Pix-Elated

66 Comments

• rachylou replied 9 years ago

  Well now, it casts the skirted leggings in a while new light. It *is* soft and no, I wouldn't have said it was your utmost you. But if you did this soft on a regular basis... Then the leggings fit in with the persona.

  I may have missed something. Are you thinking about *softening* up in general?

• Echo replied 9 years ago

  The first outfit looks like a dress, which is automatically more polished. But the main difference? About 3 inches, and it makes all the difference in the world to my eye in making the outfit more structured, polished and less juvenile.

• Susie replied 9 years ago

  The first thing that jumps out at me, Suz, is that the skirt you wore appears a lot less short than the leggings one. In reality there might not be a big difference, but it's what my mind sees. The whole ensemble in the first photo reads as more sophisticated and less "young."

• Susie replied 9 years ago

  Posting at the same time, it looks like I echo Echo!

• Angie replied 9 years ago

  There is more structure and polish in outfit #1, which makes me perceive it as a more "Suz" look. The long drapes are elegant despite the lack of form fitting silhouettes. The skirt is longer which adds to the elegance-factor. The tall boots ground the outfit. These details create a sharper appearance than outfit #2.  The second outfit is "sloppier" for lack of a better word. You are not a sloppy gal. xo

• kellygirl replied 9 years ago

  I haven't read all of the threads but on first glance, the defining difference for me is length. The dress looks like a dress and the skirted leggings look like a mini.

  I think you look amazing in both btw. I think my problem is projecting how I would feel onto you. Part of it is having highly critical teen girls in the house who notice everything, I think. You really do wear the skirted leggings exceptionally well. I hope that you give them a chance!

• jackiec replied 9 years ago

  Agreeing with Susie about length. Something about the dress reads a bit more professional to me.

  BTW, and for some reason when I couldn't sleep last night between 2 and 4, this weighed on my mind, I think the skirted leggings are perfectly fun for your home capsule. All the school runs, ducking in and out, groceries, misc things that we have to do constitute a good portion of our day. These are a comfy change of pace. Heck, I flash my family with leggings butt all the time lately, but it's a nice change of pace from denim every day.

  Chuckling about butt-vest. An historic week here on YLF.

• E replied 9 years ago

  Differences that jump out at me: #1 has two 'columns of colour' whereas #2 has a very sharp horizontal break. #1 is less fitted in the bottom half too, and has a longer hemline as others have mentioned. And it has a more muted colour scheme, with lots of neutrals and gentle colour in the scarf, vs the big block of periwinkle in #2. 

  All of this means that #1 looks more sophisticated to me, and more like what I would expect an author to wear. But that doesn't necessarily mean it's more you! Did you feel more like yourself in one than the other?

• deb replied 9 years ago

  You wore #1 or #2?

• Caro in Oz replied 9 years ago

  Agreeing with everyone about the length & the boots. For me the difference in weight between the tights & the skirt also reads as more polished.

• rachylou replied 9 years ago

  Ok had to come back and say I think the dressier outfit is very girlish to me, not princely. The leggings are more princely...

• Diana replied 9 years ago

  I think it's just that teeny couple of inches of length in the skirt.  Which means, you probably can wear skirted leggings if you want to, you just need a slightly longer skirt.

  Do you still have the leggings in  your possession?  I'm curious what it would look like if you tried them in the exact same outfit as #1....

• Firecracker (Sharan) replied 9 years ago

  Column of color (or 2 of them, as E points out) is the main thing, to me. And the second is the length.

• Aziraphale replied 9 years ago

  First off, the skirt in #2 is way shorter. Second, the tunic in #1 creates one long lean line, which the cardi of about the same length emphasizes, making the outfit look elegant. On the other hand, your 'butt vest' (ahahahahaaaaa, thank you Una!) in #2 is one narrow strip of material poking out from below the top, chopping your body into bits. Third -- and this might be my opinion only! -- outfit #1 looks streamlined and polished yet youthful, whereas #2 just looks kinda juvenile. 

  :-)

• Runcarla replied 9 years ago

  What Echo said...about 3 inches.

  I don't see either of these outfits as signiture Suz. Rather than Urban Prince, or even Gamine, it is Pocket Venus. For better or for worse, the skirted legging is a body con look. Tall or small it adds some femininity to the rectangles and IT women that can be balanced with an edgy haircut or stompy boots. It just seems too much of a good thing for women with hourglass tendencies!

• replied 9 years ago

  Are you trying to start another fight?

   

• Sarah replied 9 years ago

  I think the zipper on #2 draws the eye and emphasizes how short the skirt is. I am with Diana and would be interested in seeing how they look with sweater and boots from #1.

• Suz replied 9 years ago

  BRING IT ON, LIsa!! 

  Heheheheh..... Suz, the sweet-faced troll of YLF!!!! 

  You see my evil tendencies...

  No, in all seriousness, I am curious. I have to go to a meeting now, but I thank you all for your thoughts so far, and I will be back! 

  But, just so Deb doesn't have an apoplectic fit, I wore #1 to the session.  ;) 

  And Diana, I really like the idea of showing the same outfit with the leggings. I will do that tomorrow. Thanks! 

• jackiec replied 9 years ago

  Yes! I love Diana's idea! And how about with your red cardi too?? Pretty please.....

• Style Fan replied 9 years ago

  I like both outfits.  I like Diana's idea.  Wear the skirted leggings with the cardigan in #1 and boots, etc.  You have to be comfortable with the idea that some people think you are wearing a mini skirt and not a butt vest.

• unfrumped replied 9 years ago

  #1 looks more grown-up, but tend to prefer skirts not even that much   above the knee, (as dress + tights, as opposed to leggings) for professional wear. Meaning, I just have a mental sweet spot for "adults in tights" and it can be above knee but more, just above knee, you know? I think that's in part because the sit test gets really hard the higher you go. I understand the tights coverage--even so.
  This is not fashion police, as in trying to prohibit, it's just what I think looks better. So I understand that a lot of people think shorter looks better. Also that more casual may = more short, which is certainly true to some extent--summer beach vacation vs. cocktails, maybe--but   I tend to think of lengths as proportions and grace points for the garment and wearer regardless of occasion. Horses for courses.

• sarah replied 9 years ago

  Well, for starters #1 is considerably longer. I might consider wearing that to teach, although it is borderline too short for me to do that. The tonal column helps make the skirt seem longer than it is. However, #2 looks "short short" to me, and there is no way in a thousand years I would teach wearing that. #1 also doesn't hug the leg the way #2 does, which gives it a different vibe (less sporty).

• Marilyn replied 9 years ago

  I LOVE outfit #1.  It's so much more polished and sophisticated.  The column of colour, the long cardi and all the other details are so flattering on you.

  I haven't been around long enough to really know "what is Suz".  So, I'm just looking at the total package as I would with anyone and I like what I see.

• Mona replied 9 years ago

  I agree with every one else. #1 is a longer skirt vs. short skirt in #2 (I perceive skirted leggings as skirt with tights, so this could be just my poison eye).
  You look ready to take on the world in #1.

• Karie replied 9 years ago

  #1 is longer, more polished, more sophisticated, professional with a touch of playfulness. #2 is all playful. The length makes all the difference!

• JillG replied 9 years ago

  It might just be the way you're standing in the photo, but the skirt in #2 looks narrow, almost pegged like a pencil skirt.  When I look at Una's skirted leggings picture her skirt seems to hang straight down and a few inches away from the thigh, as does your dress in #1.  To me that makes the biggest difference and pushes #2 into problem territory.

• replied 9 years ago

  c

• Beth Ann replied 9 years ago

  It's all about proportions and ease, to my eye.  The elements in #1 skim the body, following the line, but draping it, too.  #1 defines the body more (bottom half), and reads more like gear to me.  For the record, I don't find it juvenile, really, but #1 seems more luxe, but still casual.

• catgirl replied 9 years ago

  Suz, you got an XS in the BV, yes?  I got a S, and I think it does hang a little more straight, especially since I have no hips or booty.  The other thing I would like to see is that same second outfit with tall boots to add some structure and balance.  Even though you're not keeping them.  I just wanna see... humor me? :)

  You look great in both, but I don't see much difference in terms of "softness" or "structure" visually - how it feels may be a different story.  Comparing the two is like the difference between fitted skinnies and slouchy skinnies, at least to me - different enough but still in the same family of fits.

  Off to be sloppy!  And no, I would not wear my BV to work.

• Zibbets replied 9 years ago

  I like the first one a lot, but the second one still looks off to me. I think the short booties aren't quite right with it.

  As an experiment, I would try the skirted leggings with the long sweater from #1, your gray orphan boots and a pair of chunky socks that have some gray and black, like fair isle socks maybe, that would just peek out a couple of inches to tie it all together. Might be crazy or might be fab. :D

• replied 9 years ago

  I came to this party late. Everyone else said what I would have said.

  What is abut vest?

• Gaylene replied 9 years ago

  The first outfit, to me, reads as a short dress worn with tights and tall boots. The "shortness" of the dress could be a bit problematic in some settings, but, when worn with your long sweater, tights, tall boots, and a scarf to pull the eye up to your face, isn't out of place for the environment you describe. The skirted legging is a harder because, regardless of what you might want to call the part wrapped around your hip, it looks like a body-con, micro-mini skirt.

  But why Una, and not you? Because Una projects a fierceness and attitude that turns a micro mini INTO a butt vest. On her, the skirted legging becomes a RATE piece--and heaven help the male who is dumb enough to hit on her because he thinks he sees a woman in a micro mini. On, you, Suz, it's more perplexing. You have a polished, urban style that can be quirky, fun, and light-hearted, so that swath of fabric around your hips is a cute micro mini instead of fierce butt vest. And "cute" just doesn't seem to do you justice. You could ramp up the edginess, as some have suggested, by spiking your hair and adding a heavy, stompy boot, but you'll always look more approachable than unapproachable. So you get stuck with being a nice lady in a micro mini skirt--as I said, perplexing.

• Jaime replied 9 years ago

  I am going to do the comment then read comments thing again. Your WIW is terrific. The other outfit is sportier looking, but the contrast between the sporty element and the shiny heels is not you. If you wore it with sneakers to the gym it would be different. You are a sporty person but not a sporty dresser. (I am reducing you unabashedly for the sake of discussion.)

  eta - and yes the leggings skirt is shorter, and I like what Gaylene said 

• Suz replied 9 years ago

  Thank you all for these insights! I will come back tomorrow with further photos. 

  Just to note....I DID try the butt vest with tall boots (1) and with the long cardi (2)  in my earlier thread. It is so, so interesting what we see and what we don't see. Stylings might not be great, but I definitely tried those ideas. 

  Oh, and Una -- I have the size small of the Butt vest. Not XS. So same size as you. But, I do have a bum, hips, and thighs, which might be the difference. And I'm taller, but not by much! 

  1 2
• catgirl replied 9 years ago

  BUTT WAIT...  (HAHAHA!)  I actually got the M, as did LisaP.  So I am still in a size up from you.  :)   I will go back and look at your pics.  Since I actually liked all of them, I didn't look that closely, but I will check again!

• Suz replied 9 years ago

  Ah! Maybe that was my mistake! Medium might be longer. But it would have fallen down on me...they are already bagging at the knee in my photos....hmmm. 

• Dimity replied 9 years ago

  I think Angie nailed it. It's to do with structure and polish. 

• rachylou replied 9 years ago

  I am liking the tall boots one now after seeing the soft polished look. I like you way way better doing UP than the soft feminine professional thing. It makes me feel like I've eaten too much cotton candy.

  How's that for being difficult? :P

• lyn67 replied 9 years ago

  Nr. 1 is definitely a longer hem, and yess, the long boots help, too:-)). That said, nr 2 is growing on me. The more I see it, the more I like it, esp under a longer coat, for erreands, or so (but NOT for the university  presentation you have just had:-)) so comparison is not really fair!!

  I did pointed out before, IT'S NOT YOU, it WERE the structured shoes (and maybe the too polished upper half clothing, in general).

• Summer replied 9 years ago

  I think the first outfit is very you, and you look lovely in it.  As others have pointed out,  it's the column of colour and the extra length that make the difference for me.  Also, I love the long cardigan and the boots with it.  As JackieC says, the second outfit would be fine for your home capsule, but lacks the polish of the first.

• Deborah replied 9 years ago

  I agree 100% with Angie:). And just to be controversial, I am going ton be totally honest as say that I think a longer length skirt suits you better and is more flattering...like the length of the dress in #1. And pls note it's nothing to do with your legs, which are lovely.

• texstyle replied 9 years ago

  The difference is definitely the length -   as others said it "reads" mini skirt, while the other one doesn't.

• texstyle replied 9 years ago

  Oh, you know what else, the skirted leggings also appear to be maybe a bit tighter than I think they are due to the thicker fabric mix or something. So overall it just reads a bit short/tight, where the other outfit does not. 

• Janet replied 9 years ago

  I agree with the comments that it's hard to compare the two looks because they have such different vibes and are clearly two different outfits for two different occasions. The first one really does read as a dress to my eye. the second has a strong horizontal break, which draws the eye down to your legs and calls more attention to the skirt length, while the first one has the strong vertical line of the open cardigan.

  You look fab in both, Suz. This whole skirted leggings thing is REALLY interesting to me because I'm still in a slight state of shock that I heard such positive feedback when I posted the pictures of me trying them. I was not expecting it, even though I was pleasantly surprised that I found myself liking them on me. Honestly, I was mentally preparing myself to read something along the lines of, "Uh, honey, no." But put more nicely, you know. ;-)

  The EF skirted leggings do have a longer skirt than the ones you're trying on. That's obvious just by looking at the photos of 5'7" me wearing them. But the EF ones are thinner too. The legging portion is not much more substantial than tights, and in fact, I think fleece-lined tights would give more warmth. I wonder if skirted leggings may work for you, but not this particular pair.

• Helena replied 9 years ago

  Hi Suz, I haven't weighed in on these yet, although I have been following this and your other thread with interest! This is what fascinates me most about personal style - how is it that two things which look similar on a checklist (soft, shorter, black, etc.) can look so completely different, with one working better than the other?

  In my opinion, the zip is what makes the skirted legging "not Suz" - first of all, it really draws attention to the skirt, second of all, to me, the zip combined with the skirted legging look amps up the retro 80s factor of the skirted leggings. I would be curious to see you in plainer skirted leggings where they didn't take centre stage so much.

  Echoing the sentiment that it's certainly not a matter of body flattery - they do look great on you - but the first outfit to me reads more modern classic, which is more Suz-ish (imho!) than cute retro, which is what the second look makes me think of. Not sure if that makes any sense at all ...

  ETA - Just saw Diana's 'faux skeggings' in her WIW wore post about the holey knits - that look I think could be very Suz-esque ...

• Windchime replied 9 years ago

  Gaylene's explanation of why the shorter skirt works better for Una than for you makes sense to me. Some of us (myself included) will never be perceived as "fierce", no matter what we wear, much as we admire that vibe in other women. Your first outfit, with its long lines and longer skirt, does indeed seem more "you." I'd be interested to see you wear skirted leggings with a longer skirt.

• Suz replied 9 years ago

  Thank you all so much for your thoughtful comments. 

  I've been mulling some more about it myself. And here's what I think. 

  I think RACHYLOU is right. In the sense that neither of these outfits is especially "me." Or ideally "me." Or something. 

  In the past year, I've been trying really hard to collect wardrobe items that work well for my casual life. Things I would actually wear -- not just things that expressed my style perfectly, but might go sitting unworn in my closet. 

  The problem is, my actual life demands comfort, which includes an element of softness (especially in winter). 

  But my preferred style is, in fact, more "crisp" or structured. 

  This puts me in a bind. The outfits that are most personally expressive are also the outfits that I'm not comfortable wearing for my work-at-home life. My "crisper" items -- like button front shirts, jackets, tailored trousers -- go unworn for long stretches of time unless I am travelling to the city or working there. 
  
  In summer, I can wear them more often and more easily, because the weather calls for them. 

  Outfit 1 was more than appropriate to the occasion. I was extremely comfortable in it, both physically and socially. (One of the other presenters was wearing a virtually identical outfit.) The "shortness" of that skirt doesn't bother me in the least, to be honest. In fact, it doesn't even feel "short" to me, worn like this with tights. So I will respectfully agree to disagree with those of you who feel it is still "too short." It would be, in a corporate setting, or if I were a different kind of person -- but for me, worn to this kind of event, it's not. 

  The long, straight, vertical lines of this outfit helps make it feel slightly more "me," perhaps, than Outfit 2. But overall the outfit is too soft for me. And not "dynamic" enough. There is something missing. 

  Outfit 2, to my mind, HAS at least some of the dynamism that outfit 1 lacks. At the same time, it remains a bit too soft/ slouchy for me. And I wouldn't be comfortable in the butt-vest. 

  So. How to combine dynamism with the softness I require in my winter? That is a new question. 

• Helena replied 9 years ago

  That's the million dollar question, Suz ... I struggle with that too. If the thermometer could be set for 15C and sunny, and the agenda set for errands, lunch out and an afternoon meeting, I'd have no worries stylewise! It's that darn reality that messes everything up ... ;)

• Angie replied 9 years ago

  If the under layers in outfit #1 had been woven - you would have felt crisper. Wearing a knit over a knit takes away the sharpness you're after.

  One solution is to wear pants more frequently. You might be feeling the jeans rut. 

• Suz replied 9 years ago

  Angie, I am feeling the jeans rut. That's why I tried to diversify with skirts/ dresses, because that works really well to stave off boredom for me in summer. But woven trousers feel too "precious" for my at home wear a lot of the time. It's not that they are actually uncomfortable. It's more that I don't feel as free to curl up on the couch, run out for a skate at the square, go out on my long walks (they're not as warm). Stuff like that. 

  So...it's a puzzle. Hmmm. 

• Alassë replied 9 years ago

  I prefer #1 to #2 for you as well. #1 reads more sophisticated for the reasons everyone else has mentioned (length, column of colour), while #2 seems too soft.

• shiny replied 9 years ago

  I don't have time to read all the responses (and I didn't read all the responses in your butt vest thread either) so forgive me if this is repetitive. 

  Skirt #1 is more of an A-line cut, and even if it's same length as the other, appears to be longer/more modest. (the vertical lines of the cardigan + column of black help with that as well). 

  Skirt #2 tapers in -- and therefore it is way more body con. AND short. Also, there's the zipper on #2. I may have poison eye here, but that zipper detail reminds me of a sexy little denim mini I had in college, and wore at all the parties.... because of those factors, I might even say that the skirted leggings are MORE sexy & revealing than plain old leggings! A zipper on a skirt (whether functional or not) implies an invitation to unzip. I know that's why I wore it when I was in my 20s.... just saying.. it makes this version of skirted leggings more "date night" than MOTG, to my eye. You are a sexy woman, Suz (you've got rocking hips and thighs), but I always think of your style as being more modest and less come hither. 

   

• Janet replied 9 years ago

  "Angie, I am feeling the jeans rut. That's why I tried to diversify with skirts/ dresses, because that works really well to stave off boredom for me in summer. But woven trousers feel too "precious"...."

  Yes, Suz! I totally relate to this! Plus skirts and dresses are mostly feeling too precious right now too. So you can see why these appealed to me as well.

  Summer seems to offer more variety -- more viable skirt silhouettes (because no hosiery required), shorts, clamdiggers, etc.

  - fellow jeans-rut sister ;-)

• rachylou replied 9 years ago

  I wonder Suz if maybe leggings and a short straight skirt - mini tube or not - wouldn't be the better way to go. Ie, the original look. You'd have more control. And a mini tube to my mind gives more structure. The other thing is, the leggings are black on black. You're not a PIB, so that may also be a factor.

• Thirkellgirl replied 9 years ago

  I don't know what I'm missing that's causing all the discussion, but I think you look fantastic in both photos. You look comfortable, modern, well-proportioned, and stylish. I don't know what could possibly be wrong with either outfit.

• catgirl replied 9 years ago

  So I have a weird issue with wovens that perhaps I should share.  I don't like wovens with knits, especially knit bottoms with woven tops.  When I wear woven tops (which I rarely do) they are structured pants for an overall strict vibe.  To me, wearing a crisp shirt with these skirted leggings would feel a bit like I was dressed in two outfits.  I may be confusing "woven" with "crisp", though.  And I certainly don't associate 'woven" with comfortable at home clothing.

  Suz, I also want to point out that you have set an EXTREMELY high standard for yourself in how you dress - impeccable, meticulous and polished (but not precious), you are a platinum Fabber as far as that goes.  So we all hold you to that.  I feel like my style, being more "sloppy" as it's been put, doesn't have the bar set as high.  Should there be different standards for different categories within our wardrobe, or among Fabbers for that matter? :)

• rachylou replied 9 years ago

  I have that too, Una...

• shiny replied 9 years ago

  Una, you should try the softened shirts at LOFT. I just bought three of them. 

• Suz replied 9 years ago

  Una (though Rachy is not an IT) I am going to go out on a limb and say that woven tops are not comfy -at home wear for ITS up top but can be for other body types. Maybe not busty hourglasses or extreme pears (because the bottoms of the shirts bind their hips unless unbuttoned). It's similar to why jeans are super comfy for ITs in most cases and also for slim rectangles...but don't feel like comfy "at home" wear to apples or hourglasses. The clothes are working against your body. 

  In my case,  a woven top isn't fighting with my body so I can easily wear it. I want the "comfort" on the bottom because at home, I curl up on the couch, bend and crouch, run out to go skating, etc. Having said that, the "crisp" versions are simply too "cool" to the hand for me to wear them in winter. Flannel shirts have helped here, thanks to Angie's advice. 

  Janet, I am glad I'm not alone in this feeling about trousers and jeans rut. Although I wish neither of us were contending with it! 

  Thirkellgirl, it's about my personal style -- it's not only about how it looks in terms of figure flattery. It's about how or whether it is expressive of who I am. 

  Jennifer, thanks -- yes, the cuts of the skirts are different to a degree, although the blue dress is less A line than it might appear in the pic -- it's a ruched bodycon thing in fact. 

• texstyle replied 9 years ago

  I only buy supersoft wovens that I don't have to iron and they never look truly crisp but I don't think Suz wears those.

• Suz replied 9 years ago

  tex, I do have a few sort of similar to that -- fluid button downs either in silk or rayon blend. But the colours I choose may mitigate the soft appearance. I often go for blue and white combos, and blue and white reads inherently crisp to me. 

• catgirl replied 9 years ago

  Suz, you are so right about the body type issue relating to comfort, and also about crisp wovens feeling "cooler" and more chilly in winter. 

• Angie replied 9 years ago

  Suz, it's the challenge many face with their style (I talked about that with Ornella last year): achieving their aspirational look does not mesh with their lifestyle or climate. You can only take your style so far when you work from home, like to exercise daily, and have to stay warm. So you compromise - but you make the best of the compromise. 

  I'd say CA has about the best climate for fashion (not too hot, not too cold, and definitely not wet). And dressing up for the office each day allows you to wear a larger variety of outfits. 

  So I'm back to finding solutions - (which you were with the skirted leggings too of course) - you need to find jeans alternatives that are pants, but not dressy pants. And you are not at all limited to Preppy. 

• Suz replied 9 years ago

  Thank you, Angie -- I think you are absolutely right. I am going to get to work on it. I'd already set myself a personal challenge to wear all my trousers in the next couple of weeks and see how that felt. I already ran into problems when two pairs felt too dressy for the situation I was going to be in. I am okay with changing my clothes once during the day, if need be, but there are times when that isn't possible. 

• rachylou replied 9 years ago

  It's a really interesting question. What do crisp people relax in? What is the relaxed version of crisp?

  My first thought is sporty luxe. And then also linen, but that's hot weather wear. I think maybe asymmetrical hems might also be a good friend. You can get the sharp point in, even when the fabrication is soft and fuzzy. Janet's new dress I could see part of this capsule. I have a long shirt like it. Overall it's soft and warm, but it's got the pointy collar. I'd maybe add faux leather leggings and abuse the heck out of them ;)

• Staysfit replied 9 years ago

  Suz, I just saw this thread and wanted to weigh in. I like the first pic in the original set of pics, but was not convinced it looked consistent with what I know to be your current style. I could however, see you head in that direction.

  The second pair of skirted leggings, reminds me too much of athletic wear. I may have poison eye for this from way too many early mornings wearing them myself as I headed out the door for my marathon training. Skirt Sports brand were about the only bottoms I wore, and I loved them in all legging lengths, summer and winter. No chafing, they are comfortable for running, they swish around, and even after 26.2 miles you look somewhat put together, etc. They were also great for after the run jaunts to the local diner for big breakfasts with my running friends. However, I somehow still see them as athletic gear, especially when the length of the skirt gets short. I hope you don't take this the wrong way, but the zipper in front reminds me of a reflective safety strip.