Like night and day, fire and ice, good and evil...
Like that really bubbly cheerleader and her shy bookworm boyfriend...
Like peanut butter and jelly, sweet and sour, sugar and spice...
<-----Like old school Paula Abdul and a cat... (
huh?)
Cartoon kittens and crazy chicks aside, it is a fact of the universe: opposites attract. It may not always be a lasting attraction, but it is certainly an interesting one. Sometimes the attraction is based on passion. Sometimes it's a quest for balance. And sometimes it's just trying to make sense out of chaos.
We have put together some vintage outfits with items from
our shop containing opposite trends and patterns--for some truly magnetic looks. We bring pairings you may have once reserved only for Homecoming Week's "Clash Day" into the everyday world of fashion, combining passion and balance with just a touch of chaos. A little whimsical and a little unexpected: like the best fashions always are.
Boy Meets Girl
We created this casual look by pairing a frilly (ruffles+lace)
top with
men's suede oxfords. Cute and feminine with just a hint of tomboy to mix things up. Also, we know how many of you feel about the tights+shorts look, but it's really growing on us (mostly because of the winter pasties that illuminate every bump, vein, hair, and vessel on our legs. The remedy? Just add tights).
Black and White
The sleekest, most basic color (well,
anti-color) combination that anyone can make work. We took our favorite
new spring blouse and put on some black skinnies tucked into
black vintage cowboy boots (to streamline the bottom half) and tossed on a few black accessories (headband and
vintage cross-body bag) for added contrast. One piece of advice for B&W dressing: it can get boring. You don't want to go out looking like a waiter/theater usher. Which is why we added some interest with the texture on the cowboy boots and the eyelet detailing on the top. And of course: red lips.
Polka Dots and Stripes
This look is a bit more daring: bright dots and flowers meet bright stripes. The important thing about mixing patterns is that they need to have the same color palette--this is what makes the look work. This
sweet cropped blouse has both flowers and polka dots in shades of pink and purple, so we paired it with a
striped silk skirt in a similar color scheme. And white ruffly socks+platform mary janes for that extra touch of whimsy.
Hard vs. Soft
What could be sexier than leather and lace (and lots and lots of pearls, as well as the prettiest vintage pumps)? This is not a look for the faint of heart, but when worn well, it's appropriate for day or night (and
not a night on the street corner). The key here is subtlety: the
leather skirt is sexy, but it's a pencil skirt, not a mini. And
the top is sheer, so the pearls help to offset the peekaboo with a more ladylike vibe. We made the look even more feminine with nude pumps with a flower accent and a
satin clutch in a pretty color.
Floral and Plaid
Again, the key to mixing patterns is a shared color palette, but the scale of the pattern is also important. The small floral pattern on
this blouse is a lovely balance with the bolder plaid of
the skirt. The thick brown leather belt gives the outfit a focal point to tie it all together. And we can't forget the CLOGS! our favorite shoe trend of the spring season. (This high wedge bright blue suede pair isn't vintage, but J did purchase them several years ago! See? We're always ahead of the trends).
So now that you've seen our little tutorial, go out and mix it up! We had so much fun finding just the right combinations--just call us the eHarmony of fashion! We really take the time to find the perfect match (oh, and we give it to you for FREE on the blog!).
In other news, we are thrilled to announce the launch of our very own website, miskabelle.com. You can access our blog, Etsy shop, Chictopia journal, Twitter, and Facebook page right now--with more updates coming soon! It's your one stop shop for all things Miskabelle. We couldn't be more excited!
Stay gorgeous,
A
