WIW 0715: Dress with Sneaks (FAIL!) - YouLookFab Forum

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WIW 0715: Dress with Sneaks (FAIL!)

MsLuna

Veteran

Last night I tried a bunch of toppers and accessory options with this dress, including the sneakers. I thought It looked cute...

... Today I just feel like a slob.

It could be because I'm having the most challenging day this week so far. But I felt really slob-like and frumpy in these.

I miss my edgy heeled footwear, which I haven't worn since last fall. I'm really hating being arthritic today because I'm seriously having an extremely challenging time with my wardrobe. It's minimal, with less repeating but I'm once again unhappy with it.

Maybe it will pass

Jacket: The Gap
Dress: London Times
Shoes: Modern Rebel

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17 replies

Latest reply was from shiny

Quietgirl

Veteran

If it looked cute at home last night but not "out" today, maybe you are just a sophisticated girl and sneaks don't fit your style. I think you do look stylish and "on trend". I am comfortable with this look for myself. My style may be more casual than yours, however!

Hang in there.

Dee

Veteran

I think this is a little more casual than some of your looks, but still looks cute and on-trend. Definitely not a fail!

That said, I empathize with your lack of desired shoe options. I'm also limited in my footwear choices due to arthritis and I often feel that's where my outfits fall short (espceially when I see the shoes in everyone else's WIWs here!). My style has probably ended up a bit more casual than it would have otherwise just to make the shoes more appropriate. But you will start to find some shoes that actually make you happy. It's a process, but they do exist, I promise!

Don't beat yourself up over it and I hope you week gets better.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Katie - it's really hard when a certain type of footwear is an integral part of our style and we can no longer wear it. Believe me, I know.

FWIW I don't see this outfit as a fail at all. Don't be so hard on yourself

Gigi

Veteran

Hmmm...I wonder what would happen if you didn't wear the cardigan with the outfit? Would that make it feel less frumpy? The outfit is not bad by any means, but I know what you mean that it's not showing your usual fabness (because your outfits are *very* fab!).

I'm thinking that the shoes are a little heavy, and maybe the black in the topper is accentuating the heaviness of the shoes. If you didn't wear the topper—or maybe had a more cropped topper, or one in a different, lighter color—if that would make a difference?

MsLuna

Veteran

You all are so sweet! Thank you for the kind words, ladies!

I know I've worn a few "on-trend" looks and found myself disliking them. I think deep down, I still bat for Team Dressy (with a hard edge). It's hard finding comfortable dressy shoes that aren't super casual (like sneakers - even when I purchase unusual fabrications) or too classic. I really miss my heeled edgy shoes and how it just adds that extra "oomph" to an outfit. I haven't found any of those cut out booties that suit my tastes and comfort requirement, otherwise they would be an option for me.

@quietgirl: I'm glad the on-trend casual sneaker look works for you! I've seen it worn here in YLF and everyone looks amazing. I can't seem to "own" the style because it just doesn't feel like "me" I guess the search for the perfect shoes continue!

@Dee: yup - obviously I'm not used to this very casual look! And if it wasn't for my arthritis diagnosis, I wouldn't be thinking about shifting styles. I already had a lot of elements in my style worked out, but seeking comfort for the peaks of my health was an absolute game changer. I think if I dressed classic or a bit more on the casual side, this would've worked out. Even my relaxed looks are quite dressy!

Carter has recommended the Anne Klein Sport brand. I tried on a wedge and it was nice and sturdy (still too high of a dip though). I'll be looking into their flats.

@Shannon: Yup. I was well known in all my workplaces for my shoes. I always had some sort of edgy/funky heel that just elevated the outfit. With all the slouchy, oversized dolman/kimono tops I've been wearing, the right edgy heel would've given it that polish.

MsLuna

Veteran

@Gigi: I hesitated on the topper but it was a bit cooler for a summer day today. I wanted to wear my black denim vest because I liked how the extended shoulder of the dress peeked out of the armholes and gave it a bit of an unusual look. I also thought about my white moto vest but I wore that yesterday. I also wore a leather obi initially but my tummy (just like my feet) is really fussy and I just can't deal with things pressing on the torso (this is why I don't wear pants often - being wide waisted with a tummy forces me to get pants that give me muffin tops (I only found one brand that didn't pinch but the waistline kept falling and bum sagged like crazy at the end of the day).

You're right about the shoes being too heavy, but I have no other options. My sandals make my right foot flop around, which is why I had to resort to sneakers.

This is the kind of shoe that makes me feel food physically but terrible emotionally. It's just tough I can't have both!

unfrumped

Veteran

I looked for the fail and didn't see it! I think you got the look right. A non- blck cardigan or a dressier blazer might work better for you..
Have you tried a dressy loafer? Seems still on trend with some dress styles and can be good for fussy feet.

Gracie

Veteran

I see no frump here – the dress is beautiful – those swirly lines give it a lot of visual movement. I'm sorry you are limited with your footwear choices now. Do flatforms appeal to you? Y'know, quirky and edgy, maybe in a light color... the foot wouldn't dip so much, you would get height and a different style.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Hmmm. Gracie makes a great suggestion with flatforms.

That dress is just dynamite on you! Love the swirly pattern of it.

I see no outfit fail. I see a woman feeling sad because she misses her cool shoes.

I do know what you mean, too...but the devil is in the detail. I wouldn't completely write the sneakers with dress look off. It may be that these particular sneakers are not the ones. Or this dress. Know what I mean? Obviously you were intentional with this pairing (black with black -- and it bookends your hair.) But no doubt there are other factors to do with the shape of the shoe, just as there would be with any other shoe. And that's the kind of thing only a bunch of experimenting in your closet can reveal.

In the meantime, I just know your fab style will adapt to this challenge. Though in the meantime...well...hugs.

MsLuna

Veteran

@unfrumped: I looked into loafers but again - I can't get over how classic they look. I actually popped in a store to see how the loafers would look on the dress but it's still the same effect

I guess I'll keep looking. I just don't like the way I look in flats, I think.

@Gracie: flat forms do appeal but i am trying to find more streamlined looking ones (impossible). And even then, I' have more issues to worry about such as how secure my feet are in the shoes and heavily padding the shoe (or wearing my insole). I have very difficult feet to fit

MsLuna

Veteran

@Suz: thanks. I'm really so bummed out about this since the shoes I thought were comfy are now "demoted" to limited wear and I now have less and less options to work with. And I've done skirts and sneaks before (unpublished) but I wore sneaks with a mini and for some reason, the combination just works. I guess I should count myself lucky that I can still wear miniskirts!

I found the dress worked well with a strappy shoe and a heel - it sort of "repeated" the swirly stripe. But alas, me feet still needed to rest

Suz

(website)

Veteran

You know...this challenge might be a little bit like the challenge we face if we make a dramatic hairstyle change. You wouldn't think of it, but all of a sudden proportions in the top part of our bodies are totally different.

So you might need to wear different collars, different shapes of neckline, etc. for an outfit to work.

In your case, maybe hemlines and shapes will become extra important.

Annagybe went through a period where she had to switch almost exclusively to flats. It was horrid for her at first, and then she figured out how to do it her way and got into a real groove. Now she happily wears flats (as well as heels, sometimes.)

MsLuna

Veteran

That's very true. When I chopped off all my hair down to a pixie, it was certainly a huge style shift.,so I get what you mean, I think.

I think you're right - it's hemlines for me. I really don't dislike flats.... If I'm wearing my skirt short or I'm wearing shorts. In fact, I prefer wearing flats with minis (or skirts 2 inches above the knee) because it just balances me out. I love shorter skirts and can wear them quite classy - but of course, there's the issue of being a woman over 30 in a mini skirt. I look younger so I can get away with it, but that old fashion faux pas rule is still stuck in my head.

I also noticed that I have to be careful with shirt hems as well (when wearing flats). I tend to wear a lot of slouchy tops so the wrong proportions can easily make the flats outfit look sloppy!

Gigi

Veteran

Oh, KatieKat, how difficult to be so limited!

These aren't sneakers, but are you able to wear the Sofft Bernia? I tried them on today, and they seem quite cushiony, and they hold the foot in well. The heel on one of them was a little too big for me (I have narrow heels), so I had to send them back. Suz has them and loves them. They're an Angie pick. I think maybe you collected these sandals in your finds too? I think I see your avatar in the info box.

Söfft 'Bernia' Sandal

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Top Pick

20

MsLuna

Veteran

Gigi, I'm going to give this a try again. The Bernia's are a low wedge so it's something I can handle. I ended up buying the Naots over them. Funny because I think I can insert my insoles in those shoes and it will not look too weird!

Too bad it's sold out of silver in The Bay I also wish the black didn't go with gold hardware. And there lies my other problem: all the stylish comfy shoes I like have gold hardware! A pair of low heeled Rockport sandals fit perfectly - but it had gold hardware

Deborah

Veteran

Katie, the outfit looks really good, however maybe it's not "you" with the sneaks? I don't feel "right" in the dress with sneaks look, however I am found to try it with my hidden wedge heel sneaks as I suspect the bootie like appearance and the extra height might just be the factors that make it work for me. Maybe different sneaks?

shiny

Veteran

Catching up on your WIW's that I missed...

Katie, I love this look on you. I don't think this is a fail at all. If I saw you walking down the street in this outfit, I'd be admiring it from afar. The hem length is just right to wear with the sneaks. This totally works!

That said, I do get not "feeling" it ... I would probably have same emotional reaction, since I'm used to dress + heels, and have allergic reactions to sneakers in general.

But how it looks is different than how it feels... and to my eye, this totally looks just fine!