Firecracker's Blog

WIW: oxfords experiment

July 1, 2014

I like the idea of oxfords with looks that bare the ankles: rolled pants,
skirts, shorts, etc. But I usually don't like them on me. However, I tried the look yesterday for work. I wasn't too happy with the look on me, and I'm not sure why I don't think it works. I've always suspected it's the shape of my ankles and/or I just like other looks better on me. These oxfords are especially high-vamped, too. I'm not sure I would wear these shoes again without having my pant hems meet or cover the top of them. What do you think?

The outfit (worn to work): olive chinos with brass studs down the sides (Lucky); black spatter-print tee in shades of gray, sage, off-white (made by me); black cardigan (J. Jill); black belt; black oxfords (Josef Seibel); olive coat (Laundry by Shelli Segal); black satchel (Elliott Lucca); brass and silver earrings and bracelet (Lucky). I did not really want to wear the cardigan, but I was cold, and I ended up keeping it on most of the day.
 
I welcome your feedback. Thanks for looking!

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Posted in the What I Wore category
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25 Comments

  • abc replied 9 years ago

    I think they read heavy being black. I struggle with high vamp shoes too. Watching this thread for the analysis.

  • catgirl replied 9 years ago

    I would copy this head to toe but I am a sucker for oxfords with anything!

  • Joy replied 9 years ago

    I' m wondering if your pants need to be longer or rolled shorter. Maybe experiment some. I like the black with olive. It's incredible that you are dressed so warmly when we are having heat indexes of over 100F and doing our best to keep cool.

  • Caro in Oz replied 9 years ago

    I know what you mean. I struggle with black footwear unless it has a "lightness" to it. What about a hair or skin tone oxford & belt?

  • Firecracker (Sharan) replied 9 years ago

    abc and caro in oz--aha, the color has something to do with it.

    Una, that's just it--I've seen you wear oxfords, and I would like to achieve that look!

    Joy, I'm not sure I can get them rolled shorter, with my calves in the way--ha ha! I tried rolling the pants longer, and this did seem the most intentional look, so I went with it. I can try your ideas with other pants, though!

  • abc replied 9 years ago

    Might not work or be an option but maybe you could use lighter laces? Just an idea. No clue if it would help.

  • Neel replied 9 years ago

    I really love this on you Firecracker. The oxfords and rolled pants are perfect. This is also one of my favorite color combos - black/white/olive. Sometimes it takes time to adjust our eyes to certain styles on ourselves. For example it took me a lot of time to warm up to the rolled up pants look on myself. I still get it wrong, I often stop at one roll short of perfect, for some weird reason!

  • Echo replied 9 years ago

    See, in my eyes, the black shoes really help balance this look. I think they are perfect, and I, too, would copy this look head to toe. I think you look great!

  • Eliza replied 9 years ago

    Like your overall look a lot and love wearing oxfords myself. Really noticed the tee and then that you made it. Very nice!

    Agree that the high vamp of this oxford may work better with a bit more ankle exposed or a longer pant, even a bootleg. I have a cream oxford pair that is a bigger form factor than my narrower gray and navy ones, plus are on the bright side. I think they are a bit conspicuous and can take some getting used to, but I have found it worth experimenting. with pant length, degree of contrast and overall balance of the outfit. Oxfords can vary a lot on the masculine/feminine or clunky/delicate continuums, impacting how comfortable one feels with particular pairs.

    I will read with interest, because while I play around with them, I am not always clear on exactly why I prefer what I do in the end.

    Appreciate the question.

  • Firecracker (Sharan) replied 9 years ago

    abc, I would not have thought of different laces. Olive! I need olive laces--ha! Or some ribbon-type laces, perhaps.

    Neel, good point about the eye adjusting. I finally got over my aversion to booties with skirts on myself, after joining YLF. High five on the color combo--I do like olive and black together. I've seen Transcona Shannon rock the color combo, too.

    Echo, thank you.

    Eliza, thanks for the tee admiration. On the oxfords I thought there might be something obvious I was missing, but I guess not! Glad the question intrigues you, too.

  • Deborah replied 9 years ago

    I like the look.  I would like to see your pants longer but still revealing some ankle.  I know this length would be a bit of a no no but I like it:)  I also think that a darker pair of pants would create a more consistent line even tho the ankle would be revealed.

  • Jenava replied 9 years ago

    I actually like this as-is as well.  I do think it takes a bit to see if your eye adjusts.  IMO your legs are long enough to pull this off!

  • Firecracker (Sharan) replied 9 years ago

    Deborah, I'll have to try a longer roll again. And darker pants. I have some black pants that I've wanted to wear with these shoes but I think I've just given up in the past and worn my booties instead.

    Jenava, thanks for the vote of confidence. My eyes have adjusted enough that I could wear this look out of the house, anyway. :)

  • fern replied 9 years ago

    I don't have an answer for your oxford question - I like them as is. I have only worn my dark oxfords with full-length dark pants, but this is inspiring.
    I have a question for you as a sewist - I love the fabrics you are using - this shirt and the dark silk floral from another thread. Do you have a great fabric source?

  • Jaime replied 9 years ago

    I am wondering if you didn't like the look in the mirror or just when you saw the pictures. Black is hard to photograph and in the pictures we don't see the details so they come off as more heavy and dark than I guess they appear in person. Love the Made By Me!

  • unfrumped replied 9 years ago

    I think it works as is, but I believe I share your issues. I've tried a lot of Oxford looks and honed in on the ones I like best for me. The JS Oxford on me would read heavier and more utilitarian or Marm shoe than my eye will take. It's a combo of vamp and toe shape. The heel doesn't always help that. I think you might like a flat( including low stacked heel) tapered toe ( not pointy, but refined) , slightly
    lower-vamped Oxford with your rolled pants and while I like showing the ankle in some pants, I still like a tapered pant that comes down to the shoe but shows bare ankle when you move( the taper does that).
    I'm not trying to push you to more shoes or to give up these, but am sharing what I learned from lots of tryons to find looks I loved vs. ones that were not quite what I was going for even if they fit current trends.

  • unfrumped replied 9 years ago

    Also, black IS harder for me to style with bare legs so mid ranges colors-- not white, but tans, gray, pewter) sometimes work better.
    I was motivated to experiment because the style offered a form of comfort/fit/ trend for me do to foot fit issues and work needs.

  • Suz replied 9 years ago

    Shevia raises a good point -- the photograph may not tell the whole tale. I also think that a lighter shoe and/or one with a slightly lower vamp would probably make it easier for your eye to adjust. 

    Here's another wrinkle -- you are slim and have long limbs. But here, with relatively low rise pants and a rolled ankle and relatively flat shoe, we see a longer torso . Maybe this is part of what the eye needs to adjust to? 

    Do you know what I think might make all the difference? Scrunching your sleeves so that you are showing wrists and forearms as well as ankle. To me, that might provide just the balance that is missing. 

    As for your ankles, THAT is no issue at all!  :)

  • Firecracker (Sharan) replied 9 years ago

    fern, yes, I do have some great fabric sources. Both of those fabrics you noted are from http://www.marcytilton.com. I love her selection. It can be hard to gauge color on her site, though I've found them pretty true to life. I have a Pantone shopping guide that I use to select fabrics at emmaonesock.com, where she gives the color codes. I use a lot of patterns from The Sewing Workshop, which has a great selection of fabric, too. I also have some great local fabric stores: Nancy's Sewing Basket and Pacific Fabrics.

    unfrumped, thank you for chiming in. I love your oxford looks, and it's really helpful to have your input here. I feel you hit on all the issues I have. Your point about not liking a look even though it may be on trend is a good one--I feel like this look is either okay or almost there, but it's not yet what I want. And like you, I love the idea of oxfords for comfort, especially for wearing to work. To be honest, these oxfords are comfy but not be-all, end-all comfy, so I've been thinking I need to replace them, anyway. (And these were replacements for some Nayas I got last year at NAS, which turned out to be too narrow!)

    shevia, I liked the look better in the mirror than in the photos. So I do think the detail on the shoes and the taper of the shoe is more evident IRL.

    Suz, great idea about the scrunch. Something I don't think about enough--I usually scrunch for comfort, rather than actually thinking about how it looks--ha ha! And the low-waisted pants are a good observation, too. I am SO high-waisted in actuality, it's almost comical.

  • replied 9 years ago

     I really like this combo on you. The ankle length roll, the booties and the whole color scheme of the outfit, look effortlessly chic/casual on you from my perspective. I did like the idea abc had of trying out a lighter lace. I like to do that with all my oxfords, it helps change their mood a bit for different outfits. I think you did well with this one and suggest light tweaks to anything you want to change but no major overhaul!

  • kellygirl replied 9 years ago

    I haven't read the other comments but I really like this look on you. The shoes are black so they often read "heavy" but the glimpse of ankle lightens them up in my opinion. I just bought a pair of black loafers and plan to wear them this way. Love this!

  • fern replied 9 years ago

    Thank you for the sewing links! I make art quilts, but fashion fabrics are a whole different world. I really admire what you've shown us of your sewing.

  • Angie replied 9 years ago

    Try one roll down. Very 2014 and my thumbs are up. xo

  • Gigi replied 9 years ago

    Haven't read all the responses, but I think that the vamps are too high, which makes the shoes look clunky.

  • Firecracker (Sharan) replied 9 years ago

    All righty, Angie! I'll give it a try.
    Thanks, Gigi--you've got a point. That's a lot of what bugs me--but I'm also thinking my eye might adjust.

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Welcome to my style blog. Dressing is something all of us do each day, but for me it is also a hobby. I like to find new ways to wear the clothes I have, make new clothes to add to my wardrobe (yes, sewing is another hobby!), shop for clothes, read and discuss fashion. Following You Look Fab has fueled my interest in taking outfit pictures to see where I've been and to get different perspectives on style. Thanks for joining me. I always appreciate hearing your thoughts.