Friday 10 January 2014

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?





10 comments:

  1. I'm a big believer in wearing what makes you happy. The stripes are a great way to add interest without overwhelming a petite frame in my opinion.

    I fall more into the little old lady category because I love floral prints...lol

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    1. Some people can rock the "little old lady" look, but I have to take great care with it. Of course my younger readers can get away with wearing anything!

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  2. To my very untrained eye, the third photo makes you look wider because of the high contrast throughout--in particular where the blue meets pink and because the bottom of the shirt is larger and more contrasty.

    And I know you've been draped as a winter but to me, that brown party dress has a wow factor with your coloring. Of all the photos you've posted, that remains my favorite.

    I'm with you on florals unless they are modern, edgy, not-flowery. Florals say twee. To me anyway. But I'm not 60 yet so maybe that's just the bad attitude of youth (LOL!)

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  3. Hi, Sue, I've popped over from Debbie Roes' Recovering Shopaholic blog, and I'm glad to "meet" you! I also adore stripes and polka dots -- and color. I look forward to your account of Project 333.

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    1. Hi Tricia, pleased to "meet" you too! You may be interested in reading the first post I wrote about Project 333: http://over60andoverhere.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/project-333.html Since then I have posted my updates every 3 months, with occasional references to the project throughout the year.

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  4. Ditto on how I found you! You're adorable and I'll be checking it daily (and though I'm only 26 I know I can learn alot from you!! ;)

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    1. Hi to you as well. It's great to have younger readers and I welcome your comments and ideas. I think we can all learn from each other - no matter how young or how old we are!

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