Cherry Blossom Time

I was very rushed getting dressed this morning, so I fell back on the oldest outfit-building trick in the book: grab a patterned item with lots of colors, then build outward from it by picking up minor colors from the pattern.

Chinese-style jacket: depths of the closet

Pink tank: Theory, thrifted, remixed

Chartreuse belt: thrifted, remixed

Brown trousers: Tahari, TJMaxx

Shoes: John Fluevog, "Summertime: Haight," remixed

Bangle: thrifted, remixed

Green stone teardrop necklace: Central Asian, remixed

The tiny, intricate brocade pattern has hints of all the colors I'm wearing: pink flowers, green foliage, and orangey-red buildings. It's all scenes of cherry-blossom viewing, a lovely tradition of appreciation of the beauty and ephemerality of the natural world celebrated in many parts of Asia. Every year, I try to wear it at least once while the cherry trees are in bloom, to remind myself to appreciate their fleeting beauty - and, in my own small way, to take part in it.

You can also start to see why I'm not the biggest fan of trousers. These are ones that I consider to fit moderately (maybe acceptably) well.

photos: Fabulous Husband

Do you ever try to echo natural color schemes in your clothing? If so, is it to celebrate certain events, like the blooming of a favorite flower, or is nature a more generalized inspiration for you?