Wearing Prints

I haven't blogged in awhile.  Been sooo super-ultra-uber busy at work (understatement of the year) that I just didn't have time to write.  I hope when all this blows over, I have more time in the evening to share what I wore :-)

Anyway, I am petite, only 5'2" with a long torso and short pudgy legs.  So it is always a challenge for me to wear prints. Big prints will drown and overwhelm my frame, and tiny prints will make me look like wearing maternity wear.  The color of the prints also play a role and even though the color block may look good on me, once combined with prints it may look horrendous.  However, I discovered that the key to wearing prints is obviously, surprise surprise, the power in the color combination, size and type of print, as well as the style of the outfit.

I looveee this dress, although it seems like every other person in Singapore own the exact same one.  Well, what do you expect.  It is from Mango and during the Great Singapore Sale this year it was on sale for $25.  Who wouldn't be crazy not to get one??  I love this dress for many reasons.  First, the cut is very nice.  Figure hugging at the hips with an assymetric shoulder.  Secondly, although it falls below the knee, it does not give a grandma-ish feel to the dress, but rather gives more of a Marilyn Monroe style to it.  Third, the prints actually compliments the whole dress, rather than being a focus point.  The prints help distract the eye on unneceesary fat points :-).

This dress is from Zara and I bought it out of  compulsion (like every second thing that I purchase :p).  I got this dress in 2006 and I have never worn it until earlier this year when I attended a friend's wedding. I like this dress a lot.  It looks quite formal without being too prom-ish.  It is made of chiffon with a silk lining.  I love the flowy sleeves and the way the dress just falls to the floor.  Despite the dress being "big", it does not overwhelm my small frame - one of the reasons is because the prints are grey, not black, and so it comes out soft against the white fabric.  The prints are also quite abstract in the size, shape and thickness, making it "flow" together with the fabric.