Statement Patterns

As much as I am an advocate of building a work wardrobe on a bedrock of neutrals, patterns and unique colours throw in a bit of the unexpected. If you’re hesitant at all, just know that a black blazer brings it all down a notch… though a matching or contrasting one does the reverse.

This is, for instance, a bit of glen plaid layered with Chevron in Perth. You get the idea.

Here is a collection of patterns and colours on a backdrop of the landmarks around the Canadian capital.

Navy on Central Chambers

Stripes are nothing too out of the ordinary. And neither is navy. But navy stripes of differing widths plus peplum flaps are something a little different.

The iconic Central Chambers on Elgin Street was built in the early 1890s in the Queen Anne Revival style. It faces the National War Memorial at Confederation Square.

Windowpane on Connaught

Here is a red windowpane pattern on a warm toned neutral. I can’t do bold red stripes because they would make me look orange. But these stripes are thin and well spaced out.

This photo was taken in front of one of the many unused doorways of the historical Connaught building between Mackenzie Avenue and Sussex Drive. It is castle-like in the Tudor-Gothic style, and was designed by the architect also responsible for the buildings that house the Canadian Museum of Nature and the Canadian Mint.

Geometric on Byward Yellow

I have a number of geometric patterned pieces that I don’t even know how to describe. This is one of them. I had trouble tracking down this dress once it was out of stores because I forgot what search terms to use to find it. I thought maybe concentric rectangles was about right, if only there was a rectangle version of “concentric”.

Ottawa influencers know this yellow wall in the Byward market. It is nothing fancy. But it is yellow.