voyage~2~venus: Don't Match, Coordinate!

If your main concern about buying a pair of shoes is "I don't have anything that matches" then you might be suffering from MMS, a severely debilitating disorder that affects hundreds of millions of women.
Matchy-Match Syndrome (MMS) is what prevents many from taking their personal style to the next level. It inhibits people from purchasing the items they want in the color they love, leading to moderate disappointment, dream shattering, and in many cases, a lackluster outfit.

NO! NO! NO!

There is only one way to defeat MMS and that is to throw caution to the wind! More than likely you have an outfit that coordinates (notice I didn't say matches) with those electric blue, emerald green, or magenta pumps that you've been eyeing. Just think outside of the box!
The first picture above is a part of an outfit that I coordinated. The green hoody and magenta pump play off of each other in an aesthetically pleasing way. Two very different colors, yet the combination works. Choosing to wear a black pump would definitely not be a fashion faux pas, but the magenta pump takes the outfit to another level style-wise. This is why fashion is art! Be Picasso!

Another example of coordination is on the right. The colors in Beyonce's dress are pink, white, blue, and green. The dress is paired with electric blue pumps, a combination that many would not think of, or feel comfortable trying due to the color of the dress, the rose design, and the minimal amount of blue in the dress. However, those are reasons that also make this ensemble work. The shoe and dress pairing change the feel and perception of the outfit. (I must say that I am not very pleased with her choice of handbag, but I realize that the camera might have skewed the color of the bag a bit.)

Coordination Tips:
1. To begin with, keep complementary colors in mind when shopping and creating outfits. Complementary color pairs are: Red-Green, Blue-Orange, and Yellow-Purple. These pairings offset each other best because their opposing color appears brighter in contrast.

2. If you are not sure about an outfit you've coordinated, lay it out or try it and take a picture of it. Pictures always provide a different perception because the show the outfit in a different light.

3. Keep in mind that the material, and size and place of an item on the body may affect how well the pieces of an outfit flow together. (Which is the number one reason why you take a picture!)

For more examples check these out:

#1 and #2 are easy-peezy, #3 is on the way and it's tricky!