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Tag Archives: gray

August 24, 2011 · 6:11 am

All Gray with Purple Shoes

Look what I found in the “vaults.” If it weren’t for the gorgeous flowers, I’d pass this post off as current. But the rhododendron (which happens to be the Washington State flower) is a spring bloomer. Busted!

One cool spring day I layered tights under my gray skirt. I think gray is my favorite neutral. I sure do wear it a lot. For a subtle pop of color, I wore purple shoes. I love the tights-and-sandals look. This pair of peep-toes is a quiet variation on that trend. It will work for fall as well as it did this past spring.

Top: Old Navy
Skirt: Cop Copine
Scarf: Fred Meyer’s
Tights: Hue
Shoes: Aerosoles
Ring: Premier Designs

Monochromatic Pattern Mixing

The latest Everybody, Everywear challenge is pattern-mixing. There’s nothing like a challenge to get me in gear. I love the look of mixing patterns but I’m often afraid to try it. It has to be done right. But if mixing patterns is breaking a rule anyway, how do you know the right way to do it? Hmm. It’s tough. I played it safe and stuck with black and gray.

T-shirt: Wet Seal
Skirt: Swapped
Belt: Thrifted
Shoes: Aerosoles
Tote: Snap Design
Earrings: DIY
Cuff: Greenbelts
Ring: Premier Designs

A few other ways to mix patterns with a high degree of success:

Try a monochromatic theme—limit the color palette and focus on patterns
Experiment with accessories—add patterned shoes or a scarf or belt
Mix stripes and polka-dots, stripes and florals, or polka-dots and florals
Try two different types of stripes

The key is to make this look intentional, not like you got dressed in the dark. I’m still a novice, but I’m trying new things. I have a feeling you’ll see more pattern mixing in upcoming posts. It was a lot of fun to put this outfit together.

Do you mix patterns? What is the secret to your success? Need some ideas before you try it yourself? Check out all of the other ways people mixed patterns over at Everybody, Everywear.