WIW Hospice benefit dinner, a dressed up VC tube attempt

My mother-in-law's boyfriend does volunteer work for our local Hospice organization. More specifically, for the Joan Nicole Prince Home, a two bedroom home where the terminally ill can spend their final days in a comfortable setting. Every year there is a benefit gala to raise money for the home. Attended by local dignitaries and common folk like me, it is a dressy event filled with dinner, dancing, and donating.

It is a formal event but not strictly so, so the women wear everything from cocktail dresses to dressy skirt/top combos to dressy pants outfits. In lieu of a sleeveless fancy dress in which I would freeze while wearing (why is it so hard to find fancy dresses with sleeves?) I decided on this:

Skirt - VC tube
Beige jacket with black lace overlay - F21
Seamed hosiery - Hue (sorry I didn't get a back photo of the seam)
Black pumps - Nine West
Black coral and pearl earrings - Island Companies, Grand Cayman
Clutch - my mother's, probably from the 1950's

Royal blue top - JCP (It's bunched up in the photos, I did straighten it out)

The jacket is not the most figure flattering as it gathers at the waist and flares out, but I hope the narrowness of the VC tube helps to temper the widening effect of the jacket. I was going for somewhat of a modern vintage look. How'd I do?

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11 years ago

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

I think it is a great retro look and I find the jacket quite flattering, especially with the skirt. You look great!

Suz

It's a lovely look on you, Karen! I actually love it! I think you did brilliantly with the styling of the jacket. That's a gorgeous statement piece and very festive!

Adelfa

I love your outfit! The jacket is the star, wonderfully so.

MsMary

Modern vintage for the win! You look great!

Sharon

The jacket looks great - I think the gathering at the waist is very flattering. Very stylish modern retro look.

Karie

Thanks everyone! Yes, Suz, the jacket is definitely a statement piece. I wish I could think of additional ways to wear it, but I fear it's too fancy and won't be dressed down easily. Adelfa, I tried to keep the jacket the star by keeping everything else fairly simple. I hope I succeeded!

cheryle (Dianthus)

Gorgeous Karen. I think it is perfect for the occasion. Dressy but not over the top.

Anonymous

Perfect for your event. How does the jacket look with slim pants? I'm thinking black silk or velvet ankle pants and heels. What about black skinny jeans and boots with that jacket for a different look?

Deb

Oh I love black lace! And this outfit looks very nice on you. I agree with Joy this jacket would also look good with slim black pants. For another variation and a modern twist, I'm thinking the jacket would look lovely belted with a black patent belt. Hope you enjoy the function and lots of money is raised for this important care service.

That's a gorgeous jacket! I like how the simplicity of the rest of the outfit really sets it off.

I have the same black tube skirt and had just assumed that it would be warm weather only because it seemed like it would look funny with black tights (something about the material being so tights-like itself). But somehow I hadn't thought of trying it with sheer black hose, so thanks for the idea.

jackiec

Yes - modern vintage! This is a great look. What a fun jacket - and from F21!? Joy has some great ideas. This could be a holiday season workhorse

Joy and Deb, I love your ideas! I might try this with a pair of black (or even red or gold!) satiny pants for the holidays. I like the idea of velvet ankle pants, too.

catgirl

Fantastic! F21 for the win. I'm so glad you're with me on shopping there.

Oh, this is really lovely. Modern retro fabness!

unfrumped

Excellent! I love this post, as I am evening-event challenged in wardrobe and find it hard to collect the right things and am interested in how to remix things once I find something.

shiny

Love it! Love the jacket!

It reminds me of my own recent WiW -
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....which-hose

If I wanted to dress my own down, I think I'd go with either slim black pants (my ponte knit) or skinny jeans, with same Okala's, then swap out the bag for something a little more casual. And pop a plain white tee shirt under it.

Thanks, Shiny - I don't know how I missed the post with your jacket, it's gorgeous! I have ponte knit pants, I will have to try my jacket with those.

Unfrumped, I am evening event challenged too, as I rarely, if ever, have any evening events to go to!

Jaime

You did a great job styling your F21 jacket! You and Una should be enlisted for their ad campaign!

Neel

I think you did well Karie. Definitely a retro look ... I love the cobalt pop of color. And wow that clutch is truly vintage

CocoLion

Love this… the cobalt under layer, the jacket, and the workhorse VC tube skirt.Your mother's clutch is really special, it's so Grace Kelly.

Aquamarine

Gorgeous jacket...what a great piece to have in your special-events capsule. Question...did you need a slip under the tube skirt? I tried to wear my black VC tube skirt the other day and it was so uncomfortable with the black hose I had on. The skirt was sticking to my legs and I ended up changing. Sadly, I no longer have any slips since I rarely need them. I know others have mentioned those VC skirts are best with bare legs. What do you think?

Aquamarine, I did have a slip on under the VC tube. I wear slips from Gap, they are the best I've ever owned. They don't carry them in my local store, I have to purchase them online. That and a little Static Guard and I'm good to go.

CocoLion and Neel, I couldn't decide whether to wear the cobalt top or stick with black underneath the jacket. In the end I went with the cobalt because it is a dressier top and works with or without the jacket.

Love the jacket & how you styled it!

Thistle

Perfect! Dressy, seasonally appropriate, but not "too much".

I hope the event went well!

Windchime

Great outfit for this formal event, Karie! The black jacket is indeed the star here, as others have said. I hope you can find more ways to wear it; there may be opportunities especially over the holidays.

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