NEW SERIES! Wear This, Not That: The Black Blob

I’m really excited to introduce a new series on the blog today: Wear This, Not That! I was inspired to start this series because I see a lot of women in West Virginia wearing the same outfits that appear to be good ideas, just poorly executed.

The first in this series is an outfit I call The Black Polyester Blob. As you’ll see below, this is a common outfit often seen in downtown Charleston and Huntington on any given workday, and occasionally at nicer events on the weekend. This outfit reminds me of those crappy polyester gowns you have to wear for graduation, nobody really looks good in them. This outfit is the same way.

I understand why people like this look. It’s easy care and easy to wear. However, this is a very dated look and isn’t as flattering as it appears to be.
1. Either a drapey waterfall cardigan or a cropped cardigan of some sort2. A tank top with lace trim on the bottom band
3. Polyester wide leg pants, sometimes with large cuffs on the bottom
4. Satin pleated shoes

What’s wrong with this outfit? Firstly, there’s too much polyester. Polyester is best in moderation, when you’re wearing so much of this drapey material, you get an effect similar to wear a graduation gown, which is why I made that remark a minute ago. A lot of women assume drape = concealment which isn’t always true. This outfit gives no definition to any part of your body, making you look like a giant blob.

2.The tank tops that have the elastic trim at the bottom need to go. Very often the lace is in bad shape and when that happens, the top is basically ruined, which is why I don’t advocate people buying them in the first place.
3.The wide leg pant can be a tricky item to wear. A rule of thumb is that if one piece of clothing is drapey, say a cardigan, the other item of clothing needs to be fitted. If these were cotton or poplin pant, this outfit would look much better.
4. I remember when these pleated satin shoes came out. I was like 14-16 at the time, and they were originally meant for 12-year-olds to wear to their first school dance. If you’ll look for them in stores, they’re typically made by brands specializing in junior’s clothing such as Bongo, L.E.I., and Candie’s. These shoes look very juvenile and should be avoided no matter the outfit.

Here’s how to make this outfit look so much better:

1. I kept the waterfall cardigan as it’s a good piece for any wardrobe.
2. I traded the tank with lace trim at the bottom for one with lace trim at the top. I chose lilac because it’s a great shade for spring.
3. What really saves this outfit is the fitted pant. This particular pair is very flattering. Yes, you’ll probably have to spend four hours in a dressing room to find a pair that looks this incredible on you, but it’s worth it.
4. To add some definition to the body, I chose this cute belt in a bright cantaloupe color to complement the lilac. I would wear the belt on the outside of the cardigan to make the bright punchy color stand out.
5. Matching accessories are always key.
6. I chose simple black shoes with slightly pointy toes because A) they’re more professional looking, B) they make the leg look longer, and C) they’re meant for adults and not the those with One Direction posters on their walls.