One-Dollar Wonders

Now With Pic: Rae Rubric Blind Taste Test

April 11, 2012

I got dressed this morning with the aim of touching on all my most important style elements, a la Shannon. But before I show you the results, I wanted see if you thought I'm missing or miss-stating anything. Here's what I have as my working first draft:

- Brightness (can be color or bright white/cream, something to brighten the face)
- "Darkness" (either a physical or figurative darkness, something to add a moody quality)
- Structure (e.g. precise shoulders, nipped waist)
- Waist demarcation (e.g. belt, jacket detail, tucked top... something to show where my legs start)
- Toughness (e.g. boots, rugged leather items, etc.)

What do you think? The hope is to remind me of my top priority style and fit requirements in a quick way every time I dress. Thanks for any pointers!

ETA: Okay, here is my first rubric outfit in pic #1- I added the waist part to my list because I wasn't 100% happy with the proportions here, so it's not perfect. I also think this skirt may have to go, but overall I do like the "feel" of this outfit more than pic #2, which is when I struggled the most.

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Posted in the Dressing category
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21 Comments

  • Transcona Shannon replied 12 years ago

    Spot on Rae! Good work. Now try it for a few days in your outfits and see how it feels - there's always room for tweaking.

  • Ana replied 12 years ago

    I think I must have missed Shannon's post about most important style elements, but yours sound great, Rae! I think they describe your style very well.

  • kellygirl replied 12 years ago

    Yup, that sounds like Rae. Let's see the outfit!

  • cheryl replied 12 years ago

    Sounds spot on. Lets see :)

  • Amy replied 12 years ago

    Sounds perfect to me! This is a great idea. Shannon is so smart and you are so clever for tailoring this to your own preferences.

  • catgirl replied 12 years ago

    Sounds like a good plan. I'm going to apply it to today's fantasy outfit and see if I pass!

    Now SHOW us, pleeeeeze!

  • ManidipaM replied 12 years ago

    So, in short, 'Bright/Dark, Structured-Waisted, Tough Girl', yes? Sounds good to me! But the proof of the pudding is in the wearing, in this case ;-) Let's see some WIWs to this recipe!

  • Transcona Shannon replied 12 years ago

    Ana & Amy - trust me, I'm not that smart (lol)! All I did was sit down and think about what elements of an outfit always make me feel good and feel like "me". Not specific items like this particular blouse or that particular skirt - but what ABOUT that blouse or skirt made me feel good. What I came up with was: Structure, Colour, Retro, Urban and Classic. If I include at least 3 of these elements in my outfit, I feel good in it. And isn't that what we're all striving for?
    (sorry for the hi-jack Rae)

  • rae replied 12 years ago

    Not a hijack at all, Shannon - I was the one to hold you up as my fearless leader here. Lead away!

    Pic has to come this evening, I'm afraid, but if you can imagine, I'm wearing my citron blouse, leather vest (suggested by bj, I believe), silky brown lantern skirt, and chocolate boots. I added the waist definition part after I took my WIW photo and felt iffy about my leg proportions, lol.

    Manidipa, if I put it in my own words, I'm aiming for "Healthy, moody, disciplined, leggy tough-girl" -- also known as Urban Warrior Princess. :)

  • ManidipaM replied 12 years ago

    LOL, Rae, your version sounds a lot more poetic, naturally! Very apt, actually!

  • Transcona Shannon replied 12 years ago

    Colour - citron blouse
    Darkness - brown tones from vest, skirt and boots
    Structure - leather vest
    Waist demarcation - leather vest could work here as well as belt, if that's what you added
    Toughness - leather vest and boots

    Often one item in an outfit can cross into two or more of your elements. Sounds like this works Rae!

  • harmonica replied 12 years ago

    I'm impressed! Sounds like a waterproof dressing guideline for you, Rae. Can't wait to see pic's :-)

  • replied 12 years ago

    Love it! Try it on for size for a week or two and you'll know it it's right. Do you think it can span the seasons? I think so.

  • rae replied 12 years ago

    Claire, I'm hoping it can span the seasons! That was one reason I loved the idea - I'm not tied to always wearing a jacket or scarf, and I can swap out different *types* of pieces as long as the right feeling is there. Or so the theory goes.

  • Jaime replied 12 years ago

    Wow - this idea is so inspiring. Did you come up with your descriptors by looking at favorite outfits? Waiting to see it in action.

  • rae replied 12 years ago

    And... pic added above!

  • ManidipaM replied 12 years ago

    Yep, #1 looks like UWP Rae, while I'm immediately missing the 'hardware' in #2, looks much too dainty for the warrior part. This rubric seems to be doing what it says on the box!

  • Transcona Shannon replied 12 years ago

    #1 is definitely much more "you" Rae. I think the proportions are actually quite good. The bottom of the vest creates a visual start to your hips/legs so does provide some waist definition. I think the skirt is fab - why do you think it needs to go?

  • rae replied 12 years ago

    Thanks you guys, going to try this again this morning!

    Shannon, the skirt fits kind of strangely and feels like it just hangs like a sack on the bottom. On the top, it actually goes up near my bustline - the combo makes it hard to style, and the fabric is rather thin and not the best. The vest actually hits at my hip! But in this pic, I feel like it makes it look like my waist is down there... maybe I need a "skirt vest"? lol

  • Ana replied 12 years ago

    I love your first outfit, Rae! The first one is definitely UWP. It's very 'you.' The second one is also really nice. It's almost UWP goes to work. I agree with the ladies above that it could use a little more 'Rae Edge,' but you still look fantastic! You will get there!

  • Freckles replied 12 years ago

    These are not bad at all Rae but I don't feel l that they are 100% what I feel is you. If you are making a rubric perhaps you can add a few that are % and then see where the ones that aren't perfect compare.

    I would be thrilled in these but my style quotient is not as well developed as yours.

    I think if the skirt is all that you say, even if we think it looks lovely, it should go.

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I'm just your average working stiff who loves nice things and hates to pay for them. This blog outlines my efforts to navigate that treacherous shopping/saving divide through swappin', thriftin', and even a little resellin'. Many of the pieces in my wardrobe cost me just $1! We've heard a lot about people "living above their means" in recent years; I'm championing the concept of living large *below* your means - whatever that means for you. :)