Have you ever worn a floral blouse with a striped skirt? How about polka dots on top with a zebra print on the bottom? These choices may sound bold, but no matter your style, you can find a way to mix patterns in a way that Is stylish and fun. It's on-trend to mix patterns. Putting on an outfit shouldn't be boring, and when you mix patterns, it won't be. Let's talk through the ins and outs of pattern mixing. By the end, you'll know how to rock two patterns at once, because sometimes, more is better! Here's what you should know:
Know the print basics
You've got to know what prints are available to you. Some of the prints that you should know are florals, stripes, polka dots, paisley patterns, plaid, and more. In addition, always be sure to think about scale, colour, and texture. Try not to mix two small patterns or two pieces with identical textures. We'll talk more about this, ahead.
Getting the right balance
As we mentioned, balance is key. Instead of choosing a shirt with small polka dots and pants with small flowers, think about choosing a top that has a small-sized pattern and a bottom that has a larger-sized pattern. Doing this will ensure your pattern mixing proportions are just right.
Think about colour
We said more is better, but, still, you've got to be mindful that sometimes things can go a little bit too far. So, if you're wearing a mixed-pattern outfit, think about the colours in each pattern. If you're wearing a bright pink patterned pant, don't mix it with another bright colour---try to choose a more neutral-toned patterned blouse to wear. If you're someone who loves colour, you could try to adopt a monochromatic look. This way, your outfit is colourful, but not overwhelming.
Layer with intention
Mixing patterns can happen in a variety of ways. You don't have to wear a patterned shirt and patterned pants to fulfil the trend (though, you could!). If you're not so sure you can commit to wearing animal print on the top and the bottom, try wearing an animal print button-up underneath a striped sweater. When you mix patterns in this way, you could wear a neutral pant, like these stunning wide-leg trousers.
Accessorize to give your looks flair
Even when you create an outfit using mixed patterns, it's still important to accessorize. Adding a scarf, or a necklace, or a a watch to your outfit can pull it all together. Think about it this way: if you're going to go bold, you might as well go all the way---and when you add accessories to your mixed patterns, you're doing just that.
Don't overlook texture
We love cotton as much as the next person, but if you're wearing a cotton shirt and cotton pants, the outfit might be a little bit bland. To enhance the visual interest of your outfit, try finding two unique textures and mixing them together. Remember to mix patterns and textures.
Fuse casual and formal patterns
Mixing two casual patterns might end up looking sloppy and mixing two formal patterns might come out looking a little bit too contrived and awkward. To avoid this, you could mix two unexpected patterns. For example, try pairing a classic button-up with fun pants or a skirt. Although you might not wear bright sequinned pants with a button-up to the office, you could surely wear them to a holiday party or on vacation.
Personal style should be personalized. You need to wear clothes that fit your personality and taste. Therefore, try to fuse patterns that speak to you. Style is about finding your own unique perspective, so if you see two patterns you want to fuse---fuse them! Sometimes breaking the rules is okay, especially if you're confident in your look.
Confidence is key
The final thing you should know when mixing patterns is that in order to mix patterns, you've got to be confident in yourself. Not everyone will understand why you're mixing patterns if you step outside unsure of yourself and lacking in confidence. If you're going to wear bold patterns you've got to have a strong presence yourself. If you're mixing patterns, it's almost guaranteed your outfit is stunning, so don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Be confident when you're rocking your new outfits!
Mixing patterns: let's recap
These eight tips will surely help you mix patterns like a pro. Remember to think about colour, texture, and size along with the patterns themselves. In addition, be sure to accessorize and wear your outfits with confidence. At La Redoute, we encourage you to experiment with mixing and matching prints until you find a look that makes you feel great. It takes time to find your style, so be patient and have fun as you experiment with pattern mixing.
