If you're happy & you know it... wear these pants

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LOOK #1

Tunic: Crossroads rayon & chiffon

Pants: Crossroads rayon

Vest: Crossroads crepe & chiffon

Heels: Emerson patent 

Clutch: Adorne lace & pine

Necklace: TS

Hinged Bangle: Wallace Bishop silver & elastic

Hinged Circular Bangle: Gift

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I know, I know, I'm as shocked as you are... I am wearing pants. That's right, pants. Technically, happy pants - the closest thing you can get to a skirt without ACTUALLY wearing a skirt, owing to the dropped-crotch & wide, floaty legs - with matching tunic dresses over the top but it's still a big change rocking my little fashion world. 

This first, Indian-style ensemble is not only floaty & cool for the warm spring days but the predominantly black pattern-on-pattern (broken up by the inclusion of a sleeveless draped vest) visually lengthens the body, making me look taller - an optical illusion I have enhanced by adding a long, chunky necklace with large beads to draw the eye. I kept the rest of my accessories simple: black patent peeptoe platforms & a black lace clutch with a moulded pine handle for a change of texture, a silver hinged bangle & a black & silver circular hinged bangle to match the aforementioned necklace, pictured in detail: 

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LOOK #2

Tunic: Trace Lee rayon

Pants: Trace Lee rayon

Flat Thongs: 

Bag: Sportsgirl

Necklace: TS elastic

Hinged Bangle: Wallace Bishop silver & elastic

Bangle: Tree of Life beaded

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This second, bohemian pants-suit is far more casual & can't be dressed up as much as the first option. With this in mind, I have gone for comfort, mixing the hippie tie dye print - replete with its flower "scribbles" - with a pair of glittery black flat thongs & small handbag, black elastic draped necklace & thin black beaded bracelet to pick up on the touches of black in the pattern & my usual silver hinged bangle for a bit of shine. Scroll down for close-up pictures:

What I love about floaty tunics or dresses is the ability to instantly change their look by knotting chosen sections, as I have done in the pictures below. In this case, knotting one side has modified the drape & resulted in a far-more streamline silhouette for a petite person such as myself. 

If there's one thing I've learnt about fashion, it's that small tweaks allow you to wear a bright & unique pattern multiple times without people preempting it. The key to pulling it off is trial & error - for example, as well as simply knotting a garment, you could tie with ribbon, thread on beads or even turn inside out & bunch up with rubber bands, as I've done in previous posts. The only limit is your imagination.