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How to use a patterned skirt?

Ginger

Veteran

I'm considering this skirt. It's a navy/white check with cute waist detailing; the fabric is a knit but fitted at the natural waist. The pattern is high contrast up close; at a distance it looks like a bold grayish-navy tweed or glen plaid.

As a pear, I have a difficult time with patterned bottoms. The few I have I put with solid coordinating tops. But while navy and white are my two favorite neutrals, they are neutrals. I really enjoy medium to high contrast (color and value), and a solid navy or white top would be too boring and limiting for me. I would not be happy putting black with this, except maybe for boots. Gray would be problematic as well, besides being not a color.

To paraphrase a recent YLF thought, I am trying to exercise some creativity in a new area. This skirt has the potential to be a workhorse if I can hit upon a variety of colors/outfits to use it with; I do get tired of solid black, gray, and navy. So far I've thought of:

* Navy or white tee or turtleneck + bright scarf or cardigan; I have both leaf green and sky blue cropped cardigans, and scarves in light yellow, lavender, lime green, medium pink, and sky blue
* Medium or coral pink sweater
* Navy floral chiffon "sweatshirt," probably fully tucked
* Burgundy longer cardigan over white
* Dark red puff-sleeve sweater
* Dark red corduroy button-front shirt
* Light yellow turtleneck sweater

All of these are items I already have, that I'm pulling up from memory.
They may not work in practice. Tucking is a priority for me usually; a semi tuck is okay if the top is just right. The sweaters may not tuck that
well in practice; my waist and underbust are almost exactly the same,
so sometimes I get some odd pouching depending on the thickness of the
top.

I really get the feeling I'm forgetting about a whole set of colors somewhere! And I feel that a patterned top would balance the patterned bottom, but I have few patterned tops and am not experienced with pattern mixing.

I know this isn't a very trendy item, and I wouldn't wear it in a trendy way, but I'd appreciate any additional thoughts regardless.

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Thakoon for DesigNation Floral High-Low Hem Top - Women's

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17 replies

Latest reply was from ladyjules

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

Oh that's a lovely skirt, Ginger. I have no color suggestions (I'd be very happy to wear the skirt with navy, grey & black..so I'm useless on that front) but I do like all the choices listed.

The only color I could think of is pink (I love pink - deep pink as well as blush pink - with navy and with white...so why not together?!) Keep thinking!

jenanded

Veteran

Teal green w navy? Lavender... pink... orange. So many colours woulf work.

Ginger

Veteran

You're both saying pink, so that's a good one. I know where I can get another cropped cardigan that's navy with a thin deep pink stripe; I haven't gotten it, because the pattern is limited, but it might work out well after all. Interesting thought about teal; I don't have any, but it might be a good one. I remembered I have some deep mauve/plum lightweight sweaters which should also work.

unfrumped

Veteran

I think it's fine to pattern mix, but what I usually encounter with printed skirts (which I like and have a lot of--more so than solids) is whether the pattern reads as a clear graphic or muted, when combined with a top.
That influences whether something that might be called black & white is crisp and "wants" clear reds, pinks, cobalt--those type of colors--or has gradations and works well with grays or "grayed" colors.
I don't wear much of the former so I avoid classic B&W or navy & white (clear white or optics) and look for prints or tweeds with gradations of colors.

Anonymous

That skirt is so cute, but I can see it being tricky to style. The pattern reads as a neutral to me, so you could probably get away with any color on top, but do you want to cut yourself in half, visually? I can't advise you on pattern mixing, that's definitely above my skill set.

Ginger

Veteran

That's a good consideration. Thank you for putting it into words. This one is tricky, because I'm not sure how it will read. The thumbnail looks muted, but that's like a 50-yard distance. I think it will be more clear graphic indoors. Might be a case of buy-it-and-find-out!

What do you tend to pair with muted patterns? It sounds like you're talking not strictly about colors, but about the quality of the colors. Like the difference between dusty rose and hot pink. I prefer clear but soft colors; the super-sharp citron and tomato, etc. overwhelm me. But dusky, muted colors (except for blue - I can wear any blue) are bland on me.

Funny story about how patterns read at a distance. My mother has a very sharp sense of color, and is very particular about what goes and what doesn't. Her mother is not that particular, so they had some outfit battles when my mom was a kid. In particular, Mom had a dress that was a tiny red and blue check. Grandmother wanted Mom to wear blue or red shoes with it; Mom refused. "It's purple." I don't think Grandmother ever understood! But I'm the same way, and I avoid patterns that tend to go too bland or "off" from a medium distance.

Anonymous

You might want to play with some real vibrant colors -- orange, bubblegum pink, turquoise, and kelly green. Those all really pop with navy blue.

I liked your story. Sounds like your mom might have been angling for a new pair of shoes to go with that dress!

Ginger

Veteran

Xtabay, I'm fine with a hard waistline, yes. It's not a trendy look, but it's quite (traditionally) flattering on me. It helps that it reads like a neutral to you. It's funny, pattern mixing was (is?) so huge for a lot of fashion bloggers, but it seems like the Fabbers, including myself, don't indulge a whole lot in it.

Ginger

Veteran

Xtabay, orange is a scary one for me, but the others are a great idea! I have a cashmere bright pink sweater that I got on 90% clearance; it's got negative ease and has to be tucked, so I haven't worn it much. But I think it's got potential with this one! Kelly green is hard to find, but I can keep an eye out. Hmm... I think I put a kelly green top in the giveaway pile a few months ago...

Haha! I'm pretty sure she wasn't - she's not at all manipulative - but Mom and shoes is another story! Grandmother would take her shopping for new school clothes every year. It was SO frustrating. Color isn't the only thing Mom is picky about. If the shoes weren't just right, she wouldn't wear them! She was not to be swayed by the fact that she was outgrowing all the ones she had. I'm sure the last thing Grandmother wanted to do was try to find another pair of shoes for that dress. :p

Anonymous

Wow, your mom was a very precocious fashionista, and an inspiration for us all!

That cashmere sweater sounds perfect for the skirt. Let us know if it works out.

Aida

Veteran

Fun story about your mom and grandma ^^ From the photo here the skirt reads as almost but not quite a false-plain to me. As you said, might be different in person. I tend to mix All The Prints and I also mix All The Colors so ummm probably not the right person to ask about that It would be fun to go the print mix route with it though, especially if you went opposite scale with the other print. I also think it could be particularly fun if you DID style it in a more trendy way, say with a cropped boxy top/sweater or perhaps with a textured sweater and an obi belt, or even a fitted tucked cabled sweater with ribbed tights and oxfords.

Meredith

Veteran

I think you could pair most colors with this skirt. You could try for a style similar to Inge's featured blogger this week, except flipped.

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Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Fun Mama and Grandmama story.

That skirt looks versatile - but a little Summery in navy and white. Did you get that impression too, Ginger?

Ginger

Veteran

Hmm... Not summery for me, Angie. But our winters tend to be very sunny (when it's not actually snowing/sleeting/icing/raining), so maybe that's influencing me. Also, it's a mid/heavy weight "bubble" texture knit that reads warm/tweedy/woolly to me. In a smooth cotton, I can see it looking a LOT more summery. Like that Kate Spade skirt that was around several years ago.

Brilliant, Meredith! I was SO envious of that skirt on her. (And like her, there isn't a Zara within 500 miles of me.) That is a great idea.

Haha, Aida! This definitely has the potential for some wild mixing. I've got a lot more ideas now; it might be more interesting to see what doesn't work. I'm very hesitant for the boxy sweater thing, but I like wide belts, and several of my sweaters are cabled. Ooh, oxfords too... I do have cognac, which is the one color that bookends my hair.

Thanks for the sweet words, Xtabay! She's a pretty awesome mommy. I'll definitely update when I get a chance to play with it. It's still a wee bit warm for the real sweaters.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

You should get the skirt then, Ginger. Lots of ideas on how to style it here, so you shan't get stuck.

Beth Ann

Veteran

Hope you got the skirt! A piece like this has great presence, and can unlock all sorts of creativity.

ladyjules

What a wonderful skirt! I think it would be a killer look paired with a burgundy turtleneck. Navy and mustard are other colours I can think of that would look amazing with it. This is the perfect skirt I never find when shopping. So jealous of you.