WIW 07.23 [white-out for the pouring rain]

Today brought us a ridiculous amount of rain, which dampened (hah) my mood a correlating amount. To combat the gloominess, I decided to throw practicality into the wind (hah again) and wear what makes me feel the most cheerful: loads of white. As far as practicality does actually go, it's really not that bad to manage: avoid large puddles, the beret keeps my hair relatively dry, the clutch doesn't get too wet tucked under my arm, and when I get to where I'm going I do a quick wipe down of the shoes. All the water my clothing picked up dries out quickly enough once inside. Easy peasy. Of course, were this not the middle of summer I'd have popped my cream trench coat over the whole thing, but I just can't show the rain any sign of weakness ;)

I bought this sweater, sized way way up, while out with the YLF gals this past weekend. I've been on the hunt for a creamy semi-chunky oversized 90s reminiscent sweater and this fits the bill perfectly. It's super duper cozy and soft, but the open weave (and 20% linen content) makes it rather breezy as well. (Angie -- happy to report that the sleeves stay put, and not much stretching throughout the day.) Should work for fall, spring and summer for me which is perfect. Styled today in a "summery" way, with rolled white skinnies and white pumps. Simple accessorizing because the sweater is a lot on its own, just my rose watch and silver cutout earrings, along with some peachy-nude lip balm to keep the look light. Chose my sequin clutch because sequins also make me happy! And also I liked the texture and shine it added.

When getting dressed I'd expected to have to walk several blocks right in the midst of the heaviest rain, but that turned out not to be the case. I popped on my black beret for outside time to help keep my hair somewhat under control because, well, as a native Cascadian I don't use an umbrella. Worked perfectly, even though I wasn't outside as much as I'd expected. Ultimately this outfit was just what I needed to perk up and get through a very gloomy day! Bodes well for this sweater for fall (and spring, for that matter), when rain like this becomes the norm.

Available items collected below. Comments, critiques, thoughts and questions welcome.

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31 Comments

  • Janet replied 9 years ago

    I can't get my head around this as a summer outfit, but our heat index here was 102 today. Yuck. I'll take cool and rainy, thanks!

    But what a lovely look. The sweater looks cozy, and the clutch makes the outfit!

  • jackiec replied 9 years ago

    OMG Aida I knew you'd nail this one!! I was hoping to see this sweater in action soon! Love it all around. Great idea for a white out in the pouring rain. I had to laugh b/c I crossed the border today, and made a pit-stop at Trader Joe's in Bellingham. As I walked from my car across the lot there were literally rivers of rain running past my sneakers. Did it even dawn on me to pull out an umbrella? Never. We're used to it, eh?

    So glad the sleeves didn't stretch out either, I was wondering about that. Look forward to seeing a fall rendition with slouchy boots a la Aida. :)

  • annagybe replied 9 years ago

    Nice!

  • Sveta replied 9 years ago

    Ooh, LOVE! Aida, you are a vision in white - I like it so much with your dark hair (and especially adore the beret)
    Need to pin this!

  • MsLuna replied 9 years ago

    Wow you're so brave to "white out" in the rain! At least it worked out for you! Love this entire ensemble on you! Looking fab girl!

  • Dee replied 9 years ago

    Wow, I love this on you! You make the different tones of white work together so well.  And kudos for wearing it in the rain. I'd be too afraid - I'd inevitable step into a puddle without realizing it.

  • Gracie replied 9 years ago

    What? White pumps out in the rain? You're a brave and stylish woman. I love your new sweater and its oversized fit - quite cozy with the sleeves dropped to their full length. You look stiking in white with your hair color and texture providing a beautiful contrast.

  • kellygirl replied 9 years ago

    Super gorgeous! Love the white out look!

  • rabbit replied 9 years ago

    GORGEOUS!  Especially with your coloring

    I broke out the trenchcoat today because of the downpour, but wore florals under it in a nod to summer. 

  • abc replied 9 years ago

    Wow. This is amazing. Rain appropriate taken to the next level that's for sure. I think we really have similar climates the more I hear you talk about yours. The 102F comment really made me believe that. Your summer outfit is much like what I could wear for summer too. So thankful as me and heat don't mix as well as we did 10-15 years ago.

    This is a shining example that's for sure. I'd venture a guess few others were dressed like you on a rainy day.

  • Suz replied 9 years ago

    So beautiful!! I LOVE the sweater!! How many sizes did you size up? It's a fantastic fluid oversized drape like this. Very elegant. 

    I can't believe your bravery in wearing all white in the pouring rain. I would look like a puddle. Learning how to stay fresh in the rain must be a Pacific NW skillset! 

  • Alana in Canada replied 9 years ago

    Simply wonderful.

  • dashielle (Ann) replied 9 years ago

    Adorbs Aida!  Very snuggly and cute.  I must have been doing my Nordies returns when you picked up that baby.  Guess I thought you got the boho tunic I saw you trying on before I left.  

  • Jaime replied 9 years ago

    You are absolutely gorgeous in all white Aida. I love the amount of roll with the jeans with those white pumps. Beautiful!

  • AJ replied 9 years ago

    Enjoyed your "take that rain" spunk with this white-out ensemble. You have better puddle avoiding skills than me!

    I like your metal mixes of rose gold watch, gold metallic clutch, and silver earrings. I always think I have to match my metals.

    What is your secret for keeping your hair from frizzing in the rain? I'm a bit worried that when I head there in September, my hair will poof out to Chaka Khan proportions! :)

  • bella replied 9 years ago

    Perfect for the summer. If you don't use an umbrella, you can use it as an excuse to buy berets in many different colors. Start with white! ;)

  • CocoLion replied 9 years ago

    I'm with Janet, it wouldn't work as a Summer outfit for me but I could do it in the Spring.  You are so smart to create your own sweater by sizing up.  No one else will have this sweater!  Love the black beret, perfect on you. It's interesting how important shoes are in an outfit.  This would be a suitable work outfit.  If you changed the shoes out to sneakers, you could go to a ball game in it.

  • Neel replied 9 years ago

    That sweater looks gorgeous on you! You look ready to take on the rains!

  • Karie replied 9 years ago

    A gorgeous white out outfit! You are brave to wear all white in the rain, and with no umbrella?! And what is a native Cascadian? My guess is someone from the Pacific Northwest.

  • viva replied 9 years ago

    Great loo, Aida. I'd also love to know how many sizes up you went. I am always so leery of this strategy, because I just feel the proportions of everything will be totally off on my body (too much material and too loose under the arms in particular). Since your look is so totally different from the JCrew model, I wonder how far you were able to push the sizing? So amazing.

  • Transcona Shannon replied 9 years ago

    Great tonal outfit with textural interest via the knit in the pullover and the sparkle in the clutch.

  • texstyle replied 9 years ago

    Really beautiful Aida - good job on the sweater pick, your styling is great.

  • citygirldc replied 9 years ago

    Love love love this white outfit.

    I know me though, and I would get it dirty just spilling coffee or food. LOL! 

  • Jenny H replied 9 years ago

    Gorgeous. Incredible look!

  • Sara L. replied 9 years ago

    Great outfit!  I love all white outfits on others but I can't seem to do them myself.  Your outfit looks easy breezy but mine always look contrived.

  • E replied 9 years ago

    Your description made me laugh! Rain weakness! You look gorgeous. :D

    *dreams of a summer that allows me to wear a sweater & skinnies*

  • replied 9 years ago

    Love the slouchy fit of your new sweater. And good for you for showing the rain whose boss, as your whiteout looks fab! PS I'm in all white today too :)

  • Angie replied 9 years ago

    Go Team White Out.

    So killer adorable, I can't stand it. I can eat you up, Aida. xo

    (Isn't our weather just so awful at the moment. I am sobbing). 

  • Keturah replied 9 years ago

    WOW! You look insanely stunning! I love that you sized up the sweater. The white is creamy, dreamy lovely on you!! You let the sweater speak, with little background touches of the clutch and simple accessories, and that makes it even more fab. I'm with Angie, I could eat you up!


    MWAH!

  • rae replied 9 years ago

    I missed this, but you look so coolly angelic in your all-white outfits! Super fit on the sweater.

  • Aida replied 9 years ago

    Oh wow thank you ladies! I'm floored by all the wonderful comments. Happy to report that I kept everything clean enough (even while making dinner) until halfway through eating dinner when I flung some pesto on myself, but hey that's what the washing machine is for ^^

    Suz and Viva, the sweater is the largest size (XL) and is actually even roomer in person than the photos show (as seems to happen with many slouchy/oversized garments). In terms of sizing up to achieve a different fit, when I used to start with a tailored garment, one size up netted a fluid fit; two sizes up netted an oversized/slouchy fit; any more than that and it becomes Oversized, The Look. Now that so many garments are actually cut fluid or quite boxy to begin with, sizing up is much trickier (one size up and you're into oversized), and Viva as you said the proportions get wacky really quickly. There is a lot of extra material with this sweater, and the arm holes are quite large and low. But that's exactly the look I was after so sizing up worked best; starting with a tunic cut sweater and sizing up just once or twice wouldn't have given me the proportions I wanted.

    AJ, good question! I think that my hair is just used to the humidity here; rain makes it frizz a bit but not as much as one would think. I usually just pop a slouchy knit hat on to protect my hair from the rain, and that's usually enough. September here tends to be fairly dry actually, so there's a good chance you won't have to worry too much about rain.

    Karie, right, sorry. Cascadia is a region that's essentially the Pacific Northwest; there was also a movement for the area becoming Its Own Thing. Personally I find the cultural similarities across the region very interesting. Plus it's a lot shorter to write out ;)

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