WIW to Work Photo Challenge Day 14 - YouLookFab Forum

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WIW to Work Photo Challenge Day 14

Mainelady

Veteran

It was nice while it lasted- a brief flirtation with mild temperatures. It is time to bundle up and layer again. My base layer was a cream cowl neck sweater with tan equestrian pants and two tone Sorel boots. I tried out a couple of scarves and adding my brown vest. After adding accessories I wished I had chosen a cream turtleneck ( egads, back to the turtlenecks....I really should own stock in that style).
The cowl neck had too much bulk with the scarves and the vest, but I did not have time to change, so off I went. I didn’t dislike my outfit, but I didn’t feel fab either.
Individually I like all the pieces, but they didn’t work as well together as I had imagined. Thoughts for future styling?

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29 replies

Latest reply was from Mainelady

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Well, I think all renditions look great, but I can see how the combo of cowl and vest might FEEL bulky. Lesson learned!

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I like the maximal look with the vest and necklace, but the same outfit minus the cowl (with a simpler collared sweater) might seem less bulky and still look great.

SarahD8

Veteran

I think all you need to do is sub in a turtleneck next time and you are all set. For me a big benefit of a capsule challenge has been identifying these little tweaks and then filing them away so I know the best ways to wear a particular garment.

Katerina

Veteran

I like the outfit. The cowl neck looks great with the equestrian pants and no 1 is chic and perfect. Understand you must layer for warmth, though. I like both the scarves, but the larger scarf in no 3 stands out - to my eye it adds length and the proportion is really good. The rendition with the vest does not look bulky in the picture, I like it a lot. The volume is balanced by the narrow pants and the outfit looks great. A different thing is how it feels when you wear it, I get it. I have no other idea than swapping the cowl neck for a turtle neck. Do you wear the scarf in no3 with the vest as well? I bet it would look great (but maybe to warm)?

jussie

Veteran

I actually really like the look of the cowl neck in all these outfits, they’re very stylish and suit you to a T. However, if it felt too bulky and constricted, then that’s no good. You’ve got to be comfy!

Mainelady

Veteran

Elizabeth P, the cowl with the other pieces didn’t feel too bulky and I didn’t have to adjust anything during the day. I thought it looked too bulky and had the sausage on toothpicks image in my mind when I left the house.

Shevia, thank you for the suggestion. My first go to is a turtleneck, but your suggestion is really a good one. Wearing a light sweater with a simple neckline would work really well. I don’t have a cream one, but I do have a lovely russet color I will try.

SarahD, I so agree with you. I am learning as I go and sometimes it is a very small detail change that can make a huge difference in the fab factor of an outfit.

Thank you Katerina. Initially I like the simple chic factor of the cowlneck and the pants, but I didn’t like how my shoulders and chest looked to broad. They are, but I don’t want to showcase that. I do wear the long plaid scarf with that outfit. I like how the length of the scarf draws the eye vertical, instead of horizontal. I would have happily worn that outfit, except I knew I needed another layer for warmth. I love my turtlenecks and I love my vests, but towards the end of winter I am getting a little tired of them.

Jussie, thank you. I am glad you think the outfits look good. I am perhaps a bit to critical of how bulky things look on me. I didnt feel constricted, which is important. I need to have ease of movement and warmth, so I lean towards fabrics with some stretch, or room and often wear my vest unzipped. I think the vests look so polished when closed, so I tend to close them for meetings, or times when I am not on the one with students.

lyn67

Veteran

Nr 4 is best of all!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I like #1 and #4 best. FABULOUS. The cream is gorgeous with your hair, and the chunky jewellery works well with the large cowl.

Anonymous

There is a reason why turtlenecks are such a classic style. They look fabulous and serve a very important purpose. I happen to like the cowl neck just as much though. I see the issue though. My favorite is number 1 because it looks minimal and sleek. The colors and textures say it all. You look fabulous.

Mainelady

Veteran

Lyn, thank you. #4 seems to be a look I am wearing a lot in this cold weather.

Angie thanks! I do like the cream with my hair quite a bit. The color and the chunky jewelry were happiness factors for me.

Thank you, Sterling. Turtlenecks could be one of my signature pieces because I wear so many of them. In early autumn I am so eager to pull them out of a drawer, but after months of wearing them, I begin to feel like my outfits are predictable, I won’t say boring, because I would hurt my own feelings.

Anonymous

Hi MaineLady. I saw your comment about not wanting to showcase your shoulders and chest. I went back and reviewed number 1 again.

I admit I am only seeing you from a single angle, but I do not see anything the least bit negative about your shoulder line/chest. Number 1 remains my favorite. However, having said that, I fully respect a woman's right to dress to please herself.

Mainelady

Veteran

Sterling, you are so kind. Perhaps I need to look at myself with a less critical eye. If I saw this outfit on someone else, I would like it a lot and I might not even notice the strong upper body. Thank you.

tanstaafl

I like 1 and 4 the best as well. I’m not a big fan of scarves with cowl neck sweaters like this one. What about the sweater and necklace without the vest?

Mainelady

Veteran

Thank you tanstafl. The sweater and necklace without the vest will work and I will look forward to wearing them on a milder day.

JAileen

Veteran

I think the top looks really good on you. A scarf seems superfluous, though, with a cowl. The vest looks good with it. If it didn’t feel good, though, that’s different.

Mainelady

Veteran

Thank you JAileen. It did feel ok on. I was more concerned with how bulky it looked.

Dana

(website)

Veteran

I really like your outfits! #2 and #4 with the vest are my favorites...but I totally understand if they felt too bulky. (I can relate...I never wear anything bulky on my top half.) I totally agree with Angie-gorgeous colors for you!

Anonymous

You need to be warm enough. My favorites are 3 and 4. I agree with Angie that you look good in chunky jewellry.

karen13

Veteran

Like joy my faves are 4 then 3. I think you look great in a cowl neck. I think in 4 and 3 the darker color breaks up the light top with a nice vertical line.

I think we are all much harder on ourselves than reality warrants. All these look good!! Just giving my personal faves.

Mainelady

Veteran

Thank you so much for your kind words, Dana, Joy and Karen. They mean a lot to me. It is very helpful to hear how others see an outfit. Your comments help me try to see my outfits through a less critical lense.

Joy, I really like chunky jewelry. I have recently identified that I like most things with some substance to them. That may be size, weight, thickness. I usually pick big or bold over dainty. I tend to layer up my daintier pieces of jewelry, as seen with my necklaces and bracelets.
Maybe that is going to be part of my personal challenge: wearing the substantial pieces I prefer without looking too bulky or overwhelming my petite size. Other than my chest and broad shoulders I am quite petite and very small boned.

Cee

Veteran

**Bunny hops bound hand, foot and gagged into forum before falling over and has gag removed by a somewhat startled Angie**

Don't listen to that damn cowlneck, ML ! It's been secretly conspiring against your turtlenecks since day one to take over as your wardrobe favourite ! I was going to warn you when it grabbed me last night and stuffed me in the cellar ! ...It's evil I tells ya !!!

Anonymous

LOL Cee. I preferred cowl necks until one day I realized that they bookend neck wrinkles and double chins. Back to turtle necks.

Mainelady

Veteran

LOL Cee and Joy! You have me laughing so hard. Now I will be on the lookout for neck wrinkles and double chins! Rushing off to grab a turtleneck!

Helena

Veteran

Well, I think you look terrific - definitely no sausage on toothpicks in these photos!

I do hear what you are saying about the cowl - I have similar cowl issues. However, it LOOKS terrific, and not too bulky at all. I especially like the plaid scarf tied below it - looks great.

Suzanimal

I agree with other posters who suggested a turtleneck BUT I thought all the outfits looked nice on you. I especially liked #3 and #4.

Have you considered pulling back your hair to de-bulk around the neck? I have a chunky turtleneck that makes me feel bulky and I found wearing my hair pulled back really helps. My hair is about the same length as yours so I do a half up just so the sides aren't hitting right at the thick neck of the sweater adding bulk.

Bonnie

Veteran

#4 looks great to me. The vest and accessories really up the wow factor.

Mainelady

Veteran

Thank you Torontogirl and Bonnie.

Suzanimal, wearing my hair up is a good idea, to minimize bulk. I used to wear it up and half up often. Since my hair has been in transition to my natural white/ gray I haven’t worn it up much. I’ll give it a try!

rachylou

Veteran

I like the way you’re wearing the scarf in 2 with this cowl neck - although maybe it could be longer and it probably isn’t doing much in terms of weather proofing...

Mainelady

Veteran

Thank you Rachylou. That scarf is one of my favorites, but is purely for adornment. It is a brushed velvet on one side and the polka dots are the same fabric. It is too small and not a good fabric for our weather.