Tag Archives: mixing patterns

May 27, 2014 · 9:00 pm

Leopard and Stripes

I’ve heard leopard is a neutral. It’s classic and timeless and it goes with everything–including, I’d argue, stripes, florals, or plaid.

Top: Marshall’s
Jeans: Macy’s
Pleather belt: Truth
Pumps: DSW

I started off tame and wore my leopard pumps with stripes.

I separated the patterns with my Kelly green cropped jeans. I really love denim in all the shades of the rainbow. I have yellow jeans, and red ones and a few other colors.

My shoes, hiding in the grass like a leopard, are a great rubber-soled platform. Comfortable, and sturdy, even when I walk on slippery surfaces.

If you have a pair of shoes that are hard to balance in because the sole is slippery, I recommend getting a shoe repair shop to add a Vibram sole to them. I wrote about Vibram soles last year, and described how they preserve leather-soled shoes. And while I no longer wear leather, the Vibrams will save any sole and improve grip. The tip is still true.

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Filed under Fashion

Tagged as fashion, jeans, leopard, mixing patterns, stripes, style, thrifty fashion, vegan

September 23, 2011 · 6:51 am

FBFF: Refashioned Clothing

Today’s post is a challenge by Fashion Beauty Friend Friday. This is a group effort; a lot of bloggers will be answering the call. Be sure to read all the other posts at ModlyChic.

When I was challenged to share something I’d refashioned, I was initially stumped. I buy a lot of second-hand clothes, and I sometimes take them in, hem a bit, or add ruching. But would that count as refashioning? Then I remembered my Windows 7 skirt:

Top: Swapped
Blazer: Swapped
Skirt: Thrifted and refashioned
Boots: Thrifted

I wrote about this skirt once (shortly after I made it). It once was a giant t-shirt. A men’s XXXXL to be specific. The corporate logo is so subtle. It’s a white “7” on a black t-shirt. I found it at the Goodwill in Bellevue, a mile away from the Microsoft campus. I bet a Microsoft employee got it free at work and then donated it. I picked it up for $1.99. I cut off the sleeves and neck, took in the sides, and added a 2″ wide elastic band to the waist.

patterns

I tried a subtle pattern mixing by wearing a pinstriped blazer and a black and white geometric print tank top. All in all, this outfit cost $12. Do you change-up your clothes too? What’s your best re-creation?

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.