Adding interest with prints

Today's assignment for the New Year Style Challenge is to add interest to your outfits using prints and texture. Click on the link above if  you want to join in. It's free, there's a lot of helpful information and you may even win a prize!

My first reaction was that I always use colour to add interest, but then when I started thinking about it I realised that I do use prints on a regular basis too, particularly with scarves.

 

 



Most of the prints show above are stripes. I do love stripes and they have become a wardrobe staple of mine, however a word of warning here. I'm just over 5' tall and the accepted fashion advice is for petite women to avoid horizontal stripes. Yes, you've noticed, these are all horizontal stripes. Did I once say that rules are meant to be broken? If you are over 60, short and not as slender as you used to be, maybe horizontal stripes aren't the best look for you but hey, you're over 60 - if you like them, wear them!

It may be the way that I'm standing in the photos, but I think the third photo, where I'm wearing the navy and white striped jumper with bright pink jeans, makes me look wider and shorter than the one on the bottom row with navy jeans. What do you think?

If you look closely you will see that the dress in the first photo is navy with tiny dots, and you can't miss the polka dots on the blue top in the bottom row.  I also have a shorter sleeveless empire line dress in navy with dots. My other favourite pattern is, in case you haven't guessed, polka dots. Like stripes, polka dots don't really go out of fashion.

I have been a bit wary of embracing the animal print trend, but it's fast becoming a classic like stripes and polka dots. I have a leopard print scarf and some leopard print ballet shoes, both of which are great for preventing an outfit from becoming boring. Talking of animal prints, I am being very tempted by the latest clothes and accessories in houndstooth. I think I'll leave space in my suitcase when I go to London in 8 days' time - just in case!

The final photo above is the dark brown dress that I bought for my 60th birthday party. It's a very subtle pattern, which is ideal for petites. The best advice on wearing patterns is to stick to small or maybe medium prints if you are petite and go for large or possibly medium prints if you're taller. Like many things in life, it's a matter of balance.

What about florals? I do have one or two summery items of clothing in floral patterns, but I tend to avoid florals as they can be a bit "old lady".  I know! I'm 66 years old, so I officially count as an "old lady" - but I don't have to advertise it, do I?