Oh, these are dark times.
But... There is always a dawn after the darkest of times...
And that dawn is "Style Questions Wednesdays!" , when a well-paid professional woman throws herself a tthe mercy of her good blog friends for advice!! woot-woot! Cue disco ball:
And so, after much ado and teeth gnashing and hullabaloo, today's question:
Do you ever sparkle during the day?
And no, I do not mean "are you of winning personality and lovely smile whilst you are at the office?"
No: do you sequin at the office? at the library? whilst taking the kids to the park?
At some workplaces, sequins appear to be de rigeur...
or
But what about US?
Can we wear sequins or sparkle to work?
What precipitated my question:
Today I wore my lovely Nougat London cardi with my JC Snakeskin pattern skirt and nine west nude pumps. I quite liked this look. BUT..
The cardi has some sequins and beading. Was it too much for work???
BTW - how much I love you all is that I am Xlarging this photo. All I see is extra flesh everywhere. But for the love of you, I suffer and show all!
A closeup to remind you:
All day I fretted that I should have left this to an evening look. The other part of the day I stared at the beading and said "oooooh, nice beading..."
So: whaddayathink? Should the sequin sweater have stayed home?????
I originally had a Talbots ivory cashmere boyfriend cardi on, but it looked too casual. I am feeling like Goldilocks today!!! One outfit was too large, one too small. I neededone just right! I love this sweater, but I want to be sure!
Do you ever wear sparkle or sequin to the office? How do you know if it is appropriate?
Happy Wednesday and sparkle on, in your own, special way!
(my god, what did we do before the internet???? You type in "dark times" and there you go!)
The economy continues to perform poorly.
My choice of president may or may not be elected (and no, out of respect and love for you all, I will NOT say who my choice is! I am Canadian after all, and WE ARE NICE!) come November.
My summer diet worked well before Paris and has gone to hell in a handbasket since then and I am about ready to do something drastic (I know, it will make you cry - I may not have a glass of wine during the week! The horrors!) to kick start it as I can hardly breath in my clothes.
But... There is always a dawn after the darkest of times...
And that dawn is "Style Questions Wednesdays!" , when a well-paid professional woman throws herself a tthe mercy of her good blog friends for advice!! woot-woot! Cue disco ball:
And so, after much ado and teeth gnashing and hullabaloo, today's question:
Do you ever sparkle during the day?
And no, I do not mean "are you of winning personality and lovely smile whilst you are at the office?"
No: do you sequin at the office? at the library? whilst taking the kids to the park?
At some workplaces, sequins appear to be de rigeur...
or
But what about US?
Can we wear sequins or sparkle to work?
What precipitated my question:
Today I wore my lovely Nougat London cardi with my JC Snakeskin pattern skirt and nine west nude pumps. I quite liked this look. BUT..
The cardi has some sequins and beading. Was it too much for work???
BTW - how much I love you all is that I am Xlarging this photo. All I see is extra flesh everywhere. But for the love of you, I suffer and show all!
A closeup to remind you:
All day I fretted that I should have left this to an evening look. The other part of the day I stared at the beading and said "oooooh, nice beading..."
So: whaddayathink? Should the sequin sweater have stayed home?????
I originally had a Talbots ivory cashmere boyfriend cardi on, but it looked too casual. I am feeling like Goldilocks today!!! One outfit was too large, one too small. I neededone just right! I love this sweater, but I want to be sure!
Do you ever wear sparkle or sequin to the office? How do you know if it is appropriate?
Happy Wednesday and sparkle on, in your own, special way!
I think sometimes it is hard to judge because sequins may look very flashy in the pictures. My guess is that your outfit was fine IRL and much more subtle. I would not wear fully sequined top or bottom (or dress!) but some delicate beading or few sequins sprinkled on are perfectly fine imo.
ReplyDeletethanks AJC. I am pretty sure they sparkled like that as I would look down and see the sparkle and be entranced... But they are delicate for sure.
DeleteYes yes and yes. Some will say I'm not appropriately dressed but I have worn a lot of sequins and who knows what else sparkly to work. It all started with a little beading and there's no going back, though I've stop short of wearing sequins head to toe in the day.
ReplyDeleteI got my training working at advertising agencies years ago. Now people at my very large company with a business casual dress code accepts and expects it from me.
I LOVE your outfit!!! You look so elegant and pretty.
Tiffany Rose - you made me laugh out loud! As CEO of my org, I am definitely not business casual, but I do like to switch the suit out for skirts and sweaters for dresses from time to time to make it more interesting! I knew you would have a strong opinion about this post!
DeleteMy weight is piling on,I haven't been this heavy for years and I can't fasten any of my clothes, I have to use an elastic band to close all my cords just now ugh, I wish I hadn't been lumbered with a weight problem, life would be so much easier!
ReplyDeleteSequins during the day aren't my thing but you probably knew that!
Yes - I was pretty sure of your response!!!!
DeleteI hear you - could we be suffering from the dreaded "you are close to 50 and the weight just doesn't fall off anymore?" Anyhow - I got my exercise bicycle, and reducing portion sizes, trying to eat mostly veggies, etc. I really need to lose 10 pounds tout de suite!
I think it totally depends on your office, and your personal style. My office is business casual on a good (dressy) day, so it would seem out of place there. The only sparkle that comes to mind that I've worn to work was a white sequin cami under a jean jacket with capris in the summer. But it would seem your office is pretty dressy, and I wouldn't hesitate to wear your outfit there. I would 'sparkle' anywhere else during the day, too. I don't own a lot of sparkles, but if I only wore them at night, they would rarely see the light of day :) In fact, I am really looking forward to wearing the striped sequin cardigan I hunted down as a popback as soon as it cools off here (apologies for the digression--sequins distract me). Great topic!
ReplyDeleteHi Wendy. Thanks for the great advice. I feel like that about my crazy pants - i am dying to buy another pair, but the reality is that I hardly wear the two pairs that I have as they are more for special occasions and a third pair just takes up more room in the closet! I loved that striped sequin cardigan!
DeleteI dont own very many sequined items,but i love them.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite way to wear my sequined cami or tee is dressed down with boyfriend jeans and heels.
I love that look, too!
DeleteI say yes to sparkly bits during the day in small amounts. No to Jenna's sequin harem pants or whatever she's wearing these days, yes to your very ladylike cardigan with the pretty beading. I mean really, it suits your personality!
ReplyDeleteI did see a couple of very stylish women in Paris wearing sequin tops under their coats during the day. Love it.
I hope you're not starving yourself, I don't think you need to lose 10lbs, you'll waste away you're so tiny already. I gave up my daily glass of wine in the spring for nearly three months only to prove I wasn't a drunkard, but I didn't lose weight because then I craved something sweet, it was the idea of deprivation I think that made me want to eat desserts (which I normally easily avoid, as long as I have my "treat" glass of wine that is!
I wish I could say I was starving myself, but no, I am being quite good to myself!!! And I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE you!
DeleteI cannot give up wine. I just can't. I think of it as a food group: fruit, veggies, cereal, meat, dairy, wine...
I think your pale sparkly cardigan would be fine for an office;looks great with the snakeskin skirt so many have had trouble styling.
ReplyDeleteI would not wear them in my line of work; last year, I did try a black sequin tank and that khaki sequined top with 3/4 sleeves from JC; I wore both around the holidays and loved them. Never to late to branch out!
Thanks Lane! I don;t think I could weat a full-on sequin top!
DeleteAlso, agree with Dani about trying to skip your glass of wine if that's your treat. I do a lot of weight counciling during my day; what works for many perimenopausal women is stopping the carbs at 4 PM ( no potatoes, pasta etc-- have at lunch if you want);dinner is protein and 3 cups of any vegetables, glass of wine and lots of water. You will see the weight needle move.
ReplyDeleteOh I am so happy - wardrobe and weight advice! I am going to try this!
DeleteSHINE ON! Hi WMM, now that I've re-focussed from my little disco ball and caffeine buzz, I'd echo that it depends on office environment, day (who will you see, what are you doing), item of clothing, overall outfit. But then again, I only have two sequined articles in my closet. In my previous fairly formal office, cardigans and tanks with a bit of embellishment and shine were fine. I actually wore a sweater cami/ vest with very subtle sequin stripes between my button-down and jacket to break up the suit-y factor. I think every outfit is a balance of colour, texture, pattern and shine as WNTW preaches. Even within conservative environments and power positions, the most important aspect is wearing what feels like "you" and what you feel fabululous, happy and confident in. As Wendy commented, "personal" style. I'm also going to be a bit of a parrot about diet self-denial. If that glass of wine is what gives you great pleasure, it might be better to push the exercise a bit and really watch portion control, fats and starches.
ReplyDeleteThanks Get Fresh! Great advice! I think we must be programmed early on for sequins or not. I imagine myself in the womb looking for the disco ball!
DeleteAs for the wine - no worries. I am all over the wine!
I think it probably depends on your workplace whether you can wear sparkle, but unless you are in an extremely conservative field, I say yes to a little bit. What you are wearing looks nice and has spunk, I approve!
ReplyDeleteI am on week 10 of the diet so I commiserate. It had to be done, I had gained back a lot of weight. I am an odd one that does not want the glass of wine or beer very often but I have a sweet tooth that is probably worse than the wine would be. And a salt tooth. All the bad teeth. I just really like food, but I like to fit in my clothes too, it's a ongoing conflict for me.
I hear you Cate! I don't have aspirations to be a size 0. when I was really skinny a few years ago it wasn't pretty - I had a very wobbly neck! But I like being a 4 or a 6. especially a 6 actually, Right now, I am a tight 8!
DeleteHi WMM, I haven't worked in an office for many, many years, but I imagine a little bit of sparkle is just fine - and after all, you are the boss!
ReplyDeleteAs for weight gain, I have to agree that age 50 seems to be a benchmark for gaining weight. I had always been thin, if not a little underweight, so it's very hard to get into the mindset that I have to watch what I eat. I like Lane's advice of cutting carbs after 4pm, but pasta would be so difficult to cut out.
I am with you Patricia - I could never give up Pasta! That has me thinking of anoter blog post!!!
DeleteI agree with others that it all depends on your workplace, and it sounds as if a bit of sparkle at yours is perfectly fine! Plus the cardigan is beautiful and suits your personality! :)
ReplyDeleteI am also experiencing the weight gain issue, and I am 42. I have struggled with my weight since my teenage years, but have never experienced such difficulty losing it, up until this past year. It is quite frustrating, and I completely understand how you feel right now...you are not alone! I am just trying to focus on eating a healthy, well-balanced diet with lots of protein, fruit, and veggies. I try not to deny myself any certain foods, because then it just makes me want them more. If I know I can eat whatever I want, I do not have bad cravings like I did when I put certain foods on the bad list.
Thanks FFM! YOu look so teeny tiny to me, so this is helpful!
DeleteI am guessing the sequins were not as sparkly during the day time and were just fine. Personally I don't wear sequins unless they are tucked under a blazer or a cardi, and even then in small amounts, but that's just me.
ReplyDeleteI gave up wine about 4 and a half year ago and never missed it one bit. Those drink calories sneak up on you. LOL
OOOOH Rose! I am impressed! Do you drink at all??? I have the WASP guilt and often wish I could give it up. WHo do I admire - my Francophone colleagues, who NEVER feel guilty drinking good wine or having the odd cigar...
DeleteNope, nothing at all. I've never felt better.
DeleteI agree with everyone else that sparkle in moderation during the day is fun and festive. Unless you are talking to a jury or making a presentation where the sparkle would be a distraction, go for it.
ReplyDeleteThe weight issue is a life long struggle for me and I go from acceptance, to anger to sadness. I recently started reading Wheat Belly which talks about how wheat (which is everything) is awful for us. The first 2 weeks I went 100% wheat free I lost 4 lbs. I'm the first to admit that this would be a difficult diet to maintain, but I found myself satisfied and not craving sugar-my weakness. I upped my protein about 50% as well. I fell off the wagon over the weekend, but I'm back on it and already feel better.
Hey Julie,
DeleteI tried the wheat belly diet, but I only lost 4 or 5 pounds (that's what I did this summer) but I think I need to count calories, actually. and sigh..
I happen to be wearing some sequins today myself... the J Crew merino confetti sweater. It's gray and drizzly here and the day just seemed to call for some sparkle :)
ReplyDeleteWell you always look so fab, so I am quite heartened!
DeleteI don't wear a lot of sequins but I couldn't imagine you without them. They're totally you.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever tried spinning classes? I love it and it keeps the weight off.
Oh Marsha - thank you! I am just breaking in my new schwinn recumbent exercise bike or should I say it is breaking me in? I did 15 minutes of that and 10 minutes of weights tonight and walked for 20 minutes at lunch. I am wretched at the bike. That is a sign that I need it I guess. I could walk for hours, but my thighs appear to not be made for cycling (could they be too bloody thin?) It is quite humbling! My goal is to work to 30 minutes within the month without a) having a heart attack b) not going for a smoke (and I don't even smoke!) I curse it constantly! I miss my treadmill! But it too up so much more space...
DeleteI LOVE your outfit!!! Sorry I'm late here, but I belive we can wear sparkes the way you did, very elegant, and how you feel is the most appropriate to go to work :o)
ReplyDeleteI love this skirt, I'm still looking for one...have a lovely day!
Xo
Thanks Andrea! I agree - elegance and attitude is everything!
Delete