Workday Wardrobe ~ Feb 24-28
Okay, there are people in the building again so I guess I have to make an effort at dressing 🙂 (said like a true fashion blogger, ha ha).
MONDAY
It’s going to be pretty mild today so I opted for cropped jeans and flats. I couldn’t get myself out of bed when I should have so I had to make a hasty decision of what to wear on top. I like the black plaid top, I like the camel cardigan. Taking a quick glance in the full-length mirror as I was hurrying out the door I realized I don’t like them so much together. It’s a variation of that “lighter over darker” thing that I don’t like. I feel like the black plaid blouse has more visual weight to it than the cardigan does, so it feels improperly unbalanced to me. I know this is one of those cases where people feel I overthink things. But. Yep. Does anyone else have that “lighter over darker” aversion?
- Old Navy White Cropped Jeans, size 24 short
- Caslon/Nordstrom Black Plaid Blouse, size 4x. No longer available, comparable here and here.
- Old Navy Camel Duster Length Cardigan, size 2x. No longer available, comparable here and here.
- Brown Kelly&Katie Jordi loafer
TUESDAY
Feeling a little bleh today. It was supposed to be mild…but rainy. I always think there’s going to be lots of splashing through puddles on rainy days so I wear shoes I don’t care about and pants that cover my legs all the way down. There never IS splashing, but I can’t let go of that concern. A short-sleeved tee for the warm temps. Mid-weight cardi.
My wardrobe feels a little sparse these days. I always think of cold weather wear as “fall clothing” and “winter-spring clothing.” Fall is the warmer spicy colors – rust, mustard, gold…and winter is more the greys, black, taupe, light blues, maybe bringing in pinks. So right now I keep looking at the vast majority of my fall sweaters…and they just don’t feel right for this time of year.
I have a lot of rules.
- Gloria Vanderbilt Scottsdale Wash Amanda straight leg jeans, size 24 short
- White Daily Ritual/Amazon swing tee, size 4x
- Grey Old Navy Cardigan, size 2x
- Black Skechers
WEDNESDAY
I think I look a little like a still shot from an Elaine Benes dance.
- Black Charlotte Russe Skinny Jeans, size 24. Old.
- Camel Anthropologie Turtleneck, size 2x. No longer available.
- Aerosoles Betunia Leopard Flat
THURSDAY
We were taking a little road trip at work today, to visit the new venue for our big dinner gala in May. We need to check out the space to figure out how to fit all our activities: casino, raffle prizes, money booth, games of chance, dance floor, screens for video presentation, dance floor, tables, etc. So I made a little effort today to represent.
- J. Crew Navy Slim Cropped Pant, size 24. Available here in many colors and straight and plus sizes
- Ava & Viv/Target V-Neck Knit, size 3x. No longer available. Comparable here.
- Aerosoles Betunia Leopard Flats
FRIDAY
I LOOK like The Last Day of the Week. I’m getting home late from dinner with friends and I’m pooped. I need to get a Magic Eraser to try and clean the white parts of all my sneakers.
- J Crew Italian Boiled Wool Coat in Autumn Biscuit, size 22
- Jessica London Black Cotton/Cashmere Turtleneck, size 1x. Sold out, comparable here and here.
- Gloria Vanderbilt White Amanda Jeans, size 22 short
- Grey Arishi New Balance Sneakers
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Joan
I too have a lighter over darker thing — but never really explicitly thought about it until you said it. I’m your age (1 month older) so maybe we share the same set of fashion influences. But in the photo it doesn’t “look” like that to me — there’s quite a bit of white in the plaid shirt, which links to the white jeans, and the cardigan is a fairly dark color — looks cute.
bettyewp
Yeah, the camel over plaid is very borderline for me. When I see it in the picture it looks okay. It was more in the mirror.
Laurie Elliott
You had me thinking with the Monday light over darker. I think it looks fine. Then I saw Tuesday with the grey over white and it made sense. It just feels better. All my cardigans have been dark or if lighter they were sets with a matching top under them. I blame this on listening to an upbringing of big girls must wear dark colors mantra which I didn’t question. Ugh!
bettyewp
Stupid fat girl mantras.
AND…
QUESTION EVERYTHING!
xoxo
Linda Root
In your first photo, I see a column of color! For me, a pear shape, I used to follow the “rules” of a darker cardi/blazer/jacket. Fast forward to the year 2020… I don’t know what to do with my hybrid shape. I look for darker shirts but then can’t decide what cardi/blazer/jacket color to wear. Plus, I get really warm in layers so I’m picky about fabric choices. Such problems, LOL 😊
bettyewp
Haha “hybrid” shape, I like that.
Yeah. Layering is a challenge if you’re someone who gets warm easily.
jodie filogomo
I’ve never heard of that lighter over darker thing. And yes, I’m one of those that think you totally overthink some of these things…haha. (good friends are honest, right?). I overthink a lot of things too, mostly about fit, and why is my cat not scratching on the rug scratcher like she does the cardboard one?
And you know I have the perfect answer to that “bleh” day….a bright necklace or scarf!! That’s the ticket to all my feeling bleh days!!!
OXOX
Jodie
Cheryl
Your Monday and Thursday outfits are really elegant and I really think the contrasting colours look good together. I haven’t heard of the lighter over darker colour concept, I just always wear dark colours on the bottom then go with lighter coloured tops.
bettyewp
Yeah I’m pretty happy to get 2-3 good days a week. It used to be better when I planned out my weeks’ wardrobe over the weekend. I feel like uncertain weather and lack of appropriate shoe/leg options makes that difficult right now!
Yeah, I’d think with my lighter/darker color issues that I would be more comfortable wearing darker bottoms and lighter tops, too. But I do find that I like wearing dark things over my white jeans in the winter, like dark gray or Chestnut or taupe or navy. I know I wore black over them one day last week and I’m not as comfortable with that it’s too stark a contrast for me. I know black-and-white is a very acceptable color combination but it’s not my favorite on me.
So weird how these things get ingrained in us!
Susan
You always look so nice. Thanks for sharing your wardrobe with us.
bettyewp
Thanks, Susan. I try. Most days, haha.
Ruth Josey
I think I must have a light over dark thing, too, but I think it’s because I’m afraid the dark will show through the lighter color. I think your Monday outfit looks great, though, and maybe you should wear it again. I love your fashion blogger attitude, though. I always dress down for work because I end up sitting on a concrete floor covered with some shop oil or material or at least dust and sometimes mud. I just don’t really even try for work…..until I know somebody other than my co-workers will be there. At any rate, even on your comfy days with the sneakers, you’re more dressy than I am for work. For your Friday outfit, if you wore some black boots under the pants instead of the sneakers, you’d be ready to head out for the evening or a board meeting. I really like the look!
Ruth
https://voguefauxreal.com/2020/02/23
bettyewp
Oh, ha, I never thought of the darker color showing through the lighter color. To me it just feels like a visual weight thing. Like someone else said in a comment, they tend to wear darker colors on the bottom and lighter colors on top (pants and shirts). Though I do like wearing dark tops over my white jeans. So who knows?!?!
Karen
With your artistic eye for photography, especially lighting and composition, I’m not surprised you have what you call “rules” for your clothing composition. I don’t think they’re really rules…. more like artistic preferences. I think you always look good. You have a very good eye. xo karen
bettyewp
What a nice thing to say, Karen. I like that. They’re not Rules…they’re Artistic Preferences 🙂