How to Mix & Match Patterns

I remember when I was in my early twenties and the trend was to have everything match. Your purse would match your shoes and your shoes matched your dress. Even the nail polish on my fingers and my toes matched perfectly. Fast forward, now that is considered old fashioned. If you want to update your look then you need to mix it all up. Today, am sharing 3 simple tricks for how to mix & match patterns. Let’s first start with patterns

I will admit that mixing prints took me awhile to figure this out. It can get tricky. I have a high school friend that hates to shop. She loves nice clothes but struggles with putting outfits together. She once told me that she liked to look at the mannequins in the store and just buy whatever they were wearing. Of course, that was long before stores provided personal shoppers. Regardless, I like art and dressing is a form of art. I enjoy it because in a way it takes creativity to find your unique style.

The number one rule is to like what you’re wearing. Because, if you don’t, it will reflect a negative image.  

Dress your truth, do not try to be someone you are not or dress to please others.

Looking your best does not mean that you need to spend a lot of money either. For one, that is not feasible. Or maybe you’re the type that doesn’t like to draw attention and prefer clothing that’s simple and understated.   

Pair Patterns that have at least 2 similar colors

When mixing patterns look at the colors. Find two colors that are the same in each piece. For example, I’m wearing this black geometric patterned skirt. Black and white are the predominant colors. I paired them with zebra patterned sling backs that are also black and white. Just look for patterns that have at least two similar colors. And mix the following patterns together.

• Stripes and florals
• Florals and polka dots
• Pinstripes and animal print
• Geometric Patterns

Mix different sized patterns

Keep the two patterns balanced by selecting a larger print to pair with a smaller pattern. For example, with the floral print and the polka dots one should be at least half the size of the other. The same goes for the stripes with florals. The larger the stripe pattern than the smaller the floral pattern should be.

This will not take as much effort as you think. It’s really quite simple and summer is a great time to introduce a splash of color into your wardrobe. Cheers!