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Wednesday, August 19, 2009

In Recovery

I’m a recovering matchaholic. I grew up in the 80’s when all the cool kids matched their socks to their shirts. I’ve also been poisoned by outdated style rules like the one that decrees your belt, shoes, and bag should all be the same color.

There’s nothing wrong with matching the colors of various elements of an outfit, but it’s limiting. I could wear this blue-green skirt with a blue-green top, or play it even safer and pair it with a neutral, but how much more fun is it to top it with a bright coral blouse? (And then I can work in my (matching) coral and blue earrings.)

Cardigan, Moda International. Blouse, Worthington. Skirt, flea market. Shoes, Bitten. Bangles, Girl Props. Earrings, Sin City.







Past, safer parings with this skirt:


I was brave, and unmatched, once before:


How do you feel about matching?

23 comments:

  1. Pretty outfit! I think that you should match if it feels right for the outfit.

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  2. it looks great with the coral.

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  3. love that skirt! i am a matchy-matchy girl myself and just branching into TWO colors, never mind ones that don't officially "go", but you rock it so hard that i'm constantly inspired to keep trying! ;)

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  4. Very cute look. I love your blog. I went to the GirlProps store and I thought about you. I blogged about my goodies on Monday:

    http://www.thecheapchica.net/2009/08/weekend-finds-girlprops-and-other.html

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  5. Anonymous10:41 PM

    I am a recovering matchaholic as well. I am working to play with color more and be unexpected. I do still pick certain parts of outfits to match.

    I love how bold you are and the outfits that you create! You have been inspiring me.

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  6. I love your ourfit, particularly the skirt. I find it virtually impossible NOT to match, it's an illness...

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  7. Yeah..... I'm a matching freak (shameless plug: http://www.matchingfreak.com). Your outfit *does* match, though, because those earrings tie it all together! Even the metal parts of the earrings match the pattern on the skirt almost exactly. Ahhh, it's the little things that make me happy.

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  8. I hate matchy-matchy. The best "match" for this skirt is the first and the last pic. Red and turquoise are so pretty together.

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  9. Anonymous10:00 AM

    I still err on the side of matchiness more often than I'd like, probably due to being a former matchaholic myself! But I agree that a contrasting shade does way more for that skirt than a similar one could.

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  10. *raises hand*

    Yes, I'm also a matchaholic! I do love turquoise and anything in the red family (and then I go all matchy with those colours!).

    You look great today.

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  11. I love matching. Mostly though, I think I'm just kind of a neutral addict with one bit of color thrown in. I *try* to do more actual color combining, but I think it always seems bolder in my mind than it is in person.

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  12. Mmmmm... I try (i swear i do) not to be so matchy but I do it unconsciously.
    It´s amazing all that you have done with that skirt... have you tried is as a top ? with a belt ?
    Sometimes when my skirts shrink - (ha!) or I think they are too short... I just put them under a jacket with a belt....
    I cannot go without saying I want your earrings!!!!

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  13. perfect skirt!! loved!

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  14. I can sometimes go overboard with the matching, though I try not to. I'm usually unsatisfied with outfits that have one piece that I feel doesn't make sense because it doesn't relate to anything else, so for those I usually throw in something that matches. I try to make those matching items small and subtle, rather than going all out with the matching belt, shoes and handbag. But I'm a child of the 80's too, so I'm hampered by my history.

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  15. Wow! It was until this post that I really realized how different you look as a blond as opposed to red. You look great either way! You're one of the lucky ones! FAB as always :)

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  16. I am a huge fan of contrasting and complimenting and not necessarily matching. I was really inspired by your bright teal and red outfit a few weeks back. Ohhh and I totally want that skirt. So cute. That being said I'm not sure that coral blouse is the best pairing? I do applaud you for trying something different. Have you thought of a hot pink or a fuchsia? Maybe a yellow?

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  17. I like the coral and turquoise, but I think the sweater "moderates" it... I do not think you should always match, but clashing and chaos is not great either... (week, looks like I am not the only "C" around here...)

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  18. LOL at matchaholic! I can be that way sometimes myself...so this post is very inspiring. You're right, when you break the rules it opens up so many more options. Love the whole outfit as always, and that purse rocks. Have you mentioned where it is from??

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  19. Hi there,

    I LOVE LOVE LOVE your blog. I'm adding you to my blog list, if you want to reciprocate feel free. My blog is about crafting, fashion, and thrifting/saving money.

    www.cherishcupoftea.blogspot.com

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  20. Trace - the bag is by Nicole Lee and I got it at a little boutique in Cincinnati, Pangaea.

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  21. THANKS! I was just matching my socks to shirt the other day and my fiancee made fun of me, I told him it was a product of the 80s and I don't think he believed me. Haha. I remember when I'd get a Gap pocket T, and then my mom would take me to the accessory store to find matching socks.

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  22. that skirt is absolutely gorgeous! and as for matching, i feel like if i match too much, then it looks like i'm trying too hard. and i wasn't even alive in the 80's!

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  23. Leaving the world of matching is a tough one! I like to coordinate, not match. That's the best way to describe it, I guess! Fabrics, textures, and colors are what I try to coordinate. Print-coordinating can vary so much more than people think!

    Justine
    www.fetchingfashions.blogspot.com

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