WIW 7/19 Head to toe tonal snake: fashion forward or hot mess?

This is my usual style of WIW posting, lots of poses and detail shots and explanation of how I came up with the outfit and sources of items. Do you prefer this style of WIW posting or the terse version?

I'm still on my red purse kick, but thought I'd try to push the envelope instead of doing my usual black/white/red combo. I've always been impressed by those of you who can pull off tonal outfits. I'm not afraid of bright colors and ALGO, but for some reason tonal is very outside my comfort zone. I feel like people will think I'm colorblind and that I didn't know that my outfit colors don't match.

So here I am trying something new, but I ended up making it even more ALGO and hypermatchy. The orange-red snake blouse paired with berry snake jeans, berry and cream snake bracelet, cream and black snake shoes, tomato red purse and black leather jacket. I think it was me trying to prove that yes, I am doing this intentionally, because I matched each color with the accessories (the two halves of the bracelet match the pants and the shoes). And almost everything has a snake pattern, so they do kind of match even if the colors don't. Even the silver bracelet chain pattern echoes the silver chain of the purse.

I was going to post this morning and ask if I should leave the house like this, but then I ran out of time so I just went to work as is. Hopefully I didn't look too ridiculous! I did try a more subdued version with plain black pants and red ballet slippers (#8), but it felt so boring in comparison that I just went for it whole hog! So, whaddya think--fashion forward or hot mess? Did I give you a headache yet?

Thanks for your comments and feedback!

Tahari black leather jacket
The Shirt by Rochelle Behrens orange red snake shirt
AG berry red snakeskin skinny jeans
All Black cream and black fish bow pumps
White House Black Market berry and cream snake bracelet
Chanel red purse

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10 years ago

Anonymous

I like reading your analysis and reasoning on your WIWs!

I think this does look intentional, and not that you didn't know your colours.

missvee

Veteran

You are too funny! For me it's one reptile too many, but I love that you have such fun with your clothes. You can really carry off a look like this.

Beth Ann

As to your post length --- This is a "Natalie post." You have your own unique style, and I love it. If I'm pushed for time, I'll skim! If I'm overwhelmed, I'll choose one observation and comment on that.

BTW -- Posing one big question is helpful with a long post.

To the point: Love every element, but I'd choose either the pants or the shirt. If they had a differing scale of print, I think it might work better, but as is, I think they fight for the eye. This would not qualify, however, as a hot mess. I know my hot mess, and this ain't it.

I love the pants with the jacket -- black pants would indeed be boring. What about a simple underlayer beneath the jacket?

This might be one reptile too many for me, but hey, you're having fun! You're not boring! Wear what delights you.

As for terse vs. verbose, again, do what you enjoy. You can't please everyone. We all know how to skim when we're busy.

I always enjoy how much you enjoy your clothing!

Lyrebirdgully

Active Member

GP, I thought you would get lots of responses to this post - when I saw later that there were just a handful, I had to chip in my support. To this HALGO matchy-matchy moth, your outfit is a flame. Putting the pants with the shirt and red bangle and the red bag is EXACTLY what I would do (if I had these items) -- as is matching the designs in your metals.So your result is for me a visual treat. Although, my matchy-matchy streak must be more extreme than yours, because the maryjanes would not make the cut in my imaginary styling - owing to being not matchy-matchy ENOUGH.( The polka dots on the shoes would have to be represented elsewhere in the outfit to fill my bill.) No doubt this means I'm obsessed. Oh well.....
BTW, I do love how well you wear red and black together - your mane of superglossy black hair makes it all happen!
RE post length: I'm not fussed either way-- but probably lean towards more rather than less, because it helps my understanding.

Karie

(website)

I think you pull this look off beautifully. I feel that it works because you've made it intentional. If all of the colors were an exact match, it would be too much, but because you've intentionally kept the look tonal it all works.

I love the shoes in pic #4! I also like reading the longer versions of your posts, you are very good at putting your thought process for each outfit into words.

Adelfa

I agree with Beth Ann, this post style seems like you and I enjoy it. So even though I said I take it in better with the terse style, I don't want you to stop doing these. Maybe do both?

I think you put this outfit together really well, but I think I'm not comfortable with mixing shades of red. I think if you mixed tones of almost any other color it would work better for me. That might just be me.

ManidipaM

Natalie, I enjoy seeing you go your own way, dancing to your own drummer! Be that the style of posting or the hyper-matching!

If I'm short of time (like I was yesterday), I just decide to come back later. I do this with many people who post the story as well as the outfit. And I do it because I want to savour their writing.

And yeah, I prefer the tonal snake cent per cent! L.O.V.E. --- I think it's great fun! Do, do wear it again!

rae

The tonal matchiness is fun! Print matching with tonal colors!

I also prefer your usual post method. If I don't have time to read it all... I guess I just stop reading part way through, myself. I like hearing your writing voice.

Gaylene

Natalie, I don't think your style could ever be anything less than stellar. And you're right that, while the black pants version is a perfectly fine outfit, it definitely lacks oomph compared to your original idea.

I'm not a huge fan of mixing smaller prints in an outfit; somehow it always seems too hard to figure out exactly where to look so I'd probably have substituted the shirt for a solid orangy-red one just to keep the focus on the pants. But I love your pairing of pants, shoes, and bracelet--that kind of matchy matchy is right up my alley.

As for the length, your posts have always been my favorites because I enjoy your musings on your thought processes as much as the pics. It's posts like yours that have really helped me clarify what I'm trying to do when I'm in front of the mirror--so please don't change!

Mellllls

This is a little too much pattern for me but you look so happy!

Angie

Fashion Stylist

I think you nailed it in #1. Fashion forward, and to my eye works! There is harmony in the chaos created by the pattern similarities and tonal palette. Well done!

Joy

I read before looking at the photos and hadn't expected to like it, but I do...very much. The fact that the shirt and jeans are not the same color makes it work to my eye. You obviously had fun putting this together. I can imagine the joy of discovering that the bracelet matched up so well. This is a winner worth repeating.

Lisa

Wow you really nailed mixing lots of textures and patterns here, just lovely! I don't mind posts that are long, I like the insight. Short posts are good too, because I always look for style ideas for myself and I like to see what combinations do or do not work out.

Deborah

Firstly, I am happy for everyone to post as long or short as they like If I have time i read the full post comprehensively, if I don't I do a quick skim and then to the pics

I alsmost feel I need to see this outfit IRL. It does look intentional, however for me the reds (at least in the photos) are too different, but please take that with a grain of salt, as I am very much a neutrals girl Personally I really like #8 and see nothing boring, just stylish, about it. But I understand that you have to be you and the outfit you left the house in is clever and creative in my book.

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