And experiments with layered short & long toppers

The Boden stamp print skirt featured in Angie's post today arrived in my correct size and got its first outing on the weekend -- out for a meal, yay! It was cold, so I wore it simply with cashmere sweater, booties, warm tights beneath. Flashy earrings in lieu of other jewellery. 

I still don't have a long (midi or midaxi) coat so I experimented with toppers. 

In the end I went with the most conservative option, simply because I adore this Hilary Radley alpaca coat and it doesn't get many outings any more; I've had it since the year I joined YLF. So I think it qualifies as an "oldie but goodie." 

The vest alone would not have been warm enough but I wanted to see how it might look or feel with the skirt. Then I tried a short puffer, layering the vest over the puffer, or even under the puffer! Which (if any) do you like?

I struggled with bags. I really need/ want a navy or light grey structured crossbody, but that is a creature I do not own. I ended up wearing with my mustard bag, which was a fun pop of colour. 

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31 Comments

  • slim cat replied 1 year ago

    Gorgeous skirt! Nice collection of toppers - the red coat may be my favorite but all are great!

  • Runcarla replied 1 year ago

    Look #2 is my fave. Like that you used the mustard bag.  Great skirt.  Glad you decided to ‘keep’.

  • Angie replied 1 year ago

    KILLER in #1 and #3. Always fun to see our gilet! 

    .....and KILLER to the Power of KILLER in #2! Very elegant! Coat works superbly well. Modern Retro, FTW.

    Love #6 too! Avante-Garde and ready for NYFW! 

    Glad the size down worked. Beautiful skirt on you, Suz!

    And..... I am about to pass on my navy Furla with crossbody strap to its next great home. It is in impeccable condition - my least used bag. STUNNING quality, and a very good size. You can attach a fun guitar strap to it too. The gold hardware might put you off, though. Let me know! It's yours if you want it :)

  • Lucy replied 1 year ago

    Love the final version of the outfit you went with--classic and beautiful! I was looking at purchasing the skirt, but I am hesitating because the reviews say that the sizing is inconsistent and the skirt is final sale. How did you find the sizing to run? 

  • Suz replied 1 year ago

    Lucy, I wore my regular Boden size, UK8. I ordered up at first, due to the reviews, and the larger size also fit, but was quite loose on the waist, and I was afraid the skirt would twist around with wear. Boden gives great information about the specific garment measurements if you drill into the sizing info, so if you take your own measurements and perhaps chat with someone there, you should be able to make a good estimate. I think perhaps the inconsistencies they are talking about in the reviews are referring to the skirt in some of the other fabrications -- it also comes in a beautiful velvety fabric. That one might be different from the crepe. 

    Angie, wow! That is SOOOO kind of you!! I would love that! Amazing! Yes, the gold hardware might be an issue, but then again, perhaps not. Worth a try! 

    Carla, slim cat -- thanks! It is a lovely skirt to wear. What I liked is that it didn't stick to the tights and no static! 

  • Jonesy replied 1 year ago

    This is a beautiful outfit! Still winter-y, but that skirt print sort of nods to spring, IYKWIM. I like it best with that gorgeous alpaca coat. 

    Seems like the handbag fairy (aka Angie) could bestow a navy bag! 

  • Elle replied 1 year ago

    Wonderful skirt.  Favorite coat is in pic#2 but all work well

  • MsMaven replied 1 year ago

    Knockout outfits. Hard to pick the favorite, but I do agree with 
    Angie that #1 & #3 are killers. I love it in #2 as well. Beautiful outfits to beat the cold!

  • Firecracker (Sharan) replied 1 year ago

    The skirt is beautiful on you. I'm surprised it works so well for you, because the pattern looks a bit warm-toned in the product pics. On you, it looks much cooler-toned. I love the red coat you chose, and I also love the outfit with the long vest. The short puffer works well, too, and I like it with the vest layered over it.

  • RobinF replied 1 year ago

    Great skirt! I love the way you wore it in #1, simple but works so well. I also like it with the long vest - lots of possibilities!

  • Suz replied 1 year ago

    Thank you all. Jonesy, you are right -- this skirt is going to work all year round here. The warm tones say fall or winter, the pinks and whites and floral elements say spring/ summer. And the fabric is cross seasonal.

    Sharan, the skirt is warmer toned, IRL, too, but it does include some cooler elements (the navy and white). And one of the pink tones is neutral rather than warm or cool. It's distant from my face, so it works. It would be more difficult for me to deal with if it were a dress. This way, I can wear tops in colours that work for me. Despite the red in the skirt being rusty, and the pinks being on the warmer side, they somehow work with a cool pink, magenta, cooler and true reds, and other tones that I would not have expected. But truthfully, I'll mostly wear it with white or navy tops. 

    It's surprisingly chameleon, though. You can see me trying it with various colours (all cool or clear, i.e. the reds) here. 

    To get really analytical about it -- my own sense of why it works is a combination of its inclusion of two colours that are my key neutrals (navy and white), the fact that one of those, the white, harmonizes with my hair, and finally, the fact that even though it is a floral print it is graphic -- there are strong lines in it, and some angles. It's not too "soft" or "flowy." Also, the pleats give the skirt some "sharpness" which also works to my advantage. 

  • Karie replied 1 year ago

    Gorgeous skirt! My favorites are #2 and #3.

  • Lucy replied 1 year ago

    Thank you for the info, Suz! I will take some measurements tonight and see which size looks most promising! 

  • replied 1 year ago

    Pretty pleated skirt! Looks wonderful and great colors :)

  • Tanya replied 1 year ago

    Amazing outfits with this excellent skirt.  So glad you kept it.  The first three are my favorite, very elegant.

  • phoebe replied 1 year ago

    1 and 2 are by far my favorite and there's real potential in the pairing of the skirt and the insulated jacket, maybe with a lighter top and less dressy footwear?

  • LJP replied 1 year ago

    What a fabulous skirt for you!  I guess I'm not very adventurous here, as I prefer the classic coat version the best, followed by the long vest on it's own.  I think Phoebe has a good point about the choice of footwear for the more casual puffer outfit versions .  That could explain the disconnect I see.

  • replied 1 year ago

    Not sure about 5/6 but love the others!
    Yay for the handbag fairy :)

  • UmmLila (Lisa) replied 1 year ago

    I prefer this look best with the wool coat as I find the drape and proportions very nice. I could see how a sweeping long coat would make a great statement with it, and other items you own. 

  • Jaime replied 1 year ago

    Fantastic look! I prefer the longer options with this. The funnel neck looks great on you.

  • Indigoprint replied 1 year ago

    Wow! Looks great.

  • Zaeobi replied 1 year ago

    Wow, I can see why that alpaca coat has stayed in your closet, despite minimal wear!

    Yay for the handbag fairy! As long as you're armed with a silver (or gunmetal grey) bottle of nail polish, gold hardware shouldn't stand in your way much ;)

  • jussie replied 1 year ago

    Classy! I love it with the wool coat, and also the vest.
    My next fave is the vest under the puffer.
    What a brilliant skirt…

  • lyn67 replied 1 year ago

    I love nr 3 from the coated ones-the  short puffer would also go better  when you would wear your red combats, I think.

  • Kyle replied 1 year ago

    I’m wowed by the beautiful simplicity and harmony of No. 1. That navy and orange/rust combo is sooo pretty. 

  • Dee replied 1 year ago

    Oh this outfit is so good and looks perfect with the Hilary Radley coat #2 and the long gilet #3, everything is beautiful as always, and with Angie's bag you'll be a set.

  • Cardiff girl replied 1 year ago

    As usual a lovely collection of looks.That dark red really is a great colour on you.Fun to play around with toppers,it’s always interesting to see what works and what doesn’t,that way great outfit combos are born!

  • kellygirl replied 1 year ago

    Eye catching print and so fab on you! I really love it with the red toppers  especially. You always look so pretty, Suz!

  • The Cat replied 1 year ago

    Beautiful skirt! My favourite combos are #2, #3 and #4. How about a berry- or wine-coloured bag?

  • Style Fan replied 1 year ago

    Gorgeous skirt!  #1 and #3 are my favourites.  The skirt tempts me, but will I wear it?

  • Suz replied 1 year ago

    Style Fan -- it could work well for you! The colours are warmer than my usual so might, indeed, work well for you. But the navy might be a sticking point and there is no green or true orange in the pattern, so that would be something to consider. There's gold, which could work for you. But while it is warm (ish) in tone, it's not "earthy" if that makes sense. 

    You could wear it across seasons -- with long underwear in winter (for sure!!) and also long puffer coat. In spring/ summer you could wear without hose. 

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