I don't know fashion, but I know it would be fairly simple to convert that to a mandarin collar. Probably easier than making the existing collar smaller. I'd check into it.

Translucent bra straps?!! People aren't supposed to notice them?

My fashion question would be :

Does anyone know of a source for 100% cotton knit shorts with pockets that are longish and not skin-tight? Sort of like culottes? Sort of skirt-like? Nordstrom used to sell them every spring before they decided they' be better off selling jeans with clear plastic knees.

Funky, I would return the shirt. It might not fall into place when the collar is removed. Funny, the collar looks good in the photo. How do they do that?

I would not buy the cold shoulder top. I actually would like to find one to wear but have not found one that looks good on me. If you like this style, get one where you can wear your usual comfy bra.

Strapless bras are not as comfortable, especially for larger busted women.

Hoovb, have you googled cotton knit shorts? I'm heading over to do that now.

ETA: When googling tons of ideas come up. Hanes, Just my Size, LL Bean, Eddie Bauer

Land's End has these knit shorts on special (with code) for $14.96. All cotton. Looks comfy!

hoovb, try Land’s End Starfish knits. I have a pair of their straight leg pants, and I love them!

HA! Olychick and I were posting at the same time!

I like the white shirt and think it would look cute with a long casual statement necklace. However, if the collar bothers you I would pass.

I just gotta ask: what does a “long casual statement necklace” look like?

What I think of for long casual statement necklace. I think it's a pretty wide variety.

I think this is too long but you get the idea.

I like the white shirt. The collar doesn't bother me.

I know I've said I dislike cold shoulder tops. After some thought, I think a big part of the reason is because when I see them on people the fit is always terribly sloppy. The one in that photo is pretty. I'd wear a strapless bra. I have translucent straps but I think they draw attention and would skip it if possible.

Shee, I really like that last necklace! I have a gold and silver one sorta like that. Unfortunately I can't wear mine that long because it would bong and pop it that particular spot. I like them about three inches shorter.

The collar on the white shirt looks fine (in the photo). The pattern and length are nice, too.

That's a good take on the cold shoulder look. More of a halter top with sleeves deal than just holes at where the shoulder would be on 10% of wearers. I swear I had something like that when I was 5, with my initials embroidered on it! I don't mean that in a bad way. Just that it feels familiar. This is not at all like little kid clothes from the 70s!!

I wouldn't get it because of the bra issue but it's fine for some. The translucent straps are sort of...how do I say it without sounding snobby? Okay I'll be snobby. Trashy. Line them up with your spaghetti straps and it's fine. Have them out on their own? No. You have to go strapless.

Maybe I am being too sensitive about the collar-- I don't really wear all that many collared shirts-- but all that I have are definitely smaller!

I'll try it on again.. it really is a little too pricy to then pay to have the neck altered.

Yes, I agree that translucent straps are trashy-- they look like you forgot to cut off the hanger keepers from the inside.

Thanks all!

When I think of big collars, this is what comes to mind.

I like the white shirt and the collar looks fine, though I'd probably unbutton the next button too so it can be opened more into a v. I wouldn't pay to have it altered.

The cold shoulder thing is not my thing, but the one you posted would definitely need a strapless bra. While I've seen some articles suggest that bra straps showing isn't a good look for women over a certain age, IMO, it's not a good look for women of any age.

Ah yes, I remember the dog ear collars of the 70s!

The collar looks fine to me. I also have a white shirt that is really sheer compared to what I saw in the catalog (Untuckit). It's also very fitted so even the size I ordered is a bit snug. I don't see any way to wear it other than with a cami underneath. It's a very nice linen-like texture. Oh well, now that school is finishing, I can work on MYSELF this summer!

The collar looks fine to me too. I was expecting to see a BIG collar.

Here's my question: Are straight-leg and slim-leg pants here to stay? I've got several pairs of wider-leg dress pants that I can alter if the slimmer ones are going to be in style for a while longer. What does the Fashion Crystal Ball say about that?

Re width of pants legs: I keep seeing wide leg pants at Nordstrom, Neimans, etc. Here are two screenshots from Nordstrom. One is from sort by highest price; the other is sort by featured.

I’ve also seen them at less trendy places like Lands End and Talbots. It’ll be a year or two before they reemerge here in Podunk Corners.

Littlebug, anything goes.

I've been looking online a lot for some nice dress trousers to wear to work. The vast majority of offerings are the "skinny" variety, which IMO only look good on skinny people, and look too casual. But now I also see that palazzo pants are back (ugh!) like the black & white ones in the photo above. I'm not going to wear those, either. :)

The only slacks I've seen that look like what I'm seeking cost $100 or more a pair, and I'm not doing that, either. I guess I'll have to start sewing my own clothes again. Then the challenge becomes finding decent fabric...

Donna

Msmeow, did you look at Loft? Maybe the Julie fit trouser would work for you. They are 40% off right now.

Thank you! Those look nice. I will check them out.

Donna

That does not seem like a particularly large collar to me, funky. So pretty, i am a sucker for white. White on white I like twice as much.

I think you can still wear wide leg pants, my girls do.

Just like reupholstering furniture, unless it is something really good and/or really special, altering something usually makes no economic sense. Clothes are so cheap. And I've given up being a snob about it.

I've bought a bunch of stuff lately. I have a number of events these next two months, so I bought stuff for that. I also succumbed to the "free shipping if you spend more than xxx" gimmick and bought stuff for no particular need. I keep about a third of what I order on line, so shipping matters.

Here are a few of the things I've bought lately. I confess to liking the cold shoulder thing. As for a bra, I say strapless. I notice many underwire bras are "convertible" now, meaning they can be worn either way. They work pretty well.

I started with looking for a jacket that I could wear for a charity dinner and to work. I liked this, but it looked kind of ...stately on me. And it was like $450. It went back! Nothing I ended up ordering and liking cost me more than $175.

I wanted something more fun. So I went for this, which will be worn with a shell at work and w/o for the dinner. Much more fitted and flattering.

I also bought both of these, I am kind of on a kick. When I ordered these I wondered how they would work because if they were the material of a typical jacket, they would be heavy and how would they lay? Turns out they have a lot of stretch in them and lay very nicely. Very flattering

I am going to an evening at a museum and wanted something a little fancier than usual. This is trashy fancy; it has those sequins that you can move either direction and get a different color, like a nap? Must be a word for it. Its very cute on.

I bought these pants, which I would like to get about 3 dozen of, because they look great. Brigitte ankle pants by Chico.

I bought these shoes, which are very comfy believe it or not.

I bough this shirt for casual wear. My whole family liked it, esp because it was not the kind of thing I usually wear. I guess they don't remember what I wore in high school. : ) I can wear a normal bra w it, but I will choose one with a thin black strap.

My question! ... in re the off the shoulder jackets; if it will be warm enough to wear them at the start of an event, but cold at the end, what do I wear over it or does it just not work?

Mtn, can you keep a scarf in your bag until it's needed? Or would something like this (but different) be useless?

I think a scarf might not look right. And I am really just talking about my ... exit. Like to outside. Maybe I can just wear a light trenchcoat over my shoulders like a cape?

Pant leg widths............. amazes me. I wear skinny, wide, and in between. Why do people limit themselves to what is "hip" this second in fashion? I like variety.

I dunno mtn, those jackets are amazing and I think I'd prefer you just be cold.

For the off the shoulder jackets, I don't know why you can't use a wrap for your exit:

Thx, Lobby, LOL. I am totally game to suffer for the cause. And luckily the temps have warmed up a lot!

Oly, ordinarily ... off the shoulder and wrap do go hand in hand. But the off the shoulder jackets are so structured and manly, it's kind of like pairing a wrap with a man's suitcoat. Hence my conundrum.

thank you olychick and bbstx and eld6161, I will look into those suggestions.

mtn, I guess my examples were to show that if you use a wrap to cover the jacket, just for your exit, no one's going to see them both at the same time, hence no conflict in style.

oh yes, that is a point! In the first example you don't see the top at all. Off to survey my wrap inventory.

Well.. I put the white sleeveless top on this morning and while a taupe bra worked better than the lavender, I could see my belly button. I am going to return it. I don't want a summer shirt that requires a tank underneath... especially not for the price.

Mtn, I love your picks! I would also "tough it out" and skip a coat or wrap with the OTS jackets. I really love the summer tweed jacket.. and the sequin jacket! Both are so adaptable!

I agree Funky, see-through white shirts are a PITA. Thanks.. the tweed, the sequined and the blue ots are all from Boston Proper, I brand I had not thought of in years. I used to get Austin Reed suits and jackets through them, but they have changed a lot. They are renaming themselves "Beyond Proper" and have turned a little trashy. Whatevs, I found a lot i liked there.

Oh wow.. I haven't heard of Boston Proper in.. decades!

Mtn, I love that you are experimenting with new styles-- I was especially surprised to see that you've tried some variations on sneakers!

I used to buy from Boston Proper years ago but haven't in a long while. I like some of their styles but the fabrics don't always work well in Florida's summer heat.

Maybe now that the hot flashes are over I could give it another shot lol. This top is cute, although probably too long for me.