Mixing different patterns and prints is not for conservative dressers- it’s one of the signs of being fashion forward. If you do it correctly, your ensemble will have a put-together look and earn you the compliment of having a chic sense of dressing. However it is very easy to mess the look up. The good news is that once you learn the fundamentals of matching prints, you can effortlessly become adept at it. Let’s look at some basic rules:
Choose prints having the same base color, or a similar color scheme. If you are experimenting for the first time, try matching stripes with another print like plaid. These are the easiest patterns to match. For instance, you could take a striped dress like the one from JWLA clothing. It has a pretty red embroidered heart and anchor on it. Put on a cropped red plaid jacket to add a bit of pizzaz to the outfit. Pairing the python print top and striped skirt is another example of matching patterns of the same color family.Ensure that the prints are of varying sizes. If you have small delicate sparse patterns on the top, opt for large eye-catching prints on the bottom. An instance would be the Kate Spade ensemble, wherein the navy blouse has a pretty white floral pattern whilst the A-line skirt has vibrant bold stripes of green, white and navy.
As you gain greater expertise in matching patterns, you could move on from two to three prints. Don’t restrict yourself to prints on the clothes. For example, you could wear houndstooth dress and accessorize with a brown scarf with yellow polka dots and leopard print shoes.
The key to successfully matching prints is to ensure that your outfit has a cohesive look. Once you learn to do so, you’ll find that the number of outfits that you can create with your current wardrobe suddenly multiplies. Have a fun time experimenting!