Guide to Stylishly Mixing of Prints and Patterns

Mixing prints and patterns for a stylish you is an art. This guide reveals the best stylists’ tricks and secrets on mixing prints and patterns like a pro.

Contents

Mixing Prints and Patterns – Yay or Nay?
How to Mix Patterns and/or Prints
Mixed Prints and Patterns Outfit Ideas
- Mixing Florals and Stripes
- Animal plus …
- Stripes and Plaid
- Floral and Plaid
- Stripes and Polka Dots
- Polka dots with plaid
- Camouflage plus Others
- Mixing Three and Prints/Patterns
- Try the Same Print, but Different Size/Color
What Doesn’t Work When Mixing Prints and Patterns?
Wrapping Up Mixing Prints and Patterns for a Stylish You

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Mixing Prints and Patterns – Yay or Nay?

Well, it’s an old fashion rule to only wear one print or pattern in an outfit.

Just one print per outfit is so yesteryear. #fashiontrends Click To Tweet

Today, mixing prints and patterns is a modern way to look stylish. However, what is too much for one women, may be just right for another. When I wear a print or pattern I rarely wear just one. Somehow I do love to mix them.

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How to Mix Patterns and/or Prints

… without looking like you dressed in the dark due to an outage. Here is a list of the tricks to get the mixed print-pattern trend right to the spot.

Polka dots of about the same size look great when the colors of the dots and background are inverted, or the dots have the same color, but the background has a different color. This polka dots on different color is a favorite next mix-and-match of fashion designers. The same applies for stripes. This type of mix is the easiest way to start mixing prints and pattern when you are new to it.
You can mix all patterns when they are gray.
Ground your prints/patterns with a solid color. If the print/pattern has black using black is foolproof. Otherwise the color that dominates the print is a good one to use.
Mix prints/patterns that have several colors in common.
Try to mix printed pieces which are in the same color scheme, but have different shades.
Make sure the prints have a different size or they are the same print and size, but different colors.
Only one animal print per outfit is foolproof.
To look ageless in animal print choose it in its natural or close to natural colors and treat the animal print as a neutral paired with large floral print with or without stripes that pick up colors of the print.
Try different geometric prints together that have common colors.
Try florals of different size with common colors.
Restrict yourself to two neutrals like black and white or white and blue.

stylish casual outfit with stripes and leopard print — Stripes and leopard in blue, gray, white and black

mature style blogger mixing prints and pattern in one outfit — Outfit details: Jeanne Pierre sweater with leopard print scarf, Oliveo denim skirt, GNW tights, statement belt, Prada dome bag, and Puma sneakers (all own). In this OOTD, blue is the grounding color.

Mixed Prints and Patterns Outfit Ideas

Here are some outfit examples for inspiration how to mix prints and/or patterns to look effortlessly stylish. They are ordered by type so they are easy-to-recreate from your own closet.

Floral and Stripes

Heidi Klum is a style icon who rocks the stripes and floral print look to the perfection. The typical combination is a striped top with a floral skirt. However, you can create the look also with other pieces as demonstrated below. More on styling floral print.

style blogger in striped shirt with A-line leather skirt — Florals and two different types of stripes

details of wooden watch — Zoom-in on the scarf and accessories that tie the look together

style book author in denim jacket tan skirt stripes floral print scarf — Outfit details: Dr. Scholl wedge sandals (thrifted), unbranded silk scarf, Ray Ban sunglasses, coin statement bracelet, Halogen A-line leather skirt, Levis denim jacket, Ray Ban sunglasses, Hermes collier de chien bangle, Kate Moss for Longchamp bag (all own), striped T-shirt c/o Marine Layer, and wooden watches c/o Jord

blogger Nicole in modest clothing with abstract flowers scarf and striped leather skirt — Insert flattering A-line top c/o Covered Perfectly, own GNW tight, Jimmy Choo tall boots, Oliveo leather skirt, floral print silk scarf, gemstone necklace, Hermes collier de chien bangle and self-made silver bangle

#styleover50 over 50 years old women layering summer clothes with a long sleeve cardigan for protection from mosquitoes — Talbot floral skirt, Loft striped sweater, Isaac Mizrahi long sleeve cardigan, Jaeger tote, peacock statement necklace , and slides c/o Vionic

Animal plus …

Animal print behaves like a neutral. Thus, it is the easiest to wear with other non-solid colored clothing. Wearing a multi-color around-the-knee length summer dress with leopard-print mules is foolproof. Think Rihanna.

ootd with diagonal plaid A-line skirt with giraffe print sweater — Layering top under giraffe print V-neck sweater with diagonal plaid A-line skirt, GNW tight and Gucci statement belt

fashion blogger mixing a plaid sheath with giraffe print — Ruby Belle plaid sheath, giraffe print sweater, Harley Davidson booties, grounded with black GNW tights, Festina watch, Hermes collier de chien bangle and Ray Ban sunglasses

Mixing Stripes and Plaid

midlife blogger mixing tartan and stripes in a knee length skirt, Tee, pink pumps and bag outfit — Moda International bomber jacket, Burberry skirt, 3.1 Phillip Lim pashli, Cartier just un clou, Hermes collier de chien bangle, pearl necklace, wooden sunglasses c/o Winkwood, top c/o Coolibar and Ivanka Trump pumps c/o Wikibuy

You can find more ideas how to style a pink plaid skirt at this link.

Floral and Plaid

fashionista wearing a scuba abstract floral print dress with gingham shirt mixed pattern trend — Calvin Klein scuba abstract floral print dress, GNW purple tights, Chanel thin belt, Vince Camuto boots, amethyst earrings (all own) and gingham shirt c/o Whistle River

Stripes and Polka Dots

fashionover40 woman in winter work outfit with mixed pattern — GNW polka dots cardigan, ethnic belt, Oliveo striped leather skirt, GNW tight, Jord bamboo watch, Musse & Cloud booties c/o Coolway and best girlfriend bracelet c/o Chico’s

Polka Dots with Plaid

stylist mixing a polka dot print skirt with a plaid pattern shirt — Oliveo plaid cotton shirt with Ralph Lauren polka dot skirt, Celine tote, Ray Ban sunglasses, Kieselstein Cord belt and buckle, and L.K. Bennett pumps

Camouflage plus Others

Alaskan woman in black and white camo print pants, zebra print cardigan, necklace with black top and coat — Notations zebra cardigan, layering top, Rebecca Collins gemstone necklace, Fendi boots, Jake’s shearling coat (all own), camouflage pants c/o Femme Luxe and vegan backpack c/o JORD

Mixing Three and More Prints/Patterns

Going all the way donning more than two prints is high risk, high reward. Why? Because more than the match of two is difficult to pull off unless your way of dressing has an Eclectic Style attitude.

Mixing three or more prints in one outfit is easiest when all prints have the same two colors like the blue and white trend in the example outfit below. It also works when all prints/patterns are from the same color family.

fashion blogger Nicole of of High Latitude Style in cardigan with polka dot skirt — Ralph Lauren skirt with GNW cardigan, BP wedge espadrille wedges, Hermes collier de chien bangle, Longchamp cuir pliage bag, Ray Ban sunglasses, Bulova watch (all own)

Women with a luxury Bohemian Style may also get away with multiple prints in one look. Note that the first mentioned style may convey the message “I don’t care about the rules.”, while the second may read poverty, when it goes wrong.

over 50 years old style blogger mixing strips, dots, and floral prints — Notations floral cardigan worn as top under Jones New York striped cardigan with Ralph Lauren polka dot pleated skirt, Modalu Pippa bag, Kieselstein Cord belt and buckle, Paloma Picasso sunglasses, and Christian Louboutin heels

The above example outfit is grounded by white. White occurs in all pieces and the pumps. Navy blue and white are both neutrals. Thus, they balance the abstract blossoms of the top.

stylist showing mixing prints and patterns — Example floral print with stripes dress with paisley print cardigan worn as top

midlife blogger in floral top, leopard cardigan camo Femme Luxe pants and booties — Camouflage pants c/o Femme Luxe with own GNW leopard cardigan, Pineapple Vintage top, smoky quartz necklace and earrings, Antonio Melani booties, Hermes collier de chien bangle, Festina watch

Try Using the Same Print, but Different Size/Color

This approach is relatively easy, but has great style impact.

mature lady in skirt and shirt mixing plaids of different size — Pendleton skirt, L.K. Bennett suede tall boots, Kieselstein Cord belt with three horses buckle, and shirt c/o Ethyl Clothing

The outfit inspiration below uses the red of the floral print on black background, red background of the polka dots and the red stripes for grounding. In other words, you can use other colors than black to ground your look.

fashion influencer in chic summer outfit with three patterns — Back view of summer outfit with floral print, polka dots and stripes

stylist in posh in floral skirt and striped top — Outfit details: Polka dot print Keds, Celine bag, Paloma Picasso sunglasses, Brooks Brothers striped sweater, Hermes collier de chien bangle, and Talbots floral skirt

What Doesn’t Work when Mixing Prints and Patterns?

Before I wrap up the most important points, let’s quickly review the most frequent fashion faux-pas. You want to make sure to avoid them when you adopt the trend.

Stay away from animal prints in non-natural colors with solids and/or other prints. This means don’t fall for fantasy animal prints. More on ageless style in animal prints.
Never pair prints or patterns of same size that have nothing in common, but the size beause it clashes them.
Also avoid to create outfits that look similar to a quilted bed throw, and
Anything too busy like hounds-tooth with polka dots of same size.

Wrapping Up Mixing Prints and Patterns for a Stylish You

Be creative, experiment. To obtain the most stylish results when mixing prints and patterns, try out everything with everything. Then go with what looks the best wrong. Make the mix the statement.

How are you mixing prints and patterns for a stylish you? Or do you wear just one print or pattern at a time? I’m just curious.