WIW to work photo challenge day 4

I should have read Angie’s Top 25 Style Tips before getting dressed today.

6. Be mindful of how you wear black. It can look chic, dressy, slimming, hard-edged, strong and dramatic, but it can also look boring, harsh, flat and predictable.

I was not thrilled with how today’s outfit looked. I thought I needed a boost of color, so changed the scarf and accessories. I was still feeling less than excited, but needed to get out the door. I had to work to identify my happiness factor, which was that I was nice and warm.
Individually, I love all the pieces I chose to put on, but the cumulative effect left me feeling underwhelmed.
In looking at the pics tonight I think I can wear gray near my face, so that is a plus. Another time I think I will put a blouse under the long vest and put on a pair of tall boots, to see if that helps.
I welcome all thoughts and suggestions. I am going back to study up on Angie’s other 24 tips before choosing a work outfit for tomorrow.

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6 years ago

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

First off, neither of these looks as dark and foreboding as I expected from what you wrote. They don’t have the lightness and cheer I’ve seen from you before, but I don’t think any kids would’ve hidden under their desks when you had this on. There are other things for which I think this would be entirely appropriate as is.

The polka dots and red are cheerful. I agree with you that a white blouse might really lighten things considerably. I know you’re going through color changes. Your hair here looks more austerely blonde/less reddish than I remember. Maybe that’s just the light. In any event, you could add hair accessories to add a little more bright playfulness.

Emily K

(website)

Still a cute outfit even if you weren't feeling it. I enjoy hearing about how you put your outfits together. I guess I underestimate the thought that goes onto making a good outfit.

Pat_P

Active Member

I really like the second outfit a lot. But I do tend to like darker colors, so maybe that is influencing me.

Jaime

The red and black polka dot scarf is the cure for any black outfit you care to wear.

Joy

I really like that long black vest and grey and the scarf lighten and give the look fun. You also look warm and cozy. I bet some first graders wanted to pet your clothes. The grey shoes were a good choice too.

Katerina

Mainelady, I LOVE the second picture with the large scarf! I would wear this in an instant. In my eye, everything is perfect - the proportions, the colours, bracelet to reflect the scarf - my cup of tea! Also - I am not an expert - but I noticed during my challenge that darker outfits generally do not photograph as well as the bright ones, they look better in real life....
The first version with the smaller scarf is fine too, but the second is a knockout. You look beautiful as always.

Mainelady

Thank you all. I very much appreciate your comments, suggestions and support.

Fashintern, you make me laugh. No, not a single child ran to hide, so at least my dark attire wasn’t frightening. I noticed my vibrant hair in the pics, too. I had to lighten the pics and I wonder if that contributed to the severity. Or maybe the black made the contrast more noticeable?

Thanks, Emily K. In theory my outfit was going to be slimming, comfortable, warm and quite flattering. It was the first time I combined these pieces. The black vest is new, so it hasn’t had very many style trials. The reality left me feeling drab, which was unexpected, because I wear dark colors a lot.

Pat P, I usually prefer darker colors, too. I am on a learning curve right now.

Thank you shevia. The red polka dots helped, but weren’t a cure all.

Oh Joy, you are right. Many of my students are tactile and loving which does mean that certain clothing items seem to invite little hands. I learned long ago that I could not wear velour to work. Little hands loving on me all day long made me ready to burn the velour.

Katerina! What a generous compliment! I appreciate that you like my outfit and suspect that you could pull it off. I am thinking that a pair of heeled boots or my leopard print with red trim pumps would have helped. I’ll need to experiment. I agree that the darks don’t photograph as well and as I leave for work by 7:00 there is not much natural daylight so I sometimes need to lighten my pics.

Anonymous

It makes me laugh because I am an adult and I always reach out to touch velvet, velour, and soft fleece. I can't seem to help myself. People around me don't seem to mind that much. Sigh.

Fashintern's comment reflects exactly what I would have written but she beat me to the punch.

The scarf in Number 2 is perfect with the ensemble. I very much look forward to seeing future stylings of the vest though. These are the types of garments that challenge me. I learn from other's experimentation.

Hahaha Sterling. I don’t think most people mind a touch. For me it is the day long stroking and lots of little bodies clinging to mine that start to wear me down. I start to feel like an opossum.
I am in love with the black vest! The first time I wore it I wore black jeggings, a tan turtleneck, heeled tan and black booties and a patterned scarf. It was a great outfit! So the formula seemed to work. I think the color combo and the heeled boots, elevating the hem of the vest from the floor helped. This vest is longer than any other I have, so getting the proportions right may take a bit of trial and error.

Thanks for being a possum Mama! Here’s my little prince with his sweet first grade teacher. We need more teachers who are open to the love, and yes, to being touched.

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unfrumped

Long scarf has the perfect proportions for that outfit! Looks very stylish but still comfortable.

lyn67

Love nr 2, and what about black shoes/booties with some heels(1-2") next time?

SarahD8

I like the red scarf version especially! I don't think either outfit looks "boring, harsh, flat, [or] predictable," but I'll be curious to see what you do next to tweak the outfit into something you like better. Thank you for sharing your process!

Sara L.

I like both outfits, but then I like black. I think the red scarf makes it look fun and I would wear something similar in a hearbeat (ok, without the long vest because long layers make me feel frumpy - they look great on others though).

Fashintern, your little Frog Prince is adorable! I want to join in on Fairy
Tale Day!

Thank you unfrumped, SarahD and Sara L. I do think the red scarf helped, but I wasn’t feeling my best....definitely not my usual happiness factor.

Great idea, Lyn. I do think a heel of some sort and a different color bootie might make a nice difference!

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