I used to wear a lot of black clothes.
Only problem? Black looks terrible on me. Truly terrible.
Why in the world I couldn’t comprehend that fact, I’ll never know. I guess I was just caught up in the usual Black Clothing Thinking:
And on women with cool undertones with strong coloring and contrast between hair and skin, black is absolutely perfect and stunning
But when I wore black close to my face, I looked like I had one foot in the grave and the other one hopping toward it. Not an attractive look.
It finally occurred to my semi-slow and slaggardly brain that if I looked that bad in black, maybe (just maybe?) I shouldn’t wear it. Maybe my neutral base color should be brown instead. Ya think?
And so I made that transition to brown as my base about five years ago and am so much happier with the way it pulls my wardrobe together.
However. This summer I did something I haven’t done in a long time. I walked into a thrift store and emerged with a pair of black capris.
Why would I do such a thing?
Well, mainly because I have put on a little weight and so I’ve had an even harder time than usual finding pants to fit. These capris actually fit well and are by Ann Taylor (one of my favorite brands when found at thrift stores). Those were two characteristics which caused me to break out in a Dressing Room Happy Dance.
Even though the capris are not my best color and have a (subtle) pattern, I figured they would still work if I kept warm colors near my face. Here are some outfits I was able to come up with.
(Click on any photo then scroll through them at full size.)
It just goes to show that sometimes you can make clothing work that normally wouldn’t. However, I try not to stray out of my personal color zone very often because every time I do, it just takes me a step in the wrong direction of creating a wardrobe where all my colors coordinate. I do it only when I am desperate which thankfully doesn’t happen as often these days.
I went into a thrift store recently and fell in love with this fabric; however, I hated the style of the dress.
I studied it for a few minutes and came up with a plan.
I had my seamstress cut off the top of the dress and add an elastic waistband. And it worked!
$5 for the dress and $4 for the alteration. Voila!
I also stuck this shirt on with the skirt but can’t make up my mind whether or not I like it.
Although I don’t wear many sleeveless things, I did actually wear this shirt this summer when I was feeling slightly adventurous. One of my style words” is asymmetrical, whether it refers to a hem line, a collar, or a row of buttons. I guess it appeals to the quirky side of me. (I am sorry that the blouse clashes with the car but what’s a girl to do?)
Although I know I’ve talked about my New Mexico dress before, I ran across these pictures showing three different “looks” with the dress. They perfectly illustrate how certain pieces of clothing can make such a big difference to an overall look. (Note: everything else in this post is thrifted but the dress was a new purchase.)
Look Number #1 is just o.k. Yes, the colors do match, but the flowy topper is competing with the flowy skirt and it obscures the shape of the dress which was one of its main selling points for me–in addition to the bright colors.
Look #2 is better and I would wear it in a pinch, but I don’t love it. Once again, the shape of the dress is hidden.
Look #3 is the clear winner. The shorter topper allows the fit and flare style of the dress to shine, and the coral provides a lovely pop of color.
I love how the simplest additions to an outfit can make such a big difference.
No necklace.
Necklace!
The next two pictures illustrate the difference between “just okay” and “just right.”
Let me start by saying that I have a terrible time finding tops in solid colors. I found this shirt at Goodwill and although it’s not technically a solid, the pattern is muted and subtle enough that it can be used in that capacity. Unfortunately it is a Kmart brand which I normally would never buy but once again, desperation won the day.
I have actually gotten a lot of use from the shirt this summer because it goes with several of my colorful, cotton skirts.
I didn’t like it as well with this particular skirt but for a while, I had no option.
However, Sheri, my wonderful friend and mother-in-law to my son gave me this shirt when we were in Florida. As a rule, I am not a ruffle type of gal but the fact that the ruffles are diagonal (which draws the eye down) instead of horizontal (which draws the eye across) made it much more slimming.
I had the bottom hemmed a bit (it was a little tight and awkward around my hips) and I was good to go. The whole vibe of the blouse suits the vibe of the skirt and the color matches it better, as well.
Hooray for a son who has good taste in mothers-in-law and hooray for a mother-in-law who has good taste in clothes. (And is also generous!)
this fashion tip is probably one that is just a personal preference on my part, but lately I’ve been finding that I prefer leaving my neckline uncluttered.
I don’t like this look . . .
as well as this look.
I don’t like this look . . .
as well as this look.
I’m not saying I will never wear short necklaces because I own a lot of them that I love. But I am starting to notice a slight shift in keeping the area around my neck a little more clutter free.
And one last tip but it’s actually the most important tip of the day:
Take pictures of yourself!
Have you ever looked at an outfit in the mirror and couldn’t decide whether or not it worked?
All you need to do is grab your camera, snap a picture and look at the outfit on your phone. I don’t know what it is about seeing something as a picture instead of in the mirror, but it’s like you suddenly have a new set of eyes and you can see all sorts of things you didn’t notice before. The more I take pictures of my outfits for these style posts, the more I find this to be true.
Case in point: I have worn the outfit below many times but it was only when seeing it in this picture that I noticed the material in the waist line bunched up and was visible through the thin yellow blouse. (It isn’t quite as obvious in this photo as it was in another photo that I wasn’t able to find.)
The skirt had a piece of fabric that folded over on itself and I was constantly having to adjust and rearrange that fabric. (One of my pet peeves is clothes that need constant attention.)
I took the skirt to my seamstress and asked her to cut off the piece of floppy fabric and then put elastic in the waist, since the skirt had gotten a little stretched out and was sliding down a bit.
It’s so great to pull that skirt on now and know that the waistline is streamlined and I don’t have to tug at it or worry that it’s bunching up.
And it’s all because I took a picture.
Other posts in this series: Small Changes Favorite Style Bloggers Stars and Understudies Proportions and Alterations.
Mom Jeans In the Middle Patterned Pieces Two is Best The Rear View and Flowiness
I LOVE the sleeveless orange top with the long skirt! Gives you a much longer line (?) than a short top. As for the necklaces, sometimes it seems as though it is too much to have a collar or neckline ruffle along with a necklace, unless it is something fine and small. I also love these style posts! Glad to hear Sarah got home before the storm and hope the weather is good for her return trip.
Kari,
Thanks so much for your encouragement about the style posts!
And yes, I agree about that ruffly top shirt; it’s almost as if the ruffles serve as a necklace on their own. This is the thing that taking pictures helps me with; I can see the outfits from a different persepctive.
Glad you like the orange shirt; I think it’s fun.
Your style is so well put together. Very chic.
I used to work in a professional environment and my clothing was very dark. I enjoyed getting dressed up although my colouring is very fair and black probably wasn’t the best base colour for me.
. Now my clothing is much more comfortable and relaxed.
For a while I stopped caring very much how I look, which was a complete change from when I used to be the sort of person who even if camping would never leave the tent without a coordinated outfit and full makeup on.
Lately as long as I’m dressed and put together at a basic level my attire has not been high on my daily list of activities or focus. My favourite piece ofor the clothing is a gigantic old 90”s style massive swear I boughthink in ebay ( favourite
I’ve become comfortable in my own skin regardless of my attire but I miss feeling put together. I’d like my outside appearance to match the joy inside my spirit and the haopines in my heart.
. I’d like to discover or create middle ground between uncomfortably black professional clothing
outfit of a massively oversized comfy sweatershirt from the 90”s and mom jeans
The last part of my comment got cut off. I meant to say :
I’d like to discover or create middle ground between uncomfortably black professional clothing and an outfit of a massively oversized sweater and mom jeans. I’m going to start by taking small steps this week. My goal is to start by looking through my closest for the clothing I used to wear (ie not old sweatshirts but my nicer pieces of clothing that got shepbed and begin to wear accessories again.). Thanks for the great style inspiration 🙂
Jenna,
Thank you for letting me know that what I wrote has been helpful to you. That just makes my day!
You have a set a perfect, bite-sized goal for yourself to start with what you already have, pick out your favorite things and re-work them into outfits that are useable and appropriate for this stage and place in your life.
I would love to hear how things go for you in the process. Thanks again for letting me know that I was able to inspire you in some small way.
So enjoy your styling pictures. Please continue. Just wish we had a good thrift store here to check out. I did get a three-quarter jacket last spring from one locally. I am giving away t-shirts because I have so many and trying to de-clutter the closet a little at a time. Really difficult to give away lighthouse shirts but I had about six or seven so decided some had to go. Pray you “Smiths” are safe from the storm. I really liked the turquoise jacket and the short sweater with your New Mexico dress.
Always love your styling “sessions.” Am in agreement with your dress at the knees – the shorter top is the winner. I do like that lime green top. The one orangey top (longer on one side than the other) – color wise went well with the skirt, but the style of it I didn’t care for, but thought it went well with the jeans. And the black capris or a skirt is great when you match them up with a colorful top such as you showed. You do such a great job doing this – always appreciate when you share with us. What a wonderful surprise that Sarah came home early
Sharyn,
Thanks for taking time to comment! I appreciate that you mention so many separate things that show up in the post; it tells me you’re not just skimming but really paying attention. You have a good eye!
And yes, I was so happy to see Sarah arrive early, ahead of the storm. Happy mama!
Yay for your first home from college visit. I enjoy your style posts. I think the ruffles on your brown blouse in the next to the last photo set competes with the necklace. Maybe a smaller necklace in a metal or just some nice, bold earrings are all that the blouse needs. The ruffles are really like a long necklace. 🙂 Enjoy your weekend nice and snug with some of your favorite people.
Karen,
Thanks for letting me know you enjoy the posts. Sometimes I wonder if I should keep doing them so I appreciate the encouragement.
You know, you are absolutely right about the ruffles on the brown blouse competing with the necklace. Just too much going on with such a busy necklace. I agree–either a much smaller necklace OR just bold earrings would probably be plenty.
Happy to be snuggled into a cozy house this morning with my sweet family!
Love the black capris and that ruffle shirt from Sherrie is adorable and DOES look great on you! Love the color too! SO thankful that Sarah is safely home. HUGS from me to all of you! Enjoy your weekend!!!
Bea,
Thanks for sending hugs our way.
We are getting ready to hunker down and ride out this incoming storm!
You know your colors and styles that work for you! a lot of people don’t. Loved that old book about seasons and colors. Basically said that most of us can wear most colors but have to watch the shades and hues of the colors. Black and white are the two that one has to watch, the pure white, that is, as they are not neutrals for everyone. I ‘ve found that though I can wear Black: I’m a Winter in coloring, no doubt, and black is THE color for NYC, chargray or dark brown is a gentler and better color for me. Less severe, and softens my look. But Black for purses, shoes, and pants, skirts, is a whole other other story. Can work well with other colors. Just keep away from the face, LOL.
Cath,
I remember that book; I had a copy years ago. Wasn’t it called Color Me Beautiful? That book set the stage for all the season-finding that so many people are doing now.
Sounds like you have a good understanding of your colors, too. It sure makes shopping a lot simpler when you can ignore whole rows of colors and just go straight to the ones that suit you.
I didn’t realize you lived in NYC. What a cool place!
I am so glad Sarah is home for the weekend. Keep shelter from the storm. Moving up the coast to us now. Not in NYC, but suburbs so I go into Manhattan more frequently than most.
Yes, that’s the book, might even still have it somewhere. Loved it. But it didn’t go into the other issues like the severity of black and other colors that might do better softened as we age. Just as God naturally grays us in hair color to gentle the wrinkles in our face, some toning down of color really helps when one ages. Of course, we always add our own effects to things where we can, but most older women who color hair should not go pure stark black in hair coloring. A softening tone helps so much. Wish they had shades of gray in hair coloring easily available.
But with clothes we can do every shade.
You look mahvelous dahlng!
Steve,
Thank YOU, dahling!
Those capris look great! In scrolling through the pictures, I found I preferred the outfits with color near your face and the asymmetrical style is fabulous!
Guerrina,
I wish I could find more asymmetrical styles because I love them! And I love color near my face, as well.
I love Ann Taylor-from-the-thrift-shop too. 🙂 And I really like those capris! My favorite of the nine capri-based outfits you posted is the one with the white shirt/turquoise jacket/long necklace. Totally classy! And count me as a huge fan of the asymmetrical orange shirt with the floral skirt. 🙂
Funny you mentioned the “folded over” part of your skirt. I have a pair of palazzo pants with that foldy-overy thing and it makes me insane. I, too, am constantly fiddling with it. It had never even occurred to me to cut it off!
Thinking of Sarah as she travels home today. 🙂 I know you’re gonna hug her neck!
Stefanie,
Isn’t it funny how the simplest solutiions can remain so elusive? I had that skirt for a YEAR before I thought of doing away with the flap! I hope the idea helps you, too.
I love that turquoise jacket, too. Thanks or the compliment.
And yay for CHEAP Ann Taylor clothes!
I saw your update that Sarah got home early! I had JUST clicked over to the weather channel’s website to see where the rains from Hermine were, and was calculating that she just might beat the rain to Manteo. So thankful she’s home safely AND early. 🙂
Stefanie,
I have had several blog readers comment on FB or by email that they were checking the weather and wondering about Sarah’s trip home. And now I see your comment here.
You guys are amazing–I feel blessed to have fellow-worriers out there. 🙂 Thank you!