It's fall in stores, hooray! And I'm shopping too much! (k/r)

Every August, without fail, I start getting excited about clothing again. Summer styles aren't my thing. As soon as the darker colors start reappearing, it's like I'm binging after a long fast.

Some of these things are wardrobe staples but I should be picky about what I keep.

1. Gap denim top. I'd probably trim the fringe a bit. It could be a good wildcard or it could be too boho for me and hard to style. I think it's actually a little short on the torso - the darts aren't in the right place. What do you think?

2. Everlane men's short sleeve shirts. I think I like the white and not the black. I love the long sleeve version I bought this summer and I've been searching for more short sleeve shirts. It's oversized of course but I think it fits my look. Styled with skinnies and wide leg crops to test different ideas.

3. Phillip Lim shirt from the Outnet. It's cool, and my style. It's also expensive and a little fussy. I do wear a lot of shirt dress tunic things... but maybe I don't need another. Fit looks great but it's tight through the chest when I move my arms.

4. Madewell denim skirt. So I own a zillion skirts and I've only worn a skirt three times since April. But when I did, it was always my Gap black denim skirt that is a little big and hits just below my knee. I like this as an alternative because it's much more flattering. And I've gone through phases of wearing a denim skirt really often. But also, is this too short for, say, the conference I'm going to next week? (Everyone dresses like they're at summer camp. Summer camp for grown up nerds! So the only concern is the sexiness, not casualness.)

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17 Comments

  • Stagiaire Fash replied 6 years ago

    #1 looks great on you, but I admittedly can't tell where the darts are. I think it hits your waist at just the right spot--be careful on trimming any fringe!

    I don't know your discipline, but I wouldn't wear the skirt to my academic conferences--too short to forget about when you're sitting down. 

  • Kate replied 6 years ago

    Love your picks, Greyscale. I really like the fringe-y denim top. The length doesn't bother me; I think it looks great on you. But if it doesn't fit correctly around the bust, then it's probably a return. The two Everlane tops, especially the white, are perfect, and work well with the different pants styles. If I didn't already have a similar shirt like that from Madewell, I'd be all over this one.

    Oh say it ain't so about the tightness in the chest on the Phillip Lim shirt. That's gorgeous and looks splendid on you. But, if it's tight in the chest...well, that's always a deal breaker for me. If my mobility is the least bit impaired by an item of clothing, I know I'll never reach for that piece in my closet, no matter how beautiful it is. The skirt is super cute, very flattering, and shows off your great legs. Yes, it is sexy, but not bash-you-over-the-head sexy. The way you described the conference, I think you'd be fine wearing it. But only you can answer the question of how comfortable you'll be in it at the conference. If you will constantly be wondering about the appropriateness of the skirt rather than focusing on what's going on, then save it for other venues. But keep it!

  • UmmLila (Lisa) replied 6 years ago

    I really like the Phillip Lim tunic on you, but I hear you on the comfort. 

  • DonnaF replied 6 years ago

    Since you wrote that you should be picky about what you keep. . . .you may want to go back and re-read your descriptions of the items.

    1.  Gap top: You wrote that the darts are not in the right place and that you have other concerns.  I also don't think this is really your style so that ultimately you won't wear it.

    2. Everlane shirts: The white is really your style; keep.  I am not fond of the black.  Maybe black shirts need to be edgier?

    3. Lim shirt: You said it's expensive but tight through the chest.  In my world, if something is expensive it has to be perfect or at least I have to think it is from the get go.  Actually, I want everything to be perfect, but, ya know. . .

    4. As you noted, the Madewell skirt looks fab on you. It's long enough in back such that bending over will not be a problem, and with flat shoes or the sandals in 4/5, IMHO it says *attractive* vs. *I'm trying to look sexy*.  Only you can decide whether the length will make you feel self-conscious and/or want to tug it down.  And if you don't wear it to the conference, do you want to add yet another skirt to your collection?  Or would you send your other black denim skirt to a one size bigger holding zone?

  • Greyscale replied 6 years ago

    Donna, such wisdom! I think you're right about the black shirt not being edgy enough. I suspect it would look more "me" with solid black pants (maybe wide leg jeans); with the faded skinnies it's just sort of boring. I might try styling it that way, just to see, but I'll probably return it.

    And I do love how the Madewell skirt makes me feel. I always get skirts that are too long for my short legs, and this is honestly the first one I've considered that is the right length to look flattering. I think the too-big skirt probably would go to a holding zone, which is ok.

  • Greyscale replied 6 years ago

    Also, I think everyone is right - if the Lim shirt is tight, I just won't wear it. And it's probably a bit of a pain to launder, too. So close. But I'm sure my "weird shirt" is out there somewhere! I also love this one from Nordstrom. Maybe it'll go on super sale eventually.

  • Style Fan replied 6 years ago

    Fall is my favourite time of the year too.  I prefer the fabric and colours for fall clothing.
    I like the Gap denim top and I like how it looks on you but I wonder if it is your style.  I can't see where the darts are but that would be a deal breaker for me.
    The white Everlane shirt is very fab on you.  Perfection.  The black one is less so.
    The Philip Lim tunic looks amazing.  Too bad it is tight in the chest.
    I like the skirt and I don't think it looks "sexy" but I would not wear it to work.  I worked in academics and health care.  But I rarely wore skirts to work.

  • DonnaF replied 6 years ago

    Since you wrote that you should be picky about what you keep. . . .you may want to go back and re-read your descriptions of the items.

    1.  Gap top: You wrote that the darts are not in the right place and that you have other concerns.  I also don't think this is really your style so that ultimately you won't wear it.

    2. Everlane shirts: The white is really your style; keep.  I am not fond of the black.  Maybe black shirts need to be edgier?

    3. Lim shirt: You said it's expensive but tight through the chest.  In my world, if something is expensive it has to be perfect or at least I have to think it is from the get go.  Actually, I want everything to be perfect, but, ya know. . .

    4. As you noted, the Madewell skirt looks fab on you. It's long enough in back such that bending over will not be a problem, and with flat shoes or the sandals in 4/5, IMHO it says *attractive* vs. *I'm trying to look sexy*.  Only you can decide whether the length will make you feel self-conscious and/or want to tug it down.  And if you don't wear it to the conference, do you want to add yet another skirt to your collection?  Or would you send your other black denim skirt to a one size bigger holding zone?

  • Greyscale replied 6 years ago

    I just realized the skirt will be perfect for my free day in NYC before the conference, so I can bring it and decide later if it's acceptable for the conference itself, based on what others are wearing.

    It might be an unnecessary purchase but I do love it.

  • Jenn replied 6 years ago

    Donna is wise! You answered your own questions in your descriptions! I'm not sure about the denim skirt for professional wear, even in a more casual STEM setting, but for the free day...absolutely! It sounds like you really love this skirt, so maybe you'll wear it more than you have others. Sometimes, it's worth taking a risk with something like this, if it just might be the "right one."

    I start getting excited when the fall colors roll into the stores too. My favorite time of year!

  • Joy replied 6 years ago

    I'd keep the white shirts ( at least one of them) and the black Gap denim skirt for sure. If you keep anything else, I like #1, the denim wild card top. The PL shirt does not sound like a good fit and the black shirt does not seem like it pleases you.

  • jill58 replied 6 years ago

    Love the white on you.  The Phillip Lim tunic is great but for the reasons you mentioned it sounds like a no. Re: the denim skirt -- DonnaF made same good points. I would not wear it for work or for a conference. 

  • karen13 replied 6 years ago

    I love fall too, and and also on a bit of a spree - I will have to post for YFL wisdom soon. Basically, exactly what Donna said.  

    I think the Gap shirt looks good; I like the color, length where it hits you, and it doesn't "tent". But on the model (if I have the right find) the bust darts look a lot higher higher. So if it bother you now, it will probably only feel worse later.

    Love the white shirt. I like it best with the wide legs, but skinnies are excellent too.

  • Stagiaire Fash replied 6 years ago

    NYC before the conference and maybe to sessions (or social events?) sounds like a perfect use for the skirt.

  • unfrumped replied 6 years ago

    I love the white shirt on you. Is this one that fits?
    The skirt is very cute, so I would keep as fun piece for social events or casual, but I would not wear to a conference( unless winterizing with opaque tights.)

  • Greyscale replied 6 years ago

    Just found a photo of my existing denim skirt (halfway down the post):
    http://monochrome.lookfab.com/.....rse-wedges

    I like it in that photo more than I remembered. And in one of my next posts I mentioned that I was wearing it twice a week!

    But now it feels a lot looser (and is faded). I don't think I lost weight... maybe it got redistributed.

    Anyway, they're quite different, and if I wore skirts often I could keep both. But I'm not sure it makes sense.

  • replied 6 years ago

    The first thing I noticed was the Philip Lim top. It is TDF! I hope it fits well enough on you to keep.
    The second thing I noticed was the white shirt. I think it looks great.

    For the skirt length, I think it's acceptable for a super-casual workplace where people wear shorts.

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