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Nine West Kelly green pumps, Paloma Picasso xo orange belt, Hermes collier de chien belt, Loula Roe print dress, smoky quartz pendand necklace, Paloma Picasso sunglasses (all own), cork hide vegan rucksack c/o JORD and navy blue dial with olive nylon band designer watch c/o Nordgreen
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A unusual prints versatile to style? How to make a statement with an unexpected print and not look like trying to hard when you are over 40? This post illustrates by means of four dresses how versatile you can style wild prints. Get inspired, try the trend with these easy to apply tips.

Contents
  1. Why Is a Dress with a Trendy New Print a Great Way to Update Your Wardrobe
  2. How to Make a Statement with an Unexpected Prints
  3. How to Style a Victoria Victoria Beckham Cat Dress
  4. Wild Prints Are As Versatile to Style As Other Prints
    • Printed Sheath Dress Outfit Ideas
    • Cat Dress Outfit Ideas
  5. Conclusion: No Reason to Fear an Unusual Print

 

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

 

Why Is a Dress with a Trendy New Print Is a Great Way to Update Your Wardrobe

Trendy cool, wild, weird – you name it – print dresses are a great way to update your wardrobe. Because you never know how long the trend will last, it should be inexpensive, but have a classic cut. Alternatively, you go for an It designer. When I saw this A-line high-low hem dress, I knew it would fit my summer trendy update list: Classic posh cut plus an It print. Ikat is a ethnic inspired print. More on how you can look ageless in the global print trend in the guide at the link.

 

fashion influencer in high low dress with native American inspired print stripes in bold colors orange belt green pumps
Dress with Ikat inspired print

 

 

 

 

trendsetter in ikat striped print A-Line dress green shoes, tan backpack, sunglasses, xo belt
Nine West Kelly green pumps, Paloma Picasso xo orange belt, Hermes collier de chien belt, Lula Roe print dress, smoky-quartz pendant necklace, Paloma Picasso sunglasses, cork hide vegan rucksack c/o JORD and navy blue dial with olive nylon band designer watch c/o Nordgreen.

 

Unexpected Prints Make a Statement

I love Victoria Beckham’s sleek designs. A couple of years ago, I splurged on this silk fall dress. You have seen it on the blog in various outfits, for instance, worn as a shirt, I love the cut, color combination, and the print. Dresses on a dress. How genius, or should I say genia (The female form, I had to take Latin for 5 years!) is this idea? Not the usual floral print, polka dots, squares, triangles, but dresses!

 

outfit details of lace skirt and belt
Victoria Victoria Beckham dress, Hermes belt, Calvin Klein nude pumps, and DIY lace underskirt.

 

I love her designs, but I would like a bit more fabric towards the “south”, i.e. a bit more leg coverage. Thus, I recently sew this lace underskirt to wear under this (and other dresses). It’s basically a recycled half slip. I sew on two rows of lace so I could wear it as an underskirt and elongate dresses that don’t have my favorite length which is just above the knee. Therefore, sort of my sweet point for length.

 

How to Style a Victoria Beckham Cat Dress

The next photo shows a dress designed by It designer Victoria Beckham. When I saw a photo of Victoria Beckham wearing this sleek cat dress in a magazine, I had to have it. I love the salmon color and cute cat print of this beauty. Well, I love cats. When one looks from far, the print looks quite interesting. You have to come close to realize that the print are white and red cats. I also liked the sort of late 1920s style cut with the drop waist and the interesting sleeves.

This dress is quite girly, which is not my usual style. Moreover, I’m about a decade older than her. Therefore, to style the dress along my personal preferences, I added studded pumps for an edge. I also added a white silk scarf worn the Indian way, i.e. hanging down in the back. Styling scarves this way requires to pin the scarf to the dress so the scarf does not slip or gets blown away by wind gusts.

 

midlife stylist in Victoria Victoria Beckham pleated cat dress
Back view of cat print dress

 

Nicole of High Latitude Style donning a salmon color cat dress as a guest at a nuptial
Salmon-pink Victoria Victoria Beckham drop waist pleated skirt cat print dress, unbranded black studded patent leather heels, Garnet necklace and earrings, Hermes collier de chien bangle, Esprit shoulder bag and oblong DIY white silk scarf pinned to the dress.

 

Wild Prints Are as Versatile to Style as Other Prints

Printed Sheath Dress Outfit Ideas

There is something cool and practical about sheath dresses. They are very versatile. You can make multiple outfits with a sheath that look completely different. Plus depending on the material, they work in three seasons.

 

 

Alaskan fashion blogger styling a crazy print dress
Side view of sheath to show that the back is black

 

over 50 years old stylist summer sheath with bold pattern
Front view of abstract print dress

 

midlife style blogger looking posh chic in bold pattern summer business casual
Robe c/o Zaful, own Celine tote, Ray Ban sunglasses, pearls, Hermes collier de chien leather band, statement belt, unbranded pantyhose and Salvatore Ferragamo pumps.

 

The many different colors of the print make it easy to wear the dress in different ways. A sheath with a turtleneck underneath is an instant work outfit for the cold season and rescue last minute dressing problems with instant chic work outfits with dresses.

 

mature woman rocking the crazy print trend in a business casual dress with T-shirt layered underneath
Front view of wild print dress with layering top in matching color

 

over 50 years old fashion blogger in a cool crazy print sheath work outfit worn with T-shirt
Cool print sheath c/o Zaful, own long-sleeve T-shirt, Kieselstein Cord belt and buckle, Ivanka Trunk, ankle strap pumps, and Hermes collier de chien leather band.

 

You can wear this kind of sheath in different ways. Sheaths work for summer and as a great layering piece in winter. Therefore, a printed sheath gives you a lot of styling options.

Who said you can’t wear a piece two days in a row in different outfits?

 

style book author showing how to style a wild print sheath with cardigan
Sheath c/o Zaful, own Isaac Mizrahi cardigan, opera pink pearl necklace, statement belt, Hermes collier de chien bangle and leather band, Salvatore Ferragamo pumps, Ray Ban sunglasses and Celine tote.

 

A trendy sheath dress is a perfect addition to your summer wardrobe.

 

Cat Dress Outfit Ideas

The next photos show the cat dress styled for a cool summer day, summer evening or air conditioned office. Just pick a color of the print like here black. Red and white would work too.

 

details of Victoria Victoria Beckham cat dress
Zoom-in on cat print to show details

 

stylist in crazy print cat dress with cardigan
Victoria Victoria Beckham silk print cat dress, Isaac Mizrahi cardigan, Hermes collier de chien bangle, Paloma Picasso sunglasses, unbranded studded flats, Bulova watch, brooch from my late Grandma Hannah and Esprit bag.

 

Of course, a wild print jacket adds many wardrobe options too.

 

Conclusion: No Reason to Fear an Unusual Print

When you love a print and are in the market for the piece it is printed on, go for it when the cut is classic. Wild prints are as easy to style as colorful geometric or floral prints.

 

Friends don’t let friends wear bad outfits.

When you like the blog, you may also want to get my style recipe book How to Dress for Success in Midlife. Buy your copy now.

 

Photos of me: G. Kramm

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