Simple Fair Isle Snowfall & A Pop of Red Hunter Boots

sweater:  Ralph Lauren boys, love this one | shirt:  J.Crew Factory | jeans:  Paige Denim  | boots:  Hunter (kids’ size) | boot socks: Hunter | lipstick: BareMinerals in Cherry Red

Ah, snow–so clean, fresh, white.  It’s amazing how something as simple as white fluff can transform the landscape!  My husband and I went to bed two Friday’s ago and woke up to a rather unexpected snowfall the next morning, and I was PUMPED.  I hate winter with its cold temperatures, and grey trees and grass, but if it snows, I’m in LOVE!

Something I’ve noticed that I’ve done over the past couple years is that I’ve gotten caught up in the pattern mixing and seeing how many colors I can squeeze into one outfit that I’ve lost sight of the beauty of simplicity…Choosing a simple color palette and adding one bright color for contrast.  Looking over some of my outfit choices, I realized that on some days I had worn so many patterns that I had looked like I had rolled around in the fabric store….in the dark.

Or that my color choices for the day were always competing with each other for attention.

Oops.

When I was getting dressed for the day, I thought “Yay, snow!  Perfect blank backdrop to REALLY make these colors and patterns pop, and of course I’ll have to add this, and let’s make sure that this pattern is just peeking out, and…”  And then I stopped…blank backdrop so my outfit will pop??  Umm, Whit, it’s WHITE, I could wear head-to-toe grey, and my outfit would STILL pop.

So then I had a full-on argument with myself over whether or not I could actually pull off a simplified look, and with all of the pattern mixing and myriad of colors, I had almost forgotten how.  With all of the Instagram captions of “pattern mixing with..”, and “changing it up with fill-in-the-blank colors today”, it’s become the norm to pattern mix rather than the exception.

Now, hold on a sec, Whit, are you saying that the Queen of Pattern Mixing is digressing on her love of patterns??

Never.

What I am saying is that my fashion senses have become so overloaded with mixing patterns and colors that I am STARVING for something simple.  I’ve basically forgotten how beautiful it is to wear one color and add interest, instead of making my ENTIRE outfit interesting. 

Looking at my outfit, I obviously did not quit my pattern mixing, I have fair isle, and gingham.

But the sweater and shirt are in the same color family.

In fact, from top to bottom, it’s the same family AND shade of color.

So how’d I do it?

I mixed patterns.

Uhhh, but didn’t you just say….

Before you think I’m contradicting myself, let me explain—I pattern mixed, yes, but with a shirt that is in the same color family.  It’s not competing with my sweater for attention, it’s complimenting it.  Imagine walking through a zoo, “and now here we have the polka dots, a rather sneaky little pattern, often competing for attention, and now let’s jump to the next exhibit with the striped vest, and oh here we have the bright pink plaid thrown in, and..”  Literally bouncing from one part of my outfit to the next instead of flowing seamlessly from head to toe,  it was as if my outfit had ADHD.

And I started getting bored with pattern mixing.

Yikes.

And I don’t think I’m the only one, either.