A Girl And Her Wardrobe

WIW: Boot Challenge & Fail

July 21, 2015

Hi Fab Ones,

In my endeavour to wear my coloured ankle boots, today I decided to wear my cobalt booties with an all black ensemble.

The outfit was inspired by the recent EF Lookbook, but sadly it's a fail.  I felt the overall outfit was just too flat and not figure flattering.  I did mix textures - coated jersey pants, silk tunic and smooth refined knit sweater -  but this all black look even looked boring to me lol.  I really think some added texture in the top layer would have been a lot better, or some tonal / colour contrast.    My inspiration is pic #4.  I did have a blue toned scarf on with it but that didn't help :)  Anyway, I generally prefer to share outfits that I think work, but in the spirit of transparency I thought I would share this one.  

On the bootie front, I received very complimentary comments about these but I am not loving them.  I really do like a more streamlined looked and the blue is a bit jarring for my liking.  I think I will hang onto them and try again in Spring and then if they are still not working for me, they can go to a new home.

Hope you have all had a good day.  On the upside it was a busy and stimulating day at work :)

xxx Deborah

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Posted in the What I Wore category
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.

19 Comments

  • anne replied 8 years ago

    Yes I agree. A bit too flat and black. Glad it was busy though (mine hasn't been, until the last hour or so)

  • Maneera replied 8 years ago

    I agree Deb. I'm not loving this blue with your beloved black. I don't think the outfit is the problem....it's the boots.

    Do you wear skirts and dresses in Spring/Fall? If so, maybe you can try the boots with that. I feel these boots need low contrast bottoms. Try blue pants/jeans with them. The shape is also different for you....if I had these boots, I would wear them with bootcut pants so there is just a little peek of the colour. But that's just me.

  • Jeweled replied 8 years ago

    What about dramatic, medium-size to large blue earrings to bookend / balance the booties?

    The black and the cobalt are both so deep that the black sort of "swallows up" the blue.

    I think if you incorporate a second item in deep blue to go with the booties, it might work better if the second piece of blue was not directly touching any of the black, but positioned above it (as earrings would be).

  • Style Fan replied 8 years ago

    The boots are gorgeous.  Would look great with jeans or white pants.  I never wear white so what do I know?

    I love the outfit.  I am going to have to look at the EF lookbook and then wish I hadn't.

  • Deborah replied 8 years ago

    Thanks Anne.. you have affirmed my thinking.

    Maneera, I do wear dresses and skirts in Spring.  Also in Winter but not as much but I don't think they will work with the boots.  The bootcut pant idea is a good one. I have pair of tailored work pants that have that line, I will try them.

    Jeweled, can you believe I have some drop circle blue earrings!! Never even thought to wear them. Tho something larger might be better.  

    Thanks Style Fan, I wish I could do the white jeans thing but it just never feels like me:(

  • Helena replied 8 years ago

    I agree with jeweled, I think a second cobalt outfit up top might be the fix ... You look gorgeous, its just I find my eye going back to the boots. You truly can wear all black like no one's business!

  • Lucy replied 8 years ago

    Interesting, it is hard to tell what is Not Quite Perfect here, but I agree that something is slightly amiss. I do LOVE LOVE LOVE cobalt, but agree that it is perhaps the boots as much as anything. 
    I wonder what the boots would look like with black denim, which is often not quite as saturated in colour. 

  • dakotacheryl replied 8 years ago

    Deborah, On my computer your photos were too dark to see the layers very well. I think the bottom layer was sheer like in the EF photo??

    Probably looked better than you felt it did...I agree, the blue boots just didn't work here.

  • Transcona Shannon replied 8 years ago

    Ok....I'm not saying this just because I'm madly in love with the EF look book and this outfit in particular but...I think this works really well EXCEPT for the booties. You have the proportions spot on for the layering in the outfit; the sheer blouse underneath the pullover is the perfect length with the slim leg trousers and I imagine the movement of the sheer blouse is lovely. But the cobalt booties are jarring with the outfit and somehow appear out of place. It would be interesting to try the outfit again but with black booties and see how you feel about it. You pull off all black brilliantly IMHO.

  • lyn67 replied 8 years ago

    Noticed the model has 3/4 sleeves, and some pants with more drape-this can ease up the all blacks even more+ thus we don't see her shoes, I expect some daintier heels (maybe some Okala likes) or ...some edgy docs:-)-so maybe the all blacks need some perking up other than color wise. Love the cobalt  booties,  but understand what you mean about the more streamlined  sillhoutte (esp on  legs) you are used with-but I suggest trying to repeat the color in the outfit somewhere else, before getting rid of this fab piece!

  • Susie replied 8 years ago

    What Shannon said- I actually really like the outfit but I don't love the boots with it.

  • Joy replied 8 years ago

    I also agree with Shannon. Love the outfit except the boots. If you can repeat the cobalt (or maybe some navy or white ) it seems the outfit could work with the blue booties.

  • Jenn replied 8 years ago

    Deborah, I can't entirely tell from the photos, but it looks like your crop sweater was higher-necked than the EF one? Being able to see some skin through the neckline of the sheer top helped ease the harshness of the column of black and brought the eye upward. I do like the idea of trying some blue earrings. That might have a similar effect.

  • catgirl replied 8 years ago

    I love the EF outfit minus the neckline of the underlayer - that would not flatter me at all.  As far as the booties, I love them but agree they are hard to style.  I had a gorgeous pair of electric blue booties that I had to consign because I just couldn't style them.  :(

  • judy replied 8 years ago

    I'd say switch the pants for denim...a shade that doesn't fight the blue boots...play with adding some interest at the neck with a scarf or bolder necklace against the black top to balance the eye that goes to the boots....?  If you do bolder necklace, go sans earrings.  Just some thoughts.

  • Elizabeth P replied 8 years ago

    Also agreeing with Shannon...

    I have a pair of cobalt boot as well, and also struggle with them.  In fact, I don't think I wore them  once this past spring (which is when I generally do wear them).  My turquoise ones I did wear though.  Weird.

  • Aida replied 8 years ago

    What about switching the sheer layer to something navy? :)

  • Dee replied 8 years ago

    I also agree with Shannon that the outfit works, except for the booties.  I don't think you should give up on the outfit itself, but try it with different footwear or accessories.

  • Greyscale replied 8 years ago

    You know I'll never dislike an all-black outfit, but I think you're right that this one is good but not perfect. If you hadn't said you were unhappy with it, I probably wouldn't have noticed, but in light of your opinion I can see it with a more critical eye.

    I think it almost works, but maybe what's missing is some skin. Not in a risque way, of course! I think the clothing is covering too much of you (high neck, long sleeves, long pants, closed shoes). Of course, there are lovely entirely-covered looks that I love - turtlenecks and opaque tights in winter, for instance - so that's not a general rule. Just maybe the missing element here that would lighten it.

    Similarly, I'd love to see the blue boots with cropped pants or a skirt, to separate them a bit from the black.

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