How To Take An Outfit From A Mistake To Marvelous
Remember this outfit? I styled this outfit earlier this month (HERE) and called it my Chicken and Dumplings outfit. The reason I called it that was because I loved all the pieces of the outfit but not the outcome, which is how I feel about Chicken and Dumplings. Many of you loved that I showed an outfit that didn’t work, and asked for me to show you ways it might work in the future. So, today, I’m restyling this look and taking it from a mistake to marvelous.
I liked each piece in this outfit, but the overall look was not what I wanted. Navy and camel go great together, but the sweater was too short and too boxy. Plus, the sweater looked a little dressier than the chino pants; so let’s try, try again.
I mentioned when I styled the “mistake outfit” that the cardigan would look great with jeans. The cardigan elevates the outfit but doesn’t look too dressy for the jeans.
I left the cardigan open except for the top button. The cardigan pulled when buttoned completely but looks fine when left open with the white tank top. To jazz the outfit up a little to match the dressier vibe of the cardigan, I added my Large Hoop Earrings, a muli-row chain necklace, and a woven handbag.
These Girlfriend Fray Hem Jeans are the perfect color. I prefer medium denim for my everyday outfits. Dark denim is dressier, and light-wash denim is more casual. The frayed hem is a modern detail that adds a touch of youthfulness to the look.
This outfit is about as casual as I style unless it is athleisure. Chinos are a great alternative to ladies who don’t like jeans.
If you don’t already own a denim jacket, today is your day. I have many denim jackets, but this is the one I reach for the most. It has plenty of stretch, so it is comfortable as you go throughout your day.
You can wear this Poplin Stripe Shirt by itself or with a cardigan, blazer, or jacket. This poplin stripe shirt is a classic style and one you can wear for years. You can wear the shirt with jeans, shorts, etc., and it can even be worn open with a tank underneath it. I love versatile clothing!
These chinos have a slightly relaxed fit and aren’t too snug. They are a nice weight and seem very well made. If you want a slimmer fit, then you will need to size down.
Chino’s are versatile also since they can be dressed up or down. I decided to dress this outfit up since the other one was so casual. Adding a sweater blazer with a tank in the same color, elevates the look.
Olive looks great with camel; both of them are neutral colors. Wearing the same color top and jacket creates a cohesive look. I added an Italian Leather Crossbody, which is a beautiful caramel color that looks great against the Olive cardigan blazer.
I hope you think these different looks took the mistake outfit to marvelous. Be sure to let me know which look is your favorite and why.
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Verse Of The Day
Romans 8:31 NIV
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
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Tania, you did good in this new post! All the outfits were cute & put together well!
I love all of these looks, especially the green blazer! Thanks for sharing your awesome ideas.
I would have never thought of buttoning the top button on your jacket. I always left it open, but this way looks smart, chic and slimming. Thank you for showing us how to remake our clothes.
I’m glad you liked the remake. We all make mistakes, but that doesn’t mean we can’t try again.
Love the verse for today! I love the way you style….what’s your advice for those of us that are unable to wear all the cute shoes/boots? It’s disheartening that so many outfits are finished by wearing adorable footwear and I’m not able to walk 10 feet in such cute shoes!
Linda, there are cute shoes out there that are also comfortable. You might need to try several different brands, but don’t give up hope. You can search (in the menu) for comfortable shoes, and you will find several posts I’ve written about them.
I love the Olive sweater jacket outfit! it looks wonderful on you! thank you for the great ideas!
The link to your denim jacket didn’t work. Can you provide more information?
I love your outfits, Gail
I’m not sure why it didn’t work for you since it works fine for me. Here it is again: https://amzlink.to/az0xJLHOqg13R
I have that Wrangler denim jacket and absolutely love it! It’s do comfortable and versatile!
Llike the outfits you put together. Sharp looking.
Your mistake makeover I love, although I do like navy with khaki
I love the new outfits, especially the jeans with the navy cardigan.
Great re do of the chicken and dumplings. The original one was a fail….too boxy. I don’t like to call that much attention to my middle. I am small every where else…
Great job of styling those pieces that weren’t compatible before!
You get a 🏆for the outfits you created. My favorite is the olive green top & jacket with the chinos.
Thanks, Ginger! I love Olive, especially with navy or khaki.
Love the olive tank and jacket with the khaki pants. You look really stylish. Thanks for showing me how to correct fashion boo-boos.😂
I like the olive with the khaki chinos. Those colors just seem perfect together.
What a great way to recombine pieces of a wardrobe in a different, chic way! Great post!
A few changes make such a big difference!
Hi
Love the micro Chicos tops. Mine never seem to wear out. I get many combination ideas from your posts. I have to make some adjustments as I’m pretty sure we aren’t the same body type but always look through them.
Loved the oldie picture. Handsome couple
Lynn
I love them too, but I always size up in them. I don’t want any lumps or bumps showing.
I loved the mistake makeover…
What a difference.
Thank you.
You and Joe look adorable!
Thank you for showing how to make these pieces work better. Think I might have to have to poplin shirt. 😁
Did we all look the same 20 years ago?
Lol! Probably!
Love the retro pic! I think you look younger today. Maybe it’s the hair color. Joe looks as cute as ever! Thanks for restyling the outfit, really learned a lot today. Please do this again. So much fun!
I love the frayed jeans–especially the slimmer fit! Not a fan of the new wide leg jean looks at all.
Out of the ballpark hit! All so cute
Thanks, Penny Jo!
Loved the outfit with jean jacket and the one with the blazer for a dressier look.
Mistakes are merely a learning opportunity to try it differently. Great job, Tania!
This was such a good way to show that good pieces don’t always combine well. If you don’t like the idea of posting yourself in iffy outfits, maybe you could find some online that you can improve on. Just a thought. So often I put things together and think that it could be better somehow. Thanks for the update on chicken and dumplings. 🙂
Well done Tanya! Each outfit was inspiring but the denim jacket, striped shirt and chinos was my favourite. This was a great learning experience. Thank you!
I think I had a similar hairdo at age 40 ish. Big hair ruled even when short.
Love the third look. Very nice outfit.
I love the olive green!!!
Nailed it today! I think the cardigan would look very cute with flared boot cut jeans as well. Love the jeans jacket with the chinos, too. Classic looks!
I like how you corrected the mistake. Each piece looks good styled like you did.
Great job! They all look fabulous now. Love all of them.
Oh now I get it-I tried on a few “lady jackets” and thought-hmmm, they are boxy and not flattering on me…but now I see what-I just needed to unbutton them and wear them open. A much better look. Thank you!! I love them -but I looked too square, now I will try again. Great options-love the green jacket. the color is perfect on you.
I’m glad this gave you a new perspective.
WOW!! Just keep on changing one item at a time— eventually, you always end up with something presentable and that you like— always my motto!! Thanks for the suggestions!!
I really liked how you showed the before outfit and then the different adjustments. Please consider doing it again.
what a cute picture of you two. That’s right. if God is for us who can be against us. amen.
I love that you button the top button only on the cardigan. That’s my style as well. I kind of wish they would bring back the sweater clips from the 1950s.
I love the restyle of your chicken and dumplings outfit. I think this is a good segment for your blog. Thanks for sharing!
That would mean that I would have to have a lot of bloopers first. lol!
I could certainly use a new denim jacket. Thank yiu
You look better today than in the picture from 20 years ago! I love that you restyled this look with closed-toe shoes. It always feels a little off when I see sweaters over a base layer and bare toes. Plus, I’m from Minnesota, so sandals aren’t really an option in February! Keep doing what you’re doing – it’s a nice way to start my day!
Sharon
Agree! I find it odd for people to have summery shoes with heavier clothing. I’m from Mississippi, but I’m not wearing open toed shoes yet either. 🙂
Wow – Great post!! I love the ideas and the top button on the sweater.
What a difference with minor changes to an outfit! I need to think more creatively. my mom used to wear St. John’s outfits. Wish I could wear them…timeless.
I wish I could afford them. Lol! They are timeless, but too dressy for my lifestyle.
I may have to go to Chicos to check out the fit of the frayed jeans. They look perfect! Like the wash and just the frayed hem with no distressing. The chinos with the olive blazer and matching tank looks awesome on you too! Great post on making us rethink pieces that we sometimes purchase together but restyle with other items in our closet for a better look.
I love the olive jacket. Great outfit.
I liked the chicken and dumplings outfit but theses looks are great too. Really like the poplin striped shirt.
Wow! What a difference! My favorite part of the restyled is the olive jacket! I would have liked to seen it with jeans…I am not a fan of chinos at all. They just seem too industrial… but, that’s just my opinion, Happy Monday❤❤❤
Yes! Much better!
Wow what an improvement! Love buttoning just the top button, great look! I thought the tshirt was a camel color, not white, which also would have been fine. Thank you, Tania!
Wow!!!! Great job:). My favorite is the blue cardigan sweater with jeans. Huge difference. The olive utility blazer cardigan and matching top look amazing. You have a fashion gift for sure. Thank you for the explanation of why the outfit failed and 2 great ways to make it work (from worse to works).
I’m glad you enjoyed the post. It isn’t easy to post a “mistake” outfit, but it worked out. Lol!
I really love this post and how you fixed these mistakes. I will definitely use your suggestions.
Please do more of these posts.
Great post, you always do such a great job putting clothes together. That’s where I need help in my closet. Love the picture, you two were adorable!
These outfits are super cute!
Great save! Love the green outfit.
Perfect!!!
Love the “fixes”. The olive green blazer and top with the chinos is my favorite. Cute pic of you and Joe.
I love the fit of the chinos. You look so slim!
About the strawberry blonde hair in the picture, I have several pictures with that same shade and I never had hair that color. I blame it on the film of the time or how they were developed. Hey, did you keep the size 4 suit? If I had ever fit in that size, I would have saved it. Ha!
It was my sisters. I think I gave it back to her, but I loved it!
Oh my. You were babies!!!!!
Favorite? Denim jacket.
I love olive green! & I like your photo!
Amazing transformation! I love the blue cardigan with the jeans!! Would not have looked twice at it the first time you styled it. And the olive with the chinos looks great too!! Thanks for today’s blog!!
I knew all the pieces were good, it was the way I put them together that was “off.”
I like the olive blazer with the chinos the best. Did you try the navy cardigan with the button shirt and chino’s? I think that would be an alternative to the jean jacket with that outfit. Unfortunately, the chino’s are sold out. As always you look great in all today’s outfits.
No, I didn’t do that outfit. But, I’m sure it would look great.
I have never been a “4”. It always had a “1” in front of it (like 12 or 14). 😂. You look great as a size 8. Anyway, even though I am almost 70 I follow your posts and enjoy seeing how you put outfits together including shoes and handbags. Best wishes from Texas.
Agree Tania, much better options than the chicken and dumpling outfit 😂! Thanks for sharing your redos!!!
great post! I am glad you followed up from the Chicken n Dumplings post.
I LOVE how you fixed your “ mistake”!!
I love the outfit with the jeans!
I check you out first thing every morning. Great way to start my day. I really love the look of the olive outfit and olive is not my favorite color. It just clicks.
Have a great day.
Love the poplin shirt !
Wow, what a difference a few changes make. Love the way you restyled this outfit. I think the ankle strap sandals in the first outfit looked awkward.
And that olive sweater jacket and matching top look so sophisticated. Have a great week Tania.
I’m glad you liked the remake.
Love the remake! Great throw back picture! Some days are long but the weeks fly by 🤷🏻♀️
That was great! You are right – I didn’t care for the first outfit at all – but the “fixed” ensembles are all just perfect.
Love the re-set of the outfits. Good choices!
Great examples from oops to yes!!!!
Thanks for sharing, these outfits are all cute.
Love old picture of You&Joe! How time flies! Like the olive blazer and tank, color looks good on you!
LOVE LOVE LOVE each outfit. So cute and so put together.
Thanks!
Nice green blazer on your
It is great quality, too!