If I could ask you to put your pretending hats on, please? Excellent. I particularly like that one with the navy stars. Now, if you could pretend my hair is not auburn. Thanks a million.
I will explain why my hair might in fact BE auburn at the end of this post. For now, let’s cast our minds back to this oversized Christopher John Rogers outfit.
My apologies, but I just couldn’t buy the pants. In a size smaller, they fit my waist but were still so enormously wide as to require more swagger than I will muster in this lifetime. I suppose if I lived in New York, or maybe imaginary Miami–but not in the SF Bay Area suburbs. The shirt, however, I kept. Why? First, I wanted to own something from CJR, as he is often known, having realized I like collecting remarkable cerebral designers. Second, my mother often wore striped button-down shirts – pink and while, blue and white, yellow and white. In this I felt like her, in a good way. Mothers, amirite?
My mom would have sported white jeans, and I think if ironed, and maybe hemmed, these could work. Maybe with cork-soled platform sandals,
or Gucci flats.
But let’s add a wrinkle. Figuratively, we already pretend-pressed the pants. Let’s say I wanted to wear this to the Friday night welcome party–for my daughter’s Saturday wedding. The days the tradition is that only the bride wears white, and she often wears it for any event associated with getting married. My daughter may not mind me in white jeans at all, but let’s roll with the culture.
What not-white pants should I consider? Khaki? Maroon? Nantucket Red? Dark wash jeans? It’s a casual event.
After this try-on, I ran off to the grocery store in a graphic tee from Twinsthenewtrend and sneakers.
Pretending hats off. My hair is auburn because I have been experimenting with demi-permanent color, vs. the lowlights added via foil process, that I had been enduring and for which I am insufficiently patient. However, it turns out that the undertones of the demi-permanent color, when used on white hair (the front of my hair is white) show out. So far my hair’s turned up vaguely mauve, clearly orange, and today, unmistakably auburn.
With any luck I’ll have managed light warm brown hair with intermittent white by September. I promise to keep you updated, but perhaps not with every single embarrassing photo.
Have a wonderful weekend, and if your hair surprises you, may it be welcome. If not, imagination saves many a day.
54 Responses
Hi Lisa! I enjoy the colors of the top and agree with you about the need to work too hard to wear the pants. Could you expand on what constitutes a cerebral designer? I have heard the term applied to some Japanese clothiers.
Thank you!
Hello! I will write a whole post about cerebral designers! Jonathan Anderson would be one, Signora Prada, IMO, another. Thanks for asking.
There are some cute outfits out there pairing the shirt with a slim cream maxi skirt.
Love this idea!!
Would look great, bu my feeling is that if I’m not wearing white I’m not wearing cream either! I am going to have to write a post about the sub-reddit on wedding attire approval LOL.
Light warm brown hair with strands of white sounds lovely!!!
Love the white jeans on you!! Pretty – double win as the jeans bring back happy memories of your mom.
Love the jeans with your Gucci flats.
The last photo of you in your t-shirt with the jeans is my favorite. Proportion. You have a beautiful figure – flaunt it!! (In other words, have fun!)
I know you love your CJR blouse – and it looks pretty on you – perhaps style it in a different way so it’s not overpowering and covering you up.
Maybe Susan B. will have some ideas.
If you can style the blouse differently so it’s not hanging down all over – you’ve got a winner!!!
Susan B. was wearing a striped blouse on her recent trip to Europe – looked great on her. Stripes look fresh and pretty!!
You’re on the right track!!
Thank you for the compliment:). I have an entire planet full of thoughts about flaunting my figure. I applaud, endorse, and support those who want to do so. But for so many reasons it’s often not where I’m at, as they say, when it comes to dressing up these days.
I agree, no reason to flaunt or necessarily even “flatter” , which I think we can agree that in most cases in means, makes one look slimmer. But I do think that most art bears “proportion” in mind, whether it’s in decorating a room, doing a painting, or dressing one’s body. Which is why I think most of us like the last photo – baggy pants, close fitting top. Does this make sense?
Yes indeed it does. Lisa has countered her subjective notion of “balance” to your objective notion of “proportion.” I JUST WANT TO REMOVE THOSE CARGO POCKETS. Once they’re gone, a whole new world [solution] opens up.
The pockets are GREAT, mind you. They’re sexy, they’re extremely cool. But they’re not working well with the shirt.
https://www.net-a-porter.com/en-us/shop/product/christopher-john-rogers/clothing/straight-leg/silk-and-wool-blend-satin-barrel-leg-cargo-pants/1647597335743033
First thing I’d do is hold my breath, take up my seam ripper and CAREFULLY lift off those cargo pockets. Exhale. Wine.
Next, take up my pins and measure for a hem suitable to Lisa [we both have long torsos and short legs, so I’ve done this a few thousand times]. More slight tapering needed? Pins, again.
We can work this out. Kathy has a great idea. I love it.
Oh hair color smair color! You have plenty of time to get it just right! My hair is turning white–but sometimes I get foil highlights done to brighten it up a bit. Right now, it is rather gray/white depending on the lighting. I am vowing not to touch it again!
I know you must be excited about wedding festivities!
Ha! I love your attitude:). I am excited about the festivities. I am doing this hair color experimentation mostly for the wedding photos, so we shall see where I wind up!
“I am doing this hair color experimentation mostly for the wedding photos…”
Of all the years [decades?] I’ve followed you/your blog, you’ve never been more inscrutable than this – in only the best Robert Palmer way. I shall stay mystified, while staying tuned.
Ah, reading your additional comments here this morning, “inscrutable” has turned to fully understood, now.
Do you have time to have the pink pants tailored? Such a fun color.
Pretty with the white, and if your daughter’s fine then absolutely go with that.
If I had to pick, though, it would be jeans. I have a soft spot, having worn them to younger son’s very casual wedding (so did mother of the bride, the dads wore khakis).
Enjoy the hair journey! I’ve been amused and horrified by mine through the years — we just can’t win, can we??
I LOVED the pink pants. But they were not tailorable. Smaller only made the waist tighter. The legs were still as wide as two moving trucks, and so much too long that the cargo pants pockets would have wound up too far down my legs. Without the pockets I’d have been tempted. My son thinks jeans, so, that may be the route. I plan to take the shirt to the mall and try on everything I can find;). I love it, hair amusement and horror. Maybe we are winning, after all, given that people usually have to pay for those two experiences.
“I plan to take the shirt to the mall and try on everything I can find;).”
THE MALLLLL? Noooo! Ghastly, don’t do it! Look what I found, in the most unlikely place, sailing through my mailslot today.
Lands’ End Barrel Pants. 3 different fabrics to trend off the 3 different fabrics in your patchwork shirt.
https://www.landsend.com/products/womens-recover-high-rise-barrel-leg-ankle-jeans/id_386878?attributes=5448,44967,55611
https://www.landsend.com/products/womens-chino-high-rise-barrel-leg-utility-ankle-pants/id_386260?attributes=19942,44967
https://www.landsend.com/products/womens-linen-high-rise-pleated-barrel-leg-pants/id_392025?attributes=32671,44967
Excellent finds! Thank you! I will add, however, our “mall” is the Stanford Shopping Center. Outside, beautifully planted, absurdly luxurious. Not a hardship, in other words;).
Hello Lisa, I normally have no opinion on clothing (other than that you have excellent fashion sense and always look great), but I was surprised at those enormous pants. That is the current fashion here in Taipei–young guys wear huge pants, and bleach their hair blond down to the scalp. I must say that this oversized fashion trend is a bad one, and I am sure it will blow over soon.
–Jim
Cream pleated trousers or a slim cream maxi as suggested above.
Thanks!
Thank you! And perhaps literally blow over; the pink pants were so enormous on me a strong wind might have lifted me into the sky:)
Mission Accomplished!
You transported us out of reality into “pretend” land, PLUS you gave us an assignment! I just had a few little garden maintenance things to tie up, but couldn’t stop cogitating the pants assignment the whole time.
Returned to Net-a-P to refresh memory on the CJR patchwork shirt details [like, the gauntlet placket extends way above the elbow, now that’s some fancy tailoring!]. While there, began “pretending” the outfit was going to be for me [Structured Artsy] instead of you [Polished Tomboy.]
For me, I selected a cork-colored pair of slim fit tan pants, tapering/ending above the ankle bone. My rationale: this puts all the attention on the shirt and the wearer, while quietly connecting the pants to your cork shoes. Swingy at the top, slim and quiet at the bottom.
While at Net-a-P, saw the shirt worn with jeans. Did not care for, but go look and see if the pairing is to your liking.
Many thanks for the fun assignment!
Thank you for the idea! I have been considering, and I think I know why I prefer slim shirt/baggy pants, or baggy shirt/baggy pants, to baggy shirt/slim pants. Short legs + broad shoulders. I like some volume on my lower half for balance. I bet that look would be fabulous on you. The shirt does have incredible tailoring details.
I see now, thank you for taking the time to explain. Seeking balance. You know right away when you look in the mirror. Off to the luxury mall it is, I’ll bet even their dressing room mirrors and lighting are kind.
My first thought upon seeing the whole pink outfit was ‘zoot suit’!
I should have added a felt fedora and been all set!
White trousers are good, but if you want to keep the original colour scheme without the clownish cargo trousers, pink silk/silky trousers would add a touch of relaxed elegance. Think (not too wide) palazzo pants of fabric that hangs well without adding too much volume. Maybe even pink with white polka dots :)
Could be great with palazzo pants, I agree. Maybe little tiny polka dots;)
Slim pants the color of the right sleeve (i .e., what I think Flo says)? You’ll look great as long as you are comfortable in what you wear.
Thank you:)
About the hair (Susan Walters (Diane Jenkins) on the soap The Young and the Restless…gray richened with chestnut lowlights. A great transition look. No touch ups.
Slender Raspberry slacks…you’ll look lovely.
I will look up that soap for hair tips! And I bet we could have a whole blog post on whether the pink is Raspberry or Orchid!
The last pic looks like you. I like your hair natural, you give good monochromatic
Thank you. That last pic is quite surely me;). And I like my hair natural too, generally, thank you! But in photos, the front of my hair is SO WHITE, like not gray, that in sunlight I look as though I literally do not have a top to my head. Which, suboptimal.
I like the shirt a lot. My vote is for slimmer pants, whatever color you like best.
Thank you!
Lisa – I enjoy reading your blog each week but I rarely comment unless it’s about flowers. I’m not fashionable but I love good design and I like following your fashion journey .
I’m going with Elizabeth on this post. I’d even go for slim jeans or pants. You DO have a very nice figure. It’s a great feature to enhance but it’s lost in the shirt.
Thank you! Comments are never obligatory and always enjoyed:). The question of our figures. Ah yes. There’s a whole post in that – what role do we want our figures to play in our style, as we age? All different things, I imagine.
Definitely cream – pants or skirt. Based on my erratic and casual observations it seems as though here on the Northeast Coast a true white is now worn less than cream. We are not yet in the heat of summer so that could change, but I am seeing a lot of cream pants. I like it. The contrast with other colors is less intense.
I am so curious about your hair and the change. I am speeding towards 70 this year and had let mine go grey during the pandemic. I don’t do anything to it; just wear it ‘as is.’ It is possibly not the most flattering, meaning I would likely look younger if I went back to coloring it, as my SIL regularly points out, but my heels are dug in for now. I am very much looking forward to seeing your lovely new color when you finalize and who knows, for me and mine locks, never say never.
So interesting about a cream trend on the Northeast Coast! I will confess, after a couple of years exploring and enjoying color, suddenly I find myself craving simple black and white. Probably will just mean I buy 4 new white tees but I have noticed an inclination.
My hair, this is focused on getting visible color on the front and top of my head for photos. I’m experimenting with how to do that comfortable, cost-wise and looks-wise. After the wedding, I will have to see how I feel! Never say never. Sometimes it’s fun to have white hair, sometimes I want other hair. I would love the term flattering to come to mean, Like Yourself As You Define It, but I fear I’m stretching a point;)
SHIRT IS GOOD.I like your memories of MOM wearing stripes.
THE HAIR is good too.I do like the old hair also!
Wear what suits YOU.
Thank you! Mom in stripes is a forever image <3
I love that shirt – and assumed that you were making an Anne of Green Gables reference with the auburn hair!
Maybe slim cream jeans?
Thank you! And no, believe it or not I never read Anne of Green Gables! I do have a red-headed daughter though, so perhaps it’s time.
I’d wear it with the pink pants (they’re still available for 50% off at NAP) and the shirt unbuttoned and open, with a white tank. I’d shorten the pants and make sure some foot and perhaps ankle shows as well. I love the whole outfit together, but I think the shirt is a bit hard to style on its own.
It surely is.
Welcome to the sorority of bottle auburn! I keep trying to grow it out and then losing my nerve. Another month of Madison Reed…
But I love your auburn hair. It just isn’t right on me! And yes, Madison Reed it is:)
Maybe – a white and beige stripe? In a casual jeans kind of format with some ankle showing?
That could be fun:)
In Miami we would wear the shirt with no pants. Not that I’m advocating that:)
This post absolutely made my day. Thank you.
I do like the pink outfit. I’d “love” the outfit sized to flatter and not overwhelm. I am not against oversized dressing but there are limits for me.
Getting hair color right is not easy. Our salons easily schedule a 3 hour plus appointment and this (for me) is an unacceptable time commitment. Red, orange and purple outcomes are disappointing.
I was plain old swimming in those cargo pants I tell you what!
And yeah, a 3 hour appointment when you have to go back every 6-8 weeks? Too much! I have a new idea, and I’ll be reporting back:)