Thursday, February 11, 2010

A change would do you good

 
  
 
  
Listening to: Sheryl Crow.
Dress, tights, boots: Target;
Plaid shirt: Arizona Jeans Co., thrifted;
Necklace: Caiem, lovely giveaway gift from Lizzypunch;
Belt: Fossil;
Cougar bracelet: Finder's Keepers, vintage.
How I've worn the dress: here.
How I've worn the shirt: here.
How I've worn the necklace: here.


I've been getting cheap thrills from cleaning out my closet. I have three bags of clothes that are going to find a new home soon through the Salvation Army. I go thrifting often enough now that I sometimes bump into items that were once mine. I think it's funny running into items that I personally donated at the Salvation Army -- first I'll feel guilty, because my old dress will see me holding a new shirt that I intend to buy. Like I got caught having a sartorial affair. I silently reassure the old item and tell it that someone will adopt it soon. Does anyone else feel this way? Maybe I should stop personifying my clothes.

 About this outfit. One of the hardest things for me is figuring out how to wear black dresses, because I'm pretty addicted to color. I know --- the LBD is akin to the invention of the wheel in the fashion world --- it's versatile, neutral and can work in pretty much every situation. The cult of allure surrounding its timelessness has caused me to buy multiple LBDs, but I hardly wear them. I have a hard time accessorizing black without feeling like I'm trying to cover up its neutral-ness. I plan on pulling out some of those dresses soon and figuring out how to wear them, or if need be, figure out whether I really still love them.

This was my attempt at more pattern mixing and making the dress wearable for me. I have other solid-colored button shirts that I could have paired this with, but the plaid one just spoke to me. I added neutral pieces -- the necklace, boots and bracelet -- to make the plaid, browns and blacks appear like a natural happening,  and I ended up liking the way it turned out. 

This pattern mixing is a bit subtle, but a year ago, I wouldn't have been brave enough to try something like this combination. Back then, I was just getting into reading more fashion blogs and expanding my tastes. Sometimes I'll run into someone and he or she will comment on how I'm wearing an "interesting" outfit, aka something that seems weird for whatever is mainstream at the moment, and I'll think how in the fashion blogging world, whatever I happen to be wearing isn't that "out there." I like breaking rules -- and while sartorial change isn't for everyone, it can be refreshing. There are people still out there who adamantly believe black and brown can't mix and white is unacceptable after Labor Day, and to that I say have fun with your clothes -- evolve, adapt and re-style. What's the point of having an item if you can't make full use of it?

signature1 by you.

12 comments:

  1. I'm with you on the LBDs! I have so many good ones. I became obsessed with them my senior year of college, and the story of Coco Chanel's quote that brought black into chic and out of mourning, so obsessed that I made my senior project for my choreography class devoted to the LBD and, by proxy, to Chanel. I still love that dance, and I hope to revisit it someday and make changes to truly give it it's due.

    All of that to say I've amassed LBDs over the years, but never more than that year when I was buying the dresses as costumes, and now I conveniently wear them as clothes.

    But I don't wear them as much as I ought!

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  2. I have a few LBD's that are only worn on special occasions. I have a hard time wearing them too. I love the mix of plaid and dots here. I'm still a bit pattern mixing shy myself.

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  3. That wild animal bangle is ferociously awesome... little bit of drooling over here, no big deal.
    oh... and thanks for getting Sheryl Crow in my head...argh...

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  4. How funny that you see your clothes again! I kind of feel that way when I go through moving bins, "oh that skirt". Sometimes I start to wear it again, but other times it stays hidden. Black and brown totally go! They are neutrals after all?! Glad you are getting good use of the necklace :)

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  5. those ducks on your background is just soooo adorable. Oh my, love the dots and plaid combination of your top. Love those prints together.


    I am Denise Katipunera

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  6. I LOVE finders keepers and I LOVE that bracelet!!!!

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  7. I love that bracelet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  8. Oh la la! This bracelet is amazing! great find! :) Your outfit is lovely too, love the mix of polkadot and plaid!

    -Coco from Our Paper Moon

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  9. I like the mix of patterns here! The dots are subtle enough that it doesn't compete too much with the plaid. Looking good!

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  10. Plaid with dots, too cute!
    That dress is gorgeous, I'm glad you are finding some ways to wear it.

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  11. Love your layering ;) Pretty!

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  12. I think the same way you do in regard to fashion. I love wearing navy and black together, or black and brown. Those rules were made by an unfortunate soul who lacked creativity. You look gorgeous! Way to be resourceful!

    http://denverstumblingleaf.blogspot.com

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