“Why not wear mismatching shoes? Who says we can’t? I was
just having fun. For me, fashion is all
about fantasy and putting unlikely things together. That’s what I love. I
genuinely love dressing up.” ~Helena Bonham Carter
Well Ms. Carter, You alone are a definite fashion “don’t”
and I’m not quite sure why I’ve included you in my postings, aside from the
fact, you are touching on a new trend in fashion at the moment. I have read that mismatched patterns are the
trend in fashion right now. While I
don't consider myself to be one who really keeps up with such things, now that
I saw it, I'm wondering, do I dare?
Honestly, it really bothered me. I like fashion to have a reason. I don't
always like matchy matchy per se, but I definitely like there to be deliberate
choices to my clothing styles, or for people to look at me and think
“Wow.” Yes, Sister Mary just broke
several of the deadly sins there…Vanity and Ego. I’ll go confess to Father Theo later, I
promise. When getting ready to leave the
convent for the day, I find myself adding a pop of random color but I want it
to make sense, I want it to be bold without making me look like a deranged
mental patient on the loose at fashion week.
We are seeing it everywhere from mismatched printed tops and
pants, to skirts, dresses and tights. I’m told its definitely a fashion-forward look
right now, however with that said, it can also be a very difficult look to pull
off. My first words of advice here is if
you absolute MUST try this trend, do stick to the same color scheme.
My latest fashion victim attempted an abstract patterned
dress with argyle tights. Now, Sister
Mary isn’t one to throw stones, she’ll just throw fashion advice and hope it
sticks. But this outfit is the holy trinity of fashion sins; each piece of this outfit on
it’s own is lovely, I’m a huge proponent of fashionable tights, but paired with
a patterned dress, is a definite no-no.
The message being sent here is one of “I got dressed in the dark,” or
“I'm in the middle of doing laundry and I hope you don’t really notice what I’m
wearing.” Dear Readers, this look is
just not a good one, and don’t even get me started on the shoes! Shoes that fit are ever so important, and I
don’t care if they are your best Louboutin’s or not…they MUST fit properly and
you shouldn’t ever schlump. But back to the
offending outfit; this is a train wreck.
I don’t think I’d have quite the trouble with it except for the fact it
is two very bold and dominating prints.
If the tights were instead, a subtle black herringbone pattern or hounds
tooth, I think this outfit would not be on my blog, but on my body parading
about town as I went about my business for the day. Let’s just say the wearer of this outfit went
into the closet and the clothes came out the dominating winner, and NOT in a
good way!
With all that said, I've a few tips for the "If you must attempt this trend." Floral and stripes are always a good combo. Because stripes
are a simple yet strong print, they really go with anything, much like polka
dots. (And you know how Sister Mary
LOVES her polka dots!) However, they
have more structure to them making them easy to match with another print that
does not have much structure, like for example, a floral print top. Floral prints are usually not in a straight
line or a structured pattern, thus, you get your mismatched prints in an
ensemble, but there is still some sort of structure. However, too much floral and you end up looking
like my Grandmother’s chintz wallpaper in the front parlor.
Try to avoid wearing two types of animal print. This is too
chaotic and it will look like you’ve crawled right out of the Cat House at the
Zoo! Get it Cat House? Women’s fashion? Darlings, Sister Mary is on a roll today!
With all that said, I'm going to give this trend an overall fashion "don't" rating and leave this one on the runway, or wherever it was found.
Until next time, stay fashionable!
SM
