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I’ve been sharing my outfits here for a long time now, and my What I Wore Then vs. What I Wore Now outfit updates are some of my favorite posts to put together. I just shared a round of outfit update videos on Instagram (watch them HERE), and today I wanted to bring them to the blog. Most of the outfits I recreated in this batch are from 2017. Let’s call this my weird posing era.
By that point in my blogging journey, I’d started branching out from mirror selfies and learning how to take my own outfit photos. At first, I didn’t even own a tripod. I’d prop my phone up on the handle of Jack’s stroller. After dropping it on the ground a few too many times, I finally invested in a cheap tripod.
My Instagram feed was filled with bloggers sharing these really cute outfit photos. Some were close-ups of their outfit details, and others were full-body shots. This was back before carousel posts were the norm, so you could get two or three posts out of one outfit.
It’s always interesting to look back at how much the blogging and influencer world has evolved over the past 10 years. Most of all, it’s fun to see how my style has changed and what’s stayed the same.
Navy and Denim, Then and Now
This outfit is from 2019. I wore it on a day date with my husband in Holland, Michigan. I asked him to take a few photos while we were walking around. Back then, every outing was a content opportunity!
I loved this outfit in 2019, and those high-waisted skinny jeans from Abercrombie are still in my closet! I originally paired them with a cami and a navy blazer. To update the look, I went with my wide-leg jeans from Quince, which have a raw hem just like the original pair. I swapped the cami and blazer for a fitted T-shirt and a navy cardigan jacket.
I traded the block heels for loafers and swapped my cognac tote for a woven handbag in the same color. 2019 doesn’t feel like that long ago, but seeing these two outfits side by side makes me realize how much the silhouettes in my wardrobe have changed.
Shop the look
- Navy cardigan (small)
- Cream T-shirt (small)
- Wide leg jeans (25/short)
- Tan loafers (7.5)
- Woven bag
Black Tee and a Scarf, Then and Now
This outfit is from 2017, and to me, it pretty much sums up what we were wearing back then. I was still loving scarves, and the long black tunic, ripped skinny jeans, and booties were so the vibe. I’d been wanting to update this look for a while, and it finally came together when I found a good swap for the leopard scarf.
For the updated look, I paired a fitted black T-shirt with wide-leg jeans and went with a newer pair of booties that work well with the wider cut. I’ve been loving little silk bandanas this year, and I think they’re the perfect swap for the scarves we used to wear all the time. I stuck with a black satchel, this time carrying my thrifted Kate Spade bag.
Shop the look
- Black tee (small)
- Silk neck scarf
- Dark wide leg jeans (25/regular)
- Brown boots (7.5)
Denim Jacket and Stripes, Then and Now
Here’s another outfit from 2017, and this photo is a perfect example of my weird posing era. I’ve always felt a little awkward showing my face in outfit photos, so I’d look away from the camera and find a pose that still showed off what I was wearing. The older I get, the less I mind looking straight at the camera.
In the original outfit, I wore black leggings, a striped T-shirt, a cropped, fitted denim jacket, and my favorite booties at the time! For the update, I swapped the leggings for comfy, stretchy wide-leg jeans. I paired them with a fitted striped shirt and a denim chore jacket, then finished the look with my current favorite booties, a neutral pair with pointed toes.
I kept the coral purse, which was a gift from my aunt and one of those pieces I’ve held on to over the years. Coral may be a little less trendy these days, but I still love the pop of color it adds to a neutral outfit. I did swap the statement necklace for a chunky beaded necklace I’ve been wearing a lot this year.
Shop the look
- Denim chore jacket (xsmall)
- Striped tee (similar)
- Black wide leg jeans (2/short)
- Tan pointed booties (7.5)
Blush Cardigan, Then and Now
The last look is another one from 2017. I wore a blush cardigan over a tank top with skinny jeans I distressed myself. I was really into giving my jeans a second life back then. And of course, I wore my booties again!
For the update, I swapped the skinny jeans for the same wide-leg pair from the first look. I layered a cropped blush cardigan over a fitted white tee and buttoned it most of the way up, which is my favorite way to wear cardigans right now.
Since the jeans are cropped, I went with neutral ballet flats this time. I wore the white beaded necklace again in place of the statement necklace and traded the black purse for a neutral crossbody to keep the colors soft.
Shop the look
- Blush cardigan (small)
- White tee (small)
- Wide leg jeans (25/short)
- Ballet flats (7.5)
- Crossbody bag
When I look at these outfits side by side, the biggest change is in the silhouettes. I’ve traded skinny jeans and long tunics for wide-leg jeans and tucked-in tops, and I almost always reach for flats now. I still love so many of the pieces I wore back then. I just style them in ways that fit my life today.
I’d love to know which version is your favorite!
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