Sveta's Blog

WIW: some new, some old, some good some ugly...

October 12, 2013

I am so happy tonight! It is a weekend! It is a long weekend!! It is a beginning of my vacation!!! My last vacation was The Deck and it left me very tired. This vacation we are going AWAY!!!

Anyway back to my WIW post. I tried some new things this week and some tried and true.

pic #1 Stripes
After Angie's order to add more navy / ink color to my wardrobe I went on a rampage with very meager results. The only navy item which made it into my closet sanctuary was Gap navy striped sweater dress. I have ordered some other striped dresses including one from BR but this was a clear winner. I have never owned a sweater dress before: they were either too body con or too boxy -and usually too short. This one in Tall size and the length is perfect for me as well as the fit. I also like the fresh combination of navy with light blue rather than traditional cream or black. I was inspired by my Boston ivy fall colors to pair this navy dress with burgundy booties and tights. What do you think of my new pet?
Gap sweater dress
Naya boties
Danier silver tote

pic #2 Plaid
The debut of my new plaid trousers. Remember I was lamenting how to wear the hem of these straight trousers? I decided to to taper them 1"  to be the same width as my hubby's dress pants and I am very happy with the result: now I can wear them virtually with any heel height without committing a style faux pas! :-) Love them! 

Plaid trousers  - Banana Republic
Black t-neck - Banana Republic
Leather jacket - Danier
Silver tote - Danier
Putty suede booties - Sam Eldeman

pic #3 Leopard
This outfit was inspired by Amy with the disastrous results. I almost decided to skip posting this outfit because I was not happy with it but the rules are the rules, I post my weekly WIW and it includes all good, bad and ugly...this one was ugly.
This is my new Halogen red skirt from NAS. I sized up to get a good hip fit and as a result the waist is huge: it is a hip-sitting skirt for me. It works fine with more fitted tops and shirts but this loose fitting leopard shirt was a disaster. At first I tucked it in with a bit  of "spill over" - and it kept untuck itself which drove me crazy. Then I untucked it and tried to semi-tuck, then tried to tie the ends in front...the whole day of fiddling! I decided to ask my mom if she can take in the waist for me so it fits better and does not  twist around.

pic #4 Flares
I decided to give my denim shirt the last chance to redeem itself and asked my mom to take it in and make it fitted. It was boxy in cut but fabric was not very soft and drapey so I never felt fab wearing it. I think I like it much better fitted so it has a chance to survive the next cull. I was pretty happy with this outfit even though it was very simple. I tucked the shirt first but it kept to untuck itself because it is not very long for me and because it goes shorter on the sides. In the end i decided to semi-tuck and liked it much better. Until semi-tuck is in style it is going to be my go-to method of wearing shirts which are not very long! :-)
Denim shirt - Banana Republic.< waving to Suz>
Editors trousers - Express
Animal booties - David Tate
Nude clutch from Portugal

pic #5 Floral
I decided to wear my summer floral dress. Remember how I had problems feeling fab in this grey knit blazer? Surprisingly I liked it with this dress very much even though there is no grey in the dress pattern. Somehow the softer grey was more fitting my mood than stronger white or black jackets. I decided to wear grey wedge pumps to bokend the blazer  - do you think it works? Sorry for the "halo" behind my head: the sun was flooding the room and I tried to find a shady spot to take the pictures :-)

Floral dress - Long Tall Sally
Riding knit blazer - Gibson (Nordstrom)
Grey textured wedges - Trotters
Nude clutch from Portugal

That was my week. Now I am off to put together the travel capsule: we are leaving on Monday morning! I may be very scarce on the forum over the weekend and especially for the next week so I apologize in advance - but I will try to get my travel WIW posted when we are back!

Wish me a good weather for my trip :-) and have a great weekend. For Canadians - happy Thanksgiving!!!

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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.

22 Comments

  • replied 10 years ago

    Love the sweater dress!

    I love your trousers too, triplet!

    The grey blazer looks nice with the dress, and good save on the shirt!

    Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Vacation!

  • Nicole D replied 10 years ago

    WHat a round up!
    I love that dress in #1 - I had not even noticed it on the BR website and you make it look super fresh!  The blue colours are so amazing together.  I can see you wearing this 3 out of 4 seasons, if it's not too heavy.  Love the length and I really like the booties.

    #2 and #4 are classic Sveta genius. Nice call on the pants taper.  You were born to wear pants, and this is an example of how you look equally chic in a taper or flare (although I do slightly prefer flare, just due to the more fluid fit which you wear so well.  Nice clutch in #4.

    #3 is not a disaster, I just want you to hike up the skirt an inch or two , or else make it a midi.  It's just a hem in no man's land. Or maybe higher heel would have helped a bit.

    #5 I do think that Long Tall Sally should hire you as one of their real life models - you wear their stuff well.  Like the midid length here, and the blazer is not an obious match but looks great with it!

    Have a lovely long weekend and a nice trip!

  • Angie replied 10 years ago

    (Sveta, English is not your first language - but you know, you're really talented at telling a story. Your threads are a pleasure to read. And I enjoy your sense of humour). 

    I agree that you should model for Long Tall Sally. Quit your day job. 

    Mama tapered the checked trousers just beautifully, and you look utterly sensational in that outfit. 

    #4 knocks my socks off. 11 out of 10. My best. Are you saying goodbye to the denim shirt? 

    I love both frocks, and #3 is not a disaster at all. Tuck in the blouse and Bob's your Uncle. 

    I chuckled when you wrote that you have more trousers than pullovers at the moment. xo

  • Sveta replied 10 years ago

    Ceit, thanks!
    Nicole, the sweater dress is medium weight dress. I can wear it when temps dip below 17C. It is Gap, not BR. It may peel after one season but for this price if I get one season wear out of it I would be fine.
    Angie, I am afraid it is obvious from my writing that English is not my first language (I shudder to think of how many mistakes i make without noticing it!) 
    ;-) I think I will keep the denim shirt for now. I like the color on me and now when it is fitted rather than boxy I like it better. We will see how often I wear it this season...
    For the red skirt - because it is wide in the waist it keeps sliding down and does not keep anything in! I really need to take the waist in.  
    (and I predicted that chuckle, you know...)  :-)

  • Suz replied 10 years ago

    I am with Angie!!

    Love the new sweater dress. It looks great on you. And it will be a super travel piece, hint hint. 

    The checked pants are brilliant. I want a pair! But I am too late. 

    #4 is lovely on you. The dark blue looks so great with the leather jacket. But oh, I hear you on that shirt. Without a mother to do alterations for me, I purged mine at last. I got a lighter coloured one from Halogen and while I do not like the colour quite as well I love the way it feels in comparison. So I am still on the lookout for a drapier darker one. 

    I think #3 looks great, but I hear you on the comfort factor. It is incredible what a difference that can make in our perception of an outfit. Or at least in yours and mine. We are united in that for sure!

  • Amy replied 10 years ago

    I always enjoy your threads, Sveta! You have such a great style. That navy dress is splendid. I bet #3 will be much more comfortable once you get the waist of the skirt adjusted. When clothes aren't comfy, it's hard to feel fab. I had that same chambray shirt and ended up donating it to a charity, because I couldn't make it work for me.

  • Ingunn replied 10 years ago

    Sveta, your outfits are very creative and inspiring. I see no failures here! My faves are #1, #4 and #5. Happy holidays!

  • Lyn D. replied 10 years ago

    OOH- I love your sweater-dress!
    Has your Mum taught you how to sew too? 
    All you alterations are such a good lesson for us in the difference they can  make to nearly but not quite items. Inspiring!

  • Sveta replied 10 years ago

    Suz, I also thought about the travel duty for this sweater dress. :-) And you are so right - how I FEEL in the outfit so much defines my perception of I.  High five!
    Amy, looks like this BR denim shirt was a hard piece to wear to many of us. I hope that the new fit of it will help - we will see how it is going.
    Ingunn, thank you!
    Lyn D., I am all thumbs when it comes to sewing anything :-( However I should pull myself together and learn from my Mom how to do at least the simplest alterations. Thanks for a nudge!:-)

  • cheryle (Dianthus) replied 10 years ago

    Sveta, that sweater dress looks great.  I am leery of wearing booties with dresses because I find the stumpification distracting but the matching tights makes it work and the added color adds so much to the outfit.

    I have renewed envy of the BR pants.  I was lusting after them after Kate's photos and now even more.  Great mix of neutrals to make an interesting outfit.

    What strikes me often when I see your WIWs is that you prefer a looser fit but it always looks very professional because you get it just right. 

  • Lisa replied 10 years ago

    #1-Lucky you to find a sweater dress that fits well.  They are always too form fitting on me, but I try anyway because it's sort of like wearing a big cozy blanket all day.

    #2-The newly tapered trousers look great.  You have a nice trouser collection.

    #3-I really like the animal print and red, I hope mom can fix the skirt for you.

    #4-I really like this outfit, the denim against white is lovely!  I hope you keep the shirt, I find my denim shirt works best when it's only peeking out as an underlayer.  It's a workhorse layering item for me.

    #5-You have nicely saved this grey knit blazer and it gives outfits a soft vibe.

    Enjoy your vacation!

  • celia replied 10 years ago

    Happy Thanksgiving!!

    I do love your outfits. Even the 3rd one.

    I understand your problem with pencil skirts because for me they almost always end up being hip pencil skirts. Maybe if you tucked in the shirt and wear a large belt that would create the illusion of the skirt coming upper you would feel more happy with the proportions.

    ETA: The fact that I am going to check the sweater dresses at GAP right now is not totally unrelated with your beautiful dress :)

  • Peri replied 10 years ago

    Don't see any ugly, not one ounce of it! I love the trouser looks best on you!

  • Transcona Shannon replied 10 years ago

    I can't get past the navy sweater dress Sveta - it is just incredible on you. And I adore the pairing with the tights and boots in an unexpected colour.

  • Sveta replied 10 years ago

    Dianthus, I know what you mean about the stumpification of wearing booties with skirts. However I really like the look because it is modern so I wear them anyway making sure details are right: booties match tights in color or if not then ensure the booties have a heel and a snug ankle fit.
    Lisa, you should try this Gap sweater dress, the cut is good for pears I think.
    Celia, I cannot wear a belt with pencil skirt because there are no belt loops. Because I sit at work it drives me crazy to adjust the belt and the top every itma i get up from my desk. I will see if it can be altered in the waist.
    Peri and Shannon- thanks!

  • replied 10 years ago

    Sveta, you look lovely in all iterations. I hear you on feeling comfortable though and with the waist altered and blouse tucked in you will feel fab. I think #1,#4 and #5 are my favourites.
    Have a lovely holiday. I've already ordered the good weather for you :)

  • MsLuna replied 10 years ago

    You look great in all of them! Sweater dress is nice and relaxing though my absolute fave is #4!

  • Kyle replied 10 years ago

    Those BR trousers are a testament to the power of proper fit and alterations. They are simply divine on you -- and the way you have styled them is picture perfect, Sveta. Enjoy your well deserved holiday.

  • Caro in Oz replied 10 years ago

    YLF & have a great holiday :)

  • Mochi replied 10 years ago

    Love love love the striped dress in the first pic. Love the second look too, with that really intriguing jacket. And I'm smitten with the third pic, as well--what a great jacket and the colors (not to mention the ingenious Boston colors--gasp) are so great. 

    Sveta, if you are not Queen Button-down, I don't know who else is worthy of the title. You know how when there is a drawing of a model in fashionable gear (rather than a photo) and she's so long and lean and perfectly proportioned and statuesque and chic? That's exactly how you look. 

  • ManidipaM replied 10 years ago

    What a find that sweater dress! Length of course, but also great fit and weight!

    I am sighing over #5 and dying over #4...it is perfection impossible to improve... pls keep that shirt a bit longer?

  • Ornella replied 10 years ago

    This is very typical Sveta-post which I love: a bunch of stuff - a feast for eyes; great variety, yet everything is coherent - playful, ladylike, well executed. 
    I am smitten by #1 - the striped dress and the all- burgundy legs look both chic and a great colour combination to try.
    #2 - no-brainer in terms of styling, but how perfect all pieces are and just how they sing together.
    #3 - what possesed you to think this does not work??
    #4 - Great outfit. Good decision to amend the shirt - I might try the same trick with mine because something does not work, yet I love the shirt itself. Weird. And I hear you - I love this technique for short tops on us tall girls :-) 
    #5 - Pretty. This dress is versatile and you surely get the most out of it. I love matchy blazer and shoes!

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