WIW: minimal win, maximal fail - YouLookFab Forum

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WIW: minimal win, maximal fail

catgirl

Veteran

Tuesday I wore a black tunic dress with my OTK suede boots and the Lulu jacket. Felt quite happy even though this was all black except for tights.

Today I tried to wear this old Topshop jungle print shift with the new green velvet blazer and couldn't get out the door. Individually I love both but together I felt LOUD! I changed out the blazer for a really old black Nic & Zoe knit riding jacket.

I think I'm going to need to ease into the maximal looks...

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29 replies

Latest reply was from Firecracker (Sharan)

Aida

Veteran

What's on bottom in the second? Perhaps jeans and colorful shoes are in order to complete the maximal; otherwise you're just maximal on top and I know you are comfortable with it on bottom. First look is great ^^

rachylou

Veteran

The dress is incredibly splendid...

Style Fan

Veteran

First look is great on you. I love the dress in the second look.

unfrumped

Veteran

It's all relative, isn't it? The first jacket is rather maximal of itself as is the dress. Both are gorgeous on you and neither outfit is a " minimal" look- they both have drama, but some elegance, too ( which I quite like on you).
So maybe some " maximal" looks are just hectic, fevered, and not quite what you're going for. Keep on playing.

Momo

Veteran

I love the first outfit. Looks soft and comfy and interesting bc if the silhouette .

Anonymous

Wow. You always pull it together so great. You look amazing in number 1. Love everything about it.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

The first jacket is dramatic (as is all black) so that is maximal in a minimal way, if you know what I mean.

I also like the second outfit, but I get it about the colour.

For what it is worth, I have similar feelings about/ on myself with all colour now that my hair is grey. As you know, I love colour and respond to it emotionally and as a blonde it mostly worked pretty well as long as I didn't try to wear screaming yellow or orange. But with my silvery salt and pepper hair, I find that too much colour or the wrong ones can feel overpowering and "loud" -- as you say -- or just too over stimulating to me. It competes. Whereas black and white patterns, which used to be a bit iffy on me, are suddenly kind of magical. Any pattern that includes white or silver or black will work better than an all colour one, and any where one of the neutrals dominates will look better.

SOLID colours seem easier for me to manage. Slightly clearer, more intense tones are better for me now vs. softer, muddy ones. I wonder if the same is true for you.

RobinF

Veteran

You always look so great! Love the all black and on #2 I can't tell that jacket is green, it looks black on my screen but is a gorgeous look. I know what you mean though, the dress is a statement on its own without adding more drama. I'm pretty minimal myself, not too sure how far I will go with the whole maximal thing.

Ledonna N.

Veteran

As,a maximal I approve and appreciate both as other YLF Family has stated.

Maybe it is as Angie said it'd maximum your way.

Sara L.

Veteran

I like both outfits. The jacket in #1 is great and I love the colors and pattern of your dress in #2. (Also, I find your climate fascinating - already cold enough for OTK boots!).

Anonymous

Love both outfits, but the first looks most like your style, dramatic yet understated. Suz said it well. Your hair has a bit of a pattern already. Play with the green jacket and solids to ease into it.

Traci

Veteran

Oh that shift! *swoon*

Diana

Veteran

I love the dress. I actually think things like that are better w/ minimal support acts bc it lets the statement piece shine.

#1 is great too. Love that jacket.

Tanya

Veteran

I love both outfits just thy way they are. The first one has a statement jacket, the second one a fun print - plenty of interest for me.

Cococat

Veteran

Both looks are great. That lulu jacket is amazing and now I'm going to have to stalk eBay to look for something similar.
I really like the dress and how you have styled it. It's maximal on it's own, no need for extras IMO.

Anonymous

That lulu jacket is amazing on you. Great find. I can see why the new green jacket wouldn't work with the print on the dress -- two fabulous pieces fighting for attention! We'll look forward to seeing the jacket with another outfit.

Bonnie

Veteran

Both outfits are really nice. Show us the dress with the green jacket, maybe we'll like it.

JAileen

Veteran

I used to wear a lot of bright colors. Now that I'm grey and started wearing more muted outfits in grey and blue, wearing bright colors feels too loud. I don't know if it's because I'm used to the more subtle colors, or if it's the grey hair. I just don't want to wear bright colors anymore.

BTW, you look fab in the dress.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Easing yourself into maximal looks is FINE. You look great in #2.

tulle

Veteran

The black-over-jungle combo looks great to me!

shedev

Veteran

Both outfits look good to me.

Barbara Diane

Veteran

Love both.

Brooklyn

Veteran

I think the first outfit has a certain maximalism to it because it is dramatic. I think it is possible to be maximal while wearing a column of colour. The dress in the second outfit is wow! I would have liked to have seen the green jacket with it.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I like them both, but i don't think they look maximal. I think you need a fuchsia hacking jacket.

ETA -- I tried some SW OTK boots and was too wimpy to even post a pic before sending back. Just so you know it's not a bravery comment.

catgirl

Veteran

UmmLila, what happened with the boots? Mine arrive tomorrow!

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

They looked pretty good (I forget the particular shoe name but a mid heel SW OTK) but I just couldn't see myself in them day to day. So I give you all the credit for looking fab here.

My decision was, admittedly, partly because I work from home and don't wear shoes in the house.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Both outfits are great. I love that dress on you. I think I am missing the bit about why you want to be more maximal? Dramatic and maximal are not the same things in my mind. Drama can be achieved as easily or even more easily with minimalism (aesthetic not closet). Not that you said you wanted to be dramatic either .

catgirl

Veteran

Shevia, I am pondering - I think I have more than one style persona and I need to pin down what's common, what differs and what's just plain delusional!

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Both outfits look fantastic on you. I just adore the first one--that dramatic face-framing collar! And the shape of the jacket, plus the OTK boots. Quietly stunning. I had to laugh at your tale about feeling loud and not getting out the door in the green jacket with the colorful dress. Maximal isn't for the faint of heart (not that I would put you in that category, but still--it's not for everyone, I guess).