Amiable's Blog

I had a hard time getting dressed today.

I started out trying to style a scarf that's puzzling me (#3). It's navy white and orange in a bold graphic pattern. So I paired it with my red jeans (of course!), a white tank top (for lack of a tee), and navy suede jacket. I didn't like the way it felt. So I didn't even put on shoes. In the pic, I feel like it looks okay - does it? (#2)

So then I went for a dress, and put my black shirt-dress over the same red skinnies. I didn't like it a whole lot either. (Tried adding a red jacket on top, but the shade was too dark for the pants). )#4 and #5)

So I tried turning the dress into a jacket, and put on a black/which gingham underneath. (#6) A little better, but a real jacket would work better. (#1)

So this is what I ended up with - the real jacket. No scarf. No dress. But at least I can join Imogen's FABuary jacket-up day! (http://www.insideoutstyleblog......lenge.html)

Tried out my new-to-me red jeans yesterday, with a scarf I've never figured out how to style. (It's swirly red-orange, brown with little bits of blue, yellow and white).

So I paired it with a brown top and the red jeans. For Imogen's belt day (http://www.insideoutstyleblog......lenge.html) , I added a belt. Because it was a lowered-waist, I decided to lengthen the leg line with heels. When I looked in the mirror (hours later), I liked it. (I wore the scarf like a cowl - pic#1).

So I get to join in the scarf challenge today! http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....looks-here (even though I wore this yesterday - I'm behind in posting, sorry!)

What do you think? What should I improve?

I wanted to participate in Sona's dress challenge (and in GoldenPig's scarf challenge, except that I never actually put on a scarf at all....) and Imogen's FABuary challenge (http://www.insideoutstyleblog......lenge.html) , so I started off the day with a maxi dress. It's a sentimental maxi dress, so it even fits Angie's blog today (http://youlookfab.com/2013/02/.....ia-factor/) because the fabric is from Mali, and this dress was one of my early making-my-own-pattern sewing attempts. I wore it as a swim-suit cover up all summer :)

But with it on today, it felt frumpy. So when I had to run out to run an errand, I changed. I was inspired instead by TwoBird's challenge (http://twobirdsboutique.blogsp.....-home.html) , and put on this funky paisley over black skinnies. Since it's sleeveless, it had to have a topper. This is the one I ended up with, and it's not perfect. I may need to dig out my black cropped cardi and try that....

ETA: The paisley with a cardigan instead of the jacket. I think the lengths probably play better this way - am I right?

I was really interested by the article in the links on perfect heel height (thanks Vildy!). When I took the "test", which suggested that I'd like a 2 inch heel.

So this morning I wore my longest slacks, with 2 inch heels (nice and chunky, because my ankles aren't all that strong.) And I have to say they were soooo comfortable! I almost regretted taking them of for a little nap! I'm definitely looking for more two inch heels (and for really long pants to wear with them.)

This top also has an empire waist, so it comes in a bit toward the bottom of the rib cage - does it work to give me some shape definition? The only think I really dislike about this outfit is that the shoes are so round-toed. What else should change?

(Oh, pic #3, the coat I wore and bag I carried. It's just a basic black coat - nothing special, but it fits reasonably well)

After reading in the past week from two women that they thought they were one shape and learned after joining the forum that they were different, I figured I may as well take some body-shape photos and upload them.

What I learned:
1) Body-shape photos can be really unflattering!
2) I have bad posture. I should work on that.

I've labeled myself an apple/IT for a good while - because on those "what size are you based on measurements" charts, my tummy measurements put me in much larger sizes than my bust or hips measurements. And my shoulder measurement puts me in a smaller size than my bust measurement.....

I think this means that I'll never be able to close a jacket that fits me nicely in the shoulders. And I'm okay with that.

Here's my measurements (not sure if they're helpful) Bust:40 (at widest point), ribs (below bust) 34 (my narrowest point), waist 36 (at belly button - I'm a bit bigger just below it), hips 39 (at widest point).

In the mirror, if I hold up a tape measure in front of me, my shoulders are about 15.5", wide, and my waist and hips are both about 14" wide. Obviously, my tummy sticks out in the front. It's also my most frequently varying measurement.

After look at these pics, I think that walking the dog in the morning is not an adequate workout. :)

I had what seemed to me a pretty successful thrift store shopping yesterday: Two pairs of skinnies, boots, three sweaters (probably overboard there) and a long white tuxedo top!

The skinnies are returnable, so I'm posting a K/R on them.

And I'm showing you the boots, because I'm excited about them. The others are in the laundry, so you'll have to wait until I actually wear them to see. (I'm on team wear, so I doubt it'll be too long!)

#1-3 red skinnies. They fit pretty well (are they too body-con?), and they're awfully bright... I'm reminding myself that this shade is in for spring, and I could dye them darker come fall, right? If I keep them, they would replace three (count-em) pair of not-ideal red pants taking up space in my closet, and not getting worn. Do you see anything that should make these a no? (I'm pretty inexperienced at seeing this type of stuff, so don't be shy).

#4-6 black skinnies, to replace the pair that I've been wearing (which has a too-tall rise and fraying hem). They too, seem to me like they fit well (I do see the muffin top I have going on, yikes). And they're comfy. I don't *think* they're super body-con, but would be returning them if they were - are they?

Finally, some boots that I found. They were final sale, and not super cheap ($16), but I liked them instantly, and they fit and are comfy. I'm guessing that these will eventually be a lesson in you-get-what-you-pay-for, because these are definitely not quality boots. Still, I'm super excited about them, and will wear them while I save up for the perfect boots. Your thoughts? I think they're a little bit UWP.

Should I keep the two pair of skinnies? Or one or the other?

In honor of Imogen's FABuary challenge, I sported an arm party yesterday.

Here's her arm party post:
http://www.insideoutstyleblog......lenge.html

My arm party - a sparkly blue and black (with a accents in red and yellow) bangle, went with another version of Black/White/Blue from Angie, here:
http://youlookfab.com/2013/01/.....k-bottoms/

But I did it in the more-predictable way, blue (jeans) on bottom, with black over white on top. I didn't like it as well as I liked the blue jacket. I think that somehow, having both black and white (and probably to the absence of other colors) near my face, makes me washed out. So I felt like this was a fairly mediocre outfit.

Am I right? I'm guessing this could be improved by a colored scarf, or by a colored, instead of black jacket. What other suggestions do you have?

And pardon my attempts to use the self-timer on my camera phone app to my advantage. Those are shadows of paper snowflakes that the kids made and taped to the windows in pic #2.

Okay, trying to learn proportions, so be patient with me! :)

Here's the diamonds skirt, with the gray cashmere sweater I wore Sunday. Trying out various proportions with the skirt full length.

#1 fully tucked
#2 untucked with the skirt short (as I wore it)
#3 partially tucked
#4 untucked with the skirt long

Pardon the non-scrunched sleeves in #1, 2 and 4...

To me, none of these really work. What do you think?

I think I could make a lot of outfits from the idea Black/White/Blue from earlier this week.

Here's the color scheme turned inside out. (Well, the sweater is more of a gold/cream stripe...)

This chambray is one of my very longest shirts, and it still feels just a tad short. I'm officially on the hunt for long shirts! I'm also hoping to replace the black skinnies - the rise is higher than I like, and the waist narrow. But I'll keep them until I find a replacement. The sweater is 26", but folded up to reveal more of the chambray underneath.

How does the outfit work? Suggestions for improvement?