1 December 2009 – Ruffled, originally uploaded by academichic.
Sources:
- Navy blazer: BR Outlet
- Green ruffled top: BR Outlet
- Gray nursing cami: Target
- Gray skinnies: thrifted, skinnied by me
- Brown wedges: thrifted
End Notes:
Surely you all are tired of seeing these same old gray skinnies and brown wedges time and time again, but, really, they make such a great counterpoint to the frillier and looser tops that I’ve been gravitating towards lately. I think I must still be making up for the time I lost while pregnant.
Ruffles are still everywhere this season and I’ve realized that I like them in abundance. A single ruffle on a cardigan? It’s okay. But lots of ruffles on a cardigan? I’m intrigued.
Still, with something as dramatic as ruffles, there’s always the risk of becoming too “costumey” as Tim Gunn might say. I wouldn’t, for example, wear this top with one of my fuller skirts or, say, a brocaded jacket. I would — and most likely will — take a cue from A., however, and balance out the frou with a sleek pencil skirt, or, like today, throw a snug blazer over everything.
I’m wondering, though, if “crisp” and “sleek” are not the only viable counterweights to ruffled excess. After all, S. balanced out her ruffles with a drapey cardigan and the imaginative stylists at Anthropologie mixed ruffles with other embellishments but then threw in the unexpected toughness of a western-inspired boot. Perhaps it’s time for me to try pushing my juxtaposing skills a bit more.
How do you wear ruffles?
1 December 2009 – Ruffled, originally uploaded by academichic.
Personally, I don’t really wear ruffles (I like a sleeker line), but I would LOVE to see you wearing that top with fuller skirt or brocaded jacket!
I was busy lusting after some of those anthropologie cardigans yesterday. Some of them admittedly intimidate me…but overall I think with some slim-fitting jeans (or a pencil skirt) and flats (and very few accessories) they could work. I love ruffles–and the way you wore the green ones here!
I LOVE ruffles but around the neckline I find that too many or too big ruffles accentuate my already overly accented bustline and make me look even more top-heavy than I already feel.
I find that small, more subtle ruffles work for my figure. But I love them! They’re so happy :-)
I’m with Nadine. Generally speaking, I dislike ruffles on my bod because they add bulk where I want sleekness. But I adore this top on you, and think the skinnies create the perfect balance.
I love this outfit on you. Ruffles are great on boyish figures like yours (as are the skinnies) but (warning ahead) this would be a very unflattering look on many women (including me) as the skinnies would highlight thighs while the ruffles distort the chest.
Goodness I love this outfit! I adore the color combination, and that green is so fresh – perfect for a late autumn day!
I love ruffles, too, though I have to be a bit careful of where/how they’re placed. Around my collarbone works best for me, I’ve found. I’d love some of the really ruffly tops at J. Crew, where the ruffles are full and layered upon each other and come down the front of the blouse, but that look just doesn’t work with my figure.
That ruffled top is beautiful, and I love the combination of green and blue.
I don’t really own a lot of ruffled garments, so I haven’t really given much though to how I style them. But I like balance in all things style, so if one element is ruffled, the other elements should be structured to contrast.
You look fabulous here! I am a little wary of ruffles because I have a full bust and I think they can sometimes just distort my shape and make me look like I’m wearing a ruffled pup tent. I do have one ruffled shirt, though, that lately I’m enjoying wearing under dresses with more revealing necklines.
[...] Today I am sporting ruffles and flowers together! Both fall outside my normal comfort zone. Like E, I have been embracing ruffles more and more this season, but always paired with stripes or other [...]
I can copy this EXACT outfit, only with a blue top instead. Great inspiration!
I’ve loved ruffles from afar, but recently bought a ruffled blouse from JCPenny’s A.N.A. line. I wore it with a belted boyfriend cardigan, straight cropped pants, tights and heeled oxfords. I’m not sure if I like the way it turned out. I welcome feedback on it:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wearabouts_town/4146806656/
these pictures are so adorable! I love this outfit- the pop of green is beautiful!
Can you tell us how you skinned your jeans?
I tend to gravitate towards more structured looks, too, but I think a tougher, western edge is equally intriguing. This is a great outfit!
This is a really great outfit! Perfect and fabulous.