Yay or Nay: This Twin Set

After reading Angie's blog post about sweater sets today I wondered about this set that I've had for a few years but rarely wear as a set. It was my entry into animal prints. The knit feels silky but I see that it is a rayon/ nylon blend.
I only had time to show you styling with my white denim skirt but could also wear this set with white boyfriend jeans to modernize. Does it have possibilities as a print twin set (Yay) or is it hopelessly frumpy (Nay).
I welcome your comments and suggestions.

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31 Comments

  • replied 10 years ago

    Photos?

  • lyn* replied 10 years ago

    I like the pieces separately - even though I read Angie's blogpost, I think I'll always have a poison stink eye towards twinsets. For what it's worth, I think yours is quite fabulous :) Just not together.

  • Mary Beth (formerly LBD) replied 10 years ago

    Ohhhhhh.... I love the pattern - it looks rich and wild.    I like them separately a little better than together - but - they do look lovely together :)

  • Joy replied 10 years ago

    Thanks, Ceit. I'm trying to do 3 things at once :^\

  • replied 10 years ago

    I like it, the pattern is unusual, and pairing it with white really wakes it up.

  • AviaMariah replied 10 years ago

    I like them together.  Love the purple mixed with the animal print.

  • Jjsloane replied 10 years ago

    I like the set on you. Don't you have leather bottoms? That would be modern too. I'd love with the white BFs.

  • Pawprints replied 10 years ago

    Together is great. The print and coloration are so unexpected and chic that it jettisons all frump, IMO.

    Fit and drape are nice. You have a good instinct for pairing it with sharp pieces.

    I think the matchiness in this case is fun rather than aging...but in full disclosure I have a fondness for matchy as long as it's not cliche or strangling.

    As long as you feel good in it and don't have a real allergy to twinsets, I say Go. If I saw you on the street I would be eying your outfit with admiration.

  • Suz replied 10 years ago

    I like it, Joy. The colours are brilliant for you. And from what I can tell the fit looks good. I wouldn't say it is the *most* modern one in the books, but it's not frumpy, either. Then again, you could never be truly frumpy! 

  • Angie replied 10 years ago

    I like the set - but wish the cardi was just a little shorter. I vote wear it with BF jeans. Lets see that, Joy.

  • Vildy replied 10 years ago

    Echoing Suz, when would you ever look frumpy?  I happen to really like the set on you.

  • Raisin replied 10 years ago

    Coming from someone who does not typically like twin sets, I think this one looks great on you and not frumpy.  

  • RunnerChick replied 10 years ago

    This gives sweater sets a good rap -- I really like it paired with the white skirt too. While I like how this set looks on you (and I really liked some of sets that were featured on the blog this morning, especially the green and black), it will still some persuading to get me over to this side. I just have too much baggage I'm carrying around from frumpy twinsets having been my entree into professional career-wear. I do think, though, that it might be worth trying some of the funkier combos -- I like the suggestion to pair it with BFs! 

  • Joy replied 10 years ago

    AviaMariah, I like the unexpected colors too and though it might be safe to wear around some very sensitive children who can think that an animal was killed so that you could wear animal print!
    Ceit, I'll try it with white jeans too.
    Jj, I do have leather bottoms...skirt and pants. I'll try it when the weather gets cooler as well as the Catherine boyfriends.
    Pawprints, thank you for the kind, encouraging words.
    Suz, thank you.
    Angie, I know what you mean and will try it as a set with the Catherine boy friends
    Vildy, thank you for your kindness.
    Raisin, that is high praise from such a stylish Fabber.
    Runnerchick, I hear you. Thank you.

  • Karie replied 10 years ago

    I think the unexpected colors are what take this out of the frump zone. I like twinsets and think it will look great with your Catherine BF's, as well as your leather skirt and pants.

  • Jaime replied 10 years ago

    The purple makes it. Want to see it after you style them with bf jeans as per Angie.

  • Marley replied 10 years ago

    When I opened up your pictures to look at the sweater set - my eyes immediately went to that purple "blob" in the center!  I honestly thought that there must have been a smudge on the lens of your camera!  Then, I opened up the 2nd one - and began to wonder if maybe that "blob" was supposed to be there! Finally, at the 3rd picture, I realized that it was part of the pattern in the sweater!  LOL!  And then, I just couldn't stop looking at the purple part - even when I tried not to!  So, IMO - I'd vote nay - that purple blob is just too distracting!  :-)

  • Joy replied 10 years ago

    Karie and Shevia, I will try the tops with the boyfriends soon. Confession: They are in the laundry basket.
    Marley, I know what you mean! I saw that purple blob centered on my stomach when I was cropping the photos. Ugh. I hope it isn't as bold in r/l. Right now, seated, the shell is folded down over the purple blob but it will reappear when I stand up. Maybe the shell at least needs to find a new home. I usually wear the cardigan with a purplish or a black top.

  • annagybe replied 10 years ago

    I was the lone Nay vote. I just have a major poison eye for these swirly mixed animal prints. 

  • Joy replied 10 years ago

    Anna, I appreciate your honesty and know how you feel.  I feel that way about fabric with blue roses...like fingernails on a chalkboard.

  • Firecracker (Sharan) replied 10 years ago

    I like it! I think edginess on bottom will be even better. You could edge up the look with booties. Do you have light colored Pettys? I think adding them to this skirt outfit with bare legs would look fab.

  • Joy replied 10 years ago

    Firecracker, I have the Petty python booties and you are right. They will be just the thing to counter the frump factor. I'd not thought of them. In the photos I'm wearing what I think of as my summer version of booties .

  • Day Vies replied 10 years ago

    Joy -- I love the print on this twinset but the cardi seems really long compared to the shell. I like the way you have them styled here and BTW this is definitely not a frumpy set when worn together at all. I'm just bothered by the different hem lengths -- for that reason only I would probably prefer them separate.

  • Laura (rhubarbgirl) replied 10 years ago

    The purple is bugging me too, especially on the shell since it's right on your tummy. I actually like the different lengths myself, makes it feel less matchy-matchy.

  • MsMaven replied 10 years ago

    I like it and don't think it's frumpy at all.  My image of a frumpy twinset is one of matching pieces with kind of a blocky fit, prim neckline and in a boring color.  

    While the purple catches the eye, the overall effect is quite unusual and quite striking.  

  • Joy replied 10 years ago

    I appreciate hearing your comments on the length. The shell is scrunched some here and could be worn longer or shorter but that cardi is pretty long. I' think it's better with pants for the proportions than with the skirt. It was just too hot for jeans when I tried this yesterday. It's also a bit better with my longer dark blue denim pencil skirt. See photo.

  • krishnidoux replied 10 years ago

    I like it together - A LOT.
    I would accessorize with lots of gold, for example those thick neck chains that are trending now. 
    While white does seem like a no-brainer, how about trying it with black as well? I would go for something casual  or unexpected - leather, jeans, slouchy dress pants...

  • Ingunn replied 10 years ago

    Joy, I think it has potential with boyfriend jeans, but as many have pointed out already, the combination is maybe not the best for a skirt. The pattern is lovely! Also, I always think you look fab whatever you put on, and this is no exception.

  • Lisa replied 10 years ago

    I vote yay, I think the print helps unfrump this classic style of twinset.

  • Julie replied 10 years ago

    Cool color in animal print and I love this. I liked the combination of purple and white and it looks very unique. It also likes very fresh and stylish.

  • Joy replied 10 years ago

    Thank you for you thoughtful comments and fresh ideas for this twinset. I hope to try it with boyfriends today although they may be too hot with a 105 degree F heat index.
    Krishnidoux, I love all your ideas! I'm looking forward to trying this with back leather pants when the weather cooperates. I have a heavy gold necklace but it may not be modern enough.
    Ingunn and Julie, I'm glad the color and pattern feel unfrumpy. When I was trying this set on in the store and went out to the big mirror, several other customers just loved the color/pattern.

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