Turn the Channel

This weekend flew by but there are a lot of things I'm looking forward to this week so I have no complaints. It was sort of dreary out today but I liked it. I'm finding myself longing for a true autumn day.  Uncharacteristically, I ended up wearing black and white from head to toe today (and to add to the uncharacteristic ensemble, I wore pants!). 

If you look closely you'll notice polka dots (on the pants), bunnies (on the shirt), and a bow (on the jacket) so not really as dark or as urban as this outfit might first appear.  It's funny but lately I've been drawn to some clothing items that are definitely out of comfort zone, like plaid skinny denim pants and a black lace blouse. I'm still a sucker for bright colors and twirly dresses, but it's good to mix things up. 

It's interesting how when you wear something different from what you usually do it can have such an impact on your outlook. I definitely feel like I'm in disguise or something when I put on clothes that fall outside my usual style. In all things I think it's important to find ways to extend beyond one's comfort zone and to see things from different perspectives.  While pushing styling limits may seem insignificant compared with other aspects of life, I still think it's a good test. Tapping into new styles stretches creativity and really makes one reflect on personal style preferences.  Clothes are more than things we wear, they are messages and reflections of ourselves.  And while we all may have a message we choose to project more often, it's nice to switch the channel every now and then.

Outfit Details:

Pants (old): AG Stevie Polka Dot (I actually purchased these from Lord and Taylor but their link is now longer active; you can find a lot of AG Stevie polka dot denim on Ebay right now)

Shirt (old): Banter Tee, Anthropologie

Jacket: Nanette Lepore via Ebay

Pattern Mix in Black & White with a Splash of Blue

Testing out how different patterns look together is one of the fun things about getting dressed. This outfit actually has four different patterns playing off and complimenting one another, and that doesn't even count the bright blue tights and eyelash shoes.  I've had this polka dot sundress for years and years.....since high school!  I love that it still feels current and more importantly, I still enjoy wearing it.  Black and white polka dots will never go out of style and what makes this dress a little unique is the smaller dots on the top with the larger dots on the bottom.  The "is it a blouse and skirt or is it a dress?' effect really appeals to me.  I still have the polka dot sash that goes with this dress but lately I've been adding different belts to this dress instead and using the sash with other outfits.  

Yesterday I decided to pair this dress with a soft velvety tee that has a marbled or animal print type pattern. The blurred print and soft texture worked well with the more defined and bold dot print in the dress.  When I got chilly, I threw on a textured white cardigan that has a softened architectural print, like a draft or blueprint, on the front and back. All of the lines in the architectural landscape contrast nicely with the other prints in this outfit.  The only pops of color I added to this mostly all black and white outfit were the blue tights and the gold and red heart earrings I wore.  Who ever said that black and white was boring? Not me.

Outfit Details:

Dress (old) - Guess (similar idea here and here)

T-shirt (old) - ? (similar idea here, here and here)

Cardigan (old) - Frieze Cardigan by Angel of the North, Anthropologie

Shoes - Pinch, Lash, Smidgen Flat by Loly in the Sky, Modcloth

Bow Belt - Mexx (all kinds of bow belts here)