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Pattern mixing and advice please

Cococat

Veteran

Hello ladies.
I'ts been crazy at work lately but I finally have some time to post and catch up with what's been happening on YLF.

I have been wanting to try pattern mixing for some time now and these are my attempts. The tops in pic 1 and 3 are thrifted and the skirt is from Kmart. I quite like these looks and they feel nice on. It's the top in pic 2 that I'm unsure of. It seems to accentuate my bust and make my shoulders look hunched. I like the idea of a striped stop with this particular skirt, but I don't think that the cut of the top is right. Perhaps I need to look for a looser fit with a boat neckline.

Thoughts and comments much appreciated.

Dressing

31 replies

Latest reply was from Cococat

Astrid

Veteran

I love #2 when it comes to pattern mixing! The top looks fine to me, but if you're not feeling it that doesn't help. I think it's the diagonal lines of the neckline and the skirt echoed in the sandal straps that makes it work so well to my eye...

Cococat

Veteran

Thank you Astrid. I tried it on when I bought it and really liked it, but then I looked at the photos and felt that something looked off..maybe I am slouching though...

bridgie

Veteran

Yes, you do need a striped top to go with the skirt in No.2 to pick-up the stripes in the skirt. I think the striped top you have on LOOKS great. It has interesting detail but not over the top. However, you need to feel comfortable with it. I do not see the faults you mention.

lyn67

Veteran

I think these are one of the best pattern mixed outfits I have ever seen! All 3:-)

Cococat

Veteran

Thank you Lyn and Bridgie! Maybe I'm being too critical of myself...

Karie

(website)

Veteran

Sweet sister, there's some expert pattern mixing going on here! It's hard to pick a favorite as I love them all. #3 gets my top vote because of the bookending of having a different pattern at the very top (shoulders) and at the very bottom (knees) with black and white in between. #2 just looks so good together, the yellow in the skirt is a nice pop of color and the stripes on the side compliment the stripes on top. I might like to see the top in #1 in a different color, but it's good is it is and looks fun and fashionable!

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

OMG! That's some seriously GORGEOUS pattern mixing! I love all 3.....some of the best I've ever ever seen. You're gorgeous in each one of these, but I especially love #3.

krishnidoux

Veteran

2 and 3, 3 being my fave.
2: I would need to see more pics of you wearing it to assess if indeed it fits correctly. From where I stand it looks fine. What is your body shape? If you are an IT like me, for sure horizontal stripes on top will seem more difficult, But to me now, it doesn't look like so. I like that the stripes are narrower. It's lively and fun. Have you tried changing footwear with this outfit? How about black booties for example, or even black mid-calf boots? The sandals you have there might be creating too much stripes visually, and the top might look very different with a sleeker footwear, which would "ground" the outfit. I would also try a red belt, just to see.

unfrumped

Veteran

These are all fantastic, to my eye. Skirt # 1 seems to be just made for pattern mixing so I'm making note of that, but still you have made fab choices for your tops. I love #1
I see your point re: # 2 top only because if may be you that type of fit is not your favorite. The shoulders are a bit more set-in and its a knit, so more clingy, but you look great. So that would be just a personal choice to figure out rather than a deal- breaker for the look. I'd ask myself whether I LIKE the top and will wear or if it bugs me.

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

I really like #3 a lot. The use of the varying stripes to tie in with the top works really well to my eye. I think #1 is my second favorite for the muted colors on top and bold stripe on bottom and while I also see #2 as an excellent example of pattern mixing, I feel a bit overwhelmed personally by too much color and pattern so although I really like the mix, I don't think I could wear it. LOL This isn't about me though. They all look great on you.

donnat

Veteran

You have done a really good job of pattern mixing. I understand what you are saying about the top in #2 but I think it is likely just the picture. In fact, I like #2 the best.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

#3 is stunning on you. Wear that one ASAP!!

I like #2 as well-- it's not easy to combine muted with bold, yet you have done it here. I might like to see that one with a simpler shoe.

#3 is stunning and clever and WOW! You get the advanced degree in pattern mixing!!

I do see your reservations -- I think this works visually (although like Cheryle, I would not be able to wear it myself -- it is a lot going on!) -- but it sounds as though it is not reflecting the "vibe" you were hoping for, so in that case perhaps a boatneck more fluid tee would do the trick. This comes across as quite bombshell and even deliberate. If you want a more relaxed, insouciant appearance ("Oh, I just threw this outfit together!") then the more fluid top would help create that.

Joyce B

Veteran

They all look fab but 1 and 3 are my favorites.
You created fun and interesting outfits.

Cococat

Veteran

Wow! What great responses! Thank you.

Karie, I think that #3 is my favourite as well. I was so happy when I saw the top at the thrift store (for $4 too!) becase I thought that the print would work really well with the striped skirt.

Thank you Maneera, cheryle, donnat, unfrumped and Joyce.

Krishnidoux, I'm not sure of my body type. I know I have square shoulders (although it doesn't look it in the striped top), big bust, short waist and I guess I would say I was curvy. I have never worn a horizontal stripe before, so it's a new look for me. I've always thought it wouldn't suit me because of my shape. I probably wouldn't wear those shoes with the outfits. I have a pair of high vamp very simple black wedges that would look better.

I definitely wasn't trying for 'bombshell' in #2 Suz, so maybe I should look for a looser top to wear with this skirt. I bought a large so it's not really that fitted....perhaps I should keep it for when I feel like doing bombshell..I could wear it with a black pencil skirt and red lipstick. I need to see it with other things before I decide whether to return it.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I like #2 and #3 best, but they all work. Nicely done.

Cococat

Veteran

Thank you Angie.

Word Lily

Veteran

They all look great! I think 2 actually really works, but like a few others, I don't think I could wear it. I think what makes it look a bit bombshell-y is how the neckline combined with lines on the skirt have literal

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lines?

Cococat

Veteran

You nailed it Word Lily. That's exactly what it does. I need to lose the top
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to make it look less bombshell.

Word Lily

Veteran

And your boatneck top does that, so you were intuitively right, anyway!

Ankita

(website)

You look like a star! #1 is gorgeous and I love love love the skirt in #2... you really do look divine ☺

unfrumped

Veteran

Also you raise fun points about proportions in general.
If you like the striped top of itself and aren't just targeting it for that one skirt, and would prefer less bombshell looks, it could look really good with flowy-er bottoms (you'd still be bombshell, that's a good thing, ha!-but more relaxed).
Also it may be that keeping a slightly more relaxed look works especially well with pattern mixing because there's already a lot going on. Relaxed vs. fitted isn't exactly the definition of what is or isn't ALGO, but maybe involves...? tension somehow?

Liz

Member

#2 looks really glam!! love the skirt so much

Cococat

Veteran

Thank you Ankita and Liz.

Unfrumped, you have given me some things to think about....and if I'm going to look bombshell, I would definitely prefer to look relaxed bombshell..lol. For some reason I had pencil skirts in my mind for experimenting with pattern mixing but I should definitely try it with more flowy skirts....or even A line. Perhaps it's because I find pencil skirts easier to work with proportion.....now I'm going way outside my comfort zone.....flowy AND pattern mixing.

Back to Pinterest for some more inspiration.

ladyjules

#2 looks really great, #3 is also nice, but not as loud as #2

#1 is a little too much for my taste, too many patterns going on and I don't fancy the color combo either.

Aida

Veteran

Fun mixes! #2 is stellar, that mix is right up my alley. Re the top, as others have said it's a bit tough to judge the fit from the one photo but perhaps a more fluid top would feel better? It would be a bit less bombshell. I haven't worn my pencils in a while, but I usually opted for a boxy top with them to debombshell them. The moodier mixes with the bright graphic in #1 and 3 are fun too, though I prefer #3 to #1 (a more dramatic contrast).

shiny

Veteran

Fantastic!

viva

Veteran

I love 2 and 3, but 3 is really really stellar. So bold and fabulous.

Anonymous

I like all three - the only thing slightly off to my eye is the neckline on striped top #2 - it could do without the contrasting striped band at the neck . Other than that - the colour and size matching is bang on. Way to go!

Deborah

Veteran

Advanced pattern mixing! I really like #1. But I can't quite work out why.There is something about the type of pattern and the tonal mix of it that find very attractive to the eye.

#2 is interesting, logic tells me it shouldn't work but I think it does. Some of the pattern in the skirt connects nicely with the striped top.

#3 is the only one I am not sure of. It doesn't quite flow between the top and skirt but that is simply my opinion, and I am fan of tonal pattern mixing:)

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