WIW 14 11 13. JFE or just plain sloppy? - YouLookFab Forum

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WIW 14 11 13. JFE or just plain sloppy?

Elizabeth P

Veteran

I wore this on Thursday, in an attempt to experiment more with layering. I dunno...by the end of the day the shrt tails were wrinkled from sitting, and when I look at the photo I see boxy, not flattering.

Wasn't going to post this, but in the effort to learn and improve, I will. What do you think? What does and doesn't work? JFE? Or should I just give up on layering with a button down, as not good for my body type? O do I need a welt on a sweater to wear it like this, to cut down on the boxiness? I have worn this sweater successfully with a tank or tee under it in the past. Or at least, I think I have

I guess the other option is a less voluminous shirt under...

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18 replies

Latest reply was from Beth Ann

Parsley

Veteran

Pictures?

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Oops. Thanks Parsley.

Thirkellgirl

Veteran

I think the shirt covers too much of the neckline above the sweater, and it's too loose overall, and I suspect the sweater is not big enough to be "loose," but not tight enough to be form-fitting. I think that if you wore a slimmer shirt with an open color it might work better, but I think the cut of the sweater, especially the shoulders, just is boxy. Been there, done that, moved to smaller and more structured sweaters. I have a lovely LLBean sweater cut like that that I've tried to make work for years, but I just got rid of it. It's not me (or you), it's them.

Kristin L

Veteran

I'm with Thirkellgirl. I think the sweater looks lovely, but it doesn't play well being layered with button downs.

L'Abeille

Veteran

I think the shirt and sweater are too similar in shape. One of them needs to be looser or tighter or longer or shorter.
(That's probably why the Tshirt layered is more pleasing to your eye.)

Just for fun, what if you try folding the sweater hem under, to make it look cropped? (I recall a blogger doing this.) To tweak it towards a short over long silhouette. If it looks better with those proportions, perhaps a longer shirt would work with this sweater?

Of course, you know what I would do! Push up the sweater sleeves and fold the shirt sleeves up over them...

I feel you, though. I have a similar sweater (navy Breton stripe) and it is too in-the -middle to play nice with others, so I don't reach for it.

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Thanks for the suggestions thirkellgirl, KL and L'Abeille. I think you're right... this is just not the sweater to play with layering with. I agree that the neckline doesn't work well. I wish I could see these things BEFORE I wear them all day! LOL.

I do love this sweater with a tank and jeans for weekend wear though.

kkards

Veteran

i'm struggling with layer as well, but i wonder if part of the issue here is actually the pants….what happens if you swap the dark bottoms for white, so that there's less contrast? i'm thinking that then the sweater would appear less boxy.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I have found that layering under anything with extended / dropped shoulders, which this has, never seems to work well. It adds bulk in an unnecessary way.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

This layering thing. Who knew it would be so darn hard?

I have been struggling in a similar fashion (har har) and I think you've received some good suggestions. My first thought was swap the pants for lighter ones.

Next I wondered about the fabric of the shirt. I have had good success layering silky or silk shirts and showing shirttails. I have had LESS success when I try to work with crisp cotton. Even in the unlikely event that I get the proportions correct, the shirt bunches up or wrinkles and looks weird. I don't know how those bloggers stay so crisp!

I can layer a TUCKED crisp cotton shirt under a sweater. I've been doing that forever and it works just fine for me. But those shirttails are the devil.

This sweater is gorgeous on you. And I have high tolerance for its boxy shape. I would say it probably looks better unlayered, though -- partly due to the wide horizontal stripes and partly due to the way the shoulders are set, as Laura says.

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Thanks Suz, Laura and kkards.

Laura, I think you are onto something with the dropped shoulder observation.. I never thought of that!

Suz, I've always been a tucker too...so much easier!

And yes, perhaps lighter bottoms would also work better.

catgirl

Veteran

You've gotten great feedback. I wouldn't have been able to put my finger on why, but I do think this look is way harder to master than anyone would expect. Let's keep trying!

Marley

Veteran

I think that if the layering shirt had longer shirt-tails that it would look better and work to elongate the look of the outfit. Or - if the sweater was cropped! One or the other!
Something that might help with this layering piece is to unbutton one more button on the shirt and pop the color. That would probably give the illusion of a more vertical line.
However, those stripes - big, bold color, and so horizontal!!!! Add a boat neck-line to it - and IMHO you're just asking for a boxy look. This sweater is going to look boxy with or without a layering piece underneath. I'm guessing that you like this sweater on its own because it doesn't feel so bulky so I'd wear this one solo and try the layering look with a better sweater specimen!

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Thanks Marley, lots of great suggestions. I think you're absolutely right in that this sweater is too boxy for layering, and I'll wear it in its own going forward.

I'm so glad I posted this now! I think you get more insight trying to figure out why something didn't work, than when it does.

Neel

Veteran

Lots of fantastic advice here Elizabeth. I actually think slimmer bottoms with scrunched sleeves (and the white sleeves peeking out) could already make this look better. The sweater could be a wee bit shorter and you would be good to go.

jackiec

Veteran

I think all of the advice given already has been really good. What I want to add is just that the colour of that sweater is amazing on you. You seem to glow. You look wonderful in that shade of pink.

karymk

Veteran

I'm thinking that when you want to create a look like this it would be best to buy the two pieces together, on the same day. I haven't even dared to try this look, because I find it daunting, so kudos! I don't think it's that bad, it's just not fab.

DonnaF

Veteran

How about a side semi-tuck to give you a diagonal line?

Beth Ann

Veteran

Thanks for sharing a look for troubleshooting -- it's a reminder that we all have to try things and think a bit outside the block to keep having fun with fashion!

I'm having a devil of a time with all these dropped shoulder tops and sweaters! To me, a fluid fit with natural shoulder seams hangs so much better! Id try layering with that sort of shoulder, or a raglan shoulder, rather than the dropped line. Also --- what about a silky shirt?