I love pattern mixing. To me, it is fun and spices up an outfit. Here are a few tips and tricks that I use to help figure out which pieces make sense together:
Start Small
Mixing patterns is super fun and can add intrigue to an outfit. If it’s your first time pattern mixing, it can be intimidating for sure! The best thing you can do is to start small. Try adding a floral headband with a striped shirt or a printed shoe with an outfit. Trying it is the first step!
Think About Scale
All patterns have scale, meaning they are all different sizes. When choosing patterns to mix consider those of different scales. This provides contrast and makes it look intentional. It also allows for one to be more of the focal point than the other. Take this outfit for example. The stripe on the dress is very small and so it does not take away from the quilted print on the jacket, but rather adds to it. If the dress had wider stripes on it, then it would be too busy together for my taste. Sometimes having the same exact scale works really well and looks like they’re meant for each other. Take this shirt and skirt as an example. The polka dots are about 1” wide and the stripes are all about 1” apart. This provides harmony and helps them work together.
Find Something in Common
The patterns should have something similar to one another in them. Most typically this is color. Take this example with a bandana around my neck. Both of these work with the stripe shirts because of the color. The white polka dots connect to the white stripes on the top. These make the pieces work together and provide unity with one another. Think of it as literally a common thread between the items.
If it Doesn’t Work, Take it Off or Change it Out
This tip works for lots of things with fashion. There is no harm in trying, even if it doesn’t work. You can trade it out the moment you look at it in the mirror, or maybe try taking the outfit for a spin around the grocery store and seeing if you get any weird looks or any compliments. The more things you try the more you will recognize what you like and don’t like. It’s very similar to eating new foods and developing your pallet; sometimes it just takes time.
Pattern mixing is not only fun, but it can also help to maximize your wardrobe. It can give you lots of new ways to wear things and can help to make items more season-specific as well.
Share with me new outfit combos you make or any other tips you have for pattern mixing!
