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WIW...new top x 2 and rambling thoughts on a concept...

Carla

Veteran

While doing homework for my F/W wardrobe update, I have been working through a free exercise provided on the blog 'Unfancy'. One of the concepts she writes about under 'keeping things interesting' is the Rule of Three. In other words have 3 variations of a garment type - 1 plain option, 1 statement option, and 1 in between option.

An analysis of my closet reveals a LOT of plain options, SOME in between options, but VERY FEW statement options. Example: There are LOTS of solid garments, SOME graphic 2 colour items (mostly stripes), a FEW embellished items.

With this information rattling around in my head, I did a little browsing in some independent shops when I attended a bicycle race event in a nearby community. I came home with a new top. It might not seem like a statement to most, but it is momentous to me! LOL! Firstly, it is a multicolour pattern (floral). Secondly, though it buttons down the center, it is like no button down I own. I put it on as soon as I got home (pic #1) and wore it the rest of the day. I'm wearing it again today (pic #2). I love how it floats away from the body and is comfortable in heat and high humidity. Also, I think it makes th outfit interesting without the requirement of a completer piece. *I know, I know - it's only a top!*

Anyway, landing this plane...going into F/W I think I'll be experimenting with one or two new colours and keeping an open mind about multi colours and patterns as statement items. (And stripes will be on my DO NOT BUY) list!

The brand of the top is YEST. On their site they post that they have closed their on line sales presence in favour of selling through independents. I believe they are based in NL.

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25 replies

Latest reply was from Bijou

bj1111

Veteran

I live the top with white pants.

Ikwym about the glamor top not needing a completer piece. There’s so much in the pattern and the pintucks and the rick rack trim that anything over is gilding the lily

Style Fan

Veteran

Great top for wearing with jeans, Carla. Interesting exercise. I am heavy on the plain option in my wardrobe. This means I reach for accessories to add interest when I am going out, etc. Sometimes I just want the top to speak for itself.

Anonymous

I remember reading her blog about the three variations of a garment type. I think it is brilliant.

You look fabulous in your new top. I look forward to seeing your future experimentations.

Cardiff girl

Veteran

Great top,it’s good to keep an open mind and keep moving forward in fashion terms isn’t it?

unfrumped

Veteran

I think of that as boho- lite. The colors in the print are excellent for you.

Greyscale

Veteran

That's a great pick - it's both interesting and very easy to wear. Sometimes my 'statement' things feel a little too loud to actually wear, so they sit unused.

Becky

Veteran

This is a nice statement piece. And I agree with you that it needs no completer. It looks great with white jeans for warm weather and with blue denim for cooler days.

Anonymous

Great top! Maybe thats what's wrong with my casual wardrobe, too many plain pieces...hmm...Also down unfancys color palette rabbit hole i go! I like how shes Including all shades of her main colors.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Great top! I am thinking about this rule - of course my thoughts first go to shoes. Interesting.

karen13

Veteran

Love it. It goes with so much, yet stands alone as not needing supporting acts to make it interesting. Extra bonus that it is comfy but covered in hot weather.

Carla

Veteran

Further musing...

I think there can be varying degrees of 'statement'. For example my new shirt isn't 'out there', but for me it is quite different when compared to other button downs I own, and when mixed into future combos will stir things up a bit!

Also, I don't think a statement item has to be a patterned item. It might be a solid coloured item, but a trendy garment - like wide legged crops, a top with hectic sleeves, or a long vest.

...and jewelery, shoes, and other accessories can be thought of the same. I look at my canvas sneakers: black pair, white pair (plain), red (statement), silver (in between).

Sal

Veteran

Interesting musings and I love the top (I have two shirts in similar designs to this and I love wearing them). Great with the white jeans, blue jeans, shorts - and I think you could even tuck into a skirt?

I do think statements vary from one person to another - just as plain tops do too. I do think three is a good number to work with - enough variety but still keeping a handle on it.

For myself I tend to have solids/plains in neutrals or patterns. I don't have many (any?) plain tops in a colour (I have black, cream, navy) or patterns. I have some subtle patterns (black and cream stripes, a subtle blush pattern) and some fairly loud patterns too.

Lynn

Veteran

Beautiful top, it looks great. Interesting musing on what makes a statement. I will have to think about that more.

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

Huh, interesting rule. It seems like it would be a useful way to allow flexibility in Where/How you make a statement. One day it could be a statement top, one day maybe some crazy embellished jeans.

Becky

Veteran

This just occurred to me: Not all "statements" have to be at the level of a shout. Some are more like a conversational voice or a whisper.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

What counts as a statement depends very much on a person's overall style and comfort level with maximalism and embellishment and/or colour/ pattern.

This is a really pretty boho lite top! The pattern flatters you and is a nice change. It's important to have items like that, especially in a summer wardrobe, where, as you say, a third piece like a scarf or jacket is pretty much out of the question.

I gravitate more towards patterned tops in summer than in winter for that reason. In winter, I often wear a patterned scarf.

I do think Unfancy's guideline can be a useful one. Like you, I tend to purchase plain and in-between items -- it's partly style related (a modern classic sensibility) and partly lifestyle related (when you're casual most of the time, who needs "statements"?) and partly, perhaps, the lingering effects of having been raised by parents who grew up in the depression (who am I to call attention to myself? Do I "deserve" such luxury?)

Anyway, I sometimes remind myself that statements don't have to be pricey. I can try them out at a lower price point.

Anonymous

I love this kind of top for summer, and have a few of them. I love loose cotton in extreme heat.

That rule of 3 is interesting and a good guideline....keeps one mindful of not overbuying plain versions of the same thing., something I think we're probably all guilty of.

SarahD8

Veteran

Gorgeous top! It really suits your coloring and I especially like the outfit with the white jeans and silver sneaks.

Interesting food for thought with the "rule of 3." I think Mo (of MOderate Wardrobe -- she used to post here I think?) had a similar formulation, maybe hers was one dark neutral, one light neutral, one color? Or one dark color, one light color, one pattern?

I'm not sure the rule would work for me, mainly because I tend to home in on a pretty narrow list of garment types. (Of course it depends how you define "garment type.") I think that's also the reason that I haven't really embraced the essentials/completers/statements formula that some YLFers use: to me it's much more intuitive to develop a "search template" of features that I want a particular type of garment to have, and then figure out what neutrals/colors/solids/patterns would best mix and match with the rest of my clothes.

I'm curious to know whether you had been sensing a lack of statement options, or some inchoate desire to mix things up or have something more interesting, before you did this exercise? Were you feeling a bit tired of stripes?

Carla

Veteran

SaraD8 - never tired of stripes! However like Lisap indicated, plain versions of items is over represented when something more interesting is probably available. 4 identical black T-shirts in rotation at the same time? Really? I do have a lot of solid coloured garments with interesting textures - which I classify with the stripes in the in-between category.

The exercise, and resulting epiphany, is due to my pre F/W update 'research'. Fall always feels like the start of a new year to me (academic year, end of sports season, birthday) and I tend to take stock of several aspects of my life August through October. I usually nail down my style plan by October!

I'm speculating that when I was working in the Big City, the commute and work environment was visually hectic and stimulating 60 hours a week. Neutral garments and simple designs provided a sense of order and calm. Now that I am retired and relatively stress free, and living in a home that is soft neutrals and surrounded by nature, I am wanting a little more pattern and colour. Go figure!

Gaylene

Veteran

As another one who can overdose on plain versions with the occasional foray into stripes, this is an interesting way to look at getting some variety into my wardrobe. As Lisap says, it is a good reminder to not keep buying variations of the same look.

Off to see how my current closet stacks up using this guideline... Thanks, Carla!

Anonymous

I have a couple of tops similar to this one. One nice thing about them is that they can be worn in high summer on their own with shorts, skirts or crops, in transitional weather with full length pants or jeans and a cami and in colder weather with long underwear tops or even long sleeved tees underneath and a jacket on top with winter weight bottoms.

cindysmith

Veteran

Carla, I love that top for you! Yes, it's a pattern, but it's not an obnoxious pattern and it's not "appalling color" of the sort that I'm drawn to like a moth to a flame. I think it will work beautifully in your wardrobe, and you look great in it!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

You wear this top better than the model. KILLER with the white jeans.

Katerina

Veteran

The top is beautiful on you, great with both jeans. Wonderful colours on you.

Interesting musings. Have not heard of the rule of three. Being a kind of a dramatic dresser, I might need to explore the plain version of the three more. I usually crave a bit of a statement in almost all of my outfits and a lot of my items are within the statement category. Need more of the plain.

Bijou

Veteran

Carla it is fun to see your style evolve to adapt to your new lifestyle. This boho lite top is beautiful on you. As someone who has mainly favoured more structured and tailored items, I can see why a top like this is a significant change. So great that you are making these changes in an analytical and considered way.