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WIW & Request for help

kellygirl

Veteran

It's warming up--yay! I broke out the shorts for the last couple of days. Still trying to get the hang of spring dressing. I would love your opinion on a few items.
1.) I wore this unbuttoned but does buttoned to the top work too? I have a short neck and am always unsure about this.
2.) Old Sweetpea top--I culled most of them but this is one of my faves. Dated?
3.) I thought the cropped denim jacket was fun but ultimately thought it looked too sloppy with the semi-tuck. Did I make the right choice by wearing the longer jacket?
4.) Blazers and chinos. I think the blazers are colorful enough that the look doesn't read as too preppy/conservative. Do you agree?

Thanks in advance for helping me sort my spring style. Your honest criticism is greatly appreciated

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21 replies

Latest reply was from kellygirl

Anonymous

1. Yes, I like it buttoned and also unbuttoned!
2. Looks good to me!
3. I prefer the longer jacket too.
4. I so need metallic shoes so I can copy your look with the lilac blazer!

kellygirl

Veteran

Hehe! Thanks, Ceit. I'm flattered that you would want to copy. I guess that makes it A-okay! Yay

Jjsloane

Veteran

I like 1 buttoned better on you with this outfit
I like the top in 2, the oxfords keep it all updated
I like the longer jacket with this outfit, the shorter one would work better with a dress
With the oxfords and scrunching sleeves you are not too conservative or preppy in any of these. The lilac seems a bit bigger, but maybe just needs a scrunch.

Anonymous

I have all the components except the shoes! I would also scrunch the sleeves.

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

I like both buttoned and unbuttoned but have a slight preference for unbuttoned.

I like the top in #2. I think it fits well and flatters your shape nicely.

I prefer the shorter jacket for the proportions but agree that it may not be best with the semi tuck. I seem to prefer looks that lengthen the legline and I think the shorter jacket does this so that may be my prejudice speaking.

Not too preppy at all. Cute blazers. You wear the bright colors so well and it seems that you look great in both warm and cool colors.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

I agree with the others - YLF.
The colours of those jackets are all fantastic on you.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

You look sensational, Kelly. What beautiful skin you have.

1. Love the top both ways on you.

2. LIke this top on you a lot - may be older but the oxfords keep it current, and it is so flattering.

3. Also prefer the longer jacket.

#4. Is there a colour you do not look fab in? I love each and every one of these on you. Also love that they are slightly different cuts. Not too preppy for me, more modern classic.

Carla

Veteran

#2 is my favourite outfit, love the olive peeping out, with # 3 longer jacket my second favourite.

Lucky you to be in shorts, we got snow, again, today.

rachylou

Veteran

1. Both ways great!
2. Incredibly flattering outfit!!
3. Longer one. Is it just me? Or is cropped over?
4. Love all, nothing reading frumpy. The coloured blazers are really a great idea with the metallic oxfords.

sarah

Veteran

What everyone else has said. I just love you in grey footwear! #1 is killing me with those shoes (have I ever told you how much I love your shoes?) and the metallic shoes are totally fab. You look fresh and stylish in all of those blazers - what a collection!

Great spring looks, Kelly.

K. Period.

Veteran

1. I like it buttoned, but I love it unbuttoned. I have a short neck too, and I always fee stumpy with a fully buttoned shirt.
2. Still really like this! You've kept it current with much trendier items, so I think you are good to go for a while longer. It is always hard to retire favorites!
3. I like both of the jacket lengths. Both look great on you.
4. Love the colorful jackets. I think as much as anything the fact that the chinos are a current cut and aren't beige carries the day making these not too preppy. You look great!

Echo

Veteran

1. I very much prefer the unbuttoned, but you are beautiful enough that you look good in just about anything.

2. The layer underneath and the shoes keep this current; I like it.

3. I prefer the longer jacket, too. I generally only go for cropped with dresses.

4. I agree about the pants being fine because they are navy instead of khaki, and the colourful jackets make it so no one notices the pants anyway. Love all the colours!

Kiwichik

Veteran

1. Like both
2. I think time to retire
3. I like the shorter jacket
4. Love them all epecially the last one

Mia

Veteran

Probably let the top go unless you really still love it.
Would love to see the cropped denim jacket over a dress.
Blue jackets are my faves but they all look good.

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

You look lovely and YAY for warm weather!
Now to the questions:
1. Actually I quite like it buttoned up - looks fresh. I think your neck is long enough to pull it off. Love how your shoes bookend the shirt color!
2. I think it looks OK, it is pretty much a classic shape - like mock wrap.
3. I like the longer jacket better and not so much because of half tuck but because longer length looks better proportion-wise here.
4. Looks good! I especially like the last blazer - very nice shape on you!

rae

(website)

Veteran

I'm liking what you've done here! Especially the blazers - not too preppy at all.

For #1, I think it looks best unbuttoned. Not 100% a neck thing; I think it has to do with balancing the exposed legs with some neck exposure. I also like the longer denim jacket with #3. I am not sure I'd say the sweet pea top is dated, but I also wonder if it is still you?

Beth Ann

Veteran

Hi Kelly!

1. Both work --- the low contrast to your skin makes it work better than it would in high contrast, perhaps.

2. The print and colors are fun. If you happy quotient is moderately high, and you will choose it from your closet in the morning, then I think it can stay and play with others nicely.

3. I vote longer!

4. Love this look --- A very modern, relaxed take on preppy. Grown up and citified. The first two looks are over the moon!

You're "transitioning" into Spring with great style!

4.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I like all the looks here. You rock these pulled-together casual looks!

I like unbuttoned better, but like Rae, I think it has more to do with the overall outfit. For me, my eye traveled to the open-toe shoes (which I love--the whole tonal effect of the outfit is so serene), and I preferred the collar unbuttoned.

Love the Sweetpea look, especially with those great oxfords. I don't think it's dated, but it's definitely different than the looser looks than are in now. I don't think fitted is out of style, though.

I agree with you on the longer jacket with outfit 3--good pick. I think the cropped one might work over a top that's completely untucked. (Maybe it's the competing waistlines that are throwing the look off a little bit?)

All the blazer looks are great, with the gas-station pants (love your term), right? They don't look preppy or stuffy to me.

P.S.--could you put Sweetpea under one of the blazers?

kkards

Veteran

love #3 with the longer denim jacket.
#2, i think the olive tank under the sweet pea shirt makes it current.
love all the blazers, but the orange and light blue are my fans.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

LOVE both versions of #3. Both lengths of jacket look KILLER to my eye. The longer length is more expected, whereas the cropped version is a more irregular juxtaposition.

All options in #4 are KILLER. And there is nothing wrong with looking preppy

#2 is really pretty, and the most conservative to my eye. But flattering and fab none the less!

#1 is rocking with the button closed up to the top!

You have an incredible casual style and I adore your longer length hair, Kelly.

kellygirl

Veteran

Thank you for lending me your eyes! Your comments are all so helpful. I really appreciate it.

@Jj: Thank you. I’m pleasantly surprised that buttoned is getting a thumbs up. I liked the look and will definitely try it next time. You are right, seeing the blazers side by side makes me think the lilac is a touch big--but nothing that some scrunching won’t cure.

@Ceit: I can’t wait to see your version!

@Dianthus: Good point about the leg line. I always envy yours. Perhaps I will try the shorter jacket with a lower contrast top. Thank you for helping me make the leap to chinos. I really loved your LE versions!

@Caro: Thank you!

@Suz: Thank you. My skin seems so much healthier since I started using CeraVe am and pm. Another reason to thank Angie! Modern classic? Ooh, I think I like that! So glad the blazers work!

@Runcaria: Lol! Sorry about the snow. Sending warm thoughts your way. So glad the old Sweetpea is getting some love.

@Rachylou: Lol! I hope cropped isn’t over. I still like that jacket. Honestly, the metallic oxfords were the only option. My other flat oxfords are Docs and look too clunky with these pants. Glad they work.

@sarah: Lol! You may have told me that before. I do love shoes Thank you!

@kcanshop: Thank you. You bring up a good point about the chino color--I think tan might read more conservative even with the more current cut. I think that’s why I find my tan chino shorts the hardest to style.

@Echo: Thank you! You are very kind. You have a point about the colorful blazers--they will be blinded by color and not notice my pants--lol!

@KC and Mia: Thank you for your honesty. The wrap top is one of my first YLF purchases. I do see how this reads less current that the other looks.

@Sveta: Thank you. I thought of you when I tried it buttoned up but you have a much more elegant neck than I. So glad the last blazer passes muster--it was the one I was least confident about.

@rae: Thanks. I also thought about whether buttoning up was really a spring look so thanks for mentioning that. IKWYM about the SP too--but I keep thinking about Peri’s post about looking good v. looking stylish. I think this top is a good example of the former.

@BethAnn: Hi! Thanks for chiming in. I do feel like I’m getting my spring on--all thanks to you guys! The start of the season is always so exciting. I’ll be longing for fall in a couple of months.

@Firecracker: Thank you for your detailed comments. You are always so helpful. I see what you mean about the open toed shoes and the open neckline. One does kind of echo the other. I also think you are right about the competing hemlines with the cropped jacket. I’m thinking a lower contrast top might help with that. LOL about the gas station pants--I still laugh about that. I feel like I wear them every day--they are like my new uniform. DH seems to have adjusted to them now too Sweetpea has a big tie on the side that makes it hard to layer. It’s one of the reasons that I only wear it in spring--when I don’t need a topper. The lump on the side is totally annoying under a jacket.

@kkards: Thank you! Orange was my fave too.

@Angie: Thank you! Woohoo and K rating for chino outfits Thank you for the explanation too. I felt very hip in this and was ecstatic that I figured out how to wear my denim jacket again! As much as I love denim on denim, I find this much easier to pull off. I’m also excited about wearing my blazers this way. It seems like a fresher pairing than my jeans. Thank you for the blessing for buttoning up too. It’s a small detail but seemed to make a big difference.