12 November 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.
Sources:
- Knit blazer: C&C
- Navy tank: Target
- Knotted necklace: Forever21
- Pants: Ann Taylor
- Booties: Steve Madden Ollie, via DSW
End Notes:
Every time I wear ankle length pants I fret that someone is going to tell me (again), “That outfit would be more flattering if your pants weren’t cropped.” Really, a more accurate statement would be “Your legs would look longer if your pants weren’t cropped.” What’s implicit in that first sentence is an assumption that the ultimate goal of getting dressed to look lean and leggy, where “flattering” really means “look as tall, thin and proportionately hourglassy as possible with a complexion that is neither too yellow nor too red.”
I loved it when Sally addressed this question several months ago, asking, “What IS ‘flattering?’” She declared, “Wear what makes you feel like a luminous creature of incomparable beauty. Even if that happens to be a skirt that shortens your legs or a tunic that masks your waistline.”
Style blogging has helped me make more self-conscious attempts to experiment with different ideas of how I can feel like such a “luminous creature of incomparable beauty.” (Or at least like a creative being full of joyful curiosity.) Some days I do want to look like an hourglass. Some days I don’t. Some days I embrace looking a little yellow. Some days I want to play with unexpected proportions even if that doesn’t maximize my visual height.
And some days I am so confident in my 5’9″ frame that I’ll mix my neutrals and cuff my pants and wear ankle boots, thus severing my “leg line.” But if I have to sacrifice a little length of limb in order to feel slick and put together and a little kick-ass three days before my major field exam…I’ll take it.
12 November 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.
You and A are by far two of my favorite remixers. Not that I’m surprised. I always love visiting your blog to see what you ladies (and the one guy – is he still around?) are up to!
I love the thought that you put into your outfits.
The Auspicious Life
I was thinking about the same thing lately! When I post pictures I often get comments about how different things would be more flattering to my legs. I understand I have thicker than average legs, and I’m cool with it. I don’t dress to look thinner, I dress to be happy.
I love the bit of leg peeking out between your pants and booties! I also love your haircut.
Thanks for a great post!
I really like this set. the 2nd photo has great mellow movement. welcome fall, my fave season (as if we really had seasons here in calif….) of the year :D
xxo.meli
I love ankle skimmers, I think they look really stylish. And when you’re 5’9″, so what if your legs look a little shorter? You have inches to spare!
I saw you in this look and thought, “Wow, E looks gorgeous–look at those perfect curves!” You are absolutely rocking those pants. I know you generally tend to favor a leaner, more streamlined silhouette (which is great, too, because it works wonderfully for your body type). But this outfit is evidence that you can do both.
And seriously. You definitely have legs to spare!
Well, you definitely rock the cropped pants. Whether they are “flattering” becomes irrelevant when they look so darn good. :)
And my goodness, the colors in these pictures are divine!
I concur with all above – I think the cropped leg combined with the cropped jacket make this really hip, and a full-length pant would be nice, but not so hip. So…I like it!
Lydia x
Wow,I think you look great. This is definitely a look I’ll be ‘shopping’ from my wardrobe for. Thank you for the inspiration.
I love the cropped jacket and pant. It’s a nice mix of pieces that make you look super thin!
thank you for this. Now e just need to get more people to embrace this ethos.
[...] Those cropped pants with flats? I’m not following her blog anymore… and like E., I heard the voice in my head saying “really? You’re going to wear that? Don’t you [...]