WIW: color & volume - YouLookFab Forum

Today's outfit incorporates some things that I don't wear too often.
1. Bright color, a lot of it.
2. The blouse. I thought I'd wear it more than I do. It's awfully bright, whereas I prefer more subdued colors. And yet I bought it because I think it's pretty, and it does contain colors I like to wear. It just has that stripe of orange that amps up the whole effect. So I decided to top it off--or send it over the top!--with my orange sweater (a new purchase this spring--this color of orange turned out to be my new spring/summer color!).
3. The pants. I made them and wore them a little bit, then decided they were just too voluminous. So I took them in by a lot of inches. I like them better and have worn them a few times since the alterations. However, seeing the photos I'm wondering if they really look that much better. At least they do feel better, and I'm wearing them.

So, today's outfit (photos 1 & 2)
baggy pants in a lightweight dark denim fabric (made by me)
striped silk blouse (Equipment)
3/4 sleeve cardigan (Halogen)
metallic flats (AGL)
chain brushed silver necklace (Nordstrom, NAS this year), and brushed silver hoops (Nordstrom, several years ago)

Photos 3 &4 are the pants, before I made them smaller.

This outfit felt pretty good, for a drizzly end-of-summer day. I would have liked to wear the blouse without the cardigan (I had on a cami under the blouse, since it's sheer, and it's very pretty this way, especially semi-tucked), but with A/C at work, I had to wear the cardi all day!

Thoughts or suggestions?
Thanks for looking!

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12 years ago

Beth Ann

Veteran

Hi! FC! I think you did a great job at finding a sweet spot for the volume of the trousers. Drape is so hard to photograph, but if you look closely, you get a sense of softness with the volume that hints at movement, and at the body beneath.

I like the bright option best (surprise). I wonder, though about making more of what looks like a neutral taupe stripe in my monitor. Could you try a neutral topper to "tone down" the blouse. I love it as is, but I'm responding to your comfort level with brights.

Have you tried the cardi with a neutral (tan, grey) pant or skirt? Or with a deep navy, cobalt, or brown?

Firecracker (Sharan)

Thanks, Beth Ann!
I have discovered the blouse looks great with a light gray leather jacket I bought the last day of NAS (and haven't photo'd yet). (The light stripe in the blouse is a pale warmish gray that I love.) And I wear it under a couple of v-neck cashmere sweaters in winter. But I don't want to cover it up that much all the time--ha! I think the bottoms have been the challenge--the blouse goes well with dark navy, and I don't have much in the way of dark navy bottoms. I think I should just wear it with my charcoals!
The cardi has been a workhorse this summer, actually; yes, I've worn it with everything--tan, brown, black, skirts, pants, shorts, white jeans, blue jeans, bright tops, neutral tops. It's such a fun color.

kellygirl

I love the brights on you. I think the pants are cool--they look much better with your alteration. They seem like a fun silhouette to have in the closet. It seems as long as you keep the top streamlined, the bottoms will work. Can you taper them even more if you want?

Thanks, Kellygirl! I suppose I could taper them more, but they are actually pretty narrow at the bottom edge now. Maybe heels would highlight the taper more.

Oh yes, heels might take care of just that tiny bit of slouch in the calf area. You are a most excellent sewist! I still can't get over your boho blouse. WOW!

FlorenceFearne

Active Member

I love these tops, I really like the pants, but for some reason I am not getting my head around the pairings of the two together. I can't put my finger on exactly why, but I think it might be because I feel like the pants should be the statement piece in the outfit, rather than functioning like regular jeans as a neutral? Or maybe I'd like them better with a shorter top? It just feels to me like there's a disconnect between top and bottom.

I'm really not trying to be the one person that rains on the parade, but I wouldn't offer criticism if I didn't feel like the pieces all had a lot going for them. Plus I just think you're so smashing and chic, and these looks don't quite do you justice.

Sara L.

I really like the striped blouse with the bright sweater. I can understand your discomfort though and like Beth Ann's suggestions to tone it down with a more neutral colored topper. The jeans look better to me after your alterations.

rachylou

The pants are AWESOME!

p.s. I like the 3/4 sleeve sweaters over long sleeves. That's a cool way to do a cardigan.

FlorenceF, I do get what you mean. Very good point. I think you've hit on what makes this outfit not a fave for me. I like the elements, just not so much together. I think I'd even like the bright cardi with the blouse, if paired with a bottom that is less of a statement. Bingo. Thank you!

Vickie KY

I love the top and sweater. You look great in the bright colors. In person the pants may drape softly and be just right - but in the photo they are way too big.
Vickie

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