STYLE GURU STYLE: Floral Victorian

October 16th, 2015 at 2:00am

I’m absolutely enthralled by details. Take a look into my closet and you’ll see stacks of various patterns: geometric, baroque and florals to name some. Style advice from magazines continuously says, “You’ll never know if it looks good unless you try it on.” Applying this to the clothes I already have, I play with different prints and see which create aesthetically pleasing complements.

Among the beautiful shows exhibited during last month’s Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week, I fell in love with Rodarte’s spring 2016 ready-to-wear collection. The lace trimmings, metallic decals and streams of sequins transform the dresses into something completely Victorian yet ethereal, and they add feminine touches to the stark contrast of black and white fabrics that are usually seen in shows like Helmut Lang.

Inspired by this collection, I’m pairing a muted floral shirt on top of a ruffled, lace black dress. On my feet, I’m wearing black lace socks with white strappy sandals. I play up the presence of gold by incorporating my signature accessory, a gold statement necklace.

While Rodarte’s collection features rose and leaf brooches as minute details dispersed on dresses, I’m bringing the flowers to the front. They’re the center of attention, as patterns are in my outfits. When mismatching prints, I usually make that contrast the sole focus of the look. However, I was inspired by this collection to provide contrast on all levels: the floral pattern in my shirt against the lace ruffles in my dress, black on white in my shoes and gold leaves resting on a flowery background near my neck.

It’s tempting to just stick with what you already know looks good. But by switching it up, you can discover new outfits you didn’t think were possible—without spending money on any new clothes too. Your room may be a mess afterwards from throwing all your things around, but it’s worth it to find that perfect outfit.

Get My Look: 1. Muted floral shirt. 2. Dress or skirt with black lace. 3. White sandals.

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