Octavia Spencer at “Red Band Society” LA Special Screening

We’re always saying that good style partially comes down to the venue. Simply put, you have to dress appropriately for where you’re at. We’re not talking dress code, although it’s important to stick to ones both stated and unstated (as in, no gowns to brunch and no flip-flops to weddings). We’re talking about knowing what works best for you in a particular kind of setting and making sure you stick to it. It’s about asking yourself “What am I trying to say about myself at this event?” and then putting an outfit together that sells that point.

This is a roundabout way of saying that we’d probably huzzah this look if she was just walking down the street and getting through her day, but it’s a distinct disappointment to see her on a red carpet like this.

PinOctavia Spencer attends Fox’s New Drama ‘Red Band Society’ Special Screening and Q & A at the Landmark Theatre in Los Angeles, California.

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In theory, dark jeans and a simple jacket are totally appropriate for an event as relatively low-key as this one. But she had to know she was going to be photographed, and this simply isn’t the most photogenic outfit in the world. The sweater and the jeans are both a little on the snug side, but the real issue here is the jacket. First, it needs to be buttoned. That would automatically pull this outfit together and make her look a little dressier. Second, it needs to not be the exact same shade of blue as the jeans, because the effect in pictures is to make her look like she’s wearing a way-too-tight pantsuit. She needs a little contrast between the top and bottom to work. She also needs a bag that doesn’t look so beat up, in a color other than blue.

Love the sandals, though. If she’d just switch out the jacket and the clutch for something just a little more upscale, this would totally work.

[Photo Credit: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images]

• Octavia Spencer
• Red Carpet