i have two points to address in this blog post, and it’s gonna be sassy. point the first: after yesterday’s outfit post featuring my 1940’s coat in a lovely army green, i had a mini breakthrough. i can wear green. this may sound a bit silly to you, but i’ve always avoided most shades of green because i always thought they made my olive-toned skin look, well, green. after getting a few comments from readers who actually said they liked the way it worked with my skin, i got all bold and decided to finally wear this cool vintage knit coat i bought at the thrift store several months ago. and you know what? i think i was going just a little nuts with my whole fear of green.
point the second: i would like to address the art of dressing to flatter one’s figure. i will admit that i have definitely educated myself on all of the tips and tricks for looking taller and slimmer in my clothes, and i do think there is something to be said for understanding how to work with clothes to change the lines and shapes, but i’m gonna say it: i kinda think it’s baloney. if we all wore the recommended silhouettes to make us look as slim as possible, we’d all be running around with boot cut trousers and pointy toes with wrap-around blouses and NO SOULS. or at least, you get what i mean. i like to have fun with my wardrobe and to experiment with many different concepts on a daily basis. i try to challenge myself to break my own rules and try something new when i’m feeling inspired. so i say: the hell with it, i’m gonna wear my thick knit olive green oscar the grouch coat because i love it. and i love trash. JOKE. (sort of.)
vintage knit coat, thrifted
vintage liberty of london blouse, sunny day diggs
high rise trousers, zara
trouser socks, target
kork-ease wedges, rue la la
49 comments
whole-heartedly AGREE! Thank you for this post!
I think this might be my favorite outfit of yours so far.love it~
cool post dude! I get weird sometimes about looking short, or things that make me look shorter… because I AM short, ha! It makes me shy away from certain lengths, but there's a way to make everything work. I like you and your oscar ways.
So stunning Erin. The lining of that knit coat is such a beautiful surprise.
Lulu Letty
Couldn't agree more, fashion is all about fun and feeling great about yourself!
ps. Love you in that lovely knit
i think this is one of my favorite outfits of yours!
I was thinking the same thing about dressing for one's figure. I am short, but I don't like always having to wear short people clothes! That green in no way makes you look green, just beautiful. Great wedges too!
"we'd all be running around with boot cut trousers and pointy toes with wrap-around blouses and NO SOULS"
I love that!
Clothing hang-ups are the worst. I'm just getting used to finally wearing brown . . it doesn't look great on me but I love it too much to care anymore I guess. But you look lovely in that green sweater/coat, seriously!
I LOOOVE green! It's my favorite color! Great sweater.
+8!3
Love th whole outift! The shoes and socks is sweet
I love these photos xo jenny feldman
you are so rad. thank you for ranting about the "what not to wear" mantra. sometimes we need to wear what we love and not just what someone else says is flattering to our figures. you look great in that coat.
I agree!! I just want to feel good in what I have on!
A-MEN! Thank you for reminding me
In love. You look really good in green, Erin! I love that coat. I don't wear green a lot either, but sometimes if you find the right shade of green, then voila, perfect! I also love your glasses!
kacesi
epic trousers :D
I quite agree, especially with the part concerning tips to enhance one's body. I'm quite short, but I'm not necessarily super thin, which is the other part of being "petite." I like clothes, so I wear what I please!
for some reason this post made me think "It's not easy being green" but that doesn't really work because you make it look pretty easy :) cute outfit!
I totally agree with you! you are what you love anyway so wear what you love ^.^ and green looks great on you!
Love these glasses on you! On those trousers…oh my, I need them.
Wow, seriously, you didn't think could wear green? I think yesterday's coat and today's look amazing on you. (And besides just their colors they are stunning pieces all on their own as well!) Green is one of my favorite colors so I'm glad you're embracing it. And I know what you mean about both your points — I kind of have stopped being afraid of wearing anything in particular since starting a blog…I have fun, I wear what I want in the instant, I gravitate towards what pieces makes me happy as opposed to only thinking about what works with my body type (though I will admit if a particular piece just doesn't look right on me don't go and buy it anyway of course). Fashion is supposed to be spontaneous and lighthearted I think, not labored and rule-driven.
green is my favorite and you wear it well. love the contrast of the two greens you've used here. xo
you look wonderful erin, green so looks good on you. it was great to meet you in new york! :]
i love you green coat!!! the lining is so amazing too!!! :D love those stockings! :D
yep. my mother has always been critical of me for sometimes wearing clothes that don't exactly elongate my not-so-tall self. but i've always thought looking short and petite was looked much cuter than tall and willowy!
i am loving the chunky knits and mustard tights combo.
zana of garbage dress always has the most amazing proportions in her clothes, i use her for inspiration when i don't feel like dressing for my body type.
who's making up these rules anyway?! rules are meant to be broken…so…stick with it! you always look great, so you must be doing something right. i have really short stubby legs and probably shouldn't wear ankle booties or "ankle warmer" sandals, but i do…
anyway, love those pants!
http://barefootandvintage.wordpress.com
This is such a thoughtful, well-worded post. Taking "risks", and wearing things that might not "flatter" your body is totally liberating, and lets you find pieces that you wouldn't have otherwise thought to wear.
love this look! those shoes are amazing!
xxx
vb
yay when i saw this on chictopia i was like "ooh! sassyness!" and of course i had to click through. I totally agree with you about the whole boot cut trousers, pointy toes etc. – sometimes when I'm reading Glamour or Cosmo I feel like my brain is being drained out by all those inane "slimming" tips.
Oh and another big offender = Seventeen magazine, which taught me in 6th grade that fair-skinned people wear purple eyeshadow, blue for beige skin, green for "golden" skin, etc…What a load of crap. i'm glad I outgrew it hahaha.
Your glasses are so Sally Jessy Raphael – I love them!
Well said! As long as you feel good, you look good, in my opinion. The green looks great too :) I've always had a similar mindset towards yellow, maybe I should give it a go too…
Are you kidding me? This color looks so ridiculously good on you it isn't even funny! Keep on rockin' it sistah!
i totally agree with both your points. yes, you can wear green, and look fantastic doing so!
..and following rules as to what garments best suit your shape/make you look thinner/taller/more busty etc is way too boring. dress to feel good. full stop. fashion should be fun.
love this post. your green cardi is super!
Well said. I have definitely never thought of it that way. I tend to ignore the rules and just go with whatever makes me FEEL the best.
That said, I tried out wearing orange for the first time today and dug it. Yay for trying our most feared colors.
Yeah! Go green!
well i like the coat and i like the clothes underneath it but i'm not so sure about wearing it like that. but yes to experimentation! you should wear that coat everyday for a week experimenting with different shapes (shorts, trousers, skirts…)
so cute!
I totally agree … hm … actually I never started wearing high heels …
great coat.
xx susanne
http://www.leoparddress.blogspot.com
I so agree, break the rules honey…I'm a little thick around the hips….and thighs…and the tummy…but who says I can't wear a high waisted skirt or a boxy cut dress? Not me…I don't say that…fashion is about setting your own rules and being confident in it!
cozy! you always look so amazing! btw, I adore your 40s jacket a few posts back. :o)
You look fabulous!
great cardigan!
amen, sister-friend! to dress for our figure is to acknowledge that there is an ideal figure women need to strive to maintain/create. forget that!
I defnitely agree with you about dressing to flatter yourself. It is good to know but you dont want to be stuck in it. I like to experiement. I and a friend always argue about this. ha and I absolutely love this green color and the assymetrical buttons. very cute. I have loive skina dn love wearing green. It looks great on u!
Twila
blog.twilasvintageclothing.com
this looks fantastic!
The green looks great on you! Love how you styled this!
Amen, sista. I am so sick of what I call the Oprah fashion; meant for a particular demographic. "What Not to Wear" fits the same style; everyone ends up looking the same, like Stacy! You always look amazing so it is kind of like taking the advice and adding your style to it. I often hear a gasp when I tell people what I weigh (tall, not thin) because over the years I have learned to emphasize the positive, minimize the negative… just recently have learned what my real style is. Wear green, and geeky glasses!
that cardi is certainly different but it looks really great on you, the lining is a bonus for sure!