WIW: Velvet & Lace

This is the debut for this chocolate brown lace skirt - I thrifted it back in late summer but the lining had become separated from the skirt in several places and needed repair. Finally got it off to Wonder Woman and can now wear it. I adore the midi length on this skirt - not everyone's cuppa but that's ok with me.

I've paired the skirt with a simple brown v-neck tank and then topped it with my vintage-inspired dark green velvet blazer. Brown tights and my brown booties finish off my column of colour. For a bit of sparkle against the dark colour palette, I've added my long gold and pearl necklace, which also helps to elongate my body (or so I hope!). My handbag is the Elliott Lucca snakeskin which has brown, cream and green tones in it.

What do you think? Does it all work together? As always, all comments/suggestions welcome.

Velvet blazer: Laura Petites (thrifted)
Tank: Cleo Petites (thrifted)
Skirt: Cleo Petites (thrifted)
Tights: Hue
Booties: Naturalizer
Necklace: Lia Sophia
Handbag: Elliott Lucca

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35 Comments

  • Raisin replied 11 years ago

    Very ladylike! I think it's very visually interesting the pairing of lace and velvet. I like outfits with many textures. Great outfit!

  • Jaime replied 11 years ago

    I think this look fabulous. I love the velvet with the lace and the necklace is just right. But is it for work or something fancier? It looks like it would work for evening beautifully.

  • Rabbit Heart replied 11 years ago

    It looks great! The tank and the skirt together look like a dress (or at least I thought it was a dress before I read the description). The necklace draws attention to the vertical lines in your outfit which is exactly you were hoping for. Wonderful! I also like the glimpse of the furry something in the last picture (your dog?). I think this outfit would look great with a faux fur collar :)

  • merwoman replied 11 years ago

    You can do no wrong Shannon! Love this on you.

  • missvee replied 11 years ago

    I love the skirt and tank on you but I'm not completely sold on the green velvet jacket. The fit is excellent but the colour seems a bit dark paired with brown, and the velvet along with the lace reads more party than office.

  • replied 11 years ago

    I love all of the interesting textures in your outfit. The tassel necklace is a nice touch, and references the tassel on your bag, which seems a bit light in tone for this outfit, but I like it.

  • Preppy Pear replied 11 years ago

    Pretty, pretty! The big satchel helps make it more "office-y" for me instead of party. The brown and the green together aren't my first choice, but that's a personal preference. I really like all the pieces and the proportions, the patterns, and the textures are awesome as always!

  • Beth Ann replied 11 years ago

    Yes to texture and rich hues! It looks like a very comfortable outfit, too, which is a definite plus. Beautifully styled!

  • Transcona Shannon replied 11 years ago

    Agreed that this might be a bit dressy for the office but I'm ok with that - I'm often the dressiest one! I can see swapping the tights for nude microfishnets, the booties for pumps and the satchel for a clutch and wearing this to a party.

    Rabbit Heart - that furry tail belongs to my sweet orange kitty Gain. He's always trying to get into the picture :)

  • Astrid replied 11 years ago

    Absolutely fantastic! I'm in love with this outfit, Shannon - all those textures... Love the midi length of the skirt and I so want to steal that velvet blazer - you better be prepared! :P

  • Suz replied 11 years ago

    Actually, this would be a great office-to-party look, and it really does have a holiday feel with the velvet and lace. What gorgeous textures.

    This speaks to your retro side where yesterday's outfit was more streamlined. It is interesting (and fun) to see you play with these different aspects of your style.

    Shannon, don't you have a blue lacey dress, too? I am thinking this jacket might look nice with that as well. It could also play well with "our" portobello skirt. (Don't you just love calling it "portobello"?)

  • replied 11 years ago

    I am liking the silhouette but I have to be honest and say I am not a fan of the green with the brown. It also looks like it would be a great outfit to go from work to a holiday party!

    The skirt is lovely.

  • Sara L. replied 11 years ago

    I love that green blazer! It looks fabulous on you! I'm not a bag person so I could be wrong here, but the bag might be a little light for the rest of the outfit.

  • Transcona Shannon replied 11 years ago

    Ok...so if I get this right, these pieces are fine individually but together, not so great and too dressy for the office?

    What about the bottom half of the outfit with my chunky Fisherman knit sweater? or this outfit but with my denim jacket instead of the velvet jacket? I really love this lace skirt and want to find ways to make it work appropriate. Would love your suggestions ladies!

  • Suz replied 11 years ago

    I think the colours may not be reproducing perfectly. The jacket looks cool green; the dress looks on the warmer brown side. The flash probably misrepresents the jacket's colour and the level of shine a bit, giving a dressier effect. Though I personally would not mind going to the office (if I had an office) in a look like this, particularly during holiday season or if I were planning a lunch date or going somewhere afterwards.

    The skirt can definitely go to the office with another of your jackets! You have so many that it is tough to choose. I'll bet it might look great with the gold blouse you wore yesterday, tucked. Do you have a pink jacket? That could be fun.

  • modgrl replied 11 years ago

    Shannon, I love your style and I love that you push yourself to try something new every single day. It's a great inspiration for me! Not sure if I like today's experiment though. Lace can be tricky I think. It can really go either way. It can look trashy, matronly or classy or edgy. I am worried that the dark lace in combination with the dark velvet jacket looks more matronly. I am used to your style having more edge. How about a cheeky denim jacket over the dress? Love the necklace with it!

  • Transcona Shannon replied 11 years ago

    Thanks so much for your helpful feedback Suz and Rita!

    Two new ways to try the skirt: with my denim jacket with scrunched sleeves of course and with my magenta blazer (that one may be a bit long for a skirt but definitely worth trying). I'm also thinking it could work with my faux leather cognac jacket?

    As for the velvet blazer, also love this piece but will wear it differently. Could be cute with jeans and a tee, over my black sheath dress with the Blondo boots - any other ideas?

    Rita - my style has "edge"? Cool!

    ETA: Just found this fab picture of Teri in a lace pencil skirt paired with a chambray shirt. I could wear mine with my chambray ON shirt to dress it down for work. What do you think?

  • rae replied 11 years ago

    Ooh, such a pretty wintry look! I love how the sheen of the velvet brightens things up near your face. Fab!

  • Ornella replied 11 years ago

    Shannon, the title sounded promising and the outfit really is wonderful. I think with a clutch, sheerer hose and perhaps pumps you actually have party outfit sorted.

  • modgrl replied 11 years ago

    Yes! That's how I wore mine. Let me see if I can dig up a picture.

    Here's my lace-ish skirt with a denim jacket.
    http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....r-pix-here

    Wow, I had bad hair then!

    I need to try this again. That was a fun outfit.

    I didn't post a rear view. This skirt makes my @ss look comically huge. I like it but do feel a bit over the top betty boop in it.

  • Joy replied 11 years ago

    I want to steal that brown lace skirt! It would also be fab with a brown leather moto jacket to have a multitextured monochrome outfit.

  • replied 11 years ago

    Oooh I want to see it with your cognac booties and cognac jacket, and the yellowy blouse.

  • Transcona Shannon replied 11 years ago

    And this is why I love YLF! Fab suggestions ladies - and Rita, you look gorgeous in that outfit! Now I have some ideas to go with.

  • catgirl replied 11 years ago

    Very pretty! Romantic yet with some edge. A perfect winter outfit and can be worn for any holidays without screaming "CHRISTMAS OUTFIT!"... :)

  • rachylou replied 11 years ago

    Oh this is very different! I really like how you've made velvet and lace yours. Don't know that it ever occurred to me that lace and velvet could come in such in clean silhouette.

  • missvee replied 11 years ago

    Oh I love the idea of the denim jacket, or the chambray shirt. Brown with blue is one of my favourite pairings.
    Or, don't you have a lighter purpley/fuschia jacket, or a coral jacket? Sorry I just can't remember who has what :)

  • Jenava replied 11 years ago

    I love the textural interest, but i think it's too dark overall. What about a cream blouse, metallic shoes and nude hose?

    I also love the idea of doing this skirt with your fisherman's sweater - that would also play up the texture theme and bring some lightness to the outfit...and I also think swapping the velvet for denim would be nice (again, breaking up the dark colors).

  • Day Vies replied 11 years ago

    The crushed velvet is fabulous. I love it with the lace texture and the necklace!

  • lyn* replied 11 years ago

    I love the contrast of textures between the velvet and the lace and the croc of your purse! And the booties are so cute!

  • JR replied 11 years ago

    This is nice, and I love the idea of seeing you in velvet and lace, but yes, it is a little on the dark side. I love the idea of your cognac leather jacket with the skirt, perhaps with a soft white blouse?

  • annagybe replied 11 years ago

    A lot has been said already about the pairing.
    Personally I think the crushed velvet is dated. Reads late 90's to me, when I was goth and wore a lot of that stuff.

  • replied 11 years ago

    You look great to me.

  • goldenpig replied 11 years ago

    OK I really love your style but this particular outfit is not my fave on you--I second Rita and Anna's comments. I think the green crushed velvet and dark lace together is reading a bit 80's/90's and a tad matronly. What about pairing the skirt with a leather jacket instead to make it edgier? Don't you have a purple/burgundy leather jacket? How about that, with a cream sweater underneath? With the green velvet, I think you have to go even more fashion forward so it looks intentional rather than dated. How about some floral pants with it?

  • Transcona Shannon replied 11 years ago

    I agree this is not my best outfit or best pairing. I do find it interesting however that the last time I wore this velvet blazer to work, it got raves for suiting "retro" me. Maybe I've moved on to a different style?

  • Jules replied 11 years ago

    I'm not sure but I am curious to see what else you come up with for the jacket (styling the skirt will be easy). Like Anna I have specific associations with crushed velvet (early 90s though).
    Even your not-as-great outfits are pretty fab though :)

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