The Model and Me: Firefly spring-summer 2016

Are you a colour and pattern kind of girl?

Generally, I’m not.

My typical style personality errs on the minimalist/neutral side but I do come with multiple style personalities, including one that every so often likes to embrace her inner peacock.

I can go for days in my white, navy, stone, black palette style palette and then suddenly surprise (even myself) with a riot of colour. Some days I just need that injection of fun.

For others, it’s the opposite. Your wardrobe may be predominantly colour and pattern … and that’s ok.

The important thing when you try on a colour or patterned clothing piece is that you check in with yourself (in front of the mirror) to see if you’re wearing that colour/pattern. Or is the colour and pattern wearing you?

For some, a high-level of colour and pattern can overwhelm; for others, they feel lost without it.

And then, there will be others – like me – who can wear some patterns and colours but not others. That’s when the mirror check-in becomes important.

For me, I need a little depth to my prints but still in a colour palette that works for me. Mostly a smaller sized, geometric print works – florals are not normally my thing.

This Model and Me feature is all about a print dress that does work for me because it ticks my colour palette and geometric boxes. 

It comes from Australian label Firefly. 

The model

Firefly Stella Panel dress

and me

Firefly dress (I’m wearing XL) | FRANKiE4 NiKKi heels | Uberkate cocktail ring

The navy and coral base of this dress makes it a big winner for me – these colours are ones I like to wear in a block colour. The pattern is geometric but also essentially a stripe – another fave of mine.

The shape of the dress is one that works for me. I’ve got a short torso, a tummy and wide hips, so the shift works to skim those bits and create the illusion of a waist without defining it. Defining it would just highlight the hips.

I don’t mind getting my arms out in summer but if I’m out and about I do prefer my shoulders are covered up. The sleeves on this dress work their magic in that department. They’re loose without adding too much volume.

The fabric is 100% viscose so beautiful and cool to wear.

As you can see, it’s a shorter dress. I’m 166cm and it sits just above the knee on me – the model is 178cm. Use these two heights as a gauge to work out where the dress would sit on you.

So tell me, are you a colour and pattern kind of girl? What works for you? What doesn’t?

* These pieces were gifted to me for editorial consideration. Full disclosure policy here. Full disclosure policy here. 

Join the #sypartystyle style challenge

Until December 8, I’d love you to please share your summer party style outfits. It doesn’t have to be a glitz and glam situation (but it can be!). It may be you have a an end-of-year school concert to attend, a graduation, a barbecue catch-up with friends, a Christmas night out with your book club, a long lung with your girlfriends or the office Christmas party.

There is so much on from now until the end of the year, I’d love you to inspire us with your outfits for the small and big events happening in your life. 

Your post to the #sypartystyle hashtag could be used in a blog post here on Styling You. Plus one woman has the chance to win a $100 gift card from Adrift to top up her party style wardrobe.

Simply post your photo to Instagram and tag with #sypartystyle #everydaystyle @stylingyou