I’ve never been a natural at matching colors. As a child, once I was old enough to dress myself, I lived carefree, holding with no color laws. Banana yellow isn’t good for my complexion? Who cares. These seven colors don’t go with each other? Says who! My favorite outfit in middle school was knee high rainbow striped socks, converse decorated with rainbow sharpie, colorful shorts and a graphic tee. Sometimes over a long sleeved shirt.

I thought I was so cool.

Some time in high school, the peer pressure broke me. After probably the millionth comment about “wow, that’s so bold, to wear… All of that” I started to wonder. The clincher came when I was about fourteen.

We were visiting with cousins one fine sunny, summer evening. The initial awkwardness had worn off and we had reached that pleasant stage of the visit where we had declared ultimate rivalry. What were we arguing about, you might ask? What monumental disagreement might rupture the unbreakable bond between cousins?

I honestly do not remember.

I do remember that I sided with my older cousin against my sisters. Oh man, that first moment of sweet, sweet validation when she agreed to the team was so good. Then, looking back at me, she amended, “well, I’d feel better about your judgement if you weren’t wearing plaid pants and a striped shirt.”

And I mean, even at the time, suffering under the crushing weight of her shifting away, the laughter of my playmates, I couldn’t quite be mad. Because, for the first time, I had realized something. Something vital.

The outfit was pretty bad.

Now, years later, I have incorporated color. I wear lots of bold, bright solids. I’m a huge fan of the bright orange and pink shorts, slacks, and skirts that I’ve found at Target lately.

But I still shy away from patterns.

Recently, though, I have made a huge step. I purchased a pair of ultimate palazzo pants from Banana Republic, on super clearance. And they’re gorgeous.

I’ve begun experimenting matching the pants to a shirt that’s the same color as one of the flowers, green or gold or blue. I think the all-over pattern is still a bit beyond me, but not for long.