Architecture of an Outfit / How to Mix Prints: Tea Time with Leopard and Stripes

How to Mix Prints with Stripes and Leopard… a cute vegetarian cafe and tea house… Christmas + French cottage decor? It’s my….

{ Architecture of an Outfit / How to Mix Prints: Leopard and Stripes Go Creigh at Venus Sophia Tea Room and Vegetarian Eatery }

Aloha, Lovecat! I was in Canada for 10 days during the winter break for an unexpected, last minute family holiday of sorts. When I say of sorts… well, it was a mixture of happiness and sadness, but I will expound more on that later when I have the fortitude for it. If you follow me on Instagram (@maeluu – add me!), you know what had happened.

Even though we were in town for an unexpected reason, we still tried to enjoy ourselves and get a decent, vegetarian-friendly bite to eat. Which is why we found ourselves at Venus Sophia Tea Room and Vegetarian Eatery. This delight was a visual and sensual morsel hidden in the midst of Chinese groceries, street stalls hocking random wares, touristy Chinese kitsch novelty stores and hipster boutiques–a kind of oasis in the heart of Victoria’s tiny little Chinatown.


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The cutest cafe I’ve been to in awhile – and all vegetarian! Venus Sophia Vegetarian Café and Tea House, Victoria, BC


More on the café in the next post.

This is what I wore on our first full and decent day of non-harried travel. Creigh mixed prints with stripes and leopard. I probably could’ve done with a larger leopard print against the small stripes, but whatever. I’m OK with being busy and loud. It goes hand in hand with my personality. Though you’d probably be surprised at the outright, undisguised stares from the The North Face and Patagonia-clad Pacific Northwest hiker and camper types in the cafe and all along the streets. C’mon, Victoria’s a small down, but it’s got a decent amount of well-dressed people. You can’t tell me Mixing Prints is the weirdest thing you’ve seen, people. But whatever.


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Mixing Prints: Stripes and Leopard. It’s a bit busy. It got crazy stares.


OUTFIT ARCHITECTURE

Chinese e-boutique structured shoulder blazer. J. Crew leopard button down shirt. GAP skinny jeans. Sketchers heeled booties. Target belt. Random pendant watch.

SIMILARS

BLAZER: Grey stripe blazer, GAP. Grey stripe cropped blazer, Wet Seal. Striped crop blazer, ModCloth.
SHIRT: Leopard button down, Free People. Leopard multi print button down, Zappos.
BOOTIES: black wedge booties, ShopBop. Black lace up wedge booties.


thereafterish, ootd, how to mix prints, stripes and leopard, leopard and stripes

How to Mix Prints: Go SUPER CREIGH.


{ How was your winter break? }

Me ke aloha ~ With love + aloha,
Mae Xx

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Architecture of an Outfit / How to Mix Prints: Stripes on Zebra

Afraid of clashing prints? Not sure how to wear mixed prints? Not a problem. Start conservatively. Same color family, same palette with one print more dominant than the other. Can’t go wrong.

[These photos make me look like a strangely forlorn girl... all the wistful expressions... it's just a pose. I swear I'm okay. :) ]

Architecture of an Outfit: How to Mix Prints – Striped Zebra Lonely Girl

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How to Mix Prints: start out with the same color palette. Can’t go wrong with cream and black.


thereafterish, OOTD, how to wear mixed prints, Zebra pencil skirt

How to wear mixed prints: try stripes with zebra. It’ll keep people on their toes.


If you don’t think you can wear something, you’ll never have the courage or the poise to pull it off, so you have to walk out that door thinking you look fabulous and ignore the stares. And with mixed prints and statement jewelry,

people will stare. Make it worth their while!

The secret (for me) to mixing prints: making sure one print is more dominant than the other. The zebra is louder than the smaller stripes of the top, and they’re in a similar color palette, so they work together instead of against each other. If the stripes were too bold, it would fight with the zebra, creating disharmony overall. Same goes with more daring combinations of contrasting color prints, like stripes on stripes, stripes on chevron, polka dots on stripes or leopard on stripes (and yet more stripes on leopard); one print should be more dominant than the other so that one creates more of a textured background to the other.


thereafterish, OOTD, how to wear mixed prints, Zebra pencil skirt

If you’re crazy enough to do it, mixing prints isn’t hard. Just go effing do it.


thereafterish, OOTD, how to wear mixed prints, Zebra pencil skirt

Mix in statement jewelry for added visual interest. Like my go-to HRH Collection gold hardware necklace.


OUTFIT ARCHITECTURE

Anthropologie asymmetrical striped top. HRH Collection “Cuff” Gold chain necklace. Club Monaco zebra print skirt. Forever 21 belt. Aldo leopard print wedge heel sandals. JewelMint gold Birdcage Bangle. J. Crew resin ring. Marc by Marc Jacobs heart locket watch.


WHERE / ALTERNATIVES

TOP: Breton stripe top, Club Monaco. | Asymmetrical stripe top, Nordstrom.
SKIRT: Zebra print pencil skirt, Karen Millen.
SHOES: Leopard wedge heels, Matiko.
NECKLACE: Gold chain necklace, Fantasy Jewelry Box. | Gold chain link necklace, Max & Chloe.
BRACELET: Gold lattice cuff, Kenneth Jay Lane.
WATCH: Gold hearts watch, Betsey Johnson.
**Affiliate links above. If you shop, I’d appreciate some clicky-clicks. :) **


thereafterish, OOTD, how to wear mixed prints, Zebra pencil skirt

Just be crazy enough to mix prints. It’s not hard.


When it comes down to it, my love of mixing prints must stem from my own weirdness. I don’t like blending in, nor do I like the feeling of melting into a blasé norm, losing the unique, weird qualities of personality that distinguish me from your average person. Not that I disdain normal, I just prefer to think of myself as “different” and “strange”, it gives me the confidence to wake up, get through my day and somehow find satisfaction with all of it. If that makes me weird or garners stares, I’m okay with it.

It’s taken me a long time to learn how to like Mae for Mae. Now that I’m getting there, I don’t want to turn this journey on its head and turn back now.

Weirdness it is. Mixed prints, stupid canned blogger poses, over-the-top accessorizing and all that comes with it.

You’ve probably also seen this outfit here.

Me ke aloha ~ With love, Xx
Mae

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FTC: Affiliate Links above.


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{AOAO} How to Mix Prints: Wear a Stripes on Stripes Nautical Twist

Stripes on Stripes: Change up a classic summer fashion trend

The nautical blue on white stripe is such a classic look that pops up every spring and summer season, and seems to be a staple of the oh-so-clever and oh-so-well dressed Europeans (especially the French). However, because this look is so classic and traditional, it can be easy to wear it in such a staid, plain way. Change it up by wearing it in clashing prints of varying weights.

how to wear mix prints, stripes on stripes, mix style, studded handbag, statement bag
how to wear mix prints, stripes on stripes, mix style, studded handbag, statement bag

Here I decided to wear a micro stripe over a thick chevron maxi skirt. I’m wearing two summer trends: the maxi skirt, and nautical, but I changed it up by making sure the weight of the stripes varied from one to another. Thin blue and white horizontal stripes versus a large blue chevron with thin white stripe. By pairing two differing nautical patterns together, it creates visual interest, and keeps the look from being simple. You’re still mixing prints with the stripe on stripe effect, but the look is dynamic.

Also, the angle of the chevron maxi actually manages to create curves where there are none and minimizes the tiny muffin top I’ve been “cultivating” over the last couple of months. Paired with nude wedges, I manage to look slim, long and lean, even when I can’t claim any of these things completely. WIN.

stripes on stripes, how to mix prints, spike bangle, silver bangle, stripes on stripes

To keep something from looking too plain, always wear lots of accessories. These re-purposed gold and silver spike bangles are a nice alternative to the usual arms full of shiny brand new jewelry, don’t you think? (Another plus: these gold bangles are eco jewelry!) Throw in an aggressive looking gold statement ring for full on assertive glory. The gold bike chain looking necklace doesn’t hurt, either. I finished off the look with a studded statement bucket bag in a nude color. A neutral or nude handbag is always a nice and easy alternative to a black or grey bag, and the frayed flowers create a great contrasting texture against the stripes without being overly girly.

You can take this look to the feminine end of the spectrum, too. Silver or gold rings, sweet bangles, wooden earrings and silver or gold multi-strand delicate chain around the neck. I’d nix pearls or baubles and flowers might be overkill.

kiss off, stripes on stripes, how to mix prints, mix prints
kiss off, stripes on stripes, how to mix prints, mix prints


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{ Architecture of an Outfit } 80′s Nautical Boho Floral Water Color Feline

Wore this on Friday…Been seeing stripes/nautical tops worn with leopard a lot lately. So glad I’m not the only one clashing this hard. Especially when I see hard hitting, popular bloggers doing it, I know I’m doing something right!




Some people question the sanity of contrasting prints, especially when “tried and true”, established rules of fashion usually dictate that fashion should match. But again and again, I say in this forum:

The rules of fashion are meant to be broken; Fashion is ever-changing.

Why mix, or why match…


… when you can clash?


How awesome is this jean jacket with 2 back pockets? I got it a long time ago in a mall store dedicated to Korean fashion. Sadly, the place went out of business, but I made sure to snag quite a few items from there, and this is one of the last pieces I have from the lot, but I absolutely love it to death, despite it starting to fray at the sleeves. Because of the two cell-phone sized pockets on the back, it is so much more unique than other 80′s stone washed jean jackets. Win.

The peplum striped top is from Korea by a fashion label called Redopin, which is a great, edgy (with feminine styles, too) brand sold exclusively through Yes Style. As soon as I saw the tunic with such a different peplum silhouette, I knew I really wanted to wear it. There’s a lot of peplum out there, but not like this.

Previously, I’ve seen lots of water color skirts, but not like this either. Putting it together with the creme and black seemed like such a perfect idea.

The leopard scarf? I honestly don’t know how I’ve gone my entire life without one. I don’t think I could ever banish it from my closet. Ever.

Put it all together? And you have a nautical, watercolor boho feline living in the 80s. I love all the clashy-clashy goodness.



{ Outfit Architecture }
Jean Jacket (with back pockets), Moda something
Silk flounce watercolor skirt, Jacob (Canada brand, gifted by my blogger bestie MariLou of Twenty York Street, thanks ML! <3)
Striped Peplum tunic, Redopin (via Yes Style)
Leopard scarf, H&M
Faux patent gator belt, Forever21
Cognac leather scrunch boots, Bakers Shoes
Bracelets: Alex & Ani, gold Target watch, crystal and filigree bracelet (random boutique for my wedding).
Ring, Miss Selfridge UK.
Feather earring, UO.

I will announce my one year anniversary giveaway tomorrow night! I’m giving away a lot of goodies I’ve accumulated for awhile now (won, given, or bought), that I’ve kept and waited to share with all of you! There will be two winners, a grand prize winner and a runner up. I’m so excited to give this away to you! Thanks again for continuing to support thereafterish.!


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{ Architecture of an Outfit/OOTD } Mixing Prints #25(?)- Zebra Sailor Panty Shot


{Outfit Architecture: Black drape cardigan, H&M. Striped ruched shoulder gold button shirt, Anthropologie. Zebra print zipper skirt, Club Monaco. YSL knock off platform heels, Dolce Vita Aprils. Lace tights, Target. Purple bow waist belt, Go Jane.com. Necklace, Jessica Simpson (Gift from Laureality). Gold Antique Key ring, House of Harlow 1960 via Shopbop. Marc by Marc Jacobs locket heart watch. Twig & CZ earring, gold infinity earring, Sole Sisters, a Royal Oak, MI boutique… }




I’m not completely certain if my personality is accurately imbued in my content. When I write, I try to infuse as much of myself as I possibly can, because, more often than not, I’m posed like a total vain-glorious vag in my photos. More often than not, I feel awkward in front of the camera, much preferring to be behind it, snapping the photos myself. I pose in stiff postures, a small number of canned poses I rotate through regularly, because posing in anything other than Hand on the Hip, Slightly Cocked Hip, Slightly Pigeon Toed style is actually really, really difficult. Where do people come up with these different poses? I don’t know. I feel contrived if I try to get too creative with posing, as if I’m trying to be a living work of art like some of those full-time bloggers with beautifully captured photos by a live-in professional photographer boyfriend.

So, these stiffened, mannequin-like poses might actually belie the fact that I’m rather silly, over active, vivacious and loud. Ask anyone. I talk a mile a minute–drunken on my own verbosity, if you will; I can be rather explosive, extraordinarily coarse (I swear like a sailor), and prone to saying the words “like” and “so” much too often. I also tend to break into song spontaneously, sing along to most tracks whenever I play my music (much to the chagrine of my husband, who thinks the music is intolerable enough already), and am ready to talk about all things nerd related.

Luckily for me, I met my match when I met my husband on MySpace all those years ago, and we jived through letters over our mutual love of nerdery and all things quirk-ridden. Imagine my surprise when I found him to speak as fast as I do, if he tended to lapse into pensive, awkward silences every now and then when he needed time to formulate his thoughts properly, and someone who could break into random fits of giggles and hissing laughter and was riled with delight when he discovered I could play videogames for hours and hours and not bat an eyelash. So when I tell you N and I are rather giddy and absolutely childish with each other, I can’t emphasize it enough. Our humor is positively juvenile.

When coaxing him into taking photos of me, he usually does it with the condition that he can fart about with the camera… which results in attempted panty shots and photos of me mocking the weird faces he makes to get me to smile.

There’s nothing better than taking all the seriousness out of life, and as well with seemingly vain endeavors as taking five ga-jillion photos of yourself and your shoe collection.


Better view of the front.


Accessories. More mismatching earrings.


Art Directing the photos. (“Portrait… try attempting an angle… get the shoes!”)


Making faces.


Attempted Up Skirt. FAIL!

{Life is too short to take it seriously, and not collect shoes.}


Enter my $100 Shopbop gift card giveaway! FREE CLOTHES.

Open internationally. Entry closes Friday, March 11. GO GET IT. Tell your friends!


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{ Architecture of an Outfit/OOTD } Peppermint candy striper


I’ll be brief today.

You know what I love about peppermint? How it immediately refreshes your mouth with a small little sugary circle or a small strip of chewy, minty goodness. I also love that it mixes two very contrasting colors, white (or cream) and red. Two powerful hues: the color of innocence, purity and all things new, and the color of passion, courage, love, energy and vitality–a perfect combination.

Know what else I love? Mixing prints. I’m good at it. I do it often.

I also love, love, love red.

Yea. (Ever notice how people don’t know how to spell yea? They always spell it “yay.” — Because of overusage, the incorrect use has created the actual word “yay,” but I’m still arguing for the original spelling.)




{Outfit Architecture: Tulip skirt, disco necklace, stud strap bracelet, Forever21. Peppermint drape cardigan, Spotted Moth. Striped long sleeve T, H&M. Thigh socks, Target. Speckle bracelet, Old Navy. Cage strap heels in the style of Jeffrey Campbell, GoJane. Red lips, Laura Mercier Lipstain in Mulberry. }

I love us.


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{ Architecture of an Outfit / OOTD } Here comes the sun, doo-doo-doo-doo

Little darling, it’s been a long cold lonely winter
Little darling, it feels like years since it’s been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
and I say it’s all right

~”Here Comes the Sun”, the Beatles

One of my favorite songs by my favorite band of all time, “Here Comes the Sun” pretty much sums up my feelings on this most stupid of winters. Winters in Michigan can be pretty tough. But this winter has been pretty bi-polar, as if the wind and sleet gods cannot decide which to inflict upon us. Last week it was -1F/-18.33C with a wind chill of -7F/-21.67C, and there was 16″ of snow sitting on the ground. Today it was 51F/10.56C. Next week it will get back down to freezing again. The endless, ruthless cycle of chill and warmth leaves slick patches of black ice on the ground, and my body has problems adapting to the constant weather changes.

I’ve been sick for a week. Let’s just say, I’m over it. I’m over being sick, and of the cold and constant flux between warm and cold. My body is shutting down. She can’t really take it.

Kind of makes me wish we were in Hawaii already. That the dream has come to fruition, and has transported Husby and me to the tropical, balmy climes of the Hawaiian shores. Contrary to what people here on the Mainland think, Hawaii does not get hotter in the summer months, just warm, breezy and lovely, whereas Michigan can get into the high 90s F/35C with 90% humidity, which, if you don’t know, is bloody miserable. Spring here in Michigan is literally non-existent. It comes in mid to late May, a few blooms come out for a couple of weeks, and then summer hits you like a blast in the face in early June.

Today I donned flowers around my neck, playful contrasting prints and bright saffron on my thin silk skirt, just to remind me that perhaps we may have an early spring this year. One with flowers that last for more than two weeks. Please, flower gods.




{Outfit Architecture} Victoria’s Secret camel bell sleeve coat + J. Crew lux wool cardigan + H&M polka dot ruched sleeve T + Club Monaco Bubble Print silk skirt + Target woven faux leather belt + J. Crew floral wreath sash belt worn as necklace + Dolce Vita Jade sandals in desert suede + Sillygrrl Esty vintage ring + Marc Jacobs heart locket watch + Shop Ruche wooden filigree earrings

For more on How to Mix Prints, see my other Mixing Prints posts, including my article “Rules on How to Mix Prints aka ‘How to Wear Opposing Prints Without Looking Like and Imbecile Who Can’t Match’“.


Check out my first feature/interview in popular Ottawa fashion blog, Twenty York Street!

Twenty York Street Loves thereafterish.!
Yeas!


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Autumn Layering & Bold Colours: A European Art



Photos all via Stockholm Streetstyle.

From weird puffy jacket sleeves, to faux (I hope!) infinity scarves over army green capes, to mismatched prints… the art of fall fashion has always (in my opinion) been a specialty of the Europeans–who are not bashful with colour or prints in winter. Unlike the fashionable New Yorkers or San Franciscans who revel in their wintry darks and luxe neutral chunky knits.

We need to take some style cues from the Europeans and liven it up a little.

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