Mixing prints can sound weird and be intimidating, but it’s much easier than you think! Follow these key steps to ensure that you rock your multi-patterned outfit and skip the worst dressed list.
Realistically look at your body and pick prints in proportion to your shape and size: This is not me trying to get you to judge yourself; this is far from it actually. Looking at your body and picking prints in proportion to you makes you appear slimmer. If you’re 6 ft tall and a size xlarge, picking a detailed print with a very small pattern, such as a tiny floral print, will make you appear larger. It will take more of the tiny graphics to cover you. If you pick a medium sized plaid or paisley however, it will take less of the tiny print per garment, acting proportionally to your size. That said, if you are going for an accent piece such as a bowtie/tie, clutch, or scarf, you can go as small as you want on the pattern, because it won’t be covering a large surface area.
Pick patterns within the same color palate: Sticking with the same color palate shows that you know what you’re doing and did not get dressed by a two year old. Going outside the color palate aside from a small pop of color can draw too much attention and make you appear sloppy and not put together. Picking multiple prints in the same hue, (i.e. black and white prints, neutrals, warm tones, cool tones, etc) accentuates your fashion knowledge of how to pair colors, styles, and prints. My suggestion when starting out is to stick with more basic colors such as black and white, or grey tones, as they don’t seem to be as stark, and are easy to find in many stores. Try a plaid with a stripe for an easy first match.
Go for one bold print paired with other, less dramatic patterns: The key to mixing patterns is to have them work, not clash, so letting one print take center stage while the others serve as backups is an easy way to ensure you’re mixing correctly. As seen in the above picture, the gingham blazer takes the stage while the subtle pattern of the shirt and dark blue paisley of the tie act almost as solids. In the picture on the right, the skirt acts as the main attraction while the stripes of the clutch are simply an accent.
It sounds crazy, but combination of prints looks awesome. If you have any specific questions or want to ask if your pattern combo works, contact me through the website, or find me on Facebook and Instagram, searching for writestylesonline.