bit little-girlish imo. I think that it is the higher waistline, along with the ruffle which takes it into little girl territory for me. I think if you are going to wear it though, that it would look better without the necklace and with earrings that are more of a dangly type (but not too long) rather than hoops. Have you considered wearing booties with the skirts? I think that would take those outfits out of the grandmother/old ladylike zone. Also, I'd try semi-tucking the blue top and I'd not wear a necklace because of the detail that is already on the top. I think that round necked cardigans are difficult to keep from looking frumpy - did you see Angie's post about twin-sets and how to modernize the look? That might give you some ideas!
I don't think you look bad at all in these outfits - but I know that feeling of not being all that excited about your outfits. Its usually one of the first steps in the process of a style shift - so I look forward to watching you and seeing where you end up!

Kiwichik

Veteran

Wow ladies really feeling the love - I think I have some work to do to re-evaluate my wardrobe & I really am going to have to be a bit more organised around photographing myself and posting for feedback.

Lantana I like your suggestions about sorting my wardrobe by type rather than colour which is what I do at the moment. I haven't checked out Veronika Maine or Cue for a while so worth a visit.

Marley you really have hit the nail on the head with your advise about the tops. The pant length on the pinstripe trousers which I'm wearing in 3 has now been lengthened - they were too short but the other trousers are fine. We're moving into warmer weather so I won't spend money on booties at this stage. I'll check out the twinset advise - thank you.

Be prepared for random posts over the next few days - but probably just of things I have been wearing over winter. I only have 2 wardrobes winter and summer which works in temperate Auckland.

I may inflict some casual wear on you too as I am off on holiday for 4 weeks to Amsterdam and Hong Kong and possibly a couple of other European locations.