COLOR BLOCKING IN BLACK & WHITE IS PERFECT FOR SUMMER STYLES
“Hi, y’all!”
Man, I wish I could pull that off sincerely but honestly, this northeast gal can’t without a giggle. I think I secretly wish I was raised in the south so I could have the accent and the colloquialisms that are charming for a southern lady yet sound mocking for a northern gal.
The reason I bring this up now is that I went searching for some black and white color blocking outfits to highlight for this post and the photos I enjoy the most are of ladies down south. Damn, I want to be able to pull their accent and jargon off. I can’t BUT I can take notes of their style and pull them into my own.
Today we’re talking about color blocking with a black and white theme.
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when a snafu works in a bold way
You might have seen the Instagram story I posted about the top tuck bag. (If you don’t follow @AmericanSchoolofCharm on Instagram, do it asap!!) In short, I wanted to try a new design out but was having a mental block on what fabric to use from my “stash”. My daughters all said they hated the zebra print cotton I had (they do NOT hesitate from speaking their opinions). In fact, one of them even went as far as to say that it looked like something a hooker would have. Hmmm. Well, that isn’t the look I was going for at all.
What I decided to do was to use the zebra print along with some of my less expensive canvas to simply mock up a prototype of the design. You know, to just test it out with material that I wouldn’t miss if it didn’t work out. Since they all agreed that the zebra was horrible, I thought it would be perfect for a demo bag.
I also didn’t use any leather, which I love to use in most of my pieces. This was (again) a choice based on the fact that this was intended as a mock-up. Instead, I used a canvas base and black nylon web for the handles.
What I didn’t anticipate was that I would LOVE how the final product turned out. Shoot, I wish I had used the leather handles now!
The size is perfect for a day out. The color blocking is a favorite of mine, especially the black and white for the warmer weather.
Show and tell for the unconvinced
My middle daughter felt that the contrast was too strong. I disputed this charge and decided to prove to her how great black and white look together in classic fashion. Since this bag is all canvas, I searched for casual outfits that would pair well with the bag.
These are the outfits that I found in my Pinterest search to highlight. There are a lot more that I have included in my Pinterest board Classic Fashion for Women if you want to take a look.
I know this isn’t just about me BUT these are outfits that I have and would wear again and again! Being from the colder climates, wearing white pants (denim especially) just puts a smile on my face!
why these outfits for this bag?
The reason I selected these outfits to highlight is that they are black and white (obviously), they are casual, they are modern, and they are classic.
The bag design is all of these as well. There is a pleating detail on the front to add just a touch of somethin’-something’ and the rest is simple blocks of black and white.
The zebra inside DOESN’T look like hooker fabric despite my daughter’s opinion. It’s a punch of personality that doesn’t go overboard. From the outside, it had just a touch of the pattern on the top band. Nothing to make too much of a statement. The inside is more like your little secret!
What is really fantastic is the size! It’s BIG but not TOO BIG! The straps are long enough for the shoulder but not TOO LONG. I love it.
Dimensions: 14.5″H x 15″W x 5″D with a strap drop of 8″.
where to go from here?
I’ll use and love this bag this summer! You want to love it and use it too! Well, heck y’all let’s do it (I know, I keep trying).
If you want a bag like this one, please email me!
Made using similar materials will cost approximately $70. Adding leather and hardware will up that but we’ll work the pricing out before I start the project.
This was so much fun to match the bag to specific outfits! If you have a favorite style you LOVE and you want a bag to match, let me know!! Let’s get inspired together!
This post definitely gets the warm weather shopping juices flowing. Here’s an outfit to try all available on Amazon:
Here’s a couple notes … Paige jeans are on the expensive side BUT I absolutely LOVE the fit. You can sometimes find them for a better price at Nordstrom Rack. The black halter top is super flattering on almost all body-types. I suggest a strapless bra with it (I have a thing about bra straps showing … old school, I guess). Finally, the shoes. ❤️ The heart is for wedges. I have bad feet and really can’t wear heels anymore (yes, I’m crying too!!) BUT I can do wedges in a pinch. They are SOOOO much more comfortable than stilettos and great in the spring and summer! The necklace I just think is super pretty and the white with gold will allow you to add a dainty pair of gold earrings and lots of gold bangles to finish off the look! I LOVE shopping!
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Stay well and fabulous! XOXO, Ali.
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