WIW For Angie & Just Flattering Enough

These pictures are horrible, but I'm sure you'll all forgive me!

This is a WIW for Angie because Angie picked this top for me when we were shopping last FALL. I left it behind, but have been stalking it ever since. Finally it went on sale and it was mine! So here it is for Angie!

And Just Flattering Enough? I think that's obvious. This neckline isn't great for me. And add the dropped shoulders? On my super sized shoulders? Wow. This whole outfit is in free-fall from my shoulders down. They are clearly the widest point of me. See it in Photo 2, face on? Eeee. But it is close enough, especially when I wear it with fitted bottoms and high heels that show the rest of me to advantage.

I need to gush about how awesome I think the "Just Flattering Enough" concept is. For me, it refocuses my eye so that instead of entirely ruling out something that isn't traditionally flattering, I look carefully for the details that make it work better for me. This top has interesting sleeves that show off the shape of my arms. It also moves nicely. It's length is right to wear flatteringly with slim pants or skinny fit pencil skirts. It is just flattering enough. Just like flared midi-skirts that flare out from the waist band are not really flattering for me because I don't have a pronounced waist, but versions that have a tailored top before the flare or sewn down pleats are great. The little details. And without the concept of just flattering enough, it would be too easy to get it entirely wrong (not flattering enough) or to rule out a shape entirely and miss out on the fun. Hooray for just flattering enough!

(BTW, not sure about the jacket. Don't you hate it when you don't have the right jacket? I have like fifteen. How can I not have the right jacket?!?)

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12 years ago

Aida

Veteran

Ohhh that top is beautiful! I have wide shoulders and I'd happily wear it, too. It looks very intentional, if you know what I mean. The "flattering enough" concept is fantastic, I've been using that as my silhouette experiment basis for years. Not to encourage another jacket, but how about blush? 0:}

Anonymous

I loved reading your description of how your outfit works and it works really well. That's a lovely top and I can see why you wanted it. The jeans and shoes look great with it.

Beth Ann

K. I love it with the jacket -- earth tones are great for grounding big prints. I'm not bothered by the shoulder line at all -- I think it takes a strong shoulder to take a dropped seam, actually. You could semi-tuck to soften the line or wear with a less "skinny" bottom, but I don't feel those changes are necessary -- I like the silhouette as is.

K. Period.

Oh Aida, temptress! I would love a blush jacket. I'm actually really wanting a white moto too. Because, you know, the billion I have aren't enough.

(oh and I totally missed the other obvious jacket option: WHITE)

Hah cross posted! Clearly, white it is!!

Transcona Shannon

OMG!!! Too gorgeous for words K. And I think you need a blush jacket AND a white jacket - lol!

I'm another one who is a huge fan of the "flattering enough" concept. Sometimes we fall in love with items that aren't ever going to be perfect 10's for us but can still work beautifully in our wardrobes and make us happy.

Suz

(website)

Uh, I don't think it's flattering enough.

It's almost TOO flattering!! You need to send that top to me instead.

What a fabulous outfit and fabulous post. May I add your comments here to my "Shopping with Angie: What we Learned" thread? And will you add some more pearls of wisdom from your personal experience?

WOW what a boost! Thanks, everyone, for all the super nice and rapid fire comments and compliments! I'm actually a little amazed.

Suz, absolutely, but I'm puzzled by which ones you mean! Absolutely! I will do my best to try to figure out a way to describe the magic that is shopping with Angie.

This one!

Suzanne (ambergreen)

Nicely done, this is a great look. How is it that nobody has asked yet about the pink bootlets? I wouldn't be able to rock those, but you can.

Lisa

Gorgeous print on this top, and fun paired with the red shoes.

Janet

Oooh, I love. Very nice! I think it's quite flattering, but ask a pear-ish hourglass like me about flattering, and we'd generally love the chance to embrace a little shoulder emphasis.

The top is beautiful, and I agree that a blush or white jacket would be awesome with this, and on your coloring. Fabalicious boots too!

rachylou

Now that's sophisticated.

carambola

Gorgeous. Totally flattering. Fantastic boots, too.

annagybe

Please tell me the shoes are pink!
I think the shirt works.

catgirl

I am right with you on JFE. Sometimes I'm not even that. But it's what I aim for, as taking it the next notch up to Truly Flattering requires disproportionate effort-to-reward ratio for me. You look Just Perfect to me!

Sharon

That looks great and the overall look is actually very flattering. I like the jacket with the top, but not with the boots - the different colours give my eyes too much to do. Maybe try it with that jacket and different shoes? Or keep the boots but a black, white or blush jacket?

I love the print on the blouse & how you've paired it with bright pink shoes! Have you tried a jacket that's a bit more open at the top vs the moto collar being quite close and competing with the blouse's neckline a bit? I'm far from a jacket expert though, so I could be completely wrong!

I love the just flattering enough concept too, although in my case I suspect that often plays out in a 'frumpy but cute' manner. hehe

Anna, sadly the boots are raspberry rather than hot pink!

Raspberry works, totally works!
Just add white moto and bam! Perfection!

@Sharon, the auto-correct color correction is throwing the color of both the boots and the jacket off pretty severely. IRL they are a cool-ish gray tan (which Angie calls "donkey") and raspberry. I promise, much much more subtle in person!

Rusty

Active Member

Stunning ! And those shoes ! Your "flattering enough" is pretty fab if you ask me!

Angie

Fashion Stylist

(pssssst. White moto).

Love this blouse on you so much, K. It tickles my toes. Actually, your IT shoulders carry the silhouette very well. And I'm touched that you wore this outfit for me. It's a stunningly killer floral. xo

kellygirl

So pretty! I love this. Totally flattering, IMHO.

Caro in Oz

Beautiful!! I love it. Your comments on Suz's post brought tears to my eyes, in a good way

pil

I love this on you!

White moto...

TRIP TO DANIER???

Hey. Don't you need to come to Toronto for business?

Suz, I WOULD LOVE TO. I promise, if I'm ever in Toronto, I will pre-PM you! I would love to meet you, you charming girl you. Hmm. I might just have to go look at the Danier website....

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