In Season 7/Episode 8 of The Office, Erin Hannon says "There's this thing on Glee called Mash-Up, where two things that don't go together make one great song." (The Office is my all time favorite show if you haven't guessed by my obscure quoting abilities.) A "mash-up" is how I like to think of a maximalist outfit. It's like taking clothing that you would never have thought to pair with one another and then doing exactly that. If you aren't familiar with maximalism, it's a popular trend that focuses on explosions of colors, patterns, and lots of accessories. It's actually incredibly fun to style a maximalist outfit so I'm sharing a little how-to guide to get you started..

1. Colors

Red. Teal. Yellow. Would you think to pair all three of these colors together? No right? Me neither! That is until I started thinking like a maximalist. I put on my teal Silk Wide Leg Pants, by Le Mouton Bleu Shop (which are incredibly comfortable and are now my favorite pants ever) and thought to myself, "what other colorful pieces would make this outfit pop?" And so I went to my shoe collection and forced myself to go outside my comfort zone of white or black shoes, and instead picked out my most color flats! And that's how I came to pair these elegant pants with the bright yellow Matrix Frill Detail Slider, by EGO. But two bright colors wasn't enough of a "mash-up" for me so I added a red handkerchief to the mix.

2. Patterns/Graphics

Aside from mixing extremely different colors together, it's also fun to play around with patterns! Like mixing pin stripes with polka dots for example. Another alternative is to take advantage of the graphic designs on t shirts! I'm wearing a "NYC" Vintage Lace Up T Shirt, by Luna Amora. Not only does it add a pattern to the outfit, but it also brings an edgy look which contrasts the elegant pant, creating a "mash-up" of it's own.

3. Accessories

This part is probably my favorite! You have to go all out when you're embracing maximalism, and what better way to do that than ornamenting the outfit with a stunning handbag, lots of jewelry, and maybe even a scarf/handkerchief. In this case, I went with all three. First off, I'm sporting the stunning Summer Bamboo bag, by Julia Kays, to add some texture to the ensemble. This bag is of impeccable quality and is an incredibly popular design right. I really cannot get enough of it! For my jewelry, I've got on the Large Gold Hoop Earrings, by GbyDesign, and these stacking bracelets, by Tish Jewelry. Lastly, my handkerchief serves as the scarf component as well as an added burst of color!

So basically if you're throwing stuff together and you're thinking to yourself "this is a lot, but it kind of looks awesome" then you're on the right track! Embracing the maximalism trend has forced me to go outside of my wardrobe comfort zone and express the more outgoing and crazy side to my style. I can only hope that your experiences experimenting with maximalism will do the same!