WIW Chicago Day 3: is this too crazy town?

Chicago Day 3: I'm looking my capsule, but definitely finding it limiting, confirming that I am a maximalist at heart and will always have a wardrobe on the bigger side. I have a need to wear the *perfect* outfit every day, but which I mean an outfit that meets my requirements on style, comfort, warmth, fabric preference and mood. These can vary greatly day to day and I've learned that in most cases, I'm not happy 'making do.' I can let the the concept of the perfect small wardrobe go.
Outfit 2: what I wore for the day - loss of layers as the AC is arctic! Wearing a necklace I recently acquired from am at gallery that I am in love with - those are small handpicked stones from all over the world, interspersed with tiny pearls. The combination of nature, refinement, colour and texture feels exactly me.

Outfit 1: what I wore for Awards night. I was thrilled to put this together (yet another appearance of this top!) because I liked the hectic pattern mixing juxtaposed with the clean silhouettes, but seeing it again now, I'm not sure the colours go as well as some thought. What do you think - sites or work or does it just look crazy?

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8 years ago

Anonymous

You always look beautiful and polished, Roxanna. I think you could carry off anything -- your verve and confidence shine through in all your pics. And it sounds like you got compliments on your first outfit, so maybe there's your answer? I'm the wrong person to comment on pattern mixing as I find it very intimidating and leave it to the more artistically inclined!

I love your new necklace and it's perfect with the second outfit. But from what I recall, you had plenty of room in your suitcase, so if you're feeling limited by your travel wardrobe, maybe it's time to go shopping?

BethT

Active Member

That necklace is gorgeous and works perfectly on that sweater.

I am not great at mixing patterns, but love when others can master it. I think what you have works, but it's not great. The colors and silhouette look fine to me, but I think what throws me off is that the size of the patterns are too similar. I maybe if the leaves on the top were smaller, it might work better. Not convinced the shoes are the right way to go, but that's harder to determine in just a small picture.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

It's hectic, for sure, but it works to my eye -- at least it works on you. You are vivid enough yourself to carry it off. Meanwhile, the cut of both skirt and top are ladylike, and the fit is excellent, so it's clear this is intentional. I think the slight diagonals in both patterns provide a pleasing echo, although the top's pattern is more "organic" and the skirt's more "geometric" in feel.

Love your pretty new necklace. The second outfit is calm vs. lively -- it's nice to have options like that.

Ankita

You always always look so polished and chic Roxanna. Im in love with the skirt in #1 , it's such a colorful gorgeous piece.
The necklace is real pretty and I like the story behind it ☺ Also lovely pick of white shoes in the second look... It's so hard to find good white shoes!

Roxanna

Thanks for your thoughts ladies!

@Aliona - thank you so much for your flattering comments! Truth be told, i have been 'creeping' you in the forum as I love the polish and lines of your style - you serve as an inspiration on my blah days

Beth T - I hear you. I actually like that the scale is the same - it makes it more fresh and hectic to me that the more conventional pattern mixing of small with big - but I get that it can be overwhelming. The shoes work to me because they pick up the bronze in my skirt and add depth, but I will reassess, perhaps with metallics instead?

Suz and Ankita - thank you Nice to hear you think I can carry it off! Sometimes I fear that the look i have in my head isn't translating and I potentially look like an eccentric bag lady, but what is fashion about, if not risks...

celia

I agree that it works for you. You look beautiful and polished.

Maneera

It totally works did you. It's hectic pattern mixing, but looks exceptionally polished and 'just right' on you.....it compliments your personality

I love the 2nd outfit. What a beautiful necklace with an equally beautiful story!

rachylou

Ohmigod. You are soooo lucky I don't do ladylike and am inappropriately hipstery, because I'd hunt you down and take away your suitcase. I LOVE your pattern mixing in the skirt outfit (also the way you finished your second outfit with that necklace). Brilliant insight when you saw those pieces and got them. What are the brands...?

Or should I just come and "carry your suitcase for you"? Hehe

catgirl

This is gorgeous! A co-worker wore something similar yesterday in a big chevron and smaller print up top and I was admiring it. Really lovely look.

Thanks ladies! So glad to hear that some of the best minds in style thinks it passes muster

@rachy - you can come borrow whenever you want, as long as I can go on a treasure hunt in your closet. I *love* inappropriately hipstery (but for real - I always admire your ability to mix cuts and proportions!) skirt is J. Crew Collection winter 2014, as are shoes, and top is J crew from this summer.

CocoLion

I like the top and skirt together, I think you pull it off.

When you talk about wanting each outfit to be perfect, it resonated with me. I am not a wardrobe minimalist either.

Kiwichik

I think the crazy patterning works and even if it didn't so long as you wore it with confidence - everyone else would just see your confidence.

Love the story behind the necklace in your second outfit which looks effortless and stylish.

lyn67

For me it would be a big NO your nr 1 outfit:-(, but I1m surprised to see it's working on You!:-) Some of the colors from the skirt are echoed in the top, and the scale and the hectic density of the leaf print it's somehow complementing the rigurous geometrical print of the lower part. It's obviously a bold and unexpected juxtaposition of things esp. with the animal shoes on top of it:-)(was that really intentional:-))-but you probably have the right personality for not feeling like worn off all these! Nr 2 is quiet and peace, instead:-).

unfrumped

You look beautiful in that silhouette.
For pattern mixing I might prefer color ? Intensities that are more similar- the skirt is bright clear colors and the top reads more muted. However I am the least expert at that.
I love the high-waisted and longer skirt- so elegant. I've been trying to find some that fit me like that!

LucyRose

Wow! You are so beautiful!

I LOVE outfit #1. Love. the two prints are so different yet they harmonise together. I am always a fan of an unexpected pairing. I don't know what the experts would say (Hello, Angie:), but I am a huge fan.

Thanks for sharing!

PS
I totally feel you on the maximalist thing. Me too. Yet I cycle through things often, because most of my shopping is thrifting. I get rid of things as soon as the "spark of joy" (to borrow an Angie-ism) wears off.

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