Thursday, September 30, 2010

You Win Some...

...and sometimes you get outfits like this one. I love this skirt (comfy, burgundy and gray plaid, long enough for work!) but for the life of me I cannot get the styling right. It hits below the knee and always makes me look stumpy--I think I would have to wear it with heels to really combat this effect. I can't wear it with boots, as they come up too high and fight with the hemline, and the waistline is just above my hips (not my favorite waistline height for a skirt).

In this case, I brought in dark wine colored tights, to bring out the burgundy and fight the purple hue it tends to suggest. I also work it with my nerdy oxford flats. Then I felt I had to bring in some black, to balance the black shoes, and in came the black shirt and blazer (it was cold, but I didn't want more gray in the form of my gray cardigan!).

I hesitated on posting this Outfit of the Day, but this blog is about Developing Style--not showing style I already have, not just documenting successes, but a record of how I change and evolve.

All in all, I think this outfit doesn't work very well. I also get this problem with my orange wool skirt--so hard to style! Length is slightly too long, cut is slightly too boxy--but I love it so, and am convinced it is vintage from the 1940s (metal zipper, wool fabric, slim A-line skirt, hand sewing techniques) so I don't want to give up. Any suggestions, or should I just admit defeat and toss them? Have you had any cases when have an item that theoretically should work great, but in reality it just never quite clicks?

IMG_1031
Shirt: Gap via Plato's
Blazer: H&M
Skirt: Zooc via Garage Sale
Tights: Hue via Plato's
Shoes: Naturalizer via Goodwill
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2 comments:

  1. Kelsey JaneSeptember 30, 2010 at 1:48 PM

    I think if you want to make this skirt work you need a fitted blouse, tucked in (and a belt around the waist would make it even better) and high [I'm talking 3-4"] heels. You may be able to pull off the flats if you loose the dark hose, but dark hose + long skirt + flats is just too much frump for one outfit. Plus the jacket is boxy and makes you look bigger than you are. Additionally, because the skirt is so long, and full, you'll want a blouse you can tuck in to show off your waistline. This will balance out the length and fullness of the skirt. If you need something to go over the blouse, I'd loose the jacket and get a cute little fitted cardigan.

    I do love the skirt! It just needs to be paired with a few different items. And luck you - full, long and plaid is totally in style this fall!!

    Cheers (and come say hi!)

    Kelsey
    http://kelseyjanegrins.blogspot.com/

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  2. PlummySeptember 30, 2010 at 7:10 PM

    Thanks for the suggestion, Kelsey! I completely agree with you about the 'frump factor' of all three items--I hadn't thought about it like that before, but it completely makes sense. A cute (and warm!) cardigan is definitely on my to-buy list, as my only full-length sleeve one is rather loose and not fitted in the slightest.

    I will try to style this skirt again and we'll see how it goes. Potentially a Four Ways To Wear candidate, yes indeed! I also might just hem the skirt, or (if it fails my Four Ways Test) donate it. It is very cute, and in style for this fall, but I'm not sure it fits in with the rest of my wardrobe. Most of my items of clothing are so easy to wear with many of my other items, and an item like this that needs 'special treatment' or can only be styled one specific way might not work out for me, in the long run...

    I will definitely check out your blog!

    Plummy

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