I’ve been thinking a lot lately about being “proper,”, especially within the context of fashion. I hate the idea, yet I’m unconsciously drawn to it. I want people to like my style, aesthetic, and in general, me.
Moreover, I want my daughter to feel proud of me when I pick her up at school. Like, “yeah, that’s my mom!” How could that happen if I showed up wearing a floral top and plaid pants? Would my daughter even approach the car?
I want her to be proud of me for not giving a shit about the status quo. But I don’t want to make her too uncomfortable, but I do want to push her comfort level. At the same time, I don’t want to repulse her completely. So, you see my dilemma.
To Match Or Not Match?
Some say there are rules about mixing prints. For example, choose a smaller print to mix with a larger one. Alternatively, choose ones with similar colors. Or, maybe we just say “F all that” and mismatch to our heart’s content.
To match or not match? I’ve collected some of my favorite social media influencers who make a compelling argument for the latter.
Who would have thought mustard yellow gingham and black and white polka dots could ever look so good together? Fashion guru, Beth Jones, is a master of mixing prints, combining shapes and patterns to create unique, distinctive looks.
Artist Jennah Bell experiments with the color red beautifully in this mismatched ensemble. The combination of plaid and graphic prints immediately catches the eye, offering an avant-garde twist to an otherwise classic silhouette. Seeing these two pieces together on a hanger might look noisy, but on Bell, it looks nothing short of vogue.
Senior stylist at Anthropologie Roz Kaur embodies classic Coco Chanel with these mismatched, preppy stripes. By inverting the pattern on the top and bottom, she can celebrate the same print throughout the entire ensemble without going overboard. I also love the brown shoe she paired with her black and white ensemble—a snub to yet another outdated, uncreative fashion rule.
Finally, Bay area fashionista and blogger Abby on the Internet takes this earth-toned color palette to the next level with multiple plaid prints (and a snake print purse, because why not). Abby’s managed to cross generations with this look, invoking imagery of sepia-toned ’70s to the runways of today.
So, here’s to breaking the rules and pushing against the status quo in any way we can, including through our wardrobe. Maybe showing up to my daughter’s school pick-up in plaid and floral won’t be so bad after all.