It is time for Midlife Fun link-up again! Please join Tina, Beate and me. You are welcome to link up your posts any time between now and October 25. Yes, we are open for the whole month!
All of the pieces are with me for a while, except for the chunky platform sandals which I bought recently, and was so happy that I did. I had a very similar pair of sandals about 20 years ago (only they were vanilla colored), and I wore them with just about everything. And almost as soon as I remembered those sandals and thought how wonderful it would be to find a similar pair, I found these brown platforms. Serendipity! They quickly became my favorite, as you can see from the last couple of posts. At first I was sad that I won't have a chance to wear them till next Summer, but then I realized that I can take them into Fall by simply wearing tights - it's nippy in the evenings.
My outfit was created around this 1960s inspired dress. I'm so glad to see the colorful, funky 60s inspired clothing in many brands these days (for plus sizes, check out ModCloth, eShakti, Eloquii) - it has been my most favorite era in fashion since I was a girl. I have had this dress for a couple of years, and it is very versatile. I can wear it either as is, sleeveless, or layering a blouse, thin sweater or turtleneck under it. Wearing a top under a dress is a very easy layering trick, by the way, which gives an outfit an instant romantic vintage appeal.This time, I added a thrifted blouse which has no label, so I can't say for sure whether it is a new item made from vintage fabric, or a real vintage blouse. I love it in any case and consider it "my vintage blouse".
For easy pattern mixing, they recommend that there is at least one color in common. While it's true, it certainly isn't the only possibility. You can also build on either contrasting or analogous colors. I think my dress and blouse combo works because of a few key elements. First of all, the patterns themselves - stripes and florals go well together, it's classic. And as far as colors are concerned, I used similarly saturated colors, while blue and orange create a great contrast. I think the blouse+dress combo works on its own, but the carpet bag adds interest and binds it all together. It is a real 1960s vintage and has all the saturated colors (and more!) of my outfit. Here you have it - I think I spelled out the whole magic in these few sentences.
Please visit my beautiful blogging friends Beate of Bahnwaerterhaeuschen and Tina of Tina's Pink Friday. See what pattern mixing magic they have in store HERE and HERE. And don't forget to share some of your magic too!
Dress - Lands' End (old)
Blouse and purse - thrifted, vintage (old)
Sunnies - Christian Siriano for Lane Bryant
Platforms - MIA via Nordstrom Rack
Linking to Visible Monday
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I love this subtle pattern mixing and streamlined look!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Tiina! The streamlined look had been my style for ages! I think it's elegant and timeless, and I do appreciate it.
DeleteGreat idea. I love stripes and flowers. Have a good time.
ReplyDeleteBacklink will come tomorrow in the new blogpost.
Sunny
Thank you, Sunny! Let's have fun mixing patterns!
DeleteDear Natalia, I love stripes and flowers. This dress is amazing. Ha and this bag is great. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Natalia for your ideas amd managing the midlife fun Bloghop.
Kisses and hugs Tina
I'm glad you enjoyed it, Tina - you created such a fun look!
DeleteVery cool link up and you look very good. Stripes and flowers definetely match very well.
ReplyDeleteHugs!:))
I know you're way too far from having "midlife" kind of fun - but you are very welcome to join our company any time!
DeleteNatalia, I really love this striped dress and vintage vibe floral mix on you. The colour and pattern mix work so well. I will try and link next week.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jill! Even your outfit this week offers subtle pattern mix! :)
DeleteDearest Natalia,
ReplyDeletethe mix of stripes and floral patterns in brown and blue tones looks really good. How nice that you found "twins" of your former favorite sandals! And I like your bag very much!
I will participate soon at Midlife Fun. But I didn't quite understand - is pattern mix a "Must"? Because some ladies in the thumbnails wear pattern mix, some not ...(???)
Lots of hugs, Traude
http://rostrose.blogspot.co.at/2016/09/rezept-bio-schweinefilet-mit-maroni.html
Thank you, Traude! And thank you for asking. There is no "must", we are open to anyone, with any outfits. But by suggesting certain themes we encourage other women to stretch their imagination and maybe try something new. Themes are for those who enjoy the challenge.
DeleteThanks for answering my question, dear Natalia! Now I'm joining - with a small patterned traditional dirndl dress in layered look with a bold patterned Desigual Dress ;o) [and with some more strange Dirndl-creations ;o))]
DeleteHugs, Traude
http://rostrose.blogspot.co.at/2016/10/eine-etwas-andere-dirndl-modenschau-und.html
Fantastic mix in prints! Love love love <3
ReplyDelete- Anna
www.melodicthriftychic.com
I am sooooo happy to hear it, Anna! :)
DeleteLove the striped and floral combo, with the sweet tie at the enck and the stripes going bias once and across the other, so pretty! I also like the mixing and matching of your blogging friends!
ReplyDeleteSo well done!
xx, Elle
http://www.theellediaries.com/
Thank you so much, Elle - please join us!
Deletedear natasha!
ReplyDeleteminutes after i aired the post on monday we hopped into the car to pick up friends and then drove up north to the river havel for a 4 day kayak trip. so thats why i´m late commenting :-)
up to your look! the vintage 60´s vibe suits you so very well and the warm colors even more!! and i LOVE the dainty bow from the blouse above the straight dress - genius!
i really enjoy the challenges with you and tina - thank you again for that great idea!!!
huge hugs! xxxxxx
I've missed you! I was wondering that maybe there was something wit your Internet connection, but a trip with friends sounds so infinitely better! Thank you for the bow remark. :) Hugses!
DeleteI'm not in print today but I've hopefully got a month to join you!
ReplyDeleteI love a pattern clash and your outfit is spectacular! xxx
Thank you, Vix! I'm looking forward to your posts anyway, patterns or no patterns!
DeleteI love your pattern mixing and how you are able to identify why it works. Like you, I have a particular love of '60s styles. And tights with sandals - I'm all for it. Thanks for the linkup! I joined over at Tina's.
ReplyDeleteIt was fun to analyze (afterwards) why it works. I never begin my outfits with analyzing, it's all rather intuitive, but I enjoy learning from them afterwards. Thank you for linking and join us again!
Deleteit's getting pretty nippy in the evenings here as well, but I'm really enjoying this change of season. I love this print mix you have on...Beate's outfit is also sensationa....In fact, both of you look fantastic.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ivana! I was planning another outfit for this link-up (I actually had and tried a couple of other ideas), but the weather wasn't cool enough yet, and I landed on this one - a happy coincidence, in a way. :)
DeleteI love experimenting with mixing patterns, always so much fun! Your combination of stripes and florals looks interesting!
ReplyDeleteYou are good at it too, Olga! Thanks for linking!
Delete