Friday, November 11, 2016

Help Me Style My Long Vest

Help!  I need advice on how to style a long vest.  I have been seeing long vests on the market for over a year now and I really wanted to try one.  I requested a long vest in my last Fix back in June but it has hung in my closet untouched ever since.  I don't know why, but I can't figure out how to style this vest in a way that I like ON ME.  I keep seeing other bloggers wearing long vests, I pin their looks, but when I try the exact same look myself, I don't like it.  I was going to wear it as a sleeveless dress as seen HERE, but I never did because I don't have the occasion to wear more formal dresses.  If I do wear a dress, it's because it's super hot so I pick something like a gauze swing dress or a short skirt and a tank to be comfortable.

But after months of hanging in my closet I thought "This is ridiculous.  I spent a lot of money on this vest.  I really should get some use out of it."  So I came up with this outfit.


And I hated it.  I look at these pictures and I do not like the outfit.  And neither did my husband.  But he was kind and didn't say anything until after I told him I didn't like the outfit. But he's a guy, and he likes to see his wife in form fitting clothes, not baggy clothes.


So what don't I like about this outfit?   Well for one, the belt.  If you don't tie the vest in front of you, you have to tie it behind you (unless you get rid of it entirely, but then you have empty belt loops).  So guess what happened when I went to use the bathroom the first time?  Yeah, you got it.  It happened.  I forgot about the belt and the end fell in the toilet when I sat down.  UGH!  Good thing there was a hand air dryer in the bathroom!  My number one decision of any outfit is always "Comfort and Practicality"....the belt of this vest does not meet that criteria.


But the good thing about style blogging is that I can always learn from mistakes when I see the pictures.  I think the biggest mistake I made in styling this vest was picking a baggy shirt to wear under it.  I think if I wore a tight fitting shirt, I might have thought differently about this outfit.  The baggy shirt, in combination with the baggy vest, was just too much baggy and it made me look frumpy.


I did try other tops with this vest, but I wasn't happy with those either.  I tried it with a striped long sleeve tee shirt.  Yuck.  I tried it with a white tee shirt.  Yuck...I felt like I looked like a doctor.  I couldn't find any other top in my closet that even came close to working like this olive green one, so that's why I picked it.  It was the best choice.


So I'd love to hear your ideas.  Scrap the belt and cut the belt loops off?  What type of top would you wear this dress with?  Or, should I just donate this vest to my local thrift store and count it a loss?

I did try to jazz up the neutral frumpy look my burgundy bag and a pretty, colorful bracelet.


I was having a bad hair day, so I wore a coordinating olive green headband and I added bright blue earrings since my ear lobes actually showed for a change.  And you know what, maybe the bad hair day is another reason I didn't like this outfit.  When I don't feel good about my hair, my weight, whatever, it reflects on how I feel in my outfit too!






I wore these pretty suede wedge booties I picked up last year from JCP.


I do have to mention that I did try wearing a more tight fitting top, but because my tummy is and has always been my trouble spot, I felt too much tummy bulge showed.  That's another reason I ended up with a baggier shirt.  So maybe, a baggy vest can never be for me, because I can't wear a baggy top underneath and I'm not comfortable wearing a form-fitting one.  Most of my other vests are all form fitting or tapered.  Or, maybe I just need to tie this vest shut.  Although, I think I tried that and it didn't work because I have no waistline so it looked like SpongeBob Square Pants.


Pixley Tannum Trench Vest, Stitch Fix, no longer available, similar:  HERE, Olive Green Michael Kors Top, T.J. Maxx, no longer available, similar:  HERE and HERE,  Nicole Miller Kira Satchel, JCPenney:  HERE,  Arizona Lacie Wedge Ankle Boots, JCPenney:  HERE,  Liverpool Collen Straight-Leg Jean, Stitch Fix, no longer available, similar:  HERE

So there you have it.  My dilemma.  Like I said. I need help, all suggestions and comments will be appreciated.

Have a  Great Day!  Amy

Linking Up with these Fabulous Blogs HERE.

27 comments:

  1. I would cut the belt loops off! think how you have styled this looks ok, but you are clearly not happy with it. How about wearing a top and trousers the same colour together in a contrasting shade to the Blue? I think this will look great in warmer weather with White T and White jeans or a blue and white stripe dress x
    www.vanityandmestyle.com

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    1. Thank you for your advice. I am leaning towards cutting the belt loops off too. As I said in my post, I tried the vest with a white tee shirt and blue jeans (not white like you recommend), and I felt like I looked like a medical professional. I don't know why. I've seen other bloggers with the vest/white t/jeans and I love it...but not on me. I don't think I'd like it with white jeans, but I love your idea of the monochromatic blue look. I'll give that one a try. As for a blue and white strip dress..that's a great idea too, but I don't own a dress like that nor do I want to buy one. I kinda decided to stop buying dresses because with my lifestyle I just don't get enough use out of them.

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  2. I think you styled it very well in this post! You look great, and I think you nailed the look!
    xo, Whitney and Blaire
    Peaches In A Pod

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  3. The outfit does not look that bad in the photos. I am no fashion expert but wanted to mention that I saw a really pretty 2 piece outfit at Bergners which included a long vest similar to this one but it was knitted and it came with a pretty, loose fitting tank with a simple pattern on the bottom portion of the tank. The colors of the tank matched the colors of the vest, and the pattern on the bottom of the tank included a couple other matching colors. But of course that would be more for the warmer months. I don't think there was a belt on that vest.

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    1. Yes, Ellie, your right. Most women wear these vests in the summer over shorts, tanks, tees with bare arms. And I tried wearing it during the summer, but I always felt adding that third layer made me hot. It just doesn't seem necessary. And even in the early fall it was still too hot. Now, it's too cold. But your comment does give me ideas to try a top with the colors of the vest in it. Maybe it's all the 'contrasting' thats bothering me.

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  4. I love the look, but have to admit I would remove the belt and cut off the loops. I've been know to transform an outfit every once in a while. Love the boots as well. Jacqui
    www.mummabstylish.com

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    1. I agree, I think the belt loops need to go. I think if I ever decided to wear the vest closed, the belt would still work. Thanks so much.

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  5. I actually don't think it's a bad outfit, but you have to feel comfortable in it! I would probably cut the belt loops off and wear it without the belt. I also like Laurie's idea to try and see if you'll like a monochromatic look better.

    Andrea
    Andrea’s Wellness Notes

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    1. Thanks Andrea. I'm gonna cut the belt loops off, and I will definitely try Laurie's idea. It's funny though because Laurie's idea above and Sheela's idea below completely contradict each other. Which is great, cause the more ideas for me to try the better! I will definitely be doing a follow post of which ideas worked for me!

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  6. Amy, don't beat yourself up!! I think you look perfectly fine here (and I know that's not what we women want to hear) and it's not as bad as you think as it is, pinkie swear. Perhaps if you changed the colour of your pants/jeans, that would make a big difference in achieving layers and contrasts. They're just too similar to your vest at the moment, I feel. I would leave the loops/belt. It's much easier to tuck them away (as you did) than to remove them and then find yourself needing loops at some point. I'd personally wear it with an off the shoulder top or a turtleneck of thinner fabric to avoid adding bulk. Something that tops right at the waistline or two inches below would be perfect, I feel. All that said, you have a lovely vest, keep experimenting until you're happy :) don't give it away xoxo

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    1. Thanks so much Sheela, I really appreciate your advice. I like your idea of changing the color of my pants...and I did try that, but the other jean colors I had were even more matchy matchey. I do have a pair of light blue flares, but I thought the flares in combination with the vest, would be too much bagginess again so I wanted to wear skinnies or straight leg jeans. I am going to try your idea of a turtleneck...I have plenty of those. I don't like off the shoulder tops on me so thats off the table...although a great idea!

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  7. Lately I've seen long vests with all black underneath. Something about a monochromatic look under the vest might streamline it?

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  8. I love the way you styled it actually! If anything you could just tuck the front of your shirt in! :)

    Brooke
    Pumps and Push-Ups

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  9. Gorgeous fall look. Love all the colors. Head to toe chic

    Life is just Rosie
    Instagram

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  10. Well I do like this look very much, and the belt is more detail than it needs - so I agree, I would cut off the loops! thanks for sharing, xox

    Patti
    http://notdeadyetstyle.com

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  11. I always cut loops off or don't use the belts all the time. I bet if you wore this with a print, florals or stripes, it would be a little more "exciting." good luck, but good for you for not letting it just hang in your closet anymore!
    b

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    1. Thanks. That's a great suggestion too! I'll try it!

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  12. Hi Amy, I read this and for a moment thought I was reading myself :) I am usually not convinced at what I wear and when I look at the pictures I begin thinking of other ways I could wear the garment.
    While I would not cut the loops, I'd probably remove the belt and add a smaller ribbon or even pin it to avoid the mishap in the bathroom. I would have died !!
    I'd cuff the jeans to the inside and like you say add a more fitting top.

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    1. Thanks Lorena, good to hear I'm not alone. I cuffed the jeans because it's "in" to cuff jeans now and I like showing off my shoes. However, after looking at the pictures, I don't think I look good in cuffed jeans because it shortens my leg. So I will skip this trend from now on. As for the more fitting top, I will have to find one that isn't quite so baggy, but not clingy either as I don't like my tummy bulge to show.

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  13. I love how you styled this long vest!! I need more long vests in my wardrobe. Such a pretty look Amy!

    xx, Elise
    www.sparkleandslippers.blogspot.com

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  14. I don't know of a way to wear it, but it looks really good here! I love your bag! Also, I have super similar booties! They look so great!

    Thank you so much for linking up at Grace + Lace!

    Sarah
    Bows & Clothes

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  15. Thanks for linking up to Top of the World Style. I like how you styled the vest. It's a nice look. Great vest !

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