Welcome back to my 26 Days of Fall Fashion! Today I’m styling a plaid shirt with a sweater vest. This is one of those outfits that looked better on paper than on my body. Ha!!
I ordered this plaid shirt from Nordstrom. It’s hard to tell in my pictures so here is a close up of the top. It has white and brown stripes. I thought it would be cute with my brown booties and a gray sweater vest.
I still think it would be cute with something gray but this open front vest is not working for me. I have narrow shoulders and a small chest area which is why sometimes you all say I’m a petite frame. I’m 5’6″, which isn’t petite. Anyway, this is too much material for me.
I struggle with tops and blouses fitting in my shoulders but I never have trouble with my lower area. I have plenty of padding in the rear area. 🙂
Since I’m being picky, I didn’t like my earrings with this outfit either. I love big earrings, that’s no secret, but I think I could have picked a different pair.
Thankfully, I didn’t take the tags off of the sweater so I can send it back. My ankle boots are from Nordstrom too and I love them!
Outfit Details
Sweater Vest//Plaid Shirt (size small)//Ankle Boots (Runs small, order a 1/2 size up. I’m wearing the cognac color.)//Skinny Jeans (I’m wearing a size 6)//Earrings//Sunglasses//Handbag
Make sure you stop by and see what Jo-lynne is styling today!
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Beauty For the Heart~~Radical obedience to Christ is not easy… It’s not comfort, not health, not wealth, and not prosperity in this world. Radical obedience to Christ risks losing all these things. But in the end, such risk finds its reward in Christ. And he is more than enough for us. -David Platt
Whatever you are doing today, wherever you go, and whatever you are going through, know that Christ is enough.
Have a blessed day!
Hey Cyndi, I read what you thought of the vest and earrings, but actually, when a person looks at the post of you in this outfit, it really is a winner. I didn’t see what you wrote about why you didn’t like the vest, but it didn’t look bulky. I thought the earrings looked great, too. Not matchy-matchy as they say, but still striking. Of course, you look good in everything!
Cute outfit! and I love plaid. Maybe do a gray scarf of some kind? I know with just the plaid, jeans and booties it would look a little plain. Maybe a big necklace?
Outfit looks great on you!
I would love to see how that sweater vest looks in an all neutral outfit – perhaps with white jeans? That being said, if you don’t love it send it back! 🙂
Thanks for sharing outfits that don’t always work out for you. It is informative to see why a piece may not look great. Having said that I think the only item that did not enhance your look was the sweater vest. It was too much fabric and too heavy texture for a smaller frame. I hope you show the same outfit with a different vest. The comparison would be interesting.
Thanks also for sharing your messages with us.
I think the shoulders of the vest are are the part that makes it look too bulky. Also, the knit is quite heavy and bulky looking.
I’ve been following you for a few months. Your faith, and Bible quotes are great daily “manna”. Thanks!
I agree with you! Earrings, nah. Sweater vest, way too bulky. Perhaps a different style vest in gray. I do love plaid for Fall! Have a great day!
I think the outfit looks great on you!
Hi Cyndi, I’m new to your blog and loving it… You have such a great sense of style. I have already purchased a couple of items for fall from your posts this past week. And I love your Beauty from the Heart messages. Thank you for sharing your wonderful ideas.
So nice to meet you Vicki. Thank so much for stopping by!!
Blessings,
Cyndi
I’m in the minority because my first impression was positive! I think you look beautiful and the outfit would work without the vest if you think it’s too bulky. Have a blessed day Cyndi and thank you for your inspiration!
I loved all the pieces you shared! I’m not big on plaid but I really loved the plaid top! I may reconsider and add this piece to my wardrobe! I do agree on the sweater vest being a bit much, but I’m thinking you could pair it with a plain long sleeve t-shirt and add a statement necklace! Just a thought…
Make it a happy day!
Trish
I love this handbag. I saw it in your post yesterday and was going to order it today and now it is unavailable 😟😟
The outfit is still cute, but admittedly it’s not your finest look….. Still good that you styled the outfit because, alas, nobody looks great in everything. The type of sweater vest you are wearing, in my humble opinion, 🙂 really looks amazing on plus size women….. All of the fabric becomes majestic as opposed to overwhelming….. I have seen several similar coats, sweaters, and vests styled by plus size bloggers and they look positively regal and magnificent!! I think this trend might be only for plus sized gals!!! I would encourage all of our plus sized lady friends to at least try this style…..
I agree! We all have different needs in the style department. I too have seen those types of sweaters and vests look great on plus size gals. I’m 5’2″ and small frame and that texture and style just overwhelms me. Love it on others though!
Agree about the bulk of the neck on those sleeveless sweater ‘vests’, especially if your shirt has a collar. I passed on one yesterday for the same reason. I did find one in a knit though that was not as bulky. I bought it to wear over my workout clothes on the way to the gym…I like to keep the rump covered so I can run in the store on the way there! I don’t think anyone over 8 should wear yoga pants in public without some covering…I’m a prude? hardly…haha…
I am going to miss summer. I love fall, but winter in the Midwest…not so much.
Also, the bag! I found a Ralph Lauren cognac bag/tote (I need to work on the vocabulary) at DSW on clearance. It is divine! I don’t usually spend more than (gasp) $20 for a purse but this one I know I will use for years. It will be part of my Fall Workwear Challenge, so y’all can see it if you’re ‘in’. (see how I did that).
Have a blessed weekend! If anyone else had a stressful week at work, enjoy your time at home and thank God for that wonderful job!
I love your honesty and how you share your “inner thoughts” with us about your outfits.
I think all the pieces are really cute and look good on you, just not together. The basic outfit and all your accessories look great but without the sweater vest. It’s too bulky over what you’re wearing. I think the vest is still cute….I’d try it over a dress with tights and booties, personally. In fact I’m going to buy that sweater vest immediately cuz I see lots of possibilities and it looks so cozy!
Thanks – God Bless!
Hi Cyndi! Thank you for sharing this outfit with us, even though there are several things you don’t like about it. And thank you for sharing what you don’t like! Vi agree that the sweeter has too much fabric.
Have a blessed day!
I like the idea of this, but I do see what you mean about the sweater. LOOOOVE those booties.
I like the vest but not the shirt. Call me crazy but if stripes don’t match up (when the shirt is buttoned,like yours) it would bug me and I couldn’t wear it. The outfit would just look off.
Liza, I agree. I think that is something people who sew tend to notice.
I agree with the comment above. Stripes not matching up was the first thing I noticed about the shirt. One important thing I learned in college in Advanced Tailoring course was that matched stripes tells a lot about the quality of the construction (and price!) However, sometimes you can hide it with a vest or sweater! Thanks for all your great ideas Cyndi. I just got in the blue jean vest and waiting on the green jeans that you modeled earlier this past week. Love it!! Thanks for all your encouraging blogs!
Just ordered the sunglasses!
I love your sunglasses! The whole outfit is great but I agree the sweater is a bit bulky. I love the half tucked look of the shirt but can never get mine to look right. Any suggestions? Thank you for your wonderful blog. I just found you and am really enjoying it. Our taste are very similar.
Love the beauty for the heart message today! Hope everyone has a blessed weekend!
Thanks for the “Beauty for the Heart” message. I copied it to take to share at my Bible Study next week. I hope you don’t mind.
Hi Cyndi-I agree you need to avoid the bulky effect. It’s all about balance. I too have skinny arms, small frame, and a big chest, I don’t look good in clothes that overpower my body. As a matter of fact, I own very few vests, because they just don’t look good on me. I think it’s my skinny arms?? The shirt looks good on its own…not sure what type of layer you need with it? Maybe you can share another style of this blouse. Btw, I recently found a poncho with no arms,you just pull over your head, and it has a cowl neck which I love! So. Glad to see them out this season! Have a blesse day! And, enjoy Kentucy! I traveled to Lexington this summer, and loved it! Love, Marti.
Cyndi,
I live in Lexington and went to an Open House for a new clothing store called Peacock and Pearls. If you go to Lexington sometime, check it out. Close to Target and Lexington Green. I think you will like it!
Love the plaid shirt but I agree that the sweater vest is just a little too much. Thanks for showing that sometimes we all make mistakes. Couldn’t you wear the plaid shirt without anything over it? Have a blessed day!
Thanks for posting something that didn’t work, Cyndi! Makes me feel better on those days when I have multiple trips back to the closet! 😉 It’s interesting because I have the opposite problem, I have very broad shoulders and long arms. Have to be careful of too much fabric that looks like even more fabric! I think your plaid shirt would look super cute with a utility vest! Again, thanks for being YOU!
I understand, if you’re not feel’n it, then ya with feel beautiful in it! 😉
However, I did think the idea of it was adorable! 👍🏼
Enjoy your weekend!
I have the same challenge Cindy. I’m 5’8 and have narrow shoulders and smaller chest. Boat cut tops rarely work for me and even many regular tops are too big in my shoulders but I have enough hip and thigh so certain things just don’t work. Love your blog!
Same here!
Thanks for the beautiful message. You look great.
The plaid shirt looks fine, but I agree about the vest. I have the same problem. I have wide shoulders but a small frame and sometimes all that fabric overwhelms me.
This was great, I love that something did not work on you, it’s nice to hear you might struggle with style, also. I bought those same earrings yesterday and I think they are too big for me, too! Lol
Oh Cyndi😃 I like this on you but I totally get it. My clothes have to be comfortable, and I have to “feel” comfortable in them. Sometimes you just know. I too have narrow shoulders but I’m a little larger in the chest area which cones with its own issues. I like the idea you were going for because I’ve seen some cute sweater vests but struggle how to wear them. Thank you for the honest critique. If you hadn’t said anything we’d be none the wiser because as usual you look great!
Cyndi, I enjoyed reading about something you didn’t like and why. I didn’t think the sweater vest looked bad and seems like it would feel great on cool fall days. Hopefully you will find one you like and can model it for us.
I love the handbag. Though online the bag looks a lot lighter then the bag in your photos. Can you tell me if the bag in the link is the same color that you have?
Of course, you look adorable in just about anything, but I can see your point about the too much fabric in places. I really love the overall look though. Actually, in some photos I can’t tell, and it looks perfect. Thanks for sharing it all and being totally honest. 🙂 By the way, I ordered that bag! I’m also thinking about returning my booties for these. Love them!
I think the vest looks adorable on you! I always look forward to your posts and especially love your Beauty from the Heart. Thank you!
I am glad to see you model clothes and your honest opinion of what you like and don’t like. I wonder if you have ever tried Christopher and Banks clothes? It is a popular store around my area for ladies clothes. God bless you. Thank you for encouraging women.
I love your honesty! I look forward to your post everyday!
Love you SO MUCH!! Have a great weekend!!
XOXOXO
Thank you for your uplifting message today at the end of your post. I neede that. You are beautiful inside and out.