Aida ~

WIW 11.24-26 [three work outfits for a short week]

November 27, 2014

A more-casual-than-usual week due to the Thanksgiving holiday, and being extra busy for the short work week. The first two outfits didn't pass my feel test and I consider them "Feel Fails", outfits that may look alright, objectively, but made me feel off while wearing. The first outfit was simply not warm enough for the day (I was expecting it to be much warmer than it turned out), though I'd have been perfectly happy wearing it if the temps were 60F+; I also had tried very hard, unsuccessfully, to make that outfit work with black accents (including footwear) and I think I had some residual annoyance towards that throughout the day. For the second outfit, I'd gotten up a lot earlier than normal so wasn't quite fully functional when getting dressed; the style mix didn't feel right there. On the flip side, today's outfit makes me feel super happy! In fact I think I'll wear it again this Saturday for hosting our annual Friendsgiving dinner.

#2 - I started from this outfit on Pinterest, with the idea to wear all light blue with black accents. Initially there was a black belt and black booties, but ultimately I wasn't happy with the look so after much hemming and hawing and trying more black things, I simply tossed that idea and swapped the black for silver (belt) and gray (boots). Felt much better, if a bit too cold. Otherwise accessorized with soft hair (really good hair day! yeah!!) to offset some of the boyish lower half, silver circly earrings, and plum gloss for a touch of darkness. Trench to handle the gloomy weather and watercolor purse because I find it a cheerful (and fitting) option for wet weather. Were I to do this over for that particular day, I'd swap this silk blouse for my aqua sweater and swap the trench for a heavier coat.
  Newer: blouse, jeans, belt, boots, clutch
  Older: trench, earrings

#3 - This one started with the glittery rain boots, as it was pouring pouring pouring all day. The top half is a favorite weekend pairing, and the bottom was one my sleep-addled brain recalled wearing not long ago. As I said above, the mix of styles threw me -- I'd have been happier by swapping to either tall boots (for an overall rugged-cozy vibe) or a soft drapey tee (for an overall urban vibe). The outerwear is what made me realize what was off, since it looks more fully urban; for work I'd go the urban route,for weekend I'd go with the rugged-cozy (and maybe swap the hair up for a slouchy knit hat). Hair up because it's good for rain, then accessorized with dainty jewelry (spike earrings, key necklace) and rusty red-orange lip gloss for a touch of color. Trench for the rain, giraffe scarf for some extra warmth, and black lined clutch for a touch of chaos + fun print mixing. I will say that the feeling in this got better as the day wore on, so perhaps this should only be a partial feel fail ;)
  Newer: pants, boots, earrings, trench
  Older: shirt, cardigan, necklace, scarf, clutch
 
#4 - After the past two days "feel fails", today I relied on favorites: the boots/pants pairing, olive/navy color combo, and of course my favorite plaid shirt. It's surprisingly warm today (61F!), but I decided I wanted a jacket just the same. My sis gave me this knit blazer a little while back and I thought the BIG stripe would be a fun mix with the busy plaid. Accessorized with some glitz (giant crystal studs, sequin clutch) and finished with a swipe of cherry-pink lip gloss. This is definitely a happy way for me to wear brown ^^
  Newer: earrings
  Older: shirt, jacket, pants, boots, clutch

#5 - Put all the earring/lippie/ring detail photos together so they'd take less room.

Comments, critiques, thoughts and questions welcome!

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Posted in the What I Wore category
This post is also published in the youlookfab forum. You can read and reply to it in either place. All replies will appear in both places.

6 Comments

  • Sveta replied 9 years ago

    Ah, I get it only too well when outfit look good on the outside and does not feel good inside.
    #1 is darling but I agree it is more of a summer outfit than late November. Being warm is as important as being stylish!
    #2 I quite like it actually. Maybe it is the glittery rain booties affecting my brain right now :-) 
    #3 is quite maximal but well done - nobody does pattern mix like you do, Aida!

  • Jaime replied 9 years ago

    If I feel cold the outfit is a sure fail so I understand what you mean. I do think the first one looks great regardless. The second is my favorite, although I am interested in your sense that it is not one thing or the other. Visually it works - I think the booties and the sweater are a good team and I generally like yellow and silver together. Friendsgiving is such a great idea - recover from your families!  

  • Suz replied 9 years ago

    Every time I see that golden gingham shirt on you I can't stop myself from smiling. It makes me so, so happy! I can't wear that colour at all but for some reason I really love it, and I love it especially in this playful pattern. 

    Here is my question about #1, unrelated to the sad fact that you were chilly in it: How often do people pick up on what the pattern is when you wear that shirt? 

    I don't think I've ever had anyone figure it out before I told them. 

    Also, want to know something funny? Here I am, medium contrast...yet I wear this shirt with my ink blazer and booties all the time!! The combo would look a lot better on you than it does on me -- no question in my mind. But it's also about how we feel in outfits. So strange, eh? (I also love this top with light or midtone companions, by the way. Including here.) 

  • Aida replied 9 years ago

    Thanks for the comments Svetlana, Jaime, and Suz! I knew you gals would feel me on the feeling ^^

    Sveta, would you believe that I didn't even realize that the third outfit was maximal until I reviewed the photos? I don't think I pay much attention to that when getting dressed, I just do it. Guess that's why it tends to be a prevalent theme across my style!

    Jaime, you know normally I don't mind mixing styles too much BUT usually still within either my work or weekend style persona. I think I've been separating those two much more strongly this past year, and I wonder if that was part of the issue.

    Suz, the kitty print has only been recognized maybe twice that I can think of: by my dad (who's an artist so he notices those sorts of things) and by my husband (who doesn't like patterns so he notices those sorts of things ;) ). Re the contrast, I wonder if it's a matter of finding the right contrast balance for us. With my hair/skin, I've got at least a little high contrast no matter what I'm wearing, so a fully light or mid toned outfit still has contrast; whereas since you are mid-contrast, by adding in some higher contrast in the outfit itself you create that contrast balance. I am fairly sure I've worn this blouse more in light/mid contrast outfits than high contrast but suspect I'd be pretty happy pairing with a proper black/navy supporting cast; those faded jeans were throwing me off I think.

  • Firecracker (Sharan) replied 9 years ago

    Oh, Aida, I empathize--being cold is the worst! I really love outfit 1, so I hope you'll repeat it in warm weather.
    I only got what you meant about outfit 2 when I looked back at how you wore the boots and pants before. I see how the previous outfit had an overall more urban, and I would say polished, vibe. Still, the sparkly boots again look terrific with those pants, and I think they bookend nicely with the sweater, and I'm with Suz--that sunny checked shirt just brightens my spirits.
    You look at ease in the third outfit. I like the pattern mixing as well as your mix of rugged, sporty, and glam elements. Totally fun.

  • Sveta replied 9 years ago

    Suz, I have to confess that even after I was told that this is a cat print I still had hard time to see it! :-) ...though it may be due to the fact that I do not have artist abilities...

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