WIW: vest and tunic (a bit off?)

Tried layering a sleeveless blazer type vest over a long sweater tunic today. I am not loving this one. Without the vest, it was fine but it's too cold without the extra layer.

I'm not sure what went wrong here but it feels rather boxy to me, and not in a good way. I suspect the vest is either too long or not long enough, or maybe i just need one of the items to be a different color so it doesn't look like one gigantic black square. I did try the vest buttoned (photo 3) which added some shape but made me feel sausage-y with the bulky tunic underneath. It would probably look better with a blazer (with sleeves) but I really hate stuffing the slightly voluminous sleeves of this tunic under jackets.

Ran out of time this morning so I am wearing it as is with the vest unbuttoned. Oh well, at least I am warm.

Please pardon the wet hair.

F21 vest, Romeo and Juliet tunic, Liberty x Paige jeans, Blondo boots, Longchamp bag.

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12 years ago

Sara L.

Veteran

I agree that it's a little off although I like each element here individually. I have this problem too where I just can't figure it out, run out of time, and wear the outfit as is. I'm not sure what the problem is though - maybe the tunic is too long?

ramya

Too many vertical lines?
The shoulder , the tunic, the part were shoe starts?
I see it as 3different parts and not as unit. I guess I am not making sense

celia

For me the thing that seems a bit of is the conjugation of the tunic and the vest in almost the same length,and the boots being tall boots.
Personally I like to see tall boots either with shorter sweaters or with a topper (in your case the vest) that is cropped on top of tunics.
If you were wearing booties with this I think the proportions would work better.

rabbit

I like all the elements. I really like the shoulders on that vest and how they work over the sweater. I'm thinking that maybe the sweater under the vest is either a little long as a tunic (unbuttoned), or a little short (buttoned, where the under layer reads more as a dress). I have this question a lot with long tunic-y tops I wear too - it's hard for me to figure out boot height and topper length.

I would also try with solid colored leggings or skinnies, and shorter boots, because that might change the proportions and focus points so that it works better to your eye.

ETA: cross-posted with celia and I agree with her about boot height maybe being the thing.

Diana

OK, here are 2 other outfits with similar proportions (longer topper, mid thigh tunic, skinnies, and tall boots. I think both of these work better. Any idea why? I still think it might have something to do with the topper being a different color than the tunic.

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Liz

For me, the difference is that in your first outfit, the "light patch" (the blue) is down on your thighs and knees -- everything else is black. So when I look at the photo, my eye is drawn to the light portions, which are your lower thighs and your neck/face. These two areas are so far apart and so blocked away from each other, that there's not really a focal point. The photo reads as four blocked areas (black lower legs boots, blue lower thighs, black torso/bag, light face/neck.

On the second two outfits, the brighter/lighter colors create a harmonious focal point with your neck/face, and the rest of the proportions blend together.

I'll be interested to see how others read the proportions / differences. Sometimes this is such an individual thing, and we all see something different.

I will say, too, that this is where a photo might not be a friend to an outfit. I realize that when I interact with people in person, I rarely see them head-to-toe like this, much less standing still, face on to me.

I see what you mean, Liz. Now that you mention it, the big black block between my face and the pants is making me look like I have short legs, which very rarely happens. That, and the fact that you can't tell really where my waist is.

FWIW, I didn't like this one in the mirror either...

rachylou

I think maybe a lighter coloured blouse under the vest. Own the shoulders!

Dee

I agree with Liz in that I think there's a lot of contrast between the colorful pants and the rest of the outfit. The others you posted are more column of color-like, in that at least they're all darker tones, but between the long tunic and the tall boots, there isn't enough room to really showcase the pants, and it cuts you off vertically in two places. I really like the vest though, but it's a piece I would see myself having trouble wearing, so I don't have any suggestions there.

pil

I was thinking column of color too. Not that I dislike this outfit, but I 'really' like the two others.

Deborah

Diana it's the high contrast between the black and the coloured patterned pants:) BUT, I actually like this outfit. If this is your version of a slightly "off" outfit you have nothing to worry about. I would possibly consider a bootie rather than a tall boot to allow the pants to have a bit more of the spotlight;)

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

FWIW, I think it's the ill-fit of the gilet that is causing the outfit to look off. It's too small. Overly tight when it's buttoned up and not enough coverage when it's open. The outfit pics you provided further down the thread show toppers that fit a lot better. I hope that makes sense.

Hmm, you might be right, Angie. The vest is ancient - I was definitely skinnier when I bought it. Plus it's from F21, so probably inclined to be skimpily cut anyway, LOL. I almost never wear it buttoned these days. I only tried here out of desperation. I think the fact that the tunic is a bulkier knit is probably making it appear too tight as well. I should take a couple of pics with just a tee or blouse to see if it still seems too small with a thinner layer under. In any case, perhaps it is time to look for a replacement. I do have my mullet vest but that's kind of different, obviously. (I couldn't wear it with these pants for one thing!)

rae

Hm, I'm lazy to read the rest of the comments, but I'm thinking either a vest that is tailored better to your proportions (it looks like it may be shaped more rectangular than you, without your defined hourglass waist) or a vest in a contrasting color. The second I realized for myself, too... too much expanse of one color across my top makes me feel wide/boxy.

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