Hello, Sunshine

Lemon 1

Here’s another piece that’s challenged my assumptions about what I “can” and “cannot” wear. I never would have thought that I could pull off a bright, acid yellow. I saw this top last weekend at J.Crew, and fell in love with the print. With that fatalistic sense of “this will look terrible on me,” (bright colors tend to overpower me, and dramatic florals can make me look like I’m wearing upholstery) I tried it on anyway.  And loved it. The print adds a lot of visual interest to a simple outfit.

Lemonade 2

The bracelet is one of my Paris shopping finds. Audi of Fashion For Nerds had posted before about Metal Pointus, a shop in Paris offering unique original jewelry designs. I spotted the small store as we were strolling through the Marais, and made a beeline. Once there I purchased a couple of pieces, and was sorely tempted by many more.

Right now J.Crew is offering 25% off selected items (including this shirt) with code PACKME.

Earrings: Argento Vivo, similar (available in silver or gold tone) // Bracelet: Metal Pointus, similar style // Shirt: J.Crew (don’t forget to use code PACKME for 25% off) // Tank: Eileen Fisher, similar // Jeans: Eileen Fisher (currently on sale at Nordstrom) // Shoes: Arche

Have you surprised yourself recently by finding you could wear something you’d previously thought was off limits for you?

Linked up with Visible Monday at Not Dead Yet Style, Share-In-Style at MIS PAPELICOS

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Susan B. sits on a wooden bench wearing a brown knit jacket, blue jeans and colorful bracelets.

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42 Comments

  1. You look great. I discovered Metal Pointus when in Paris last year. They have some wonderful jewellery. It was so hard to choose. My only solution t
    Is that I have to return to Paris to buy more.

  2. I visited Metal Pointus this year as well. I love rue des Francs bourgeois. I bought some quite oversized linen clothing in Europe. The colours are lovely (grey and rose) and I was surprised how well the look suited not-so-tall, not-so-thin me.

  3. I absolutely love this on you! I am so glad you tried it on…many times that is all we need to do. You look great in the color, the print, and it takes you lighter for warmer weather…and love the bracelet as well. Great choices!

  4. To answer your question: I have thought that I can’t easily wear a short top gracefully. Last week I found this top (http://www.eileenfisher.com/EileenFisher/collection/Features/prints/PRD_S4NCJ-U0201M/Round+Neck+Shell+in+Nomadic+Jacquard+with+Organic+Cotton.jsp?bmLocale=en_US)
    at by city’s Eileen Fisher shop. Not only is the top a real departure from usual EF garments (it has a print) , but it is so versatile. The site shows it with jeans, I can were it that way, but LOVE it over last years EF black jersey oval dress. I pop it over that sleeveless black dress and have another outfit–this great top over a longer black skirt. It is so easy to wear and is flattering.

  5. Don’t you love to get surprised? This shirt looks fantastic on you – I think it’s the dose of cool gray that makes it so flattering. Gorgeous new bracelet too. I surprised myself with fuller-leg trousers, now I really enjoy them.

  6. The bracelet is so chic.
    Sadly, I am very timid about trying new things. I did force myself to wear scarves a few years ago, and now I wear one almost every day. Hoping I will break out of the comfort zone again.

  7. Pairing the shade with gray instead of the expected black makes a significant difference in toning down the brightness of the color.

  8. You look fabulous! And I envy that wonderful accessory you’re showing off — the sunshine! Somehow it makes the yellow ever so much more convincing. We’re all about the rain today, and grey skies.
    I’d say that recently I’ve been much more conservative than normal in my wardrobe choices — I’m trying to use recent weight loss and subsequent wardrobe replacement as an opportunity to hone, so I’m tending to stick to a fairly neutral core for now. It seems to me that your wardrobe has been somewhat stricter over the past year or two than it was in your earlier years here and perhaps now you’re able to burst out with the surprises, having a very clear frame for them. Or something like that — at least, that’s probably what I’m hoping for, aiming towards, myself. . .

  9. Thus my love/hate relationship with online shopping. In the plus size world, the best selection is usually online, but one misses out on the lovely surprise hit. I suspect you would have passed on the blouse if you had seen it online.

  10. Audi! What a wonderful person. I met her in person in NYC once. It’s so sad she stopped blogging. I loved her outfits.

    I deeply dislike the idea that we are limited in our fashion-choices. Perhaps it’s because I have a lifetime of frustrated longing to wear pretty clothes. I understand how many feel certain items are “inappropriate” due to our age, but I still resent other people telling us what we can and can’t wear. That decision should be up to us.

  11. It definitely depends on the shade of a color. Also, with your hair blonde the yellow is very flattering. And such a pretty top!

    I never used to wear much red, but I seem to have a lot of it now. I think the warmer colors work better with my silver hair and pale skin, but I’m not sure about yellow.

  12. And you had to overcome the horribly unflattering lighting of all J Crew dressing rooms! Bravo.

  13. I seem to have a color and pattern phobia. This looks great in you. Maybe I’ll branch out in the dressing room and see how bad it feels. Love those shoes! They’re so comfortable.

  14. Very nice bracelet. I actually discovered Metal Pontus in NYC (downtown. Elizabeth Street, I believe). They have great stuff and it’s all shipped over from France.

  15. Although I no longer wear such, J Crew is terrific for unusual prints and interesting colors. I must say this acid yellow-green and gray combo flatters you immensely! What a fresh, fun, chic springtime ensemble – made me smile. 🙂

  16. The shirt is very flattering! It also looks fitted. Did you have it tailored so that it nips in at the waist?

    1. Hi Pamela, no it wasn’t altered. It’s a popover style which are usually sort of baggy but this one has a nice narrower fit. I also sized down from my usual size.

  17. So nice to see you in print! It looks feminine yet in keeping with your stylish edge. I think that shade of yellow can serve you well mixed with just about any other color. You look like sunshine.

  18. I really like it. Looks great with the gray jeans, the shoes. I usually stick to what I know works for me. I rarely wear red, but you’ve made me think maybe I should try it. Great bracelet too, wasn’t familiar with brand before.

  19. Just so you can be further tempted: Metal Pointus has a site; you can e-mail them for any piece but it’s not set up as a shopping site:
    https://www.metal-pointus.com/
    or you can contact the NYC store. I have also seen it on eBay.

    The jewelry is mostly silver–plated tin or brass and a small line of sterling.

    1. Duchesse, I keep getting a security warning on that website, which is why I didn’t include it in the post. It may be fine, but you may want to look up the contact info via Yelp or another source.

  20. I am glad you tried it on! It looks really great on you. The grey is softer with it than black.
    I never thought neon yellow and ornage will be suitable colours for me until I tried them.

    Annette | Lady of Style

  21. J’adore votre bracelet. Les boucles d’oreilles sur mon blog sont des métal pointus également!
    Votre bracelet vous va à merveille! Je sens que je vais faire un tour chez metal pointus bientôt 🙂
    Continuez à nous inspirer via votre blog. J’adore et merci!

    Hilde

    fashion 55 plus. fr

  22. You totally can! This is really lovely. I’ve been wearing orange lately, a color I thought was only for other people until my 50th year. Better late than never, right?

  23. That top looks great on you! The soft, drapey fabric and colors pair smashingly with the gray pants. In fact, the top looks better on you than on the model. Not to body shame skinny women at all, but very fluid fabrics look best on a woman who has both boobs and a waist.

    I think the reason the top works so well on you is the overall effect is light and cool, despite the neon part. The neon and the gray are similar in value (darkness vs lightness). Interspersing the gray among the yellow leads to an overall effect of a soft, grayed, light color. It makes sense it would flatter you because your coloring is also soft, cool, and low contrast, right?

    The only thing I might suggest is to finish off the ensemble with shoes that are less contrasting. You have SO MANY amazing shoes [no envy here at all, nope none at all], I can’t help but think there’d be a pair that would catapult you to an iconic look. I actually think you could use such a picture as your avatar or something.

    Er, anyway, please enjoy my completely unsolicited advice.

  24. Identifying with your sentiments as to what you “can and cannot wear” and passing on things I think will look “terrible” on me, I find myself gravitating towards brighter colors as well. Today I bought a coral scarf, long, fluffy, BRIGHT. I hesitated about a minute. I then bought a coral & hot pink woven floppy sun hat after trying it on & loving the colors (despite their vivaciousness & “look at me” effect). I finished with a handbag in a poppy tone with a bright buckle. It is absolutely gorgeous. I am reserving judgement on the scarf and hat until I try them on at home. The bag is a keeper.

    I was recently asked if I “always wear black & white”. It surprised me. I came home and ransacked my closet and found, to my surprise, I have leaned on those shades for some time. Much of it has to do with gaining weight. It wasn’t always so. I am becoming more mindful of adding color back in. It’s much more FUN.

  25. You look great in a floral print and in yellow! I never think I can wear yellow either but bought a lemon yellow cardigan to experiment last summer and loved it.

  26. I just came home with that blouse yesterday for the same reason you did, I fell in love with the print and the soft feel of the fabric. I love how you paired it with your camel colored jeans.

  27. Oh, you wear this brilliantly! Much more than color or print, a shirt has to fit right to look good ( sez me of the constant battle of the big shirt!) and this one is just right for your wee-petiteness! The neutrals in the pattern take the acid yellow down an intensity peg optically, maybe. Not over the top at all, and you are not overwhelmed. You definitely wear it and not the reverse! Great with the gray jeans … clever lady!

  28. What a brilliant pattern, and you styled the blouse so beautifully too. I love the bracelet as well!
    I think I’ve tried so many new things since I started blogging less than a year ago – I know I haven’t done so much of it in previous years. Including colors! Thank you for joining Share-in-Style! Sincerely, Natalia