How to Mix Patterns

As the pattern mixing trend continues to gain popularity, I’ve seen lots of advice on how to do it successfully. You can follow the rules about like colors with like or big prints with small or organic designs with geometric, but I find all that rather complicated. I have a much simpler trick:

1. Put the two (or three or four) patterns next to each other.
2. Imagine that the fabrics are all the part of one garment.
3. Would you buy it? Would you wear it?

If so, go for it. If not, try another mix.

Some of my favorite pattern mixes:



This selection illustrates some of my pattern mixing workhorses: the obi belts, striped cardigans, and anything floral or animal print. You can see the rest of my pattern mixes by clicking on the Pattern Mix tag. Some combinations are subtle (patterned tights with a checked dress, perhaps) and some are pretty loud (like anything I mix with that zebra dress).

How do you mix your patterns?

Friday Blues

It’s Friday, and I’m not really blue. Who could be sad that Friday has come at last?


Blazer, stolen. Tank, Mossimo. Skirt, Tulle. Tights, Apostrophe Boots, White Mountain. Charm necklace, thrifted. Parrot necklace, gift. Faux pearls with medallion, Newport News. Bracelets, Epcot Morroco.

Twist

I only make it to an actual Forever 21 store a couple of times a year. In between actual visits, I treat myself to a shop at the virtual store. It’s usually prompted by another blogger raving about a vintagey looking blouse or a surprisingly well-made jacket. This time, it was the buzz about the Tres Paris Twist collection.

Jacket, Forever 21 Twist. Cami, NY & Co. Skirt, Herman Geist (thrifted and shortened). Open-weave leggings and necklace, Forever 21. Shoes, Madden Girl.

I liked nearly everything in the line, but most of it was either way too short or out of stock. I browsed the entire collection and bought only this jacket. It looks like the Tres Paris line is now gone, but the newest Twist offerings are Pinup Girl inspired.

The Velvet Dress

This dress has been in my swap pile since August. No one seems to want it. I put it there because I was told it was unflattering on me. And yet, I’ve pulled it back out of the pile twice this fall/winter to wear again. Maybe I’m not ready to let it go.

Waistcoat, Forever 21. Lace cardigan, Rodarte for Target. The velvet dress that no one likes, NY & Co (shortened). Slip (visible at neckline), thrifted. Tights, Target. Shoes, Isaac Mizrahi for Target. Earrings, Jana’s Designs.


This page from the December 2009 issue of InStyle inspired me to try this dress again. (It’s hard to tell from the scan, but the InStyle dress is a dark burgundy, like my own.) I took elements from all three looks: the sheer lace cardigan from Party, the tights and shoes from Work, and the military topper (a waistcoat, though, instead of an anorak) from Weekend.

Should I return this dress back to the swap pile? You be the judge. Here is the evidence:

The verdict is...
	Keep it
	Swap it (if someone will take it!)
	Give it to charity
	Other - I'll tell you in the comments
pollcode.com free polls

Presto

Thanks to SORTA cutting bus service to my house by more than half, I arrived home from work only five minutes before I had to leave again. There was no time for pictures and really no time to change. I swapped my trousers for jeans and my heels for sneakers, jammed a hat on my head, and walked 1.5 miles to rehearsal.


Despite the quick change, I still managed to match my shoelaces to my necklace.
I’m afraid I had a terrible case of hat hair by the time I returned, so the hat stayed on for belated picture time.


Shrug, Express (swap). Shirt, J Crew. Pants, Forever 21. Shoes, Two Lips. Hat, Nine West. Bag, No Boundaries. Yellow tassel, Epcot Morocco. Arrowhead pendants, thrifted.

Tour Kasmira's Closet

I’ve had a few questions, and I’ve made a few answers, regarding how I store and organize my clothing and accessories. However, photographs don’t give one a complete sense of space and I’ve made updates since the last time I posted photos of my closet. Instead of showing you more still photos, I’d like to take you on a virtual, video tour of my closet (aka my guest* room).



I only keep my workwear in this room. The casual clothing is upstairs, in my actual bedroom closet, and my coats and casual shoes are in a closet by the front door.

Thanks to the Cheap Chick for pointing me towards Windows Movie Maker to edit my video. It turns out that I had it on my computer all along!

*When actual guests stay over, I have to shift things around to make room for their clothing. Thankfully, I rarely have overnight visitors.

All Play

Hooray for a day of play. I had no work, no swim practice, and no rehearsal. I visited the aquarium and made a couple of videos* for the blog.


Cardigan, I Heart Ronson. Dress, Jams World (thrifted). Belt, thrifted. Furry collar, gift. Tights, We Love Colors. Boots, Diba. Gloves, Mossimo. Bag, Coldwater Creek. Jacket (below), Wilson’s.


I’ve got a bustle butt.



Ever wonder about the height of your favorite fashion bloggers? I measure at just under 5’5”.


*I, unfortunately, do not possess the appropriate software to edit the videos. I need to join the pieces of The Closet Tour and rotate the Chi Chi Wrap How-To. Any suggestions on video editing software? I’m working with .mpg files.

Thin Ice

Signs like these are just suggestions, right? Well, I had my galoshes on, and the water didn’t look deep, so I ventured out onto the ice.




Jacket, Wilson’s Leather. Striped cardigan, Old Navy. Turtleneck, Mossimo. Skirt, Chaus Sport (thrifted). Galoshes, TJ Maxx. Bag, Tommy Hilfiger. Necklace, Target.

After slipping and sliding at the edge for a bit, I retreated to land for a few detail photos.


This outfit was derivative of two others: