Everyday Fashion Secrets

11 tips to look stylish when mixing prints/patterns

by Nicole Mölders
#over40fashion #over50fashion daring outfit with multiple colors and pattern | High Latitude Style | http://www.highlatitudestyle.com

Mixing prints and pattern – 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/or patterns are a modern way to look stylish. 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 tem. Today I want to share what works and what doesn’t. In this post, I will share my 11 best tricks how to get mixing prints and/or pattern right.

How to look great when mixing prints and/or patterns

How to mix patterns/prints

… without looking like you dressed in the dark due to an outage.

  1. Ground your prints/patterns with a solid color. If the print/pattern has black using black is foolproof.
  2. Mix prints/patterns that have several colors in common or are in the same color scheme, but have different shades.
  3. Make sure the prints have a different size.
  4. 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 to start with.
  5. Only one animal print per outfit.
  6. 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.
mature style blogger wearing a mixed prints/patterns outfit
Jeanne Pierre striped 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 examples for inspiration how to mix prints and/or patterns to look effortlessly stylish.

style book author wearing stripes and floral print in one outfit Example floral print with stripes: Jeanne Pierre sweater over floral print eShakti floral print dress worn as skirt with BCBG belt, GNW tights, Steve Madden fall sandals, Hermes collier de chien bangle, and striped shawl (all own)

over 50 years old fashion blogger wearing a work outfit with floral skirt with plaid blazer Example of floral and plaid: Ann Taylor floral skirt with Burberry plaid blazer, Gucci printed silk scarf, L.K. Bennett pumps, and Longchamp satchel (all own)

midlife woman wearing stripes and polka dots in one outfit Example stripes and polka dots: The Limited T-shirt, Lauren Ralph Lauren polka dot pleated skirt, Kieselstein Cord belt and buckle, Ray Ban sunglasses, Hermes collier de chien bangle, scarf, plateau sandals, and Chanel bag (all own)

midlife style blogger in striped cardigan and floral top and polka dot skirt Example mixing polka dots, stripes and floral: Jones New York cardigan, Lauren Ralph Lauren skirt, Notations floral cardigan worn as top, Modalo Pippa bag, Kieselstein Cord belt and buckle, Paloma Picasso sunglasses, and Christian Louboutain pumps (all own)

midlife style book author mixing floral, stripes and paisley in one outfit Example stripes, paisley and floral print: Karl Jäger floral print with stripes dress, GNW paisley print cardigan worn as top and Apostrophe Mary-Janes (all own)

#maturefashion woman in an outfit with polka dots and stripes Example polka dots with plaid:  GNW cardigan with Burberry pink plaid skirt, L.K. Bennett patent leather wedges, Hermes collier de chien bangle, Bulova watch, Kieselstein Cord belt and buckle, and Ray Ban sunglasses (all own)

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

mature lady in skirt and shirt with plaid of different size Pendleton skirt, L.K. Bennett suede tall boots, Kieselstein Cord belt, Kieselstein Cord three horses buckle (all own) and plaid shirt c/o Ethyl Clothing

fashion blogger in an outfit with stripes and plaid Example plaid and stripes: Jones New York blouse, GNW striped cardigan, Burberry pink plaid skirt, L.K. Bennett wedge patent leather heels, Hermes collier de chien bangle, vintage watch, Moda International short sleeve sweater (all own), and necklace c/o Almo Jewellery

outfit with girafe print and plaid in neutral colors Example animal print and plaid: black layering top c/o Adea under own giraffe print sweater with plaid skirt, Hermes collier de chien bangle, Gucci belt grounded with GNW black tights

#agelessstyle mature woman showing how to mix prints/patter to look stylish Example polka dots of similar size, but with different background color: Jones New York shirt, Lauren Ralph Lauren pleated skirt, Liz Claiborne open-toe pumps, Chanel belt, Hermes collier de chien bangle, Tissot watch and Jaeger tote (all own)

#styleover50 woman in plaid sheath with girafe print sweater Example Ruby Belle plaid sheath dress, giraffe print sweater, Harley Davidson booties, grounded with black GNW tights, Festina watch, Hermes collier de chien bangle an Ray Ban sunglasses (all own)

mature woman in leopard and floarl print outfit Example leopard and floral print: Eddie Bauer tweed skirt, Notations cardigan worn as top and GNW snow leopard print cardigan, Modalo Pippa bag, Apostrope ankle strap pumps, Hermes collier de chien bangle, and Paloma Picasso sunglasses (all own)

Nicole of High Latitude Style mixing zebra print and hounds tooth in a work outfit Example GNW zebra cardigan with hounds tooth blazer, Oliveo full leather skirt, D&GM sunglasses, DIY necklace, Chanel belt (all own)

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

Nicole in floral, zebra, hounds tooth mixed pattern trend Banana Republic skirt, Isaac Mizrahi cardigan, Hermes collier de chien bangle, GNW tights, Edelweiß silk neckerchief (all own) and zebra top c/o Covered Perfectly

What doesn’t work

  1. Animal prints in non-natural colors with solids and/or other prints, i.e. stay away from fantasy animal print
  2. Prints or pattern of same size
  3. Outfits that looks similar to a quilted bed throw
  4. Houndstooth with polka dots of same size (too busy)
stylish casual outfit with strpes and leopard print
Zoom-in on the OOTD with Jeanne Pierre striped sweater with leopard print scarf, statement belt, Oliveo denim skirt, GNW tight, Hermes collier de chien bangle, and Puma sneakers (all own)

If you liked these tips tweet to your friends

A must read. How to mix prints/patterns to look effortlessly stylish. #fashion Click To Tweet

How do you mix and match your prints and patterns? Or do you wear just one print or pattern at a time? I’m just curious.

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Photos: G. Kramm

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