WIW: Casual Dandy - YouLookFab Forum

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WIW: Casual Dandy

E

Veteran

This morning, I intended to try out Astrid's suggestion of pairing my swan sweater with my velvet trousers. The sweater is a bit itchy on its own, so I grabbed a long sleeve tee to wear underneath; it's also laundry day and this striped one was the only suitable one left in my drawer. When I combined it with the trousers, I was quite pleased with the casual/dressy, boy-ish feel and decided to save my swan sweater for another day. To play up the dandy aspect, and to add a bit of warmth, I finished it with one of my newest handknits, this blue wool scarflet. I was inspired to make one by how much I like my similarly shaped faux fur scarflet, and how much less yarn (and therefore less money!) it would take than a conventional scarf. I figure it's a good test case, if nothing else.

Anyway, today was a quiet, oatmeal-for-lunch-while-watching-the-snow-fall kind of day, full of laundry and some digital tidying (my photo library is out of control & in need of serious pruning/sorting), along with my usual pup walks, so this kept me feeling comfortable. All feedback welcome as usual.

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22 replies

Latest reply was from Sara L.

MuseumGal

Veteran

I lurves those velvet trousers, and they have the perfect slouchy but not sloppy fit. I lurve the idea of the scarflet but I think you need a third piece, like a cardigan, because, at first I thought you were wearing a halter top/boob covering deal. Of course some people would kill for a handknit halter top, so all is good.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

E those trousers are fabulous on you - love the colours here too

E

Veteran

MG, you made me laugh! My mom had some choice words about the area/shape of the scarflet too. It actually tends to flop down in actual use: I just took a quick photo with my computer so that you can see the difference. Does it work on its own like this? (Ignore the sweaters drying on my couch; every laundry day I suddenly remember I need to buy a drying rack...) Otherwise, I'll keep experimenting with styling it.

Thank you Caro!

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AM

Veteran

E - I'm new here. And as I dressed today I was having difficulty with my scarf. I'm a novice when it comes to scarves. But it seems to me that there are shapes and forms that work well and don't. The fullness around the neck, the shape it takes on below the neck (you are definitely playing with almost a butterfly form and then a deflated butterfly), just how long it hangs down your middle, if it asymmetric -- off to one shoulder. I found plenty of forms that didn't work well today. Not to mention having problems with a blue ombre scarf.

I digress. I think you need to post a series of images as a study that will challenge us all to consider the shape of a scarf. Maybe this is me just unloading my own challenge on you.

I love your playfulness, your soft style, and that your socks matched this scarf. I'm rambling, sorry.

Roxanna

Veteran

I thought the same as MG and thought you were doing some creative layering I think a third piece would work well here too - maybe play off the beautiful blue of the scarflet with another colour? Though for a quiet home day I think it is great as is (and much better deflated ) Also I love the beauty of your stitches! Can't get enough of seeing your knitting.

Dee

Veteran

I've knit that scarf before and loved it in principle but had trouble styling it. I love the pop of color it gives your outfit. I don't think it necessarily needs a third piece, but you might have fun playing around with styling options anyway.

Sharon

Veteran

Love this outfit, and especially enjoy the dandy reference with the scarf.

K.M.

Veteran

I love the scarflet! I remember when I still had my faux-fur, which was similar to yours in how it fit together, and one of the things I liked the most was the ease to wrap it by pulling through the little hole. If I could knit--or find scarflets like this in a store--I'd buy them in a heartbeat! I agree that it looks better deflated, because of the proportions. If the ends of the scarf were smaller and the "neck-wrapping" portion were thicker or more voluminous, then I think it would be OK to have the ends "inflated".

I wish I could knit!

Did you manage to organize your digital photos? Every time I've tried I felt like I was drowning in files and thumbnails... would love to learn of a good system to go about it!

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Terrific - pants and dandy scarf!

MuseumGal

Veteran

Oh I really like it hanging down like that. Almost like a cravat! That's a wonderful blue on you, darker than you usually wear, but plays up your fair coloring without making you look wan.

Anonymous

Oh, I love your scarflet! What a gorgeous shade of blue and it picks up the stripes so well. Your velvet trousers are super too, with a nice amount of slouch. You've reminded me that I need to sort my photos too and to upload stuff onto my wardrobe app. Never enough time in the day!

Ruth M

Oh my goodness, how amazing are those boyish (yet also feminine) and luxurious rich blue velvet trousers on you! I love the high-waisted fit on you (they could have been made to measure for you), shown off by tucking your top fully. So fab.

The scarflet is a great idea. Quite apart from the cost factor you mentioned, the smaller scale of a scarflet is a great solution to what I personally find is just too much bulk in a standard-sized winter scarf - once you've wrapped the middle portion round your neck, what can you do with the bulky tails? You have to either leave them flapping untidily outside the coat (from where they tend to gradually unroll), or stuff them down inside the front of your coat, resulting in a sort of overstuffed, matronly effect. The blue is lovely and I guess you may now consider knitting a couple more in other colours.

Nice to see Thistle And you've given me a nudge to get on with my photo backlog. I hope you made progress with yours.

tulle

Veteran

E., WHERE oh where do you find your wonderful slouchy trousers and perfect bell-shaped woolen skirts? I'm a devoted thrift shop hunter, but it's been years since I've seen these shapes. You have such a gift for mixing fabric textures & colors, and for whimsical details. I love the pleasure your clothing mixes give you; I've always amused myself the same way. This outfit reminds me of Chanel's early experiments with sailor's jerseys and loose pants, and your pretty scarflet (great blue!) works with that look. If you knit more of them--and why wouldn't you?--you might experiment with slightly narrowing the leaf-shaped ends, or just making one a little shorter than the other. Asymmetry would add a rakish touch and prevent any halter-top confusion.

E

Veteran

Hi AM! I honestly don’t wear scarves enough to do an image study on them; I mainly wear them to keep my neck warm when I’m outside vs as integral parts of my outfits. But thank you for the feedback! With the shape of this scarflet, there aren’t as many wearing options as a traditional scarf. I’m giggling at the deflated/inflated imagery! hehe

Thank you Roxanna! I’ll try a third piece next time.

Dee, it seemed like it’d be so straightforward to style too! lol Oh well; if worst comes to worst I can unravel & knit a different thing with it.

Thnx Sharon!

KM, I really like the ease of the scarflet too, and I’m glad it looks good deflated, since that’s how it wants to be. Knitting is easy to learn, I promise! If there’s a yarn store nearby, they probably have classes. Or you can learn a lot via youtube these days!

I did catch up on my photo organising; I use Aperture, and it has a sort of quirky filing system. So I’m not sure my method would help you, but essentially I create a folder for each ‘event’ and then a general one for each month. These are sorted in reverse chronological order, and each year has its own upper folder, that all of the event & monthly folders live in. Unfortunately, Aperture is being discontinued by Apple, so soon I’m going to have to figure out how to transfer everything to a different program. Sigh. Trying not to think about that.

Thanks Shevia!

Oh good MG, I’m glad it works hanging down. I get the cravat vibe too. I love this colour blue & almost never come across it, but this yarn company (Quince & Co) is a dream for anyone who loves muted colours. I’m really glad it flatters me, as I wasn’t a hundred percent sure: thank you!

Diane, there’s no way I could manage a wardrobe app. More power to you!

Oh thank you Ruth. I was thrilled to find these trousers, that actually fit my waist without any alterations! Anyway, I agree that big winter scarves can be far too bulky or fussy. I do want to knit a few more colour options; I might try a cowl pattern next, as that solves the end problem as well! I’m definitely making photo progress; I have arthritis so have to limit my computer time, but slow and steady will eventually win the race.

Tulle, I find them at Goodwill! The velvet trousers were from south Texas, as are some of the wool skirts. Others are from Colorado goodwills and I found two here in upstate NY when I went on a thrifting trip when visiting friends a couple of years ago. So I must just get lucky! (It helps that I tend to live in bigger metro areas probably, of over a million people, so a larger pool). I hope you stumble upon some soon!

Thank you so much for the compliment; it made my day. I’d love to see how you play with your clothes! And the comparison to early Chanel thrilled me! I can definitely make the leaf shapes more narrow, or another shape altogether; Ravelry is full of inspiration for scarflets like this. Good thought re: adding some asymmetry too.

Alassë

Veteran

I really like your deflated scarflet.

E

Veteran

Thanks Alasse!

Karie

(website)

Veteran

The scarflet looks much better flopped down. Your knitting skills are amazing!

Diana

Veteran

Those trousers are just delightful. I think the scarflet goes well with them, and I had the same thought as MG that it looks like a cravat.

Windchime

Veteran

I love those velvet trousers on you and hope you'll show them to us with your swan sweater, when you're so inclined.

I also enjoyed reading the backstory of how this outfit came to be. I've changed directions mid course plenty of times myself, intending to create an outfit based on one piece and ending up with an outfit which I like but no longer includes the inspiration piece! It's fun, isn't it?

frannieb

Veteran

Another shout out for the wonderful velvet trousers.

E

Veteran

Thank you Karie, Diana, and Frannie!

Windchime, outfit making is definitely fun! And I'm sure you'll see the swan sweater with these trousers fairly soon.

Sara L.

Veteran

I love the velvet trousers! The shape seems perfect for the softness of velvet. I prefer the scarf in your second photo where it lays a little flatter. It looks more natural to me.