WIW Pointy toe shoes in action

I was looking back at this outfit photo today for a couple of reason. I actually wore this on Wednesday the same day as Angie’s post about pointy toe shoes, but didn’t see that post until much later.
Anyway, this outfit has been kind of bothering me, and I think I just figured out why. In real life, and up close, the pieces of this outfit, the shirt and pants read really casual. The shirt, while yes it’s a white button up, is made of athletic/technical fabric and feels drapey and oversized on. The pants are a utility/carpenter pant and tie dyed. Yet somehow when I look at the picture it looks very business/corporate blue and white. I think the patented leather pointed toe shoes are part of it. But I think even if I had sneakers on it would like more businessy than cool casual.

Note to self, love each of these pieces, but not together.

Have you ever thought an outfit looked one way, only to go back and look at the picture and have a revaluation that it looked the exact opposite?

Thanks for looking. As always all comments and suggestions are welcome and appreciated

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by kkards

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2 years ago

Tanya

Veteran

Well, for all that it's worth, the outfit looks very good to me, but your feelings matter the most. I like the shoes, they are very cool. Also, the other people will see how you look IRL, not how you look on the photo. I would certainly try it on with sneakers and see if makes the pairing look more casual.

Stagiaire Fash

I think it’s a cool & breezy take on a business-y look, somewhat sneaky & clever. I love it. But if that’s not what you were going for, i can see why you wouldn’t.

Sal

It photographs really well. But I think I get what you mean.

Anonymous

I like the dressy/casual mix of your outfit. Keep exploring the pieces in other combinations to find your style That’s my favorite part of fashion.

kellygirl

Pictures can be deceiving but I really like this business-y cool look. It looks cohesive to me but only you know how it feels. From what I can see, I love it!

kkards

It’s funny because I think of these pant so as my “cool girl” pants because there a small indie brand, and they’re just more out there than what I usually were, so I usually style these pants to give that vibe, or at least as much of that vibe as my preppy leaning style will allow. In the past if wear these pants with an oversized cream sweater and black boots and with a basic white tee and sneakers. Overall I think the outfit looks good, it’s just not achieving what i thought it was going to.

Jessikams

(website)

Yes I often have trouble with what is casual and what is not, for some reason. I have a pair of big printed linen pants that I always thought of as “fancy” because they’re not jeans. But they never looked right in a fancy outfit. Then I accidentally threw them on with a sweatshirt and they looked great. Forehead slap! They are meant to be casual!

DonnaF

I'm wondering if the photo is deceptive and that in sunlight the outfit looks as you described. At any rate, I call it subversive and give my thumb's up with a smile.

rachylou

Interesting. Yes it does read ‘office’, casual office maybe, but still office.

I think I often imagine outfits for a person taller and more willowy than I am IRL.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Kkards, I think of you as the pointy footwear queen. You wear the pointed toe so well! I love the outfit, but I confess I see it in the unintended way you describe. I think the details are lost on my screen. To me it appears a cool-looking business-like outfit.

Runcarla

Maybe roll the sleeves up to above your elbow? Possibly add a ‘3rd piece’? One more item could skew the outfit in a different direction - certainly more dressy (pearls, a silky scarf), or preppy (a sweater tied over the shoulders or knitted V-neck vest). An open weave scarf with fringes tied bib style might be a smidge more casual as would a tank or t-shirt worn under the button down, and the shirt worn open.

FWIW, it reminds me of the kind of outfit Victoria Beckham might wear.

Brooklyn

All. The. Time. I’m amazed at how often I’m happy with an outfit, then I photograph it and think “noooooo”.

I think with white shirt and pants it’s hard to avoid a business-vibe. One of the reasons I avoid wearing blouses with my skirts (especially tucked) is that (to me) that combination starts to skew “business”. So I generally go for a tee or knitwear.

I think the pants are great, but to make it less “business” especially with the shirt, more casual shoes would be better. Maybe a leather jacket (but it’s probably too warm for that).

That said, it looks good to me. Just a more dressy version of casual.

Runcarla well if this has a Victoria Beckham vibe, than i might just wear it as is again…but to really do it in her style i think i’d need to Swap the flats for heels (which isn’t going to happen)

Janet

IKWYM, but I do think this looks great — laid-back slightly preppy professional. The shoes are awesome.

I like it, but definitely businessy cause the colors, and since the top is a button up.
I like my button ups by far the most with my pleather pants, just to add a bit of edge.

Star

In the pic it does look very business-y but is it possible IRL the juxtaposition of the smarter shoes with the carpenter pants and the athletic texture of the shirt is more obvious? The impact of texture is very often not captured in pics.

Jaime

Well I actually love this outfit as is, but yes, I completely understand the feeling of seeing one outfit in the mirror and another in the mirror selfie .

Lana

I love it, but you have to feel right in it for sure. It has an androgynous look to it that’s appealing to me. Photos reveal so much that I’ve gotten in the habit of taking one every day, I think it help me become an observer of my outfits in an objective way.

NancyW

Were you in the office when you wore this? I think the cheeky play on prep style would have been noted! What is the blouse? Although usually go for ‘crisp’, I love the ease of the fit here.

lyn67

I think the pointy toes are too structured and dressy for what you wanted(?)--- the pants and shirt combo can do great for smart casuals especially if the shirt is more athletic and the pants are more utility. Do you have a link to the shirt- it intrigues me to find one the same fabric you mentioned...

lyn67 - i dont have a find for the one i'm wearing, (it was at end of season buy a couple of years ago), but i think this find is the updated/current version

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