Theme: COLOR - Pink, Red & Tan

I know you are all probably sitting there with your jaw dropped at the fact that I'm wearing pink again. Get used to it. The theme may as well have been "pink" this week, not "color."

I saw this sweater on the TV show "The Mindy Project" with a pink button-down underneath it. Realizing that I had both those pieces in my closet, I decided to replicate it. I tried to pause the show to see what the character wore on the bottom half, but it was impossible to tell! Too many sitting scenes with waist-up-only shots! I decided on the red pants as well as the cheetah slippers to keep it interesting. I even got to break out my clearance $3 H&M earrings that had been hanging out on my jewlery table for far too long.

Just thought I'd offer this up to my readers as well, click through this link to Sole Society and get 20% off! I've talked in the past about how much I love their shoe site and how they show great outfit styling ideas with each shoe. I think you will love it too! Link expires Thursday!

Sweater: J. Crew

Pastel Pink Button-Down: Ralph Lauren Outlet

Red Pants: Forever 21 (buy here for $15.80)

Cheetah Slippers: Target (buy here for $20)

Earrings: H&M

Theme: COLOR - Pink & Blue

This week the trend will be color, which really isn't challenging but still forced me to get a little crazy to avoid black and white at all costs (those were the unofficial rules for this theme).

What better way to start a color-themed week then by introducing you to my new "vibrant Fuchsia" J Crew coat that after much searching I finally found on eBay! I mean how was this coat not mine since the moment it came out?!

Sweater: J. Crew Factory (on sale!)

Chambray shirt: Target (old)

Necklace: Nordstrom (old)

Bracelet: Forever 21

Polka-dot Pants: Forever 21

Belt: J Crew

Coat: J. Crew Symphony Coat in Vibrant Fuchsia (via eBay: this seller has a few still)

Nude wedges: Express (buy here)

Bag: Target

Theme: Pattern Mixing Look 5

I think by the end of the week (this is from last Friday, which you can tell by the fact that I'm wearing jeans), the mixed-patterns theme just kind of turned into crazy mix-matching. I'm perfectly OK with that, by the way.

This blazer, the LC brand at Kohl's, was an item I waited quite some time for. I've wanted a red blazer in the perfect year-round shade of red for so long, and now I finally found it!

Overall the pattern-mixing challenge made me learn a little about my personal style and the risks I'm willing to take. To be comfortable enough to wear mixed patterns is to have a certain confidence in your choices. As silly as it may sound, it gave me a little of just that. I think that I will be trusting my clothing as well as personal choices a little more from now on. I'll embrace the "crazy" and hopefully inspire others along the way.

Bag: Target

Jeans: Zara

Striped tee, earrings & bracelet: Forever 21

Blazer: LC Lauren Conrad for Kohls (I kind of want this in every color!)

Chambray: Target

Sunglasses: Target

Scarf: J. Crew

Booties: Report, Marks

Necklace: Charlotte Russe

Theme: Pattern Mixing Look Four

I was without a photographer for this day of the pattern-mixing challenge, so I decided to do some selfies in the mirror. I apologize in advance for the fingerprints on my mirror. Pretend they are a really cool bokeh effect from Picfx or something like that.

I hope that you all believe that this is still technically pattern mixing. After the first two days it became kind of hard, considering many of my patterned options were in the hamper. I still mixed the animal-print scarf with the abstract-patterned skirt and the metallic-knit sweater. What do you think? Does this still count?

On the plus side, you get a little peek into the bright yellow photo collage wall in my home! As I mentioned earlier this week, you can see my strategy for picking out patterned outfits: simply pulling out patterned pieces from my closet and tossing them into a pile to see what works. That pile has moved onto the bed as you can see. :)

Hat: J Crew Factory

Necklace: HRN original cuff

Sweater: H&M

Skirt: Forever 21

Leggings: Aritzia

Booties: ShoeMint: Francoise

Coat: Macys Nine West

Scarf: ??

And in case you want a little more pattern mixing, here is a shot from an outfit that didn't photograph very well! (probably because I was having a bad hair/face/skin/weather day.)

Polka-dot Chambray, Neon belt and geometric print skirt: J Crew Factory

Necklace and earrings: Forever 21

Theme: Pattern Mixing Look Three

This was a really hard day for pattern mixing. It was so icy, I really didn't even know what shoes to wear, let alone how to mix patterns together. Add to that the possibility of falling on the ice with every step and the cold wind, and it made for some silly pictures.

I played it safe with all black-and-white patterns. But hey, it still counts as patterns! I even managed to make that trifecta I talked about on Monday: three patterns in one outfit! Dots, bows and stripes.

I wore my glasses, which pretty much was the highlight of my students' day. They always notice the smallest changes I make to my appearance.

Dont forget to send me a picture of your pattern mixing successes to be featured on Friday's final pattern mixing post!

Pants: Forever 21

Striped Blouse: The Limited

Sweater: Forever 21

Scarf: J Crew

Hat: Nordstrom Rack

Necklace: Vintage via Ebay 

Lips: Up the Amp by MAC

I will leave you with this shot. I'm not sure what was really going on but it looks like I'm busting out some sweet dance moves...