kimono, striped dress, scarf, tights, sandals, pattern mixing, Shelbee on the Edge, fashion over 40

Inspired by SpyGirl: All the Prints

November 21, 2019 / 37 Comments
kimono, striped dress, scarf, tights, sandals, pattern mixing, Shelbee on the Edge, fashion over 40
kimono, striped dress, scarf, tights, sandals, pattern mixing, Shelbee on the Edge, fashion over 40
kimono, striped dress, scarf, tights, sandals, pattern mixing, Shelbee on the Edge, fashion over 40
kimono, striped dress, scarf, tights, sandals, pattern mixing, Shelbee on the Edge, fashion over 40

This was by far my most challenging inspired outfit ever. That sounds kind of weird, doesn’t it? I mean, if it is an inspired outfit, it shouldn’t be a challenge, for the inspiration was already there. So let me explain.

My very dear friend, Anne M. Bray of SpyGirl and other blogs, has been an inspiration to me in countless ways over the past few years. She is one of the funniest women I have ever met. In life. Ever. In my 45 years on earth. We get bantering on and on in blog comments, Facebook comments, and emails and I am always in stitches by the end of the conversations. She is a woman who appreciates all of my oddities just as I appreciate her eccentricities.

She is also so very talented that I am constantly in awe of how she does it all. So many different projects, so many different mediums, so much stinking talent all wrapped up into one tiny little woman. Oh wait, she doesn’t have two crazy little boys to contend with in between her creative pursuits. Anne knows how crazy these boys of mine can be as she spent an afternoon with us this past summer at the Adirondack Experience on Blue Mountain Lake in New York. I think she spent most of the time laughing at me in all of my chaotic mom-ness, probably thanking her lucky stars for her childless freedom. You can see a picture of the four of us in the giant chair here and read all about our museum visit here.

When it comes to fashion and style, Anne is one of the most fabulously eclectic humans on earth. And I am so drawn to her quirky and colorful style. While she and I do not have the same style at all, we do share a few things in common. We are both huge advocates of second hand shopping for a variety of reasons. It is better for the environment. It is better for our bank accounts. It is better for finding some crazy, unique pieces.

Anne M. Bray
Anne M. Bray
Anne M. Bray

We also both tend to be very drawn to things that most people would consider ugly, obnoxious, completely unwearable. Strange color schemes, out of the ordinary prints and patterns, and a combination of it all. I have been known to exclaim, “Oh my word! That is the ugliest shirt ever. I need to have it.” I love the challenge of taking something “ugly” and making it freaking fabulous. I suspect Anne is the same way.

Another thing we both have in common is really fantastic legs! We both have them and we are both fully aware of how great our legs are! Am I right, Anne? It is my favorite feature on myself and I believe she has the same love for her own legs.

kimono, striped dress, scarf, tights, sandals, pattern mixing, Shelbee on the Edge, fashion over 40
yellow tights, platform sandals
kimono, striped dress, scarf, tights, sandals, pattern mixing, Shelbee on the Edge, fashion over 40
mustard tights, platform sandals

We also don’t either really much like rules. Or following them. Tell me I can’t do something because of some dumb arbitrary rule and you can bet your ass that I will make my best effort to do just that thing. While I am out here walking that fine line between what’s acceptable and appropriate by societal standards and proving my points no matter how strange they may be, I can sometimes get a little lonely. But then I remember that Anne is out here on the same line with me. I just need to look around and I am sure to spot her in all of her colorful glory. And then I don’t feel so lonely anymore.

A few weeks ago, I posted an outfit that was Inspired by Not Dressed as Lamb and Anne presented me with a challenge for this little Inspired by series of mine. In her exact words, “I’d love to see how you’d interpret one of my outfits! You’d have to check IG or FB though, since that’s where the Daily Outfits get posted.” I already stated that I am always game for a good style challenge. But I had no idea how challenging this was going to be.

kimono, striped dress, scarf, tights, sandals, pattern mixing, Shelbee on the Edge, fashion over 40
kimono, striped dress, scarf, tights, sandals, pattern mixing, Shelbee on the Edge, fashion over 40
kimono, striped dress, scarf, tights, sandals, pattern mixing, Shelbee on the Edge, fashion over 40
kimono, striped dress, scarf, tights, sandals, pattern mixing, Shelbee on the Edge, fashion over 40

I adore Anne’s style but I never ever considered even attempting to pull off her level of amazing. I mean, Anne falls into the ranks of Iris Apfel, Lyn Slater, Mel Kobayashi, and Leandra Medine when it comes to unique and fascinating style choices. I can’t compete with this.

But she presented me with a challenge and I am not one to shy away from a good style challenge either. So I started scrolling through Anne’s Instagram looking for something that I could copy. It didn’t take me long to realize that a woman like Anne is so unique that she simply cannot be copied. Nope. One of a kind. Through and through. There is no point in even attempting to copy her. It just can’t be done.

As I scrolled through her Instagram feed, I could find nothing similar to anything in my closet. And there are a lot of things inside my closet, too. But Anne has curated such a unique collection of wardrobe pieces that I literally had nothing similar to work with as a basis for a SpyGirl inspired outfit.

kimono, striped dress, scarf, tights, sandals, pattern mixing, Shelbee on the Edge, fashion over 40
kimono, striped dress, scarf, tights, sandals, pattern mixing, Shelbee on the Edge, fashion over 40
kimono, striped dress, scarf, tights, sandals, pattern mixing, Shelbee on the Edge, fashion over 40
kimono, striped dress, scarf, tights, sandals, pattern mixing, Shelbee on the Edge, fashion over 40

I stood in my closet glancing around the stuffed racks of clothing waiting for the fashion gods and goddesses to point me in the right direction. And there it was…thank you, fashion gods and goddesses…this stripey silk tunic dress that I found at the consignment shop a few years ago. It met all of my unspoken Anne criteria…it was second hand, the colors were not the most mainstream, the style was a bit unique, and it would show off my legs. Mustard tights and platform sandals seemed the obvious choice. But it is cold outside so I needed a topper of some sort. I wondered silently into my closet abyss, “What would Anne wear?” Again, the fashion gods and goddesses answered with my favorite geometric printed kimono in similar colors as the dress.

It was still needing something, something around the neck. I started digging through my scarf bins looking for a solid color to match. But then I reminded myself that Anne would not pair a boring solid scarf with this colorful printed outfit. She is, after all, a pattern magician of sorts. This outfit needed another print to complete the look in total Anne M. Bray fashion. And voila, it all came together in the most beautiful way! Anne, I hope you like it! I felt like a freaking quirky boho princess all day long as I swooshed around town with my kimono floating behind me in the most dramatic way!

kimono, striped dress, scarf, tights, sandals, pattern mixing, Shelbee on the Edge, fashion over 40
kimono, striped dress, scarf, tights, sandals, pattern mixing, Shelbee on the Edge, fashion over 40
kimono, striped dress, scarf, tights, sandals, pattern mixing, Shelbee on the Edge, fashion over 40
kimono, striped dress, scarf, tights, sandals, pattern mixing, Shelbee on the Edge, fashion over 40

If you don’t already follow Anne, you are missing out! You can find her on Patreon, Instagram, Facebook, and a whole bunch of other places which are linked here.

Who is inspiring you lately?

Keeping it on the edge,

Shelbee

Linking up with these Fabulous Link Parties.

Shop my look…

Outfit Details: Dress-Vertigo (Thrifted) / Kimono-c/o Rosegal (Old) / Scarf-Target (Old) / Shoes-Torrid (Old) / Necklace-Charlotte Russe (Old) / Earrings-Old

I am a midlife woman, wife, and stay-at-home mother of 2 boys and 2 cats. I have a passion for helping other women feel fabulous in the midst of this crazy, beautiful life.

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Shelbee on the Edge