Whimsical prints - yay or nay? - YouLookFab Forum

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Whimsical prints - yay or nay?

catgirl

Veteran

I am finding myself weirdly attracted to these, perhaps because polka dots do not sing to me personally (though I love them on all of you). MaryK's bee print, Heather and my birds in top hats... have I lost it? Or are they a good way to ease into prints?

By way of example:

http://www.modcloth.com/shop/blouses/meg-lion-top

http://www.modcloth.com/shop/b.....essive-top

Witty or wacko? Twee? Precious? Or fun and adorable in a strange way?

29 replies

Latest reply was from Dashrashi

Anonymous

LOVE the horse one. I like whimsical anyway but I think these are both whimsical and stylish.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Those are both a little too cute for my taste, but whimsical/weird prints in general? Big yay from me.

Jjsloane

Veteran

Why not? It's fun with fashion. I think the 2 you linked to are quite moderate. I have a blouse from BR Heritage with tiny falcons on it. It's navy with tan falcons so not too out there. I am drawn to the whimsy but also have to consider not looking too goofy. I think Anthropologie often has cool examples of these too. I think as long as you don't pair the above with other lion or bird theme items you're fine. I actually enjoy these types of prints in men's ties for a little break in stripe/paisley/foulard prints.

Diana

Veteran

Yay! (But I'm sure you knew I would say that.) I really like the horse one. Pop it under a jacket or sweater to tone it down a bit if you wish.

H&M has some cool black + white (and other colors + white) animal prints (I saw a bunny one and a cat one) right now that look very geometric from afar.

http://kristinemachine.blogspo.....ollar.html
http://mostlyyummymummy.com/20.....dnesday-9/

Ginkgo

Veteran

Was ready to vote nay until I saw the second one, and now it's a big yay. I like the overall pattern of how the horses are scattered across the material; it's done in a non-twee manner. The drawback is that you'd be sure of getting strange comments about horses thundering across your chest.

Anonymous

On you, a big fat YES!

rae

(website)

Veteran

I'd definitely wear them - but roughed up somehow, otherwise the sweetness would be too much. Torn jeans? Collar popped under a rugged jacket and belt? I think it's cool.

Oh, and I MUST check out an H&M now!

nancylee

Veteran

Una, I'm having the same weird attraction to these whimsical prints! And I'm not usually one for whimsy. Maybe there's something in the water....I bought a bird patterned shirt last year (a real departure for me) and I can't tell you how fun it has been to wear.

I think Rae's suggestion of finding some way to rough them up UWP-style is a great one. I'd be excited to see what you could do with these. Don't ask me to choose because I like them both!

Jewell

Veteran

Those are actually quite tame compared to what I was expecting. For some reason I was picturing a circus scene with clowns and animals, a blouse covered with fairies and flowers, or something like that- lol. I think these would be a very fun way to ease into prints!

Anonymous

If these prints were everywhere I wouldn't be so keen on them, but the fact that no one else around you will have them makes them *one of a kind* and that's kinda cool, I think.

D'Ellen

Veteran

Ooh! Lovin' the lions!!!

catgirl

Veteran

Well, yay! I was afraid these would get a big thumbs down for cutesy silliness. I do agree they need to be roughed up - that's the job of a UWP. I am going to ponder! I do adore my birds in top hats blouse from F21, actually - it's clever and fun and subtle enough to pass as a work blouse.

If anyone spots something cool along these lines, please post it!

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

You know Una - if you feel attracted to something it means it is right for you! I am sure you can "tough" these prints up in your usual UWP style.

Meredith1953

Veteran

I don't love this for me, I need a stronger/crisper shoulder line and unfortunately have little sloping ones so I just feel insecure with this kind of look. Darn my little shoulders!!!. On you....I think it would be fab since you have a strong shoulder line! The prints are so cute! I can see you with them with bloused with a nice belt over them!

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

i could totally see you in either of these prints Una - with your skinnies and boots and some sort of UWP "roughing", as you put it. These type of prints would be way too cutesy on some, but it's HOW you wear them and with that else that will make it work.

Marley

Veteran

Love!

Amy

(website)

Veteran

I like them and think you could make them work for you!

lynne

Veteran

Absolutely! I love whimsical prints.

biscuitsmom

Veteran

I like them. It's very unexpected

ironkurtin

Veteran

I love subtle but funny prints. I used to wear a Betsey Johnson skirt that was printed with ladies showing their underpants. Once you figured it out, it was very funny.

Sona

Veteran

bring on the horses!! Seriously that would be just gallopin' on you!! I think you must get it if SYB allows!!

HelenInCanada

Veteran

Those are cleverly placed, fun prints. Very unexpected and not too twee at all, in my mind.

Darla

I say yes, especially if the subject matter is something that speaks to you...I really wanted that cat print blouse on Modcloth awhile back. If the print is well-done, a whimsical piece is a fun way to let your personality shine through.

Travelgal Nicole

Veteran

Yes, very fun and whimsical.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I haven't read the responses yet, but I say yay. As long as the cut is simple and/or sophisticated, I enjoy a fun print. I wore a simple button-front shirt the other day that I bought at Anthro a couple of years ago -- it has purple bird silhouettes all over it, and it is too big on me now, but I thought it would be fun underneath a jersey for the big Ravens game (purple birds, get it?). Yeah, fat lot of good it did our team, but I like the print. I love birds and bird prints, so it was a natural choice for me.

I also have a top that has a cute black and white dolphin print, the cut of which might be pushing a bit into the twee territory -- that and the fact that it is too big on me now are why I didn't wear it this past summer.

I like the two you linked to! I kind of wish the lions were *just* lions (as a Leo, I kind of dig the theme), but I think they're both fun.

catgirl

Veteran

Oooh, Janet - my husband is a die-hard Pats fan. He is so superstitious about what he wears and does on game day, it's RIDICULOUS. Maybe he needs a whimsical print shirt to help him through...

Janet

(website)

Veteran

LOL, I'd like to see that print shirt, Una! I'm not a huge football fan, but I definitely got into the spirit -- we even had little purple harnesses and leashes for the dogs, since we took them with us to a game day party.

It was a good game, and very close as I expected it to be. The end was heartbreaking for us though -- I think Baltimore is still in a funk today.

Anonymous

Yay. Cute prints pass for me. This are quite pretty. Last year a colleague from the uni got a cat-print a-line dress. And it was adorable . I got a circle sweater skirt that had a border of prancing cats. Hmm, maybe I'm biased...

Dashrashi

Veteran

I love vintage novelty prints like this. You can find a ton on ebay--just search "novelty." (I have a dress with blue strawberries all over it, and another with brown, cream, and green buttons on a black background.)