Thrifting Queen

WIW: Almost All Black

December 6, 2012

I loved when Angie posted about dressing in almost all black but making it interesting by adding texture and a small pop of colour somewhere. That was the inspiration for today's outfit.

I bought these trousers earlier in the week and couldn't wait to wear them. They are a slightly slouchy menswear inspired pair that are tweed in the front and back with a wide black stripe on each side - sort of a take on tuxedo pants. I apologize for not getting a picture of the side view so you could see this detail - forgot and then ran out of time (my bad!).

I've paired the trousers with a dressy tank that is silk in the back and the front underlayer and then has a top layer in the front of silver, charcoal and black velvet strips. On top of that is my black leather blazer.

My pop of colour is my cobalt booties and my yellow/cobalt clutch.

What do you think? Does it all work together? Does the tweed, velvet and leather textures break up the black? As always, all comments/suggestions welcome.

Leather jacket: Danier Leather
Tank: thrifted (no label)
Trousers: Jessica (Sears brand)
Booties: Aerosoles
Clutch: Trouve

ANGIE: I think I might be starting to like trousers!

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Posted in the What I Wore category
This post is also published in the youlookfab forum. You can read and reply to it in either place. All replies will appear in both places.

42 Comments

  • Sveta replied 11 years ago

    I think this is a winner, Shannon! I think Angie can use this picture as an illustration for her blog post: how to do almost black outfit.
    I LOVE the trousers: where they are from?

  • Day Vies replied 11 years ago

    I love this look on you. There is so much attitude that comes in when you put on that leather jacket. I love the texture in the tank and the trousers and of course I have been lavishing praise on those boots and that clutch together they are insanely cute. Bravo -- almost black but definitely not boring.

  • replied 11 years ago

    Oh, I like this, Shannon! Love the textures! And I LOVE you in trousers. Those ones are great, yes, where are they from!? Just in Sears? I must check the website!

    ETA: Are they these ones? http://www.sears.ca/product/je.....-JE25-2318

  • Jaime replied 11 years ago

    Since I am greedy and looked at the pictures first, I will tell you my reaction: By george, I do believe Shannon is beginning to like trousers! And who can blame you - these look terrific on you. I love this outfit with the shine and leather and bits of cobalt, and expect to see more of these trousers next time you wear them, which I hope will be soon!

  • Kat replied 11 years ago

    ONe of my all-time favorites on you! The leather jacket, tuxedo pant combo is a winner and the monochromatic but not plain black is just so fabulous on you. Love.

  • Ingunn replied 11 years ago

    WOW, Shannon! You look stunning in this outfit. I think this is K-worthy, it is so modern and sleek. I adore every piece here - but could you send those booties and that clutch in my direction when you are done with them, please? Wonderful pops of color with the black! And you must have been a trouser girl in disguise, this is so right for you. Well done - you brought a happy smile to my face again today, only by being such an inspiration.

  • Transcona Shannon replied 11 years ago

    Sveta - these trousers are from Sears. Check Ceit's link above - those are the ones. I sized up one from my normal size to make them a bit slouchy.

    Day Vies - I'm really beginning to look at texture alot more now when I'm looking to buy an item and enjoy mixing different textures in the same outfit.

    Ceit - yep, those are the ones. As I mentioned above to Sveta, I just sized up one size to make them a bit slouchy. They had them in petite but I found them a wee bit short (no ankle scrunch) so bought them in regular and then just hemmed themself by hand up about an inch so I could have some scrunch. They are extremely comfortable.

    Shevia - indeed I am beginning to like trousers. Clearly it's a matter of the RIGHT trousers!

    Kat - so glad you like the outfit. Thank you!

    Ingunn - this clutch is one of my favourite purchases from last year and it's turned out to be more versatile than I thought it would be. And the booties? Crazy comfortable.

    Thank you all!

  • Raisin replied 11 years ago

    I love it Shannon! You have lots of visual interest in the textures, and just the right amount of color. It's one of my favorite outfits you've posted!

  • Sara L. replied 11 years ago

    Oh, I love this outfit! Those pants are great - I can see a little bit of the side detail in the last picture. Your pop of color with the booties is perfect.

  • Suz replied 11 years ago

    OMG - I HAVE To get a pair of those pants!!! WOW.

    You look amazing in this. This is the outfit I need for Friday night!! SHEESH, it is EXACTLY what I need.

    Okay, well, I do not have any of these pieces. Not the trousers, not the leather jacket, not the extremely cool tank, not the bright booties, and not the clutch.

    I guess I'd better get shopping, eh?

  • Claudia replied 11 years ago

    A most excellent outfit! Love it!

  • replied 11 years ago

    I need some trousers, I think I might nab these too!

  • Diana replied 11 years ago

    LOVE. All the different textures together are just stunning. And I'm beginning to think I need to come visit Canada just to go to Danier.

  • Janet replied 11 years ago

    This may just be one of my favorite outfits on you ever! I love how much textural interest you have going on in a mostly-black outfit. I almost never wear trousers, but those are tempting.

  • Angie replied 11 years ago

    KILLER

    You are beginning to like trousers after all :)

    Sears.

    *chuckle*

  • Parsley replied 11 years ago

    Super outfit in every way, Shannon!
    I love everything about it, and would love to copy it.

    Suz, I did think of you when I saw this top, and, well, you're right- the whole outfit, actually! It would be great for you, too!

  • Transcona Shannon replied 11 years ago

    *clapping hands* Soooo glad you all like the trousers. I'm completely smitten with them and man, are they comfy!

    Angie - Sears...who knew? I'm actually liking quite a bit of their stuff this year.

    Suz - have you started your shopping yet? (lol)

    Diana - come on over! We can go to Danier together and then continue our shopping into other stores...with a large coffee in hand of course!

    Sveta, Ceit & Suz - these pants are extremely comfortable and were on sale in the store (I don't think they're on sale on the website though). The black band on either side is like a jersey/ponte knit. I don't think they're going to last forever like a more upscale brand might, but to me they are fab and I intend to wear the heck out of them until they fall apart! They also have a matching skirt with the black bands down the side and the tweed in the centre. Both the pants and the skirt come in petite and regular.

    Thanks Rae, Sara, Claudia, Janet and Parsley! Looks like this outfit is a winner.

  • Sveta replied 11 years ago

    Ah, too bad, they look like ankle length so they will not work for me! You are lucky Shannon that you are petite abd they are the regular length on you...:-)

  • rae replied 11 years ago

    Sears, huh? WOW. For your entire outfit. Now, where the heck is there a Sears near me?? The rise looks like it may be long for me, but it would be nice to try!

  • replied 11 years ago

    I see that too, but I plan on pretty much exclusively wearing them with booties and tucked into boots, so that isn't as much of a concern for me. I am going to try them anyhow :)

  • Parsley replied 11 years ago

    It looks like Sears in the US does not carry those pants. Boo hoo!

  • Suz replied 11 years ago

    Did you size up one or two sizes, Shannon? And did you go for petite or regular? I might go over to Sears and see if I can nab a pair. Not that I have the other elements of the outfit and I think that would be just a little TOO much shopping....I have shopped my closet this morning for outfits and have a couple of contenders, though they are not as great as this!

  • JR replied 11 years ago

    Oh yes, this works. And I like you in pants a lot.

    The texture and sheen you get from both the top and the jacket are enough to make this outfit interesting and successful as a monochromatic look. Not that I mind the pop of colour, not at all! The outfit would be wonderful either way.

  • Sveta replied 11 years ago

    I think I saw them in the store but did not even bother to try them on as they looked ridiculously short...Ceit, as I am 3" taller than you I would need knee high boots to wear with them, not booties!:-)

  • replied 11 years ago

    Well, Sveta, I am mostly seeing these with mid-calf and higher boots :)

  • catgirl replied 11 years ago

    Shannon, I love the trousers! I browse Sears all the time, since they carry Land's End stuff for the kiddo, but we don't have that brand. Wah! I give this an 11 out of 10 on the slouchy pants happiness scale!

  • Transcona Shannon replied 11 years ago

    I am really starting to learn that I cannot tell how something is going to look when it's on a mannequin or on a hanger - I have to try it on.

    Sveta - they do have a healthy hem allowance (1" - 1.5") that could be taken down if that helps at all.

    Suz - I tried on the petite but even at 5'1", I found they were too short. They would have worked perfectly for flats but had no ankle scrunch at all. Then I tried on a regular (in my regular size) and the length was a bit long and would need a wee bit of hemming, but much better. Then I decided to try on the regular length one size up from my regular size and voila - perfect bit of slouch. They come with a stilly little faux leather belt that is now in the garbage. The belt loops are quite small and can only accommodate a skinny belt, which I have in black leather and am wearing so the pants don't creep down too much. The one size up allowed for a bit of dropped crotch but not like you would have in a pair of BF jeans. The one size up still allows for a decent rear view and I felt that was important in a dress trouser for me at work. I could have actually worn the regular length with my Doc Marcies without hemming but want to wear these primarily with my various booties which have a lower heel so did hand hem them last night up about one inch. I'm quite happy with the amount of scrunch this allowed me and with the tapered legs, no hems in the snow!

    Rae - the rise is fairly long.

    Parsley/Una - if you're seriously interested in these I could always pick you up a pair and send to you.

    Thanks JR - I'm really enjoying all the textural interest in the outfit.

  • Tina.b replied 11 years ago

    Super flattering outfit, perfectly proportioned. Black is my favourite colour to wear and you've shown us here how flattering it can actually be by making it texturally interesting. That blazer is perfection!

  • replied 11 years ago

    Wow, I love it!

  • Deborah replied 11 years ago

    I have only one thing to say! I'm pinning this! Stunning, and earmarked for a copy cats next winter x

  • goldenpig replied 11 years ago

    *Faints!*

    How does it feel to look killer every day? You've got amazing style, Shannon!

  • Atlantia replied 11 years ago

    Gorgeous! You know I love that bag, and you are seriously inspiring with your use of color. I do have to chuckle a bit at "almost black" since you have quite a lot of grey with your black, and then color as well. BUT....you look awesome. I love the way these trousers fit, and that jacket is magic.

  • Transcona Shannon replied 11 years ago

    Thank you for your lovely comments ladies!

    Deborah - I would be flattered to have you copycat ANYTHING I wear!

    Natalie - you're so adorable!

    Atlantia - ok....you busted me....it's not really all THAT much black but can we keep that our little secret?

  • Sveta replied 11 years ago

    Shannon, I declare it is all your fault - but I just bought those trousers. I am sure they look ridiculous on me (I sized up 2 sizes) but a girl can experiment for $30, right?

  • sarah replied 11 years ago

    Holy texture mixing, batman!!!!

    Wow. Awesome.

  • Transcona Shannon replied 11 years ago

    WHOO HOOO Sveta! Fantastic! I can hardly wait to see them on you - aren't they comfy? I'm positive they don't look ridiculous.

  • Sveta replied 11 years ago

    the only problem with them - belt loops are insanely small, none of my long belts fit in!!!:(
    I am wearing them (together with a green striped sweater from Gap) now and my son said that I look weird - like I tried to dress up for Christmas on top and then gave up on the bottom LOL

  • Transcona Shannon replied 11 years ago

    Oh those darned kids of ours!!!

    I agree - the belt loops are ridiculous. I was lucky that I have a couple of skinny leather belts but you want to almost say to them "why did you even bother?"

    What do you think of them so far? How did the length work out for you?

  • Sveta replied 11 years ago

    I confess - I already let them out and hope my mom can he them without taking up any length. Let out they are just covering my ankles. I would prefer some scrunch like yours have but beggars can't be choosers :) They are pretty loose and slouchy on me (I can take them off unbuttoned). We will see, for $30 I can experiment. In the worst case I will wear them tucked into tall boots.
    I will ask my mom if she can do her magic and expand the belt loops: skinny belt just does not hold them up well :-)

  • replied 11 years ago

    DOES IT WORK? It looks so good it almost hurts. Being a matchy/matchy girl I immediately noticed the bootie/clutch zipper match -perfect bit of fun added.

  • ManidipaM replied 11 years ago

    Umm... not quite what I envisage when someone mentions a suit from Sears! But a 'very Shannon' festive non-suit alright! :-D

    Love the wealth of visual and tactile textures. You forgot one other critical bit of 'broken-up black' though --- your hair! I suspect it adds another layer to the overall design of this delicious outfit.

    And what a delightful silhouette for you too. Congratulations on finding the trouser love!

    In fact, it's so NOT boring black, I'd buy it lock, stock and barrel even without the pops of colour --- it looks yummy even in monotone. But damn, those booties are too divine...!

  • Freckles replied 11 years ago

    What interesting trousers! Love the look on you Shannon.

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I started playing dress up when I was 4 years old and haven't stopped since! My income doesn't match my tastes so it's all about figuring out how to thrift my way to a fashionable life while tossing in a few delectable items.