I liked this in real life, but in a photo? Not so much. And if there is one thing I have learned in all these months of taking daily portraits, it's that I need to trust the camera. It's not as subjective as my eye, and it will point out things my brain will convince myself in the mirror aren't true. For example, the light sweater and the dark shoes seemed like a good idea in the mirror, but the camera is showing me that the light-to-dark spectrum drags the eye down, the opposite reaction a pear like me wants to invite. A belt probably would have helped here; I debated wearing one because I thought the waist detail of the dress would be enough. I was wrong.
Very, very wrong.
In contrast, here is today's outfit.
This time, I used the belt slung low to elongate my torso, and I deliberately did not wear a necklace or a scarf to break up the long line from neck to belt. I liked this a lot; it's a very different silhouette than my usual dresses, but it's still a dress and leggings and cardigan. All the same things I wear everyday, just put together so the proportions are entirely new.
(With a new pair of sandals I am debating keeping. Hubby loves them, but the feel is very different from all my other sandals. My first gladiators, what do you think?)
Outfit details:
Monday:
dress: a new kickass Kohls!
sweater: Old Navy 2010
shoes: black peeptoe wedges, AT Loft 2009
necklace: triple-strand grey pearl on brown knotted leather, local jewelers 2009
Tuesday:
dress: black tee-shirt dress, BR 2008
leggings: denim leggings, Vera Wangs Kohls 2010
sweater: teal open cardigan, Loft 2009
belt: turquoise metal belt, gifted Christmas 2009
shoes: pointed ruffled flats, DSW fall 2009
See, Shelley? There are lots of ways to wear a belt! Just keep experimenting!
I actually like the first outfit (although the second one is really flattering). Hasn't Angie and others taught us that light colors emphasize an area? I think you played this well, although a belt would also look nice. I totally get what you say about mirrors and photos looking so different but I swear, photos lie too! It's all about the angle. I don't know what angle you took the took the first photo from (it looks like slanted down from above) but it frames your face probably while changing your body's proportions (you know, how sometimes you like your photos in some angles more than others?)
ReplyDeleteAlso, you're now like the leggings Queen. All Hail!
I second Rad's statement about fibbing photos.
ReplyDeleteYou are really rocking the leggings lately--and I LOVE those gladiators.
I love the new Kohl's dress! I was there today to get a new pair of black pumps (I just need them for a meeting, so I didn't have time to be too picky) and I saw that dress in blue and green I think. Anyway, I agree with Rad's suggestion for a belt - do you think adding a black belt might balance out the black in the shoes?
ReplyDeleteHah! I was looking at the second outfit and thinking "now THAT'S how you wear a silver circle belt" - you are too funny! And that outfit looks great from head to toe - I love those sandals on you!
ReplyDeleteI played with the belts some more today and will have even more belt pics posted in a day or two. THANK YOU so much for your comments and links! Belts look so simple but are trickier than one would think. Still, it's fun to play with them!
You are one fab legging dresser. Photos do lie sometimes... or that's what I keep telling myself. :)
ReplyDeleteI actually LOVE those sandals. I think I might have to get them -- they're kind of like futuristic gladiators, which I'm all about. I like the second outfit better, for all the reasons you cite, though your pale cardigan with the print dress in the first photos is quite pretty.
ReplyDeletexx
I love the glads!
ReplyDeleteLove the sandals! Definitely a keeper!!
ReplyDeleteGreat illustration! I also think that the large horizontal band on the bottom of the Kohl's dress (not just the dark shoes) draws the eye down and emphasizes width at the bottom. What do you think?
ReplyDeleteOkay, I will give the sandals another try. They take some getting used to in wearing them!
ReplyDeleteRad et al, point taken on bad angles, but I still trust the camera over my mirror!
Shelley, your use of the metal belt is what inspired me to dig mine out of hiding. I'd forgotten all about it. I'm looking forward to your pictures; glad I could help!
Laura, great point about the bottom band; if I had gone with a darker cardigan it would have had a better balance. Live and learn!
I am in love with the print on that top dress!
ReplyDeleteI love the dress/cardi in the first outfit - such pretty colors.
ReplyDeleteI'm constantly amazed how something I think looks great in the mirror can look so BAD in photos and sometimes the reverse too. I can never decide which is lying - the mirror or the camera :)
I love those new sandals on you. They give just the hint of urbanity to your look.
ReplyDeleteWe do not have a Kohl's. I am considering driving an hour to the next town which does have one thanks to all of your kickass Kohl's dresses!
ReplyDeleteI'm loving the sandals! And the outfit...you look great!
ReplyDeleteI'd like to see a picture of the dress with a belt over the sweater. I'm not sure how that would look because the dress already has kind of a high waist and I wonder how that would do with a belt at your natural waist.
ReplyDeleteHave you tried a fitted jacket with a little flare at the hem? It's not a belt but could provide a little waist definition.
The sandles are cute, I say keep them. They may give you weird tan lines in the summer (my shoes give me weird tan lines in the summer).
ReplyDeletehttp://thickthighfashion.blogspot.com/