Black is one of the best things to happen to fashion. As much as I love color, if I am not careful, I will go several days in a row wearing black from head to toe. It’s just so bloody EASY and it looks so great on almost everyone, if not everyone. But today I wanted black to be the dominant, but not the sole, presence in my outfit. Enter my patterned pants.
Weren’t these just the buzz this year? You almost couldn’t turn around without tripping over a paisley, jacquard or otherwise wackadoo flavor of britches. And I mean wackadoo most favorably. Hoorah for pattern! I saw women and men reaching for prints they would not normally have considered because of the tide of the trend and working the look like a rib. Now, having said that, it took me quite a while to find patterned pants I liked. It was not the designs that turned me off but the fact that if they lacked even the slightest structure, they looked like pajama pants on me. Then I found these beauties. Aren’t they divine? The fabric is thin and smooth, almost satiny, but what saved them from resembling sleepwear was the taper in the leg. This was a brilliant way to introduce structure that I was not seeing other patterned pants of similar fabric; the legs were just too wide. And that rorschach-esque pattern? Who knew that a Victorian-inspired pattern could be so COOL? Hammertime!
Please don’t get me started on this shirt, because I will go off. Run, don’t walk, to your nearest clothier and nab it! Where do I begin with what I love about it? First, the exposed zipper. Need I say more? I think that might be the another one of the best things to happen in fashion. It takes what might otherwise be an unassuming item and gives just that little bite. Yummy. Second — ok, do you ever find yourself hugging an article of clothing tightly, rolling the fabric through your fingers despite yourself and the public setting because it’s SO SOFT?! I can’t even tell you how this shirt feels. I mean, I could try but this is a family show. Third, I love the way it hangs. Sometimes a slouchy shirt, always threatening to slip off the shoulder, fluttering as you move, is just so appealing.
It was a little nippy and rainy today, so I decided to break out the booties. I fell into this style whilst shopping the sale rack at Nordstrom and trying on these lovelies. They did not have my size, but man did that open a box. I was wearing booties with pants, dresses, skirts, shorts. I wore them in the rain, in the sunshine, at the coast, in the mountains. I took them on any trip. It was a little ridiculous. I just found that they were a laid back way to add some height without giving up comfort. And they complement everything. There are not enough superlatives.
Speaking of looking everywhere for a style of something that did not annoy me in some way, I had the hardest time finding a jean jacket I like. I looked for months. If I found something with nice shape, it was too distressed. If I found something in a shade I liked, it was studded. If I found something with understated hardware, they were out of my size. It was maddening. Until I found this preciousness. I saw it on a friend and after demanding to know where she got it went to the store post haste. Quick story. I could not find it initially and I was considering arson when I spotted it on the mannequin. After hoping against hope, I looked a the size and fairly yelped when I discovered that it was in my size. So I took it off the mannequin, a feat in itself as it was in a very akward pose. I felt a barely imperceptible twinge of guilt ruining her outfit and forcing her into an even more awkard pose with half her jewelry now on the floor until I put the jacket on and had a mini Cinderella moment. I am nothing if not persistent. Anyhoodle, dark wash demin is a neutral and can be worn with abandon. And the slim cut is so flattering. I will have this thing for ages!
My bag. How sumptuous is it? With it’s supple, pebbled leather and it’s kissing lock closure and it’s fox emblem? Are you kidding me? At what point is design just showing off? Too good! I don’t normally carry bags this small as an every day bag, but I tell you this is like the wardrobe leading to Narnia. I can fit so much in the thing!
Finally, a gold bangle, the coolest brushed gold necklace and gold tone watch rounded out this outfit and I was good to go. There’s a debate as to whether one should mix or match their jewelry tones, like I did here. Everything is gold. I have no qualms mixing metals and sometimes will have silver, gold and rose gold on at the same time. Depends of the outfit and the day.
Ta-da! A black outfit that isn’t!
So, there you have it. I hope you enjoyed spending time with me. Please feel free to comment, leave ideas, ask questions, make requests. Hope everyone had a lovely day! Until next time,
Peace, Yinz
ITEM DESCRIPTIONS
Top – Silence and Noise oversized zip-back tee
Pants – Mossimo from Target (no longer available); for similar click here and here and here (these are on better sale at Saks. Almost bought this w while ago, but chickened out) and here
Jacket – Calvin Klein denim jacket, dark wash from Macy’s (no longer available); for similar, click here and here and here
Booties – Ecote ‘Alexandra’ suede ankle bootie from Urban Outfitters (no longer available); for similar, click here (want), here (love) and here (would fight you for them)
Necklace – Southern Lights necklace
Bracelet – Banana Republic open bangle (old, no longer available), click here and here for pretty alternatives
Watch – DNKY, see here for info
Bag – EmmaFox ‘Frame’ hobo; keep your eyes peeled for this bag at TJ (or TK) Maxx and Marshalls. It pops up here once in a while.
NOTHING TO WEAR by fashuNinja 