PRINTS: UNDER CONTROL

Marie Claire

For one afternoon over the holiday, I sat down with my latest stack of fashion magazines and began an intense search for inspiration. What seemed to scream out of the pages were the prints currently in vogue. “Prints Out Loud” is my best description…some were wild, neon, and pastel…some were graphic…some were tribal! All were attention grabbers.

Harper’s Bazaar

 So, as I took my little portion of Christmas gift money shopping, I went out in the world of retail with prints in mind. My personal colors of choice are usually jewel-toned, saturated colors and prints should definitely be UNDER CONTROL. If I were to follow some of the magazine ideas, I might cross over into clown territory, because of my body type and age.  I do not look my best in an all-over-print, so here is what I am likely to do:

Boyfriend Cardigan: The LOFT
Simply Vera Print: Kohls
Denim Skirt, Grey Tights: Lane Bryant
Shoes: Consignment Shop
1. Anchor the print with neutrals, by placing it under a great cardigan or jacket.

2. Place the print on the bottom in a skirt with neutrals or solids on top.

3. Display a wild print in a scarf.

4. Wear the wild print in a top with neutral pants or skirts
5. Make sure a loud print on a dress is not too large or
the wrong colors for me.

I have had my moments in the past of wearing all over wild prints and even mixing up all over wild prints, and I regret some of those decisions. It is not my best look and do not meet my new styling guidelines…which I am still pleased with the results, since I have been shopping with my Foundational Five Guidelines.

I love prints and, for now, just want to keep them under control!! Do you have other ways you might wear an “in-your-face-print” ?

InStyle

http://katherinescorner.com/2012/01/05/thurday-favorite-things-hop-17/

Attitudes Bracelet: Stein Mart
Necklace: Avenue

Make sure you check out Katie’s Thursday Blog Hop!




14 Comments

  1. You did great! I am so black & white, and brown all over 😉 And I wear the same jewelry EVERY DAY. I really need to step out of the box. I'm 41 feeling 31, but I'm inspired by 50 feeling 40 so you will be followed! Found you via Katherine's Corner. Have a great day!

  2. That's nice looking combination.

    The rule I've always heard for all-over prints is: size the print to the girl.

    If you wallpaper a big behind in a print with a small repeat you're displaying a lot of repeats. The same behind in a print with a larger repeat shrinks because the pattern is displayed fewer times.

    I think it's easier to do all-over prints in warmer months when the light fabrics that prints call home are more in season.

  3. That's a great print you're wearing in the pic, Pam. I like your guidelines, and for me I keep the colors pretty quiet near my face. I love a brightly printed skirt, like a Desigual design. I also like a print purse, believe it or not, with a mostly-solids outfit. xoxoxoxoxo

  4. Hi Pam!
    Well you know by now my patterns are not under control!
    Got a stack of magazines on my Ipad that i should check ,but so fat i know for spring bright colors are back
    I love how you wore your patterns, very you and sticking to your personality is very important

    Ariane xxxxxx

  5. I can wear big, bold prints, but only in moderation. I usually have to layer it with some neutrals or it just feels too clownish for me. I'm almost 5' 10", so small prints look too precious on me most of the time.

    The print is great, but I love the SHOES! I'm forever searching for a ballet flat that a) is comfortable, and b) doesn't look weird on my foot. I have the long monkey toes to go with my height, so ballet flats sometimes cover about a third of my toes and just look and feel really weird. Maybe one day I'll find one that doesn't. I keep looking, because I think they are so cute.

  6. Hi Pam…Happy New Year to you and your family.
    The prints look lovely on you….but for me I'm a plain girl…never have been a fan of prints…good advice Pam.
    Thanks for popping by always lovely to hear from you.
    Catherine
    xx

  7. Good morning Pam. I love your outfit.. it is perfect on you. And I really love your denim skirt with the blue tights. Am going to go digging in my closet for something to wear now (yes, still in my pjs this morning)!

  8. Thanks for the great advice here, I'm hopping from Katherine's Corner and have enjoyed your post with some great fresh ideas. Unfortunately today I feel 50 going on 60, but I will get over it. TFS and now following here and on Twitter. Have a great day

  9. I bought a lovely purple print top recently. Completely out of my normal comfort zone. But I love it.You look terrifc. I love the bracelet too xo P.S. thank you for sharing the Thursday favorite things hop with your readers

  10. You are right.We should all try and find out own way to wear patterns and that's what I do lately.I'm trying to introduce pattern in the form of blouses ,scarves and skirts.See what we will accomplish this year.

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