Apple red? in Montreal

Hello, Lovelies!

I post from sunny Montreal where DH and I have landed for his birthday weekend. :)  That is the good news. That, plus the sunshine, after weeks of cold and heavy rain where I live. 

There is no bad news, or not exactly. It's just that my slight hourglass/ rectangle shape seems to be verging on apple these days, or at least that is how I am beginning to feel as I play with the new proportions. Maybe I'm just coming face to face with my short-waistedness, which lower waists used to disguise. Anyway, I bought this new skirt from Aritzia. Love the colours (red and fuchsia with bits of yellow, white, and blue/black). I can't get a full length photo, unfortunately -- we are in my stepson's place and no full length mirror. But I will put some other elements of the outfit in Finds -- imagine it with the library stamp Out of Print tee (no Find) and my cropped distressed denim jacket (no Find). 

Anyway, I got the skirt to replace my J. Crew A-line which somehow did not make me happy. I wanted a change up from summer tube skirts. It could be that pleats all the way up to the waist are not the best idea. But the fit is nice and it is comfortable and the pleats stay in -- no wrinkles, either, after a day of travel in the car. I am not sure what other tops to wear with it. I did a bit of experimentation in the closet and came up unhappy, but I was very tired during try-on sessions. 

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35 Comments

  • Tisa replied 6 years ago

    You look fab, Suz! The skirt is beautiful, and I like how you paired it with a short jacket and a white graphic tee. 
    I also really like your hairstyle.

  • JAileen replied 6 years ago

    Suz, great outfit! If you're turning into an apple, you're hiding it very well.

    I used to have a long silky red skirt that I wore with a denim jacket, and plain white tee. Your sneakers are a great look with the outfit. I never thought of it. I usually wore brown wedge sandals, bookending my then brown hair.

  • replied 6 years ago

    Beautiful skirt!  I think I know how you feel. Skirts like that are tough to wear. They look so beautiful but require a lot of body length . I think I'd be tempted to not tuck or semi-tuck, and wear a tonal fitted top and a heel of some sort.  That column of colour effect.   Your cropped jackets should still work with that tonal/fitted silhouette. Your hair is looking super -great right now too. Shorter bang?  I'm tempted to go at mine with scissors after seeing yours :)

  • Angie replied 6 years ago

    You were made to wear that colour, Queen Fire Engine Red. LOVE what you did here - please try to take a full length pic. Gorgeous skirt, and super stunning hair!

  • Angie replied 6 years ago

    And happy birthday, Mr. Suz.

  • K.M. replied 6 years ago

    I love the outfit, the colors, and the shape, and I think the proportions flatter you. I am long-waisted and I've always wanted to be short-waisted!

    Montreal is such a lovely city. I also find that women are super-elegant there! Even in the dead of winter with icy streets and freezing winds.

  • Scarlet replied 6 years ago

    LOVE that skirt. I have one in a very similar style that I have paired with a top that I do not tuck in, but is relatively short (only works with skirts, or I suppose now the high-waisted pants that are in vogue) and has a graceful bowed hem (longer in the middle and shorter on the sides) so that not tucking it looks like a deliberate look. I wish I could provide a picture, but I don't have any.

    ETA: Could be cute

    http://us.aritzia.com/product/.....color=1275

  • Diana replied 6 years ago

    Pretty skirt! If you want to try something different I actually like my knife pleated skirt with a long, straight top, untucked, kind of a modern flapper kind of vibe. I'm really fond of that silhouette (it's basically what I'm doing in today's wiw) because it totally hides the short waist.

  • Diana replied 6 years ago

    Like this:
    http://diana.lookfab.com/post/.....er-backlog

  • Scarlet replied 6 years ago

    Also pretty

    https://www.anntaylor.com/scal.....&colo

  • Dianna replied 6 years ago

    What a lovely and colorful outfit!  You look stunning in red.

  • replied 6 years ago

    I love this outfit, especially the red and bold silver jewelry.
    I can't actually see what you're talking about, but if you're anything like me, you could try a thick belt.

  • Angie replied 6 years ago

    I forgot to say that I don't see apple shape at all. 

  • Suz replied 6 years ago

    Thank you all so much! I really enjoy the skirt so it is just a question of finding the right tops -- great suggestions here. I'll try to get a full length photo soon. I do have heeled footwear to wear with it also. Today I was walking a lot and wanted to wear the sneakers. 

    Lisa, bangs are not actually shorter but pushed back a bit. I used a bit of product and shoved them aside. They are shorter than I used to wear them, I guess, but not as short as the ultra pixie a year ago, if that makes sense. 

  • Brooklyn replied 6 years ago

    Love the skirt but I also find this type of skirt to be a styling challenge. I would do as Diana suggests, and wear a more fitted, slighter longer top (more hip length than waist length), untucked.

  • Firecracker (Sharan) replied 6 years ago

    I love the outfit, Suz! That skirt is fantastic on you, and I love the way you've worn it with graphic tee, jean jacket and sneakers. My idea is to try untucking the shirt and knot it at the "waist," i.e., at high hip. I've seen this look in photos and liked it.

  • Mirjana replied 6 years ago

    WOW, WOW, how gorgeous skirt and you styled it perfect, you look really stunning .

  • Bijou replied 6 years ago

    No apple shape at all. This is the impact of having pleats from the waist line, so that when you look down it looks to you as though your stomach is larger - but viewed from the front, it visually is very slimming as the lines come from your waist. I have a similar skirt and it was only when I looked at photos I could appreciate that it was flattering. I love this colour and style on you - stunning!

  • Karie replied 6 years ago

    I think you look fantastic. The skirt is gorgeous and so colorful. I am also feeling a bit apple shaped lately. I haven't really gained weight but I feel like my weight is shifting and I'm loosing what little waist I had. Oh well, if this is all we have to deal with as the years go by then it's all good, right?! 

  • cobaltblue replied 6 years ago

    I love the skirt! Your hair is looking great.

  • replied 6 years ago

    Suz, you are rocking that skirt like nobody's business!  What a perfect color for you, and I like the way it works so well with the denim jacket.  Enjoy the lovely city of Montreal with Mr. Suz!

  • Dana replied 6 years ago

    Very pretty! I love how you've dressed down a skirt that could be a little prissy! Have a wonderful weekend! 

  • tulle replied 6 years ago

    Suz, I would say that "apple" is--ahem--a slight exaggeration!  Those crystal-pleats-to-the-waist skirts are tricky on everyone, except maybe lanky waifs with concave bellies.  This one is certainly not problematic on you, and I love the graphic tee & denim jacket with it.  Have you tried it with a slightly cropped, boxier untucked top? A real gift to the short- waisted.  I also have worn long silky pleated skirts as Diana suggested, with a long narrow sweater (like that J. Crew cashmere with the structured stitching along the sides) for a 1920s effect.  A slight heel or platform helps with that look.  Anyway, you look great. The colors are super on you.

  • Style Fan replied 6 years ago

    Gorgeous colour on you Suz.  I find skirts like that very difficult to style.  I like how you have put the graphic tee and denim jacket with it.  I also like the idea of the knotted T from Artiza and cropped shell from Ann Taylor that Scarlet suggested.  A denim shirt knotted at the waist would be nice too.  I remember doing that with those skirts that were very popular in the 90s.  I think they were from India and had beautiful prints.

    Enjoy Montreal.  I am so envious. 

  • krishnidoux replied 6 years ago

    From what I can see it looks very good. But I can't see it vrey well. You malaise might come from its length and how wide it's open at the hem? from this pic, there is not way to know. The colour is gorgeous. It suits you well.

  • Sal replied 6 years ago

    I think this looks great; perfect for a city break!!  I love the way you have styled it.

    I am also short waisted and I do have a tummy and find high waisted skirts hard to style.  I think a jacket helps, or maybe a slightly boxy top that sits at the waistband.  

  • Jaime replied 6 years ago

    Gorgeous! I love long pleated skirts like that, but they are hard to wear (I haven't found one that comes close on me). I don't see apple - I see very tricky skirt looking fab on you!

  • Jenni NZ replied 6 years ago

    Hi Suz, gorgeous skirt, love the colour. I would have an urge to wear a slightly cropped top that finished near the waistband, and a more dressy jacket. And maybe red heels, but I do like the white sneakers. You are much taller than me, I felt a bit dowdy-looking in midi skirts with flats, consequently I have few midi skirts left. I've saved one beautiful one from about 2007 in the holding zone, to see if I can figure some new way to wear it soon.

  • Beth Ann replied 6 years ago

    Yummy skirt!  I think the proportions are working well here, and I suspect that it would look even better IRL, with subtle movement as you walk.

    Happy celebration to Mr. Suz!

  • lyn67 replied 6 years ago

    K2K from me!:-)&I'm in love with this combo, never saw a better outfit with a plisée midi skirt! That red is gorgeous with your hair, the graphic  white snakers(whohoo!!!) and denim jacket!!! +Happy Birthday to Mr Suz!:-).

  • Lisa replied 6 years ago

    Happy Birthday to DH!  This pleated style skirt is a nice change from the tube style you wore last year.  Since the skirt is flowy and has lots of volume, I'm thinking short tops and slim fit tops tucked in will work best and not compete with the skirt.  Don't laugh, but those bodysuit style tops was the first top style that popped into my head.  Or maybe a body con fit sleeveless mockneck top tucked in would work.

  • Coffeegirl28 replied 6 years ago

    gorgeous skirt and you wear it so well! for other styling options, what about a cropped and fitted sweater? 

  • rachylou replied 6 years ago

    I love this skirt, esp with the tennies. Very on trend - except the deep red is a surprise, a twist.

    My short waisted self also got a pleated silly skirt too, but haven't worn it yet. Been too busy roughing it.

  • Sara L. replied 6 years ago

    Great outfit!  I love the sneakers with the skirt.  It looks great the way you've styled it, but I have problems with that type of skirt too.  I always feel like they emphasize my belly pooch and I can never quite figure out the right tops.  You have lots of suggestions here and I hope you get it figured out because the skirt is great.

  • JuniperGreen replied 6 years ago

    I LOVE this outfit, so fun!  

    I have the same ECCO sneaks and have yet to pair them with a dress or skirt, so you've inspired me.  

    And I agree no apple in sight, and if you're struggling with a short waist you've nailed the proportions!  (I'm taking notes!)

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