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Alana in Canada

(website)

Veteran

I volunteered at setting up and running a concession for a soccer tournament this morning. I wore this: however, within five minutes, I'd taken off the scarf and jacket--it was getting warm!

So, essentially, all the "structure" to my outfit was gone. What do you do in that sort of situation?

As well, when I grew up, having the shirt underneath your jacket (or topper) be longer than the jacket was considered the height of sloppiness. I know that that isn't the case any more--and hasn't been for a long time, but it still looks weird to me, so I can't really see it objectively. Does it look OK?

When I bought the jean jacket a few days ago, a fellow shopper convinced me to go with the 2X instead of the 3X, saying that the 3X looked too big on me. It was roomier. This is the 2X. I don't know, does this look like the right size for me? It is a wee bit tight in the upper arms, but I (think I) can live with it.

Now that I am looking at the photos, I think I like the outfit better without the scarf.

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18 replies

Latest reply was from Alana in Canada

Windchime

Veteran

Hello, Alana! (What a pretty name.) You've asked several good questions, and I'm going to let better-trained eyes than mine answer them. I did want to weigh in on your shirt length question...yes, it really is okay, and I like the red showing beneath your jacket. It takes time to retrain our eyes to see what is fashion forward and flattering. But it's a very fun and rewarding journey!

Alana in Canada

(website)

Veteran

Thanks Windchime!

Oh and I also wanted to ask: what do you call the cut of these jeans?

Adelfa

Veteran

Hi Alana, I agree the longer shirt looks good, and I also like the size of the jacket. Sometimes if I don't plan to button a jacket I get it smaller so it lies better.

It's a little hard to see the legs of the jeans. If you had your legs more apart it might be easier. I think they might be straights.

To me these days it's feeling better to leave off the scarf, too. I'll put them back on in the winter.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

The jacket looks great on you, and I like the red top showing beneath it. The size looks fine. (Comfort is another matter of course.) I like the outfit with and without the scarf. That's a tough one--when you have to remove the items that made the outfit an "outfit"! I think you've just got to go with what's comfortable. Maybe have on a bracelet that still pulls things together once you remove the jacket and scarf?

Marley

Veteran

Nice outfit! And yes - your top looks just fine with it hanging down lower than your jacket. For me, I like my jackets to fit looser than yours - and if the arms are on the tight side - well, that makes my decision that much easier! I'd go with the 3X for both a comfortable fit and a more modern looking silhouette.

Alana in Canada

(website)

Veteran

Ah yes, Marley, I thought I'd read something earlier which said something about things being looser = more modern. I'm not sure where I put the tags...and I may have a teeny bit of mustard on it. I may have to keep it. (red face).
Love the idea of a bracelet.

Adelfa

Veteran

Alana, I don't think denim is where I'd start with a fluid fit. Marley (waving at Marley, my star model), who always looks incredible, may not have had the experience of fitting a looser jacket in a fabric with more heft over a body that carries more weight up top, as I do. I could be wrong of course because I haven't seen the other one. But I think you can wear this one without blushes!

Karie

(website)

Veteran

I like the red top showing underneath the jacket, and while I prefer the outfit sans scarf, the scarf looks fine too. Re the size of the jacket - can you button it, or do you want to be able to button it? If you will never wear it buttoned then it doesn't matter so much if you can't. I don't like my shoulders being tight, but a slight bit of snugness there doesn't bother me as long as there is stretch in the fabric.

Liz

Veteran

You looked great!

With a high-contrast shirt like that one, I prefer the jacket open. That way, instead of getting a horizontal band of color around your mid-section, you have more vertical lines, drawing the eye up.

Jackets can be so hard to fit --if you went a size up, you might have a better fit in the arms, but a boxier fit through the torso, which can look awkward in a stiff denim. So, no need to blush!

On the jeans, you can tell cut by laying them flat and looking at the shape from the knee to the hem. If it's straight, they're straight cut. If it's flared out, they might be bootcut. But then, pants fit our bodies differently depending on how we are shaped. I have big calves, so a pair of straight leg jeans fits me from the knee down like skinnies would fit someone else.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

You look terrific in that red. And this is a good outfit. I think you've had some great insights from the others.

You said:

"So, essentially, all the "structure" to my outfit was gone. What do you do in that sort of situation?"

Ah, the bane of warm weather dressing! Don't worry, you're in great company here. Many of us bemoan the challenges of looking "put together" when it is too warm for a "third piece." The third piece often provides the drama, the structure, the zing of an outfit.

Forum member Gaylene gave me some good advice a few years back. The colour blocking trend can be your friend in summer. Other options include a more structured top, or going monochrome, a statement necklace or bangle, a bright bag that takes the place of a topper in a sense.

Alana in Canada

(website)

Veteran

This is fabulous, I am learning so much!
So, "looseness" in the fit also should take into account the heft of the fabric and the body it is going over. OK. The 3X did have a touch of "sloppy" to it--and given that is all I've worn for a long time, I was anxious about repeating that. So, I guess even if I'm not as fashionable as I could be, I am meeting my own goal which is to look smart and put together, sharp: not sloppy.
Ah, Suz, accessories, yes. That's a whole area of knowledge where I know next to nothing. Imogen Lamport has some great stuff on that, I recall.
Liz, I just checked my jeans: they are same width at the bottom as they are at the top of the thigh (I folded over to make sure) --but the knee area is slightly less wide--about a 1/4"? I absolutely love these jeans--theyre the "comfort" fir from Reitman's. I was so disappointed when I was in there the other day and they didn't seem to have them anymore.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

Thanking you for your service … the world needs more volunteers! I agree with the fellow shopper, the jean jacket looks perfect. And worry not about the longer top beneath the jacket, this is the look! It makes the outfit more stylish IMO.

abc

Veteran

I think the jacket looks perfect and had you sized up it probably would be too big in the main body of the jacket. I prefer my jean jackets slimmer fitting and a little cropped and I'm not a tiny girl (12/14) so don't worry! You can graduate to fluid fits when the time is right. I'm still working on that myself

I like the idea of the scarf in pic 1 but somehow I would like to see it with more bulk around your neck to balance the bottom half of the outfit which reads a little heavy due to the dark pants and footwear (might be lighter IRL, you know how pics can be).

Anyway I think you're doing brilliantly. Don't be so hard on yourself

Alana in Canada

(website)

Veteran

Cocolion--thanks! It was fun. I had to leave half way through to go to work, sadly.
abc--yes, heavy, exactly. Something was bothering me about the scarf--that's why I took it off (for the photo, anyway). Thanks for the encouragement to take my time and get comfortable "dressing up" still.
Oh--and hard on myself? Unfortunately, that's all too common. I remember once, I was clothes shopping with my grandmother and aunt, I must have been about six. I decided to amuse myself by twirling and twirling in front of a three way mirror. My grandmother spoke to me in that tone of voice, "Don't be so vain."
I often think of that moment: I'm sure grandma was just tired of shopping and having to cope with ALL THAT ENERGY but "nice girls" aren't (fill in the blank: proud, confident, feel great, look great, etc, etc.) So, you all have permission to call me on "being hard on myself" anytime! Sometimes, I don't even realise it.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Is it bad that I want to wear twirly skirts and twirl with your 6 year old self?

I may have done this with a friend's 5 year old. He just kind of laughed at us. Afterwards we talked about why wind when we twirl makes your dress go up instead of just lie flat. PHYSICS.

Marley

Veteran

Hey Alana. I'll twirl with you anytime!

abc

Veteran

I don't recall any specific story like yours with your grandma but you are not alone in the "good girls don't --- " burden

Alana in Canada

(website)

Veteran

So, let's twirl and twirl and twirl 'til we fall down laughin'!
Thanks so much.