Try-it-out Tuesday: texture + monochrome (almost)

   Today's Try-it-out Tuesday features two rarely worn items: an embellished linen tunic and a boldly printed dress (this dress takes my love of big prints to new heights). I thought this would be a fun, subtle way to double up on the florals, and I liked the texture of the linen embellishment contrasted with the skirt.

Charter Club embellished linen tunic: passed down from mom (Macy's)

     Style & Co. petite dress: Macy's

6-strand red lucite necklace: eBay

     I've always thought this dress would look cute with a red necklace. Due to its size, this necklace is out of my comfort zone, but I like how it looks peeping out of a black shirt.
     I feel like this outfit is my first step out of a style rut. I felt good wearing it and I got to play with texture and prints! :)

 

   It doesn't really show up in the photos, but the big flower print on the skirt has splashes of a very light gray/tan. That gives me some ideas on how to wear it the next time around.

     Something else that, thankfully, doesn't show up in the photos: a fresh bruise the size of a half-dollar on my right shin. Just a souvenir from early morning aikido practice, and another merit badge for the Klutz Scouts. What, you mean you aren't a member??

lovely links: even bigger prints

Click here to see an amazing skirt on Nancy from The Sea of Fertility.

Try-it-out Tuesday: more, or less

    I've hit the midterm doldrums. The evidence? I woke up this morning with no clue about Try-it-out Tuesday.
    I opened my drawer, noticed this tunic I've never worn, and decided to start there.
    About a year ago, the Mr. helped me pick out some work clothes, and this was one of the pieces. While I liked it,  I was never sure how to wear it, so it got tossed into my drawer.

Alfani tunic; Beau jeggings

       While you know I love big prints, this fell into the "overwhelming" category. I added my Volcom jacket to make the print less overbearing.

Volcom Day Dreamers shirt jacket

     I liked that I still got a healthy dose of print down the center and that the shirt hem let the patterned edge peek out.
    So that covers the "less" part mentioned in the title ... now, on to more.
    My Amrita Singh earrings arrived Friday, so I decided they might add a great touch of color.

Red bangles, India; silver bangles, Amrita Singh

   And just for fun, I added red and silver bangles. I normally wouldn't wear big print + fancy earrings + bangles, but Try-it-out Tuesday is supposed to help me stretch my style a little, right?

  

Try-it-out Tuesday: big prints

     Both cameras are out of commission, but I wasn't going to let it stop Try-it-out Tuesday. MacBook Photo Booth to the rescue! :)
     Today's challenge: break the no-big-prints rule for petites. I get the logic, but I LOVE certain big prints.
      I understand why I don't want to wear daisies as big as my head, but I figured this particular print could squeak by because it's more abstract and graphic -- lines and swirls vs. daisies. So instead of people thinking, "WOW! Those daisies are as big as her head!" they're going to wonder, "Is that big red swirly as big as her head?"   
     I picked up this top at Saver's a few years ago for a mere 99 cents. It appears handmade, and the Asian-inspired big print reminded me of the splashily printed dresses and men's shirts popular in 1970s Hawaii.  When I started this blog, I dug this out of my fabric pile: I wanted to figure out a way to wear it. Beside the big print, there were some other challenges. The top is boxy, on the short side, and has side notches.

         Some tucking-in was definitely required.

     I just managed to tuck it into a pair of jeans. I couldn't resist adding my fuchsia belt because I figured fuschia falls right between dark blue and red.
     It tucked much better into my higher-waisted pencil skirt. I think it works better with the pencil skirt because less of the top is showing; the big print is restricted to a smaller area of my body.

Thrifted top; CK pencil skirt; Old Navy fuchsia belt.

 

 

I think the red swirly might be BIGGER than my head.

    Because I love this top, I'm planning on rocking it. But I'm interested in hearing your honest opinion -- is the big print overwhelming? Is it OK with jeans, or should I stick to the pencil skirt? Or should I just walk away the next time a similar top calls out to me from the thrift store racks?