The Magnificent 8 Mix Patterns in Pastels

April 24, 2019 / 30 Comments
This is not a sponsored post.

The Magnificent 8 is a collaboration among 8 stylish women from every decade of life showcasing our style one generation at a time. The mission of this collaboration is to show you just how ageless style is, how we can each dress however we’d like and in ways that make us feel fabulous. There are no age restrictions on style. So wear what you want, when you want, add a smile, and strut your style with confidence. And be sure to check out all 7 of these amazing gals!

Every quarter, we choose a theme and each create an outfit that suits our own personal tastes and fashion choices and we post them on the last Wednesday of every third month. So be sure to go check out everyone’s posts for lots of style inspiration at any age!

Let me introduce the ladies of The Magnificent 8.

We are showing that you can’t put a number on style!

To help bring some Spring style into the mix after a very long Winter, this quarter we are showing you how we mix patterns in shades of pastel. I have to be honest with you, I struggled a bit with this theme of print mixing in pastels. I do love mixing patterns and I do it quite often. However, I do not wear pastel colors very often so I had to get creative to make this one work. And by getting creative, I mean I had to go shopping!

I went scouring the clearance rack at Torrid for some pastel prints that would remain true to my own personal style. When I spotted this pale pink camouflage top, I was pretty much sold. I do love my camo prints and I didn’t have any in pink. And since the clearance at Torrid was buy one, get one free, I also added a pale pink and white Buffalo plaid tunic to my closet. You know, because it was free. And so I would have choices when it came to styling my outfit for this post.

I have not worn the plaid top yet, but it is super cute so I am sure that I will share it with you at some point this Spring. In any event, I had the pink camo, I brought it home, and then I was really stumped with what other pattern to pair with it. I was going to cheat and wear a ribbed pencil skirt in silver. I figured the silver was close enough to pastel and the ribbing definitely acts as a pattern. But I am no cheater, so I had to do better than that. Enter my gray floral booties.

Camo top: Torrid
Booties: JustFab

I definitely go a bit more wild when I mix my prints, so this pattern pairing is a bit more subtle than my norm. But I think it is a good example of how you can master the art of print mixing without going totally overboard. You do not need to have the clashing prints side by side in your outfit. Especially if you are just beginning to dabble in this type of outfit combination. Keep it simple and keep the patterns separated.

Jeans: Torrid
Gloves: Torrid
Jacket: Solitary Consignment

I did have a purple floral kimono that I considered layering over my camo top. It pulled in the purple in the boots, but I just wasn’t fond of the length of the kimono with my super baggy boyfriend jeans. It was a bit too short and cut me in the wrong place. So another tip to remember when creating an outfit is to pay attention to your proportions. If you look in the mirror and something just doesn’t look quite right, then it probably isn’t quite right. Change the proportions a bit and see if it is an improvement.

Kimono: Charlotte Russe
Earrings: Target

Because everything I was wearing was baggy, the longer kimono created a lengthening effect which in turn slims things down a bit. Heels can have that same effect as well. Just elevate your height a few inches by adding a pair of heels and it is like you have magically lost 5-10 pounds!

Hat: Linda Gibbs Handmade

I don’t know about everyone else, but when I get dressed and am creating an outfit I want it to flatter my body in the best way so that I can leave my house feeling confident. The whole process really is all about trial and error. Putting things together and looking in the mirror. Does it make you smile? Do you feel fabulous? If you answer yes, then it is a winning combination. If you answer no, then change some things around until it feels great to you.

I like to consider what happens in my closet room every morning something like the art of illusion. How can I disguise all my lumps and bumps that make me insecure in such a way that I don’t feel at all lumpy and bumpy. I have a million tricks that I have learned over the years and I am more than happy to share them with you. Just ask and I will answer! I can’t quite think of them all on the spot to include in one blog post, but you all know that I am approachable and willing to assist in any way so that you can always feel fabulous, too!

Remember, do not be afraid to try new things with your style choices. And do check out all of the other amazing women who collaborate with me for the Magnificent 8!

You are sure to find inspiration from one or all of us since we are proving that style has no age limit and you can wear whatever you want, whenever you want, wherever you want, and feel fiercely fabulous doing it no matter your age! You can also check out the previous Magnificent 8 posts here.

Keeping it on the edge,

Shelbee

Linking up with these Fabulous Link Parties.

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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30 Comments

  • jodie filogomo

    April 24, 2019 at 1:29 pm Reply

    That cracked me up you went shopping for this theme, Shelbee!! When I started putting outfits together, I realized I had to stick with pastels, which did make it harder. And I kinda cheated with Nancy’s….ha ha!!
    Love this blouse, and it’ll get a lot of wear, I bet!!!
    XOXO
    Jodie

  • Grace | Graceful Rags

    April 24, 2019 at 5:16 pm Reply

    Love that you went shopping for this look! I definitely wanted to use this as an excuse to get new pieces, haha, but I just didn’t get around to it. I never would’ve guessed that you struggled with the pastels because this outfit turned out super cute! It’s definitely easier to combat chilly weather with springy clothing. 🙂

    Miles of smiles,
    Grace

    gracefulrags.com

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      April 25, 2019 at 12:43 pm Reply

      Thank you so much, Grace! I always have an excuse to go shopping! Ha. Plus I was working at Torrid and while I am straightening everything before we close at the end of the night, I start finding all sorts of things to buy. This was definitely one of my favorite themes as it seems to have pushed us all outside of our comfort zones. And everyone looked so amazing! Now we need to decide on a theme for July!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • SUSAN

    April 26, 2019 at 3:23 pm Reply

    Ah, spring! When a girls thought turn to kimonos! And shorts! and kimonos again!
    I haven’t seen a kimono anywhere all winter long, except for my own closet.
    Needless to say, I love the kimono Shelbee, and it looks adorbs on you.
    Also need to thank you for showing me how to wear a jacket over a kimono, something that has stumped me, until now. Needless to say, the boots are a fabulous statement, and totally lovable. The whole outfit is stellar. And that hat and the gloves are so cool, I just cant even…
    I just picked up a pair of snakeskin cowgirl boots at Target, that I’ve been eyeballing since last fall. How I love the change of seasons! The boots were very affordable, but I want to pair them with ankle jeans like you did, since it’s finally warming up here. That’s my next fashion challenge, booties and shorter pants.
    Well done, Shelbee!

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      April 27, 2019 at 12:16 pm Reply

      Susan, my friend, I have missed you! You know how excited I am that kimono season is finally here! And yes, I was stumped for a while, too, on how to layer a jacket over a kimono as well. I could never get the right proportions with a longer jacket over the kimono so I decided to try a shorter jacket and it worked. I am glad that I could help solve the styling conundrum for you! I love my snakeskin booties that I got from Charlotte Russe (before they closed, so sad) but I don’t wear them all that often. And speaking of new cowgirl boots…I was a very bad girl and just ordered two pairs of gorgeous floral ones! I cannot wait to style them and show them off. I hope you are well and enjoying the Spring weather, my friend! It is still snowing here!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Elizabeth Ramsey

    April 27, 2019 at 4:33 pm Reply

    OK! I love this. Apparently so much that I tried to start my own version of an Ageless Style thing which launched yesterday. Honestly had no idea you were already doing this so my huge apologies, hopefully there are enough participants and readers to go around. I love the peach on your so much and you always find the coolest embellished booties.

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      April 28, 2019 at 11:27 am Reply

      Betsy, thanks so much for the kind compliment! And no apologies are necessary! There are plenty of readers and participants in blogland for us to do similar collaborations. In fact, my idea to start this series came from someone else (and darn it but I cannot remember where I saw it first), but it was 4 women from 4 decades of life (20’s, 30’s, 40’s, and 50’s). I loved the idea and decided to extend it to 8 decades. I was lucky to find the other 7 fabulous bloggers ready and willing to participate. We only post ours quarterly because we all have our plates pretty full. I am heading over now to check out yours! Super fun and such a great idea and readers seem to really enjoy this series so I am sure yours will be successful as well!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Ada

    May 1, 2019 at 10:24 pm Reply

    I must say Shelbee, I have been loving all the light shades of pink you have been wearing lately. Plus all the kimonos, fun boots/booties and your cute hats. Adore you in this knit floppy beanie. The theme this quarter was perfect for Spring.

    Looking forward to all this week’s posts on my blog, especially my birthday party posts on Saturday and Sunday and The Sunday Showcase Linkup. So glad you will be a part of it, also. =)

    <3 Ada.

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      May 2, 2019 at 10:06 am Reply

      Thanks so much, Ada! I have been really into the pale shades of pink lately! And of course, my hats. But I just colored my hair so I haven’t worn any hats this week! I use them mostly to hide all the gray roots. Haha. I am looking forward to joining your birthday celebration posts as well. Thank you for inviting me once again!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

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