Creating Balance In Bold Outfits

Are you ever drawn to an especially bold item but think, "How would I ever wear this?"

When it comes to styling items that are a bit outside our comfort zone, I recommend thinking of ways to "normalize" them. Usually, this means dressing it down rather than styling your look with other items that match perfectly. Oftentimes, if an outfit is too on the nose, it comes across costume-y.

So instead of wearing slippers or an equally feminine shoe with this sweet dress, I chose to create tension with a more masculine and tough shoe. Great outfits are more or less about checks and balances -- it's important to both complement and contrast throughout the ensemble. But instead of going too opposite with a pair of chunky running sneakers, the Converse high tops offer a nostalgic vintage appeal that suits the vintage look of the dress. Also, the white color immediately adds a neutral effect and picks up on the white in the dress. To really bring the whole look down to earth, I wrapped a braided belt the break up the dress and give a more casual less-Little-House-On-The-Prairie vibe.

A "perfect" outfit with items that are of the same nature sometimes looks artificial and put on. The more personalized and imperfect outfits are the ones that reflect who you are as an individual and that's what personal style is all about, isn't it?

Photo credit: Camille Shaw

Like my dress? Here are similar vintage items I found on Etsy!