Play with Prints in Prints: The Art of Pattern Mixing

Prints are a vibrant and dynamic way to express your personality, add interest to your outfits, and elevate your overall style. From bold florals and animal prints to geometric shapes and abstract designs, incorporating prints into your wardrobe allows for endless creativity and self-expression. However, for many, mixing prints can seem daunting or overwhelming. The key lies in understanding how to incorporate prints thoughtfully, balancing them with solid pieces, and creating cohesive looks that make a statement without feeling chaotic.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the essential tips and strategies for seamlessly integrating prints into your wardrobe, along with practical outfit ideas that help you embrace prints confidently.

1. Start Small: Incorporate Prints Through Accessories

If you’re new to prints or hesitant about making bold statements, start small. Accessories are an excellent way to introduce prints into your wardrobe without overwhelming your look.

Ideas include:

Printed scarves or bandanas that can be tied around your neck, wrist, or handbag.
Patterned handbags, clutches, or wallets to add a pop of visual interest.
Printed shoes, such as flats, sneakers, or ankle boots, that subtly incorporate patterns.
Statement jewelry with printed elements, like earrings or layered necklaces with printed charms.

Benefit:
Using prints as accessories allows you to experiment and find your comfort zone before moving on to larger clothing pieces.

2. Mix Prints with Solids: The Foundation of Successful Pattern Mixing

One of the simplest ways to incorporate prints is to pair them with solid colors. This approach creates balance and prevents your outfit from appearing too busy.

Tips for pairing:

Choose a printed piece and match it with a solid that complements one of the colors in the print. For example, a floral blouse with shades of blue paired with navy trousers or a beige skirt.
Use neutral solids like white, black, beige, or gray to anchor more vibrant prints.
Keep the overall color palette cohesive to ensure harmony.

Example outfits:

Printed floral top + white jeans or trousers.
Animal print skirt + black or neutral top.
Geometric print shirt + solid-colored blazer or jacket.

3. Vary the Scale: Balance Large and Small Prints

Mixing prints of different scales can create a harmonious and visually interesting ensemble. The key is to pair a bold, large-scale print with a smaller, more delicate one.

How to do it:

Pair a large floral or animal print dress with smaller printed accessories or shoes.
Combine a small polka-dot blouse with a bigger checkered blazer.
When mixing prints, ensure the colors complement each other, even if the patterns differ significantly in size.

Pro tip:
Stick to a similar color palette to keep the look cohesive and avoid clashing.

4. Create a Color Story: Harmonize Prints with Matching Hues

Developing a color story helps tie different prints together seamlessly. Even if the patterns are different, matching the dominant colors creates a unified look.

Strategies include:

Picking prints that share at least one common color.
Using a color wheel to find complementary or analogous hues that work well together.
Incorporating prints with different color intensities but within the same color family.

Example:
A leopard print scarf in shades of brown and black paired with a striped top that features similar earth tones.

5. Layer Prints with Confidence: Monochrome and Tonal Looks

Layering prints can be daring but highly fashionable when done thoughtfully.

Approaches:

Use a monochrome or tonal palette, such as different shades of blue, to layer prints—like a navy striped shirt under a navy floral blazer.
Wear a printed dress with a printed jacket or cardigan in a coordinating pattern or color.
Alternatively, layer a printed top with a patterned skirt or pants that share similar hues.

Note:
In layered print looks, keep the patterns varied in scale to avoid visual overload.

6. Embrace Neutral Backgrounds with Statement Prints

If you prefer a more subdued approach, incorporate prints that feature neutral backgrounds—like black, white, beige, or gray—with bold patterns on clothing or accessories.

Ideas include:

A white blouse with black polka dots.
A beige dress with subtle floral prints.
A striped black-and-white top paired with solid-colored trousers.

This method creates a balanced, sophisticated look that allows the print to stand out without overwhelming.

7. Incorporate Prints in Different Clothing Types

Prints aren’t limited to tops or dresses. You can incorporate them into various clothing items for a versatile wardrobe.

Options include:

Pants and skirts: Animal prints, plaids, or abstract patterns in trousers or skirts can add edge to your outfits.
Outerwear: Printed jackets, blazers, or coats make a statement piece.
Dresses: From flowy maxis to fitted sheaths, printed dresses are a quick style fix.
Activewear: Leggings, sports bras, or workout tops with prints make activewear fun and fashionable.

8. Play with Prints in Prints: The Art of Pattern Mixing

For the more adventurous, mixing different prints within an outfit can showcase your fashion confidence. The trick is to balance patterns and ensure they complement each other.

Guidelines:

Stick to a common color palette across patterns.
Vary the scale of the prints—pair a large floral with a tiny polka-dot or stripe.
Keep other elements minimal—let the prints be the focus.

Example:
A striped top with a floral skirt, both sharing shades of blue and white, creates a cohesive yet playful look.

9. Practical Tips for Incorporating Prints

Start with classic patterns: Polka dots, stripes, florals, and animal prints are timeless and easy to mix and match.
Limit the number of patterns: For beginners, stick to two or three prints per outfit.
Use accessories to experiment: Incorporate printed accessories before committing to larger pieces.
Balance bold prints with subtle ones: Pair statement patterns with more muted or understated prints.
Trust your instincts: If you love a print, find ways to incorporate it into your style—confidence is key!

10. Sample Outfit Ideas for Incorporating Prints

Casual Day Out: White t-shirt + leopard print skirt + white sneakers + simple jewelry.
Chic Office Look: Striped blouse + solid-colored tailored trousers + printed blazer + neutral heels.
Weekend Brunch: Floral dress + denim jacket + printed tote bag + sandals.
Night Out: Animal print top + black leather skirt or pants + statement earrings + heels.

Conclusion

Incorporating prints into your wardrobe is a fantastic way to showcase your personality, add visual interest, and elevate your style. The key is to start with small, manageable pieces like accessories, then gradually experiment with mixing patterns, scales, and colors. Balancing prints with solids, paying attention to color harmony, and playing with scale are essential strategies to master print mixing.

Remember, confidence is your best accessory when wearing prints. With a little practice and creativity, you’ll find that prints can become a fun and versatile part of your fashion repertoire, enabling you to create unique, eye-catching outfits for every occasion.