The door in my wardrobe*

*the door not actually being there was a disappointment - but at least I was allowed to play with the clothes

//// That one is so not me! Or is it?

Posted on | December 20, 2009 | 12 Comments

Tavi run just recently a giveaway in her blog, the item was a Rodarte for Target lace cardigan.

I dropped in a line or two, but to be honest without too much passion. I really like the cardigan, but hello, Tavi’s pick was her favorite color, mustard — or more like ochre to me. That color is so not me — see where we are going?

Ok, I did not fall asleep instantly last night (can’t really remember when I actually have), so I let my head to start the “combine the yellow cardigan to the current wardrobe” — visual game. Because this underdeveloped network called Internet does not allow you to plug in to my visual apparatus directly I had to make some quick doodles in very old fashioned way to explain what was going on in there last night. Sorry, three out of five outline snapshots came out blurry, I guess that we made this years darkness record today. And all my ink tips were wonky, so no nice fluid line today, just very quick and dirty throwing-the-ink-towards-the-paper stuff.

Ah, this one is a real cookie cutter solution sharing the same elements to the Target styling with less California surfer rock and more the girl next door. A white A-lined pull-on shirt with pintucks on hem and nice rolled collar from H&M, Costume National wool flannel skirt in raspberry pink, chartreuse plastic necklace from Gina Tricot, bone white wedges wit wooden sole from Topshop.

More attitude with Filippa-K printed silk shirt, an old skirt reconstructed from military trousers, burgundy (yuck, how did that come out so ugly — the actual colors of the skirt and tights go together so well) lace tights from H&M, Docs.

My old black Diesel antifit jeans with yellow stitching, H&M striped T-shirt, docs, leather cuffs. So easy that it is actually lazy.

I have worked the idea of monochromatic jersey layers a bit further from my first trial. I found an thunder gray AA tank pair that makes a perfect foundation for this, and the old Malene Birger ruched tunic is almost the same shade. I will add an oversized white AA see through tank underneath and slip on a white vintage girdle I just won from eBay (wow, visual interest and tummy control in the same package). Then a pair of seriously oversized skin colored tights, maybe destroyed a bit, wrinkling around the calves — and my all white Converse.

For some not-too-formal party I would wear an old, beautiful Rodebjer silk dress constructed from mauve and gray chiffon over Sonia Rykiel for H&M bustier and H&M mesh leggings with my gray booties from Berlin. And that mustard’y thing wold be a perfect clashing cover on my shoulders…

For the summer a very simple combo of billowing silk jersey chocolate sundress with smocked top from Filippa-K, perspex prism sandals from Ash. There were easily at least four more of these, but now I’m tired on doodling.

Suddenly I felt that my wardrobe is seriously short of mustard yellow lace cardigan. I could go out from my color comfort zone for it, really. I’m all about going out from my comfort zones occasionally. I know, sounds a bit ridiculous, this one is cardigan, after all, the most inoffensive of all garments…

What about you, do you have comfort zone in colors? Shapes? Prints? Skin exposure? Combinations? Overall styles?

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Discussion

  1. kurarin
    December 20th, 2009 @ 8:41 pm

    i wish i could sketch! the second last co-ord is my favourite.

    for myself, i can’t complete a look. for example, i have to wear a tough jacket if wearing a dress. and i’m completely lazy about shoes. i used to wear sneakers all the time, then oxfords, and now docs.

  2. Jalouse
    December 20th, 2009 @ 8:42 pm

    Wow! You clearly need it! :D

    I was just thinking, that my comfort zone would start from sweatpants. For some people those fit so well, like Maria from Heijastuspinta has proved. And what comes to colors, so yellows and oranges are definite no– no’s to me!!!

  3. Lisa
    December 20th, 2009 @ 9:07 pm

    i loved the sketch #2. in fact, i have a similar “ready to go outfit”. I do own a mustard cardigan but it is a modest Päivi Nykänen for Seppälä number(interesting article about her in Olivia magazine). My mustard cardie is not lacy and it gets combined with a printed blouse and opaque violet tights and a black skirt. I used to love mustard colour some 9 years ago and i went on one of the 1st dates with my husband in mustard (yes!). I think it would be lovely on you. as for the comfort zone questions: i hate too short skirts. I do not have a problem with my legs but thats how it is. But today i had an outing in RED opaques (i did not want to cover the beautiful scarlet colour hence the skirt length), black short shirtdress with empire line cut and black long boots with a natural rubber sole. People were looking at me quite strangely because of the colour of the tights i suppose. do you experience the same in finland? have you noticed that people stare when you wear smth different than a long grey cardie? when you wear heels? and i am not even tall, i am 161 and when i wear 10 cm it is already a reason to stare… you are an expressive dresser, you must have an opinion on this. at times i am really tired of those looks…:(

    and you draw so well…smth i am a total 0 in. :)

  4. Lisa
    December 20th, 2009 @ 9:13 pm

    so that is why i so much wish this Topshop skirt was just a liiiittle longer…

    http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=19551&storeId=12556&categoryId=155546&parent_category_rn=42317&productId=1539558&langId=-1

  5. stellagee
    December 20th, 2009 @ 9:19 pm

    love the sketches – amazing. i wish i could pick up a pen and start doodling with similar results.

    anyways, i also wrote a few words for tami. the problem is that i love mustard but it is the one color in the world that makes my skintone resemble that of a zombie. horrendous horrible horror.

    i was wondering who i’d give it to, if i was one of the lucky ones, since my lil sis looks great in mustard, but lace ain’t her thing. now, i’ve got a clear candidate.

    fingers crossed.

  6. Kamicha
    December 21st, 2009 @ 12:53 am

    Kurarin — I have bit of the same thing. Actually the look #1 would be probably something I would never wear… It just lacks edge, contrast or craziness… …but the skirt color would be so fab with yellow…

    I think that I’ve mentioned that I used very restricted color palette for years. But then probably a blood vessel popped in my head. First all sorts of colorful tights sneaked in to my wardrobe. And then colorful something else. It is still heavy on black and gray — but I don’t need to wear a single black item if I don’t want to. Some colors I would not wear near my face I still use in leggings, tights or socks, even skirts.

    Lisa, I have bit of the same thing — although I can wear a mini if I have longer layer on top of it. I have been drooling the same Topshop skirt, great texture! ASOS had a FEATHER mini in the selection for about three seconds before it was sold out. That would have been rad! Obviously I was too slow to react to get a piece of my own.

    Stellagee, I do it too little. Now we have a decision to turn our second room to more like a studio with “clear table” policy (hahaha, I sound like a “hellapoliisi”, but that is a mutual decision). That would probably add my drawing and other traditional media production tremendously. I have a bit same feelings towards mustard (ok my summer skin can take it, but my winter pastiness *shudders*) but fortunately a cardigan can reveal so much of the underlayer that it can compensate. So you should definitely test with it before giving it to anyone, if you get lucky! But thanks and hugs!

  7. Steff
    December 21st, 2009 @ 2:10 am

    Wow, I’m so jealous of your sketching skills. Seriously. And I love the girdle outfit the most. You should photograph this outfit with another cardigan. I certainly have a certain comfort zone in colours. And I don’t really do prints. Or nothing low cut or body-con, unless I can cover up with layers.

  8. Tee
    December 21st, 2009 @ 9:49 am

    Mmm, those last two are styled wonderfully. I really love that cardigan (and did enter Tavi’s contest myself). You should definitely acquire it somehow, since you can obviously utilize it very well!

  9. dust
    December 21st, 2009 @ 10:00 pm

    I like that you styled the cardigan as if it was accessory, that is the best way to wear all yellows.
    nice drawings, too. don’t be afraid to add faces, it’s not easy but makes a huge difference.

  10. UnoCosa
    December 22nd, 2009 @ 10:32 am

    this is simply one of the most fantastic post!!! not only i love the style of sketch, which stroke a perfect balance between stylized and croqui-ish … but, what a presentation and what a way to visualize ideas!

    btw: just got your comment as well!!! yes, let’s save “merry xmas” till later :D !

    xx

  11. Lilee
    December 23rd, 2009 @ 2:50 am

    your sketches are so great! :) :)

  12. Body conscious : The door in my wardrobe*
    May 9th, 2010 @ 10:12 am

    […] I got from eBay last autumn  —  it is a superb detailed garment and so far it has been here in one drawing only. I doubt that I will never fully showcase it as a part of an outfit, but I like the idea of […]

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