YLF challenge

Over on you look fab, there's another wardrobe challenge happening. I'm first up, having been challenged by the lovely Sarah to:

"try a look with trousers or trouser jeans while defining your waist line. If you don't have trousers or trouser jeans, a pencil skirt would be lovely. To make this a wee bit more challenging, try to incorporate at least one pattern, one textural element, and one "wow" accessory."

Talk about a challenge and a half! As an undeniably apple body shape, I *have* no waistline, and most of my wardrobe is spent trying to disguise that fact. My waist:hip ratio is > 90% - no waistline there baby! Surrendering the surrender of the waistline is enough of a challenge alone for me!

But I've endeavoured to rise to the challenge in two ways. Firstly with trouser jeans.



Now for the challenge elements:

• The buttoned-up waistcoat is an attempt to show the waist and "girdle" me up :)
• The pattern is the houndstooth print on the Me Too Swann flats.
• Textural elements? Hmmm do denim jeans, fabric/patent shoes and cotton tops count?
• Wow accessory - new long-strand bead/pearl necklace from Target & cocktail ring from H&M.
  

Next I wanted to try surrendering the waist with the new pleated skirt I bought from Cue. For bonus points I styled it 2 ways. This was a brilliant exercise for me to work out what tops I can wear with this skirt, something I had been wondering since I bought it the other day!



Challenge elements:

• Showing the waist: look, tucked top! Possibly a first ever! The pleats on the skirt pouf out my hips so make me look like I have a waist, yay!
  
• Pattern: microfishnets (tenuous I know!)
• Textural elements: microfishnets, leather shoes, ponte skirt, knit top
• Wow accessory - red antique beads from Ecuador, black booties from Hong Kong
  

And the biggest challenge of all for me? Pencil skirt + belt. Something I have *never* tried before. This belt came with a Stella dress I bought last year and that's the only time I've ever worn it. Not sure if I would be game to wear this one out of the house, but it is fun!



Challenge elements:

• Showing the waist: pencil skirt + belt. Oh my!
  
• Pattern: microfishnets, zebra print op
  
• Textural elements: microfishnets, leather shoes, ponte skirt, patent belt, cotton top
  
• Wow accessory - red BD booties, patent back belt
  

Whew, that was exhausting! :)