WIW (or will wear): lots of outfits

K.M.

Dear all, I'm feeling very rejuvenated and defrumped by your feedback on my thread on winter wear, and generally inspired by all the posts and conversations here. I don't always have time to follow the forum as much as I would like, but it's so good when I can hang out here a little...

I would love feedback on an assortment of outfits. Please be candid! I only wore a couple of them out so don't hold back if you spot something that shouldn't be seen in public!

1. Not sure if mini-skirts are OK anymore, but I found that they went well with my chunky snow boots (which unfortunately are falling apart, but I can still wear on warmer snow days). Check out my little intruder in her Hanna Andersson sweater dress! (Sometimes I think about buying one in size 16, since I'm super short and love their prints!)

2 and 3. I love this pleated skirt so I'm trying to find ways to wear it in all seasons. It's very lightweight and the pleats are narrow.

4 and 5. The sweater is a chunky cable. It has more of a straight fit, not very fitted, which is what I'm trying to show in the second picture. The color is a bit off because of the lighting.

6. Lightweight dress with 3/4 sleeves which I'm trying to winterize with a cardigan. I've been stumped when it comes to pairing dresses and cardis. I wonder if this cardi is a bit too long. This was an Eversoft cardi from Gap, that length that is almost a boyfriend but not quite.

7/8. Also trying to winterize this short-sleeve dress with a t-shirt underneath. Then added the cardi and... not sure. (The rolls on the dress look much more pronounced in the photo than in reality.)

9/10/11. Winterized wrap dress (3/4 sleeve). This is a merino crewneck I just got from Gap in green heather. I can't get it to photograph true to color here so I'm including a photo from their site. I am wondering if I can pair with the dress; the color of the dress is more of an emerald and closer to what you see here.

12. This is a corduroy dress from Boden from a couple years ago. I love it because it is cute and warm, but it is almost impossible to wear because of the sleeves, which are very puffy. This means that it doesn't fit under any sweaters and even jackets! It will only fit under a coat. Here I put a t-shirt under but I am not sure about the results. My arms get chilly with just the dress.

13/14. Casual outfit for weekends and home. The pants are Bettona jeggings. The cardi is a ribbed V-neck in rich wine from the Gap. I got it a few weeks ago and am having trouble with it. It seems to instantly frumpify every outfit, I think because the fit is a bit off (I got it one size up from my normal size, after reading reviews--length is still on the short side while shoulders are a tad big). But it's warm and since I kept it, I want to find ways to wear it.

Sorry for the zillion pictures all at once! When it rains, it pours!

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11 years ago

What I Wore

13 replies

Latest reply was from rachylou

Alassë

Veteran

I think most everything is flattering and wearable. The cardigan in 9 goes well imo. I agree, the cardigan in 13-14 looks a bit frumpy, but I'm not up on current styles. The dress in 12 is certainly cute, and I hear you on arms getting cold, but it would look better w/o the tee layered under.

Could you narrow the sleeves? It would be quite easy with a sewing machine - turn the dress inside out, sew a straight seam down (approximate/pin how much you want gone before you sew, of course), and you're done. Then you could layer toppers over the dress, and it should be quite versatile.

11 years ago

Helena

Veteran

I especially love number 6, which feels a bit retro 90's to me, and I like the cardigan but perhaps to Alasse's point, I might try it open instead of buttoned. 1 and 4 look very polished and the colors in 3 and 10 are very pretty! The only other suggestion I might make is I think I prefer to dress in 7 without the cardi. Have fun with the outfits!

11 years ago

K.M.

Veteran

Thank you for the feedback!

Alassë, what a great idea about the sleeves! I don't think I can do it myself, but I'll find a good tailor. I wonder if I should make them shorter too--that would make it even easier for layering.

torontogirl, your comment about the 90s is funny... I was in my 20s then and that's when my sense of fashion came of age. Mid-90s to mid-2000s... I had it all figured out!

11 years ago

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

1 - I think the length of the skirt looks great on you with the tights and taller boots. I almost want something else with the outfit, though - a scarf? A vest? A chunky pendant?
I like 6 and 7. I'm not sure the layering in 8 and 9 works for me though - what about a more structured topper like a knit blazer?
12 is cute - maybe consider having the sleeves taken off entirely so you could wear it as a jumper?
I like 13/14, very nice for the weekend and good colors for you.

11 years ago

K.M.

Veteran

Laura, great idea about the jumper! I wonder if that would then make it OK to layer with a t-shirt (possibly turtleneck) underneath. I've had this dress for over two years and I've only worn it twice because it's so hard to weather-control.
Also good points about outfit one. I will try out with different scarves to see what looks good. I wish I had a vest to go with it--now that you mention it, I can just picture it!

11 years ago

Anonymous

It looks like you have lots of great, flattering clothes!

I really love #6, although I may be biased because this type of combo is one of my go-to winter looks. #1 also stands out to me. You totally have the legs to pull off a miniskirt, and I think the opaque tights and simple, covered-up top help make it look less "young." I completely love the pleated skirt in #2 and think it works really well with that plum shade. In #9-10, I really like the print and cut of the dress, but am not sure about the cardigan with it. Maybe because it's a very muted and heathery green, while the colors in the dress are all clear and bright. I can't tell if the darkest color in the print is black or navy but, if it's black, could the cardigan from #6 work with it?

11 years ago

Veteran

So many cute looks! You've got a very fun wardrobe. I think you're fine in the miniskirt; the opaque tights & flat boots balance out the hemline. Yay for pleated skirts! The cardi you've paired it with is very pretty. Have you tried tucking into the skirt, if you're looking for more ways to wear it?

4/5 looks good on you; I think the skirt's narrow enough to balance the bulkier sweater.

I love 6! I bet the last cardi you showed (the burgundy Gap one) would also look good open over it. I personally wouldn't combine the cardi & dress in9/10 because I'm fussy about shades of green.

I like the mod feel of 7 over the tee, but I'm not sure about the cardigan over it; they seem to belong to different worlds instead of going together, if that makes sense.

I'm going to be an outlier; I love the layering in 12. It's a more casual look, but I just like how the tee's sleeves peek out. & the dress's lines are gorgeous on you; very traditionally figure flattering if that's important to you. (Our forum members vary wildly on whether they want to 'enhance' their figure to look more hourglass-y or just wear neat clothes!)

Have you tried wearing the Gap cardi in 13/14 open? and sort of tucked down to either side so it's swingy & slouchy?

I hope that was a bit helpful. It's great to see so many outfits, as you're a new member, and it's like a short cut to knowing your style goals.

11 years ago

K.M.

Veteran

Aubergine, you identified what it is that bothered me about the green dress/cardi--the cardi is indeed very muted and the dress, bright and saturated. I'll try it with the black one. I wonder if the plum cardi would also work or if I'd look like a Christmas card!

E. Thank you for the warm and nice words! I've been admiring your outfits in your recent posts. I love how you layer; I want to do more of it but will have to explore how. Funny about the divide on figure-enhancing clothes. I'm definitely on the figure-enhancing side, and that's partly why I find many current trends so difficult to wear, even though I think they look good on others.

It was so fun to try on these outfits. It also made me "remember" some partly forgotten items (and to weed out a few duds).

11 years ago

Veteran

Thank you KM for the compliment! As you've just recently joined you might not know I moved to NY state in September from south Texas, whose climate limits layering possibilities. So I'm just enjoying the freedom of cooler temps!

Angie recently updated her figure flattery posts for different body types; I'd definitely take a look at those and the comments if you need any ideas! I sympathise w you tho on a bit of frustration w current looser trends. I enjoy volume in half my outfit but like to keep the other half more fitted as a balance.

-Eva

11 years ago

K.M.

Veteran

Eva, thank you! I will check out Angie's posts of figure flattering.

I used to live in NY state (Western NY) a long time ago and loved it...

11 years ago

unfrumped

Veteran

Kind of hit and run, I'm not doing them all justice, but I especially like 4 and 6 and 12. Love the skirt length in 4, not so short as the other, and the chunky sweater proportions. 6 also has great proportions, flowy and good with the boots. I also like the spunky T sleeves in 12. I might push them up to 3/4, sort of sporty-fied. I have been loving gray knit longsleeves under oversized or chunky 3/4 sleeve sweaters and this reminds me of that.

11 years ago

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

You have got some great pieces here and fabulous boots! I love your skirt outfits--all of them! You have done a great job of matching the skirts with tops and boots for flattering, current looks. And I love the corduroy dress with the tee underneath. To me, that looks even better than I imagine the dress would look without a layer underneath. I like your winterized dress in 6, too.
I like the tee under the dress in 7, but I'm less fond of this dress on you. I think the shape may be harder to wear, perhaps, with the straight body and flare right at the hem. I think I prefer it with the cardigan, which turns it into more of a skirt look.
In 9 & 10, I would not pair the cardi with the dress. It's less of a color issue and more shape/silhouette. I feel like the cardi is too in-between--one that is either quite a bit longer or more of a cropped, shrug type would look better with the lines of that dress, imo.
The last cardigan might look more appealing open, for a more casual look. I have one in a similar style that I'm not reaching for like I used to. I find I'm drawn more to short, boxy styles, longer, or drapey ones lately.

11 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Your boot and dress outfits look super for winter. I was going to say #3 was my fave, but the hipster in me knocked that right aside for #12 ;> I like the high waist, very pleasing Jane Austen proportions.

11 years ago

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