Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Style or Die!* challenge: Intro

* Please note challenge does not involve anyone or any thing dying. Or even dyeing.

  This weekend I started yanking things out of my closet I never wear and decided I will try to style them or donate them. In another few weeks, I'll probably have photos of clothes I'm thinning out of my wardrobe, and if you all are interested, I'll put a list here and let my blogging friends have first pick.

  If you have any suggestions, or if you covet anything, please let me know!
 Jolt school/military style blazer. I was charmed by its slanted pockets and fabric-covered buttons. Haven't worn it.
   Miken grey moto cloth jacket. Got it as an underlayer to my leather jackets, haven't worn it for a long time
   Natural Life bamboo dress. Jersey material's too thin to be worn by itself, and its unusual hemline makes it difficult to layer under other dresses
   Old Navy lavender peacoat. I have multiple peacoats. This is likely the one I wear least.
   Rave military denim jacket- despite my love of jackets and of military styled things, I never wear this. I probably have a bias against denim jackets I was trying to overcome, and failed to.
   Triple Five Soul pinstripe vest. Love the details, cannot figure out how to wear it without feeling like office wear.
  Twenty One long vest. I tend to wear skirts higher when I'm doing vests, and the length of this makes it awkward. I also took it with me during my last trip to Taiwan/Japan, and I have a bad habit of getting sick of clothes after I wear them for two weeks or more, and never wanting to see them again.

  One of the cool things about blogging is looking at pictures of my outfits gives me a better perspective. When I look in a mirror, I automatically focus on my face. I can get around this by letting my eyes go out of focus and looking at the proportions of the outfit at a distance, but using the photos of this blog is even better. I also notice startling resemblances to family members. Do you see things in photographs of yourself that you don't notice in the mirror?

  So that's the list, folks! I will try to make outfits around these, time permitting (it takes me a long time to figure out outfits) over the next several posts. Suggestions are, as always, welcomed, and I'm looking forward to the challenge. Research projects permitting. (*digs a breathing hole through large pile of ADHD articles and books*)

15 comments:

  1. Take this with appropriate grains of salt, since I didn't get nearly enough sleep last night . . . but if I were gonna play around with that batch, I might try the pinstripe vest under the denim jacket. Odds are it'd be spectacularly, laughably awful, but there's an outside chance it might be awesomely funky.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I tried it, Sue! You're right, it does have a kinda funky vibe with it. Unfortunately the pinstripe vest is so thick it won't let anything layer over it- I looked like a fullback at the shoulders. :D

      Delete
  2. Hi there! I like your military style Jolt jacket. Not sure it would fit me? I'm about a 34 bust. I also LOVE your bustle skirt. I have one that I have to alter, as the fabric was a bit stretchy, and then I must have lost weight, because it hangs on me now. I do love an uneven hem and lots of folds.

    Many thanks for your comments on my blog too.

    Much love from England,

    Rosemary from www.foreveronthecatwalkoflife.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Rosemary! I'm a 34 bust, too. I think we are close to the same size, to judge from your outfit photos.

      Delete
  3. Hi Aya!

    You know you have pretty versatile pieces there and it should not be hard to style - All the pieces could be worn over dress, or with a skirt or pants - Plus they are all neutrals except for the coat, so it can mix with anything -

    I don't get a good perspective looking at myself in the mirror - I take a pic almost every morning, since i'm set up in my little studio in the basement and then look to see if it makes any visual sense - It does usually -

    Take care Aya

    Arianexo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Ariane. :D

      I think my problem, now that I look at all of them in a row, is that they are neutral. These days I'm more likely to go "Whee!" and reach for the unusual pieces in my wardrobe than wear greys and black. I will try to balance these neutral pieces with colorful things. Thanks for the perspective!

      Delete
  4. This is a cool idea! I'm curious to see how you style some of these. I agree it is a good perspective to take photos - it definitely changes how something looks compared to how we see it in the mirror!

    ReplyDelete
  5. It's fun to shop your closet and create outfits from what you find there. I'm gravitating toward the lavender pea-coat but that's 'cause of its magnetic pull. I have no clue how to style it. Look forward to your ideas.

    ReplyDelete
  6. New-ish reader here, really enjoying your creative style and musings.

    Have you tried the bamboo dress with either of the vests and another longer asymmetrical-hemmed skirt underneath? That would take care of the thinness of the fabric, and waterfall layering is something you already do well.

    If it doesn't work for you, I'd be interested in the bamboo dress and lavender peacoat. The cloth moto jacket is cool, too...goodness, I'm just being greedy now. You've amassed a good number of pieces with cool details! Wish I could go thrifting with you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm going to try this next. I never thought of another asymmetrical skirt under the dress. You and Megan both came up with it, it must be a good suggestion!

      Delete
  7. Lol, I'd love to call dibs on everything (minus the denim jacket and first jacket. I don't do denim outerwear either and the first jacket looks too dressy for me).

    Personally though, I ADORE that pinstripe vest. It reads very punk/visual kei to me.

    The dress looks like something that should be under something else. Have you possibly tried that lace slip over it? You gotta work with those strange hems, but adding another slanted hem over it might look intentional.

    Or use it in a middle layer mori-girl look, over pants, under another top/cropped sweater deal?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha, funny you should mention that... http://couturgatory.blogspot.com/2013/07/lab-fashion.html

      Delete
    2. Awww yeah! That's a great look!

      Delete
  8. I'm stuck on the fact that you have multiple pea coats!

    You've had some great suggestions - I like the concept of waterfall layering - and I might try to apply some to my own closet.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hee hee, it's San Francisco! I have one for every mood.

      Delete