WIW: Taking Distressed, Slouchy, Skinny BF to the Movies,

....and working at home.

I am trying, really trying, to take pics of the real everyday outfits. It is a challenge because they feel boring. But I figure a record will help me figure out what works and what does not.

Sunday: We walked downtown for a family movie date. Slouchy Skinny BF jeans, puffer vest, brown cashmere T neck and my Reports with a scarf.

Monday: New BR detachable cowl-neck sweater in wine. My DL1961 skinnies - first ever premium denim!

Tuesday: Stripes and scarf. This is the LL Bean sailor sweater; it's longer than the Land's End one in petite. Not sure which I prefer. I ordered this one to replace the other, which is starting to pill a bit, but I can hardly complain when I wore it about 50 times over the summer and autumn.

Wednesday: AT shirt, a new sweater vest from Winners, black Really Skinnies. I think this looks better IRL for some reason.

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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.

32 Comments

  • replied 11 years ago

    Oh, I really like 4! And the sweater in 2 is great too. These are great looks, Suz, not boring at all.

  • Raisin replied 11 years ago

    Great outfits. You look pulled together and fab. I like your new DL jeans. DH tried some on a while a go and said they were the best jeans ever. I'm planning to get him some for Christmas when they get his size in. The scarfs and booties are all great touches and up the oomph factor, I think. Plus your glasses are gorgeous.

  • MsMary replied 11 years ago

    I love these. Not boring at all -- just simply fab!

  • Janet replied 11 years ago

    I don't see boring -- you look great! I love the sweater in #2. I got a grey "convertible" sweater from Michael Kors last year and loved it so much, I looked and looked for another, but to no avail. Thanks to you, I just looked this one up on the BR website, and I'm thinking about ordering it. Are you happy with it? It sure looks great on you!

  • Suz replied 11 years ago

    I'm happy with it so far, Janet. The wool is soft and warm, and the collar is easy to arrange. I suspect it might pill easily, but it's always hard to tell for sure in advance. I've only worn it once, so here's hoping.

  • Karie replied 11 years ago

    I like all your looks, Suz, and I don't think they are boring at all! I have a top similar to the striped one in #3, and I love the scarf you have with it. I can't tell too much from the photo, but what colors are in the scarf (looks like red or pink and blue or black), and where did you get it?

  • kellygirl replied 11 years ago

    Fab x 4! These are right up my alley. I love me a clean, casual look. You look polished and stylish--love the jaunty scarf with the stripey shirt :) LOVE the puffer--wishing I had something like that (although I don't think I could pull it off with such flair.) Great layering in 4 and the cowl sweater in 2 is just awesome. Gorgeous!

  • rae replied 11 years ago

    Loving your everyday outfits! And wait... you've reminded me that I have a puffy vest. Totally want to copy you now. :D

  • MNsara replied 11 years ago

    Love your everyday outfits - they show how a simple addition (scarf to stripes, or vest over shirt) give everything that stylish edge.
    The premium denim looks great! Are they making you a convert?

  • Kristin SF replied 11 years ago

    Uh-oh. This is working at home? I can see I'm going to need to up my game over here. I work from home a few days a week and I'm usually not looking quite as fab as this. ;-)

    Wonderfully stylish and I love the new DL skinnies and the slouchy skinny BFs.

  • Carole replied 11 years ago

    Suz, I don't know how it would be possible for you to ever look boring! Personally, I love your everyday casual WIW's because that's how I spend everyday and I find your style so inspirational! I love that each outfit is casual but different!

  • Transcona Shannon replied 11 years ago

    Oh my goodness Suz - these are far from boring. And these are the type of outfits I need to learn how to put together. I have my work wardrobe fairly sorted out but casual still causes me angst.

    I like in outfit #1 how your boots pull out that lighter beige colour in your scarf. And the bright coloured puffer vest is just perfect with this. And I absolutely ADORE those jeans on you. Apparently my slouchy skinnies will be delivered tomorrow and hope mine look anywhere near as good as yours.

    And girl....you look downright SEXY in those premium skinnies. Wow! And of course, love that burgundy shade on you. Don't you love cowl necks? It's one of my favourite necklines.

    I clearly need a striped long sleeved tee of some sort because all of you YLFers wearing these lately look so darned good in them! Love the pattern mix with the scarf.

    The last outfit is just fabulous - blues are great on you and the shirt peeking out from under the sweater vest is great.

    These are fantastic examples of great casual wear. Please don't ever think your outfits are boring or that we don't want to see them ok?

  • Ariadne replied 11 years ago

    Great looks. I really appreciate seeing everyday outfits. You look polished and comfortable. In the New Year I really want to try to photograph and post them more often myself since that's what I wear 99% of the time.

    I''m noticing how your sand Reports and taupe DV booties seem to mix well with everything. I wouldn't have expected that! Bookending is powerful.

  • Emily replied 11 years ago

    Suz, you are looking polished and stylish as always. And not boring in the least! Each of your outfits looks effortless and interesting. 4 is my favourite, that blouse and vest go together beautifully.

  • Suz replied 11 years ago

    Thanks, everyone. I do think it's great for those of us who live casual lives (Kelly, Mo, Claire, now, often, Rae, Janet) to post because it can be so tough to figure out how to dress for working at home.

    When I'm going out, I tend to up the ante with jackets or skirts and dresses (even if I'm just going out for lunch with a friend or going to the doctor!) because my natural bent is more dressy, and, well...I just don't get many opportunities!

    But this is how I TRY to dress when I am working at home. Well, when I'm not in workout gear (which is quite often). There are two reasons I try to dress this way.

    1. I spent too many years Not. Bothering. And that's when my weight, my health and my energy levels suffered. I figure getting properly dressed is a way to show some self-respect. Plus, my husband works from home, so he has to see me in whatever I am wearing. The least I can do is get out of my bathrobe!

    2. I have almost daily videoconference meetings. True, my employers do not care if I am wearing workout gear; they are a workout company! But I do my best to appear in real clothes simply because I feel more prepared and professional if I do.

    Karie, the scarf is from Banana Republic: http://bananarepublic.gapcanad.....=232794013

    And Ariadne has the same one!

    I love the DL skinnies. I got them late last winter but didn't wear them all spring/summer because they are quite heavy weight. There IS a definite difference in the quality.

  • JR replied 11 years ago

    I love all of these. I really hear you about dressing for self-respect. I made myself a rule several years ago that I would get dressed every morning unless I was sick enough to spend the day in bed. And I try to dress respectably, and even nicely when I can pull it off. You are a great role model in that department.

  • Jonesy replied 11 years ago

    It's great to see the fab examples of casual chic! I especially love the first look with the hot pink vest, and I don't even *like* hot pink generally :).

  • Suz replied 11 years ago

    Thanks, Jonesy! (And so nice to see you pop up here!) The vest is actually tomato red, but it was very sunny so colour values may be a bit off.

  • Jaime replied 11 years ago

    I should look so boring. All of these are winners in my eyes.

  • nancylee replied 11 years ago

    I love all of these looks, Suz. Where you see "boring" I see continuity and strong personal style. And you look super cute in your glasses!

  • sarah replied 11 years ago

    Good for you, Suz. I spend every weekend in my BF jeans and ultra-casual wear. I'm glad I'm not alone - casual gals unite! You look great.

  • replied 11 years ago

    These are such stellar casual looks Suz! It seems you have some real, quality items here. Cashmere with your puffer, premium denim and lovely silk! I thought your striped T was the LLBean one. Now I see you've just ordered one. I tried an LLBean one but I struggled with the heavy fabric, which makes it tough to put a jacket on top of (that and the 3/4 sleeves). It's too hot for a summer shirt for me so I sent it back.

    Anyway, you look great in your working-from-home wear! Your hubby is a lucky man. :)

  • Caro in Oz replied 11 years ago

    You look like a ray of sunshine in the first one. None of them look boring they look well-fitting & casual. Just a thought but do you feel boring in the first one? If you don't maybe it's colour you need.

  • ManidipaM replied 11 years ago

    Boring, Suz? More like inspirational from where I'm standing---er, sitting in front of my work-from-home computer, actually!

    I recall your older posts about the dilemma of dressing for just this situation: working from home---and you seem have it all sorted now! And best of all, not only does it all look smart and stylish, it looks comfy too, like you could go climb a ladder or stir a casserole or play with a kitten between tasks if you wanted.

    Okay, I'm heavily biased by my own lifestyle---but I absolutely LOVE it when ladies with a more casual preference/lifestyle or those working from home post. Much as I'd like to dress up snappier in a pencil skirt and jacket or even dress pants, I know that's mostly a fantasy wardrobe in the everyday, for me. So posts like this give me something achievable to aim for. Please, PLEASE, keep them coming!!

  • Deborah replied 11 years ago

    Suz, I love these outfits! We have to remember that we all live "real" lives which means we can't always be swanning around in our "ball gowns":). Stylish women have a way of looking consistently well put together no matter what they are wearing, and I think you do this very successfully. I would also suggest that maybe the reason you feel these looks are boring is because they are "familiar" to you (familarity breeds contempt?!?). Occasionally, like with my polka dot dress today, I will feel a bit bored or over something purely because it is so me! I will crave something completely different, only to feel very uncomfortable and not me and then return to what I thought was boring in the realization that it is in fact the best representation of my style and personality.

  • Ornella replied 11 years ago

    Suz, you look divine!

  • anne replied 11 years ago

    Love these looks!! As a SAHM I love looking at casual looks and I wish I looked as good as your boring outfits do!! I think it is addition of the scarves and your choices of footwear that are taking these up a notch

  • ramya replied 11 years ago

    Suz love all your looks :)...
    These could be my office wear where I work... A team full of guys walking in tee and jeans with socks and slippers on their feet :D...
    Well I would wear all of them in a heart beat if I could carry them off :D

  • Suz replied 11 years ago

    Ramya, you *could* carry them off, each and every one...and maybe you can get clues for cold climate dressing here, since that is something you're just coming to grips with! (Hint - LAYERS!) :-)

    Anne, thank you. I agree that footwear is key and my scarves help warm my neck and add a bit of pattern and colour.

    Deborah, you are very wise. I would *like* to dress differently, and in particular I would like to find some different silhouettes. And I'd love to wear more skirts and dresses. But apart from knit jersey and ponte, they just aren't practical and with a cat even those are not the best considering that he always tries to climb up my tights!

    Manidipa, I am really aiming at comfort combined with style. It is a journey, though. I don't feel I am perfectly there yet. I do have the comfort, but not so much the style.

    Caro - great observation. I *do* crave colour. So that is something I need to remember. I think what I'm also craving (and missing) is that elusive "cool" factor...you know? Well, you *do* know. These are all very well, they are practical, they fit, they are presentable....but they are not moving my style forward. They are not dramatic enough, perhaps. Yet the floaty, flowing looks that give you that arty, edgy vibe don't work for me, alas....I need more structure and angularity. I wish I had the answers.

    Claire, I can totally see why you would reject the LLBean sweater. (The Land's End one is a similar fabrication, by the way...a bit stiffer but same weight.) I consider it a light sweatshirt, not a top. In summer I wear it as a sweater (in the mountains, where it was cool). In winter I would also layer it over a top or cami (here I'm wearing a cami) and I wouldn't wear it on our super cold days....only on a warmer day. Or maybe with a blazer over top, plus a coat and scarf, in true winter. It's mostly a spring/fall piece in my climate.

    Thanks, everyone, for the nice boosts, and those of you who live casual lives, please keep posting your own outfits, too. I need the inspiration!!

  • Sona replied 11 years ago

    fab outfits Suz. love 2 and 4 in particular. Your casual outfits are insipration to working from home/at home/MOTG and all similar lifestyles. I think of you on my days off and pull on my jeans instead of my sweats!!

  • Lisa replied 11 years ago

    I like your "boring" outfits. They remind me of mine, so we must be boring together! I try to add interest to everyday outfits with scarves and blazers. I think layering makes an outfit interesting.

  • RoseandJoan replied 11 years ago

    The simplicity is what makes your style shine Suz.

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