WIW: jumping on the trends-from-my-closet trend - YouLookFab Forum

Category

What I Wore

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

WIW: jumping on the trends-from-my-closet trend

SarahD8

Veteran

Today's outfit: loose jeans, dark romance (the top), and statement socks.

I really like the socks! I've done these fair isle socks quite a bit with clogs but I am really liking the idea of pairing them with menswear inspired shoes. These loafers had kind of fallen out of use the last couple years but I'm excited to revive them.

I am liking the idea of dark romance although there is not much that really qualifies currently in my closet (see collage in last pic -- somehow flowy black watch plaid qualifies in my weird brain??). I will be on the lookout!

I liked today's look but don't think I will repeat it. The top is a bit short for the rise of these jeans and it has short raglan sleeves that don't layer super well. The combination of those factors made the outfit a bit fussy to wear. I might try the top with that blue/black plaid skirt though.

The overall effect here is more "casual dark academia" than "dark romance" but that's ok with me! I need to keep my casual work from home lifestyle in mind with any dark romance pieces I add, and will be at peace with winding up somewhere dark romance-adjacent.

Thanks for looking, as always I'm grateful for any thoughts/observations/suggestions you may have to share.

This post has 5 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

31 replies

Latest reply was from SarahD8

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Fun outft! I understand why the top may not have been the most comfortable with the jeans but all of this definitely plays to the trends. The socks are really cute. Casual dark academia, yeah, but also, browns. loose jeans, statement socks, loafers...

I think black watch flowy definitely counts as dark romance. Jonesy pointed that out to me -- my plaid taffeta skirt counts for sure. It's not black watch, but...

Roberta

Veteran

I really love this look - my Platonic ideal of a cool weather outfit. I understand the annoyance factor of dolman or batwing sleeves as a layering piece, but it all works for me. I'm sad that I do not own Fair Isle socks.

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

I like your casual take - you don't have to go full-on Goth to get Dark Romance!

I know what you mean about the top length - I have a cropped cream sweatshirt that I like to wear with a slimmer, tanned brown top underneath, so perhaps you could do something similar?

If you still want to wear this top in colder weather, would a tight, red, long sleeved top layered *underneath* work? That way the sleeves become a feature, not a bug

slim cat

Veteran

Pretty! I love the printed socks/shoes/jeans with slouch look - fun top as well!

Indigoprint

Veteran

Like it a lot.
Worth repeating

Irina

Veteran

Love the top - very much dark romance!

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Love the top, jacket, socks and shoes. You probably know I’m not much of a jeans fan so to me it calls for darker pants- black or charcoal/pewter- then it would definitely be dark romance to me.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I like this a lot! Maybe I’m a fan of dark romance because I do love a moody floral. I’d try layering the top over a thin black long-sleeved tee — I do that a lot to extend the wear of some tops into cooler weather. Uniqlo layering tops are great for this. I’m also loving the roomy jeans, fun socks, and loafers. I’ve given up on loafers because every pair I’ve tried falls off my heels, so I enjoy them on others. I also like the pattern mixing here because the two patterns are separated by the jeans (I’m not a high tolerance pattern mixer). Great look!

Brooklyn

Veteran

I really like this too. And I echo the above remarks about trying the top layered over another top.

Love the socks too!

ChristelJ

Veteran

Your casual dark academia look is fab! Unique to you and trendy in a very cool way. I love it and hope to see more of this direction.

LaPed

Veteran

This feels like a perfect modern tribute to 90s/grunge — love it!

SarahD8

Veteran

Thanks all for the supportive comments! Good idea about layering underneath the top. I have an extra-warm heattech that I wear under another short-sleeve sweater (it’s roomier — white with a pointelle yoke). Worth seeing If that will work with this piece too!

Suz oh yeah, you are right, browns — the trend I just said I was going to skip. That has got to be some speed record for the “no thanks” to “never say never” journey, huh? Also very much agree that your tulle skirt qualifies as dark romance!

JenniNZ agree that darker bottoms would place the overall look more firmly in dark romance. I could try this with skirt leggings, but otherwise all my dark pants are skinnies, and I don’t think I would pair this top with skinnies, even with a long topper over.

LaPed I don’t normally think of myself as a 90s gal but when in Seattle, eh?

And thanks again Roberta, Zaeobi, slim cat, Indigoprint, Irina, Janet, Brooklyn, and ChristelJ!

catherine

Veteran

I like your outfit a lot. It is loose but still fitted. The shoes and socks together are amazing. Thanks for posting this.

kkards

Veteran

YLF! This maybe my favorite of anything i remember you posting. Love the relaxed vibe of the jeans, the sweater is dark but fab, and the socks —-wow, it’s a master class in socks

re the sweater -another vote for trying to layer under instead of over. Would it work with a white button down? Or just a long sleeve tee that picks up on the colors in the floral, or even just a black tee ? Both of these would also lean heavily into the 70s trend

Bonnie

Veteran

I think you have done a great job making the trends work for you and your outfits look fab.

SarahD8

Veteran

Bonnie and Catherine, thanks!
Kkards, wow! I'm blown away! Thanks so much -- I'm so pleased this outfit hits the mark.

Did a quick try-on of layering a heattech top under the sweater, see below. I think it works! I'm really excited about this -- I originally bought this top for my warm weather work capsule so it doesn't get a ton of wear. I really like the print though, so I would be thrilled to be able to wear it more. Thanks so much for the great suggestions, all!

This post has 2 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

kellygirl

Veteran

I love the dark floral in both iterations. What a fun top--pairs so well with the cuffed jeans and cute loafers.

kkards

Veteran

Yay for being able to layer under and giving new life to a piece

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Great outfit (and closet shopping)! I agree that a longer shirt underneath might make this more wearable for you. The look is excellent!

SarahD8

Veteran

Thanks kellygirl and kkards and Jaime!

Star

Veteran

It works great with the piece under. This is something I do fairly regularly with tops that are a bit on the short side. I kind of like the 90s 'grungy' layered look IYKWIM.

Jules

Veteran

Love this!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I hereby crown you Queen Fair Isle

Those socks made me smile, and look fab with the loafers, SarahD8!

The top looks like a painting! It works well with the skirt because it's short.

RobinF

Veteran

Love this outfit! The socks are so fun with loafers! Too bad the top didn't layer well but it looks good with the long sleeves underneath too.

SarahD8

Veteran

Thanks Jules and RobinF!

Star hmm, another vote for 90s grunge. You know, despite coming of age in that time I feel next to no affinity for that fashion era. Maybe I should rethink! (In my head, that looser top layered over a tight black tee formula is "70s art teacher," which is virtually the only 70s look I'm interested in for myself, but one that I really like a lot!)

Angie why thank you! If the crown fits, as they say...I shall wear it proudly. YES, agree on the length of the top issue. I am always amazed by the people who can mix proportions so creatively. In my own closet I find that with few exceptions there are Tops for Skirts and Tops for Pants and they don't really cross over. And I do have a sugar eye for those painting-effect prints! I call them (another peek into my weird brain here) Dutch florals, for reasons you can probably imagine!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Dutch florals FTW

Helena

Veteran

Love this ... I think you've nailed casual dark romance. The socks are perfect!

SarahD8

Veteran

Angie, always!

Helena, thanks! The socks are pretty great...I am wearing a different colorway today in fact. (The downside is they are not super durable...these are my second pairs of each, although the first iterations are hanging out in my mending basket to see if I can reinforce the bottoms of the feet at some point.)

Anonymous

Pretty top! Big yay for Team Dark Romance in all versions!

12