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WIW: Color woes, quilted booties, mustard skirt...

catgirl

Veteran

Sona, this is for you - me struggling away!

The quilted booties are winners! Not only are they comfortable for the height and all day wearable for me, but I was able to keep my footing on ice while being yanked along by Kona. They have good traction on the ball of the foot.

The outfit on the other hand... how the heck do you all put together several colors so easily? The only thing I could think of to wear on top of this mustard skirt with these booties was black, and that seemed so boring. I need some kind of blow by blow tutorial on complex outfits - I started with burgundy tights, but that was so bad I deleted the photo. Help! Is it a complete do-over?

This is the skirt that felt too short, maybe because I'm 4 inches taller in the boots!

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Dressing

41 replies

Latest reply was from Mander

Anonymous

Yay for the fab quilted booties! I think you did well adding the striped blouse. If there is a formula for putting bright colors together, I sure don't know it! The skirt *does* look a little short to my eye (re. your earlier post) but in no way immodest or inappropriate. I like the outfit all put together like this. The colors seem especially good on you and the necklace is the perfect touch!

Sara L.

Veteran

For what it's worth, I like your outfit with the black. I admit that I don't do complex outfits - mine are fairly simple with about 2 colors max. I like blue and yellow together - I'm not sure if you have any blue in your wardrobe, but it's a thought. I'm sure others here will have more suggestions.

Stephanie

Veteran

Una, I definitely like this look better with the jacket--otherwise the lower half looks dark and the top half looks bright. And I think I would like this better with a blouse of similar color brightness/intensity. (Take my opinion for what it's worth which may be nothing.)

The skirt is short-ish but it's fine, to me, because it's not tight.

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Una, I don't think it looks bad really but I do find it hard to pair "black legs" with bright colors. I really like the striped shirt tucked into this yellow skirt though - how about your red jacket on top? Do you need to wear black opaques for warmth here - I find that grey may be easier to pair with yellow.

Deborah

Veteran

I think you did really well (this coming from someone who struggles to combine colours). I think I prefer the outfit without the black jacket. I think that the black tights and boots bookend nicely with your dark hair so it works to my eye. And those quilted booties... I am sad to say I am experiencing some shoe lust.

yankeebelle

Yay for fashionable AND functional boots!
I also just posted about needing helpwith the color mustard! I think you pulled together a very nice ensemble. I like the outfit better with the cardigan. It seems to be more fitted than the blouse and therefore makes you look thinner. (Not that you don't look thin to begin with. You have a fab figure!)

catgirl

Veteran

Tights seem to be my biggest struggle! Trust me that the burgundy hose looked idiotic. I wonder if I'd just stuck with a mod black look (like a black top) if it would hang together better. What else can I wear on my legs?

Aida's 2nd outfit on my "eyes adjusting" post also is black on the bottom and bright on top, but seems more harmonious. Why? Solid colors?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Una, I don't think the skirt is too short. But I suspect there's a reason it might have felt that way. If you look at the photo, the proportion of the blouse section, the skirt section, and the legs in tights section are almost equal to one another. (The legs with the boots are a bit longer but we know that's partly the heel). So somehow our eye is wanting that 1/3-1/3-1/3 to look more like 2/3-1/3. And that isn't happening, and then it might feel off.

Well, that's my half baked theory anyway...I like it better with the jacket. But I also like it without (proportion notwithstanding....after all, there is your gorgeous head to factor in). To me it is bright and fun while also being work appropriate.

I don't know the bright colour mixing theories, except maybe try analogous colours...I can see why the burgundy tights might have felt like too much although I'll bet for a non-work day they'd be really fun with the skirt. I guess the best tutorial would be the careful study of MaryK's posts.

Anonymous

It is the opaque tights what makes you reach out for the black cardi, IMO. It's an organic response. I do that all the time!

I actually like the outfit as in picture #2.

I'll give this one a shot, although I'm a neutrals type of gal.

The easiest thing to do, for me, is to replace the black boots and / or bottom, for anything other than black. Eliminating the black helps me see other possibilities.

With the red and yellow combo, I like any color in the orange family, even blues could work. Cognac boots would look amazing with that top and skirt.

ETA: Blue and orange for that "topper" piece - not for hosiery, of course. If you go with grey hose, you could top it with a grey blazer too, I think.

catgirl

Veteran

Suz, sometimes I think my head is the problem. You are right about the proportion - I'm like a block on sticks. Lovely!

Yes, I am a grasshopper at the feet of MaryK!

rae

(website)

Veteran

Echoing Sveta and Suz, although in the end I still like it a lot. If you are struggling, you are struggling through the Master Class.

FWIW, I thnk this one will also look awesome with bare/nude fishnetted legs and tan boots once it warms up (like your last outfit with the orange skirt).

Anonymous

About hosiery, what about something in this color?
http://www.katespade.com/desig.....vid=search

catgirl

Veteran

Interesting, Zap! I have some grey patterned hose - could give those a try. What a struggle!

Aida

Veteran

I like it with the jacket to pull together the black. Without the jacket, the top feels a bit boxy to tuck (?) in a looser way like this; tucked and belted may work, untucked and free flowing may also work.

In my outfit it's kind of cheating but I have almost-black hair so I never have to worry about "repeating" black in any of my outfits Also, the darkness on bottom is much longer because my skirt is black and all the color is on top; black skirt+gray tights+black boots.

I think gray tights are definitely worth a shot; you'd have just one black elements (boots) without the jacket, and the jacket will have another black element to play with when it's added. Gray will look a bit softer against the mustard as well.

cciele

Veteran

Oooo, those booties are awesome! Stylish yet functional, can't beat that

Mustard can be a hard color to work with. I'd try dark green, purple, certain shades of blue. Unfortunately, the combo of red and mustard, especially with stripes, reminds me of Ronald McDonald. Sorry! :b

catgirl

Veteran

Interesting, Aida! Does my hair not read as black? It's naturally pitch black but I've got red highlights... And you are right about the skirt being black - see why I need a fashion engineer? Thank you!

Aida

Veteran

On my screen your hair reads quite red, enough that it's no longer "black enough" to bookend in _this outfit_ because the black is such a contrast with the yellow (if that makes sense?). Could be the flash In this case, perhaps try a skinny black belt with the tucked look?

rae

(website)

Veteran

Interesting, I see warm brown hair. I don't think I was shocked any difference in hair color when we met, so I don't *think* the flash is steering us wrong.

Also, I belatedly realized that these quilted boots are the 80%20s! I'm happy to hear that they are comfy for you, because mine are unbelievably comfortable as well. I initially thought the brand was way overpriced and just milking the hidden wedge gimmick... but with the comfort level added, I'm very impressed!

catgirl

Veteran

Yay! Mine were on sale for over 1/2 off so I feel fine about the purchase. Have you worn yours a lot? I find my duck toes are cramped in thick socks but with tights or thin socks they are totally fine.

catgirl

Veteran

And the hair color issue is giving me pause... Have to rethink the bookending now! Or go back to black. Yikes.

Dashrashi

Veteran

AG and Rae, if you please, how does the sizing run? I've been dying for a wedge I can wear with socks but still wear to court in the winter.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I'm no help with color pairings but I just wanted to say I love these booties for you!! And they work on ice? Perfect if you ask me.

MsMary

Veteran

I love it with the black jacket. And if you don't want to spring for the pricey Kate Spade tights, I bought some that look just like the ones Zap linked to at Target for less than ten bucks yesterday. LOL

Have you tried it with your red jacket?

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

FWIW, I think you did great with this colour exercise Una. I'm no expert so have nothing to add but did want to say I found reading the responses informative and thinking I should take notes! I'm a pretty bland colour mixing person so what do I know???

Am drooling over those quilted booties BTW!

Heather

Veteran

Una, I totally dig those quilted booties. Look at you, Tall Lady!

Okay, so this skirt rocks. I bet you are melting snow drifts. Lawd.

So try it with your purple JCrew jacket, your red JCrew jacket and THIS: (OMG, LOVE)

http://www.gap.com/browse/prod.....pid=779157

With the pencil, you need a sleeker (not silk) blouse to tuck or else it can appear very boxy, IMO.

Anonymous

No need for Kate Spade hosiery... I just happened to be on that site, stalking a couple dresses I must have!

rae

(website)

Veteran

Una, I know! I have a $10 off coupon and it's all I can do not to order yet *another* pair of boots. Pain, physical pain, this "restraint" business is! I've worn mine around the house a LOT while deciding whether to keep, but I'm going to wait for Spring to take them outside.

Dashrashi, I looked at a lot of Amazon reviews for the brand before buying, and I went with a 1/2 size down. Works perfectly for me - I have long toes and a borderline narrow foot.

Diana

Veteran

Cool boots!

I like to pair mustard with grey, cognac, teal, green, or cobalt. And it also goes fantastically with leopard print!

Or you could go for a bunch of autumnal browns and golds, like in this outfit (one of my favorites ever from Tania of What Would a Nerd Wear):
http://whatwouldanerdwear.blog.....utfit.html

Refugee

Veteran

I don't really have anything helpful to offer in regards to the outfit as a whole, but I would offer my experience on the skirt feeling too short. I think it may be the proportion question. I have a dress that I only wear with flats. Any heel makes the skirt feel too short. And I am a big heel wearer. I think the change in the proportion when adding heels that makes the skirt feel shorter.

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