YLF Challenge Chain: Alassë challenges Beth Ann - YouLookFab Forum

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YLF Challenge Chain: Alassë challenges Beth Ann

Alassë

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Beth Ann, your warm forum presence and thoughtful eye enrich us all. Another queen of remixing, you've done a great job refining your SING acronym to put across your presence despite casual norms. Not to mention your budget shopping and sewing skills. Is there anything you can't do?

In a recent post, you mentioned incorporating deep, tweedy charcoal in your fall planning. I challenge you to plan a fall/winter capsule based on charcoal, suitable for your lifestyle & personal style. Feel free to incorporate whatever style shifts catch your eye - we'll enjoy a sneak peek at emergent Beth Ann style. Bonus: Include this dress from your finds in the capsule.

2nd challenge: Create another fall/winter capsule, this time based on cool chocolate brown. Hopefully these capsules will get the ball rolling on your fall/winter planning in an enjoyable manner.

Inkwell and Good Dress

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General

30 replies

Latest reply was from amiable

Beth Ann

Veteran

Challenge accepted!

I have a busy day, so I'll get to it this evening!

Charcoal -- perhaps I'll grill for dinner?

Chocolate brown --- and finish the meal off with s'mores!

Alassë

Veteran

LOL, Beth Ann. Whatever time fits your schedule!

NDMom

Ooooh....can't wait to see your response, Beth Ann! Funny initial comments though! Good job, Alasse".

April

Veteran

Tweedy charcoal and cool chocolate brown are two of my favorite neutrals.

Bring it, Beth Ann!

Caro in Oz

Veteran

Yummy challenge

Kristin L

Veteran

Great challenge Alasse!

Beth Ann

Veteran

Chocolate first --- because it's a weakness! The charcoal capsule will have to wait until morning because, unlike chocolate, I actually have coal in my closet, and I need morning light to take photos. As for brown -- I only have a single pair of brown lace up booties. How boring is that?

OK -- so, the simplest and most luxurious way to incorporate brown into my fall/winter wardrobe of high contrast jewel tones and black is to go straight for leather! In the first three "Find" photos below, I've picked some of my choices. Of course, I just spent a good portion of my budget! But really, aren't they yummy?

Now, I have a bucket load of black in my wardrobe, and I like it! I'm still in rehab from a decade of "black pants + bright top" formula, and I think going for brown or charcoal against a base of black would be an interesting change. So, imagine a black turtleneck and pencil skirt under the gorgeous quilted Cole Haan jacket in the Finds below.

OR: What about the same turtleneck paired over the brown pleated leather skirt, photo below, with black high boots?

OR: What about the lovely leather jacket over my ladylike red dress, photo below, paired with my "tortoiseshell" pumps?

OR: What about a lovely simple sweater dress (in a longer length than the photo below)? I'm still mourning for my Landsend navy sweater dress from the 90's -- midi length cotton cashmere, v-necked and loose. I belted it with a luggage brown low slung belt and lace up brown granny boots. I'd wear it the same today. Let me know if you see any midi-length sweater dresses -- relaxed, not body con -- in almost any color!

OR: What about this lovely dress (last find photo) collected by the lovely Parsley? Paired under a black jacket with riding boots (and hopefully a couple of inches longer on me than the model).

Now to bed -- to dream about charcoal and tweed and leather an..............

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Brahmin 'Melbourne Duxvury - Large' Satchel

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Frye 'Melissa Button' Boot (Wide Calf)

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Baggu 'Medium' Leather Shoulder Bag

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Cole Haan Quilt Detail Lambskin Leather Moto Jacket

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Halogen Pleat Leather Skirt (Regular & Petite)

$268.00 $118.90

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Vince Camuto Long Sleeve Jacquard Sheath Dress

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carter

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Excellent job, Beth Ann! I love the pieces you chose...especially the leather items. And the Parsley dress is killer. I love brown accessories with all black or all grey. The unexpected feels very sophisticated. Can't wait to see the charcoal version!

Alassë

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I think all the looks you described would be stunning on you, Beth Ann. Here's hoping some of the pieces come your way at reduced prices! I'd love to wear a sweater dress the way you did, too.

Lisa

Veteran

Great job, that's a lovely dress on you!

Beth Ann

Veteran

PART TWO -- BLUE SKIES AND GREY THOUGHTS

No worries -- thoughts about grey outfits only!

I had an epiphany doing this: I'm interested in brown as a color, not a neutral, and gravitate toward rich red-browns and deep chocolate with a bit of luminous sheen. No matte or earthy browns! As for charcoal, I think I'm interested in adding the textures often available in this color. I've always been drawn to fabric and texture, but I think shopping "budget" categories often brings me up short in this area. This season, I'd like to try reaching for more grey and brown, rather than the expected black, to go with my deep jewel tones.

Now, some of my winter wardrobe is tucked away, so I'm using older photos, but I've rummaged in my closet to feel and see many of these items close up, and have not included garments that are past their prime.

1/2: Footwear: building from the ground up! I have lots of black booties and shoes, as well as the fab red suede Munro's from last year's NAS. I've included here two pairs of flats that will be terrific from Labor Day to the Holidays, since I don't wear boots until we're in the low 50's.

2. Tops (3-7) include a georgette print tunic, a snake print dress, animal print lightweight sweaters, and a super casual sweatshirt cardigan. I could use a dark grey tweedy jacket, as long as it's suitable for smart casual and isn't too warm. I'm not interested in purchasing more lighter grey this season.

3. Bottoms: I only have a pair of grey ponte pants from, um, Wal-Mart. (pic 8) They wear like iron! The skirt in #9 is black, but has a tone on tone print -- like plaster -- that adds the element of texture I'm craving. The skirt in #10 is actually not pure black -- more like graphite. I think I could dress it down by using grey tights and a lighter top, although I love it styled this way, too!
Pic #11 shows my favorite wide leg trousers. I'm looking for a pair of wide-legs in charcoal, perhaps with a tweed or textured fabric. A pair of grey denim pants might be nice, also, but is not a big priority.

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Beth Ann

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Bonus Challenge!

What a lovely dress, Alasse! Perfect for a summer Sunday! I think I'd style it for church services by adding a blue Halogen blazer -- short, but easy. Churches are always high on the A/C! To keep the look from skewing too preppy, I'd pair it with my black cage sandals (worn in the photo below), and a big silver cuff bracelet!

Thanks so much, Alasse, for giving me a chance to think through moving beyond black as a neutral! I would never have realized that I need to plan more specifically for textures as well as color had I not completed the challenge!

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Halogen Linen Blend Blazer (Regular & Petite)

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Transcona Shannon

Veteran

You have knocked it out of the park with this challenge Beth Ann!

April

Veteran

J'adore!

And I agree completely about treating brown as a color. To me, when it's mixed with other colors, it always looks slightly off. I prefer brown with black or white.

If I may ask, what are the flats in #1?

Anonymous

What a treat for the eyes Beth Ann! You nailed this challenge without a doubt.

Beth Ann

Veteran

April: The silver/black flats are from Mix No. 6, and I think I got them at DSW -- about a year ago! They're quite comfy and great for indoors during the holidays!

deb

Veteran

Job well done!!!

NDMom

Wonderful job on the challenge, Beth Ann! Have always admired your style.

Joy

Veteran

These colors and your jewel tones are beautiful on you. You have mastered the challenge staying true to your style. I look forward to seeing you add rich browns and textured grey. Your comment about thinking of brown as a color rather than a neutral resonated with me. Brown can act like a deep orange or red.

AJ

Veteran

Well thought out, Beth Ann! Luv the idea of the brown leather jacket with your red dress outfit! Is that dress a true red? On my screen it looks like the dress has some brown in it.

Dark gray will look good with the jewel tones in your wardrobe. I look forward to seeing what pieces you'll add to your fall/winter capsule!

April

Veteran

So, Beth Ann, we are definitely winding down the Challenge Chain. Just a few participants left, and then as a group we get to challenge Angie (but don't worry, Angie, we'll wait until your NAS marathon is over.)

ETA: the first choice for your challengee, Beth Ann, was Catnip, but unfortunately, I've just heard from Catnip that she's not able to participate at this time. Hoping that all goes well for Catnip, we will go to our next remaining participant, #20, which is E!

And Alassë, with one more shout out to you for jumping into the Chain once you knew it wasn't too scary, I salute you and send you off in search of an umbrella drink and a chaise longue...

Beth Ann

Veteran

E! What fun! I look forward to choosing a fun challenge for such a soulful, stylish YLFer! I have to take DS to a weeklong summer camp in Wisconsin tomorrow(biting my nails and prostrating myself in prayer now -- it's his first time). I'll muse about the challenge on the trip -- it will give me something to do other than fret and fuss -- and I'll try to formally post the challenge on Sunday evening or first thing Monday morning!

Thanks, everyone, for your encouragement and helpful input! I learned some things that I would have likely taken months to unfold without the discipline of the challenge.

AJ -- the dress is a very deep red -- equal balance of blue and brown, but no orange. It's my perfect red, and hard to find at the moment.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

Great looks BA - there is something about #6 that I particularly like; the pattern is great on you.

abc

Veteran

Wow, BA, I didn't realize you were a recovering black pants + colorful top formula dresser just like myself! This post is so timely as I just posted about adding brown to my wardrobe as well. Very good visuals and practical advice here.

April

Veteran

Beth Ann, I just checked the membership list and I see that it's been four weeks since E logged in. Let's hope she's still reading and will see a challenge, but maybe it would be better to hold off on creating an E-specific challenge until we hear whether that's the case?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Beth Ann, what a brilliant job you did with this very challenging challenge! I had a bit of an epiphany regarding brown as well because of reading this thread. I feel quite as you do about it -- it seems to work better as a colour than as a neutral. So interesting.

Your clarity about your own style is so evident here. You know exactly what works for you and what will work even better going forward. Such an inspiration!

Alassë

Veteran

(Sorry I'm late commenting; off for the weekend.) I echo the others - what a great capsule & thoughts behind it, Beth Ann! I'm so happy it brought a few things to light for you, and quickly too. I know you'll think up something amazing for E.

lyn67

Veteran

Oh, what a wonderful challenge Alassé, and BethAnn did such a great job! Yummy for those chocolates and greys, too! Very inspiring and thanx for the gratuite and so great analysis on the thema, it will give me some help for planning ahead my fall/winter capsules, too:-)

Anonymous

Great job -- so many lovely finds and outfits! And I'm with you on wanting a relaxed, mid-length sweater dress and never finding one.

I like the idea of treating brown as a color too. I'm always attracted to deep browns because they match my coloring so well (and because I have a weakness for chocolate in any form), but then it's a huge effort to figure out what to wear them with.

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