Style Chameleon Twin Challenge Day 1 Annagybe: Cherries & Chanel

I didn't post any outfits all of December, partly because I was so busy with work and family and partly because I was feeling uninspired with my wardrobe. I was wearing the same things over and over (hello Eileen Fisher poncho!) because I gained about 10 lb and some of my clothes were no longer fitting, and I just didn't have the energy to think about what to wear. Dressing seemed like a chore. Well, it's a new year and one of my goals is to hug my closet and start having fun with fashion again!

So I loved Angie's idea of setting a style challenge for yourself to beat the January blues. But because my fashion motto is "anything worth doing is worth doing to excess", I want to make it a real hard challenge! Nothing easy like "wear dresses for a whole week" (I could do that for a whole month in my sleep!). Something that will inspire me to be creative and look at my wardrobe in a new light. 

Here is my challenge to myself. I am going to be a style chameleon and each day "become" a different YLF member! I love doing dress-up and themed outfits and multiple style personas, so this will be right up my alley!

Here are the rules:
1. Twinnie item: I will use one item that I and the YLF member both own (or if not an exact item, something that is similar to something they own).
2. The outfit should look like the YLF member's style.
3. The outfit should look like my style too.
4. I have to actually wear the outfit IRL (so it has to work for work or MOTG).
5. I have to shop my closet for all of these.
6. Bonus points if I combine items in new ways or rescue closet orphans.

So far I have about 7 different outfits planned for different YLF members. If you share an item with me or would love to see me copy someone, feel free to chime in--I'm open to suggestions! (And if you can post a link to the WIW of you or the Fabber in the item, that would be super helpful!).

For Day 1 I thought I'd kick it off with the hardest but most fun challenge. Annagybe. She is fearless and fun. Whimsical and whackadoodle. She knows so much about fashion and designers and translates avant garde and runway into real life in masterful ways. She has an inimitable sense of style, but I'm going to try to copy her anyways. I've really missed seeing her around here (I still follow her on Facebook) and was so excited to see her posting here again--I really hope she'll start posting her outfits again!

Since I don't own the same items as her (except maybe the H&M floral pants!), I thought I'd use the Piers Atkinson bitten cherry headpiece that she wore for her last WIW post as the twinnie item (4). I have a cherry print dress that I bought off eBay a few years ago (I was trying to find something to wear for a Wild West office holiday party, but the dress turned out to be more rockabilly than saloon girl). I've only worn it once or twice because it's a strapless halter and very girly looking with red ribbon ties, so not very work friendly. I think I last wore it a couple years ago for DD's 5th birthday party (5). It's a real closet orphan. I even brought it to the consignment store a year or so ago, but when I saw it hanging in the store window I had second thoughts and asked for it back. I just couldn't part with it! Anna's red and black edgy cherry outfit inspired me to try again. I turned the dress into a skirt and added a black Helmut Lang sweater (it's kind of see through so I have a tank underneath), black heeled ankle boots like she has on, pyramid stud watch and bracelet inspired by her avatar, and Chanel purse because she likes to combine high and low. And of course her signature red pucker!

Thanks for looking and commenting! I'm super excited about this challenge!

Helmut Lang sweater
Cherry print dress (eBay)
Mia Nanette ankle boots
Karl Lagerfeld watch
Forever21 bracelet
Ms. Scarlet Chanel purse

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30 Comments

  • Jules replied 9 years ago

    Great challenge, great outfit! I love cherry prints but realistically they feel too twee, young or something on. I can see why you kept this because the oversize and very graphic cherries have a different vibe. I think making it into  a skirt and wearing edgy black were genius ideas... amazing that it was inspired by annagybe's head piece, the link is definitely there but not sure I would have every come up with it!
    Going to be following this challenge! Fun!

  • Elizabeth P replied 9 years ago

    Oh my goodness, what a GREAT challenge for you!  I'll be following this one :).

    Love how you turned the dress into a skirt - I think I prefer it this way actually, it's a bit edgier, and toned down.  And totally love the copycat pose.  Too funny.

    So, don't forget you sold me your extra pair of VC leggings :)

  • Roxanna replied 9 years ago

    Hey Goldenpig, I just joined the forum and loved seeing your outfits on the Best of 2014 thread. look forward to seeing what you come up with! Love the cherries on this skirt too. maybe for the next iteration, toughen it up with a black moto jacket and a cream cable knit pullover or textured scarf? The toughness/texture would balance out the sweetness and lightness of the skirt, I think.

  • goldenpig replied 9 years ago

    Thanks Jules, Elisabeth and Roxanna! Jules, I agree that cherries seem very young which is why I had a hard time styling it since my style has gotten less girly and more grown up over the last couple of years. ElisabethP, great idea! Hope you are wearing those moto leggings as much as I am! Do you have a link to a WIW of you in the leggings? Roxanna, great suggestions for the next wear--I definitely need more ideas on how to make this cherry print work in my wardrobe! It's hard to see but there is an interesting texture/pattern on the black sweater too.

  • shedev replied 9 years ago

    I really like the dress as a skirt.

  • Angie replied 9 years ago

    Got to say that the sentiment, action, your motivation and the creative outfit here is ALL absolutely killer. You are QUEEN DOING THINGS IN EXCESS, and my hat off to you Natalie. You touched many with this post, and you're special. XO

  • Elizabeth P replied 9 years ago

    Here are a couple Natalie:  I haven't been wearing them a ton, although I do really like them... I don't have a lot of tops that are long enough to wear with leggings, and to give me the thigh coverage I need.  Sigh.  Working on that though (the wardrobe hole, the thighs I have come to accept :) )

    I'd love to have a plaid shirt long enough - to wear them like I've seen you wear yours.  I tried... see below... but needed to add a longer cardi. 

    http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....inner-club

    #4 in this one  http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....nge-week-3

    #5 in this one - no pic, but you can see what I wore them with : http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....nge-week-3

  • retailgirl replied 9 years ago

    I've missed your posts, Natalie! I love how you think about why things go together...the resulting outfit looks great but when you hear the reasoning behind it, it's even better. Your matchy matchy and inspiration is so well thought out and subtle! I love it.

  • Suz replied 9 years ago

    NATALIE!!! This is so killer amazing fantastic in every single way I want to fly right down to the Bay area and HUG you. WOW. 

    The thing that is best of all about this is that this outfit has truly rescured an orphan; it doesn't look like a "challenge" outfit but something you can genuinely wear and look great in. And, it definitely reminds me of Anna's fabulous headpiece. 

    I think it is extremely fitting that you chose to honour her first and I really hope she sees this! 

  • Meredith replied 9 years ago

    I'm so excited to follow you on this challenge! You really captured the whimsy of the cherry headpiece with your dress and styling.

  • CocoLion replied 9 years ago

    I truly admire the planning and effort in creating your own challenge.  I absolutely love the outfit you've created.  By wearing it with a fluid fit sweater, it's super modern.  As well as the booties.  And the midi length combined with the fullness of the skirt are soooo on trend.  Well done!  10 out of 10.

  • harmonica replied 9 years ago

    No more boring Jan!! Natalie, this is totally amazing!!! Wow, I'm speechless - I know you will rock this challenge!

  • carter replied 9 years ago

    What a fantastic challenge! Beautiful job on the outfit today. I know Anna will be honored. I'll be following you all week!

  • rachylou replied 9 years ago

    Oh, that's great with the cherries!

  • jackiec replied 9 years ago

    WOW!!! fantastic challenge and amazing execution! i love it all, down to the lipstick and poses! the dress looks great as a skirt. So fun!

  • UmmLila (Lisa) replied 9 years ago

    I love this dress with the black sweater and boots. What a take on the cherry "honey you should see me in a crown" headpiece (which I loved in Anna's first iteration.)

  • annagybe replied 9 years ago

    Um, wow. I am truly and deeply honored. I love the *kiss* too.
    Great skirt. For other ways to style the "skirt" check out Tibi's full midi skirts. Blair of Atlantic Pacific often wear them.

  • deb replied 9 years ago

    Natalie, this is so cute!!! What a great challenge for the start of the year. The cherry skirt is the best.

  • Jeanie replied 9 years ago

    What a fun, creative challenge.  You definitely get bonus points for styling your closet orphan!  The dress looks fresh as a skirt and sweater and in line with the oversized trend.  I can't wait to see all your future inspired posts.

  • Jjsloane replied 9 years ago

    You are truly the queen of the self challenge! Nicely done. I'll be looking forward to seeing the rest of this unfold. 

  • Windchime replied 9 years ago

    Great challenge idea, outfit, and pucker pose!
    Great mommy/DD bonding, too!

  • Jaime replied 9 years ago

    Just amazing! I love how you took the inspiration but made it your own while still challenging yourself. And you look fab!

  • rae replied 9 years ago

    How fun on so many levels! I really like the flared skirt with slouchy sweater combo on you.

  • frannieb replied 9 years ago

    like everyone else love this post and love the look and can't wait to see what is next.

  • anne replied 9 years ago

    WOW You don't do things by halves GP. Love it!

  • annabelle replied 9 years ago

    Natalie, I would love to see your take on @torontogirl 's leopard scarf + classy neutrals post in the 2014 recap. I grabbed a screenshot last week because I was inspired by it, but I haven't found a way to make it more me. Maybe if I add TG + you, I will be easier able to copycat. :)

    I love your concept  xo

    http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....e-neutrals

  • Firecracker (Sharan) replied 9 years ago

    How awesome, Natalie! What a fun process to read about, and the results are just gorgeous.

  • Karie replied 9 years ago

    Super fantastic and super fun! You look gorgeous in that outfit, what a good call to go and get it back it from the consignment shop. You nailed this outfit in your challenge. Well done!

  • Ingunn replied 9 years ago

    Natalie, you are a queen! Wow! This is so much fun, and you're so good at it! I love the idea and the execution equally much.

  • Zibbets replied 9 years ago

    I never would have guessed this great 'skirt' was actually an orphan dress! It's fantastic with all the black and I love how you tied it to Anna's headpiece. Brilliant! 
    Can't wait to see more of this challenge.

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