By Jasmine Proctor (Contributor) – Email
Print Edition: February 20, 2013
One of the scariest but most rewarding risks one can take in fashion is switching up prints and matching them accordingly. Even to this day, I occasionally hesitate when putting together an outfit in fear that the patterns will potentially clash. It’s one of those instances in the outfit picking process when you don’t want to make the decision alone – I’ve always needed a second opinion. But recently, I’ve discovered a few fool-proof tricks to make sure each print I try to mix up ends up looking fabulous.
The first and most important tip I can give is that you should make sure there are similar colours in both patterns. Literally, if your prints both share some of the same colours, they will more often than not look great together. Say, for example, you have a knit, quarter-length top that is white with navy stripes and you want to pair it with a skirt of a different print. If that skirt is, say, black with white polka dots or navy with black polka dots, it will most definitely work. To tie the two prints together completely, use a neutral coloured belt between them. This distinguishes a definite beginning and ending to the prints, making them workable and also showcasing how they both are different, yet look great together. This look has a very nautical vibe to it, which is actually right on trend for spring and summer.
Floral prints are also going to be trendy this spring, but they’re not always easy to mix and match. Now, I am not going to be the one to advise you to try and mix two different types of floral patterns together because, to be quite honest, that’s bloody difficult. Even the slightest mistake with that one could end up making you look like you just walked out of a bad ‘90s movie.
No, I want to keep it simple and straight forward, which is why I would suggest mixing any dainty, smaller-printed floral bottom with a very basic, neutral-toned striped top. Since the shirt is so soft and minimal (preferably white or beige with a black stripe) it looks remarkably feminine when paired with the already girly flower pattern on the bottom. Both complement each other fabulously, and present a fresh take on two classic prints.
Finally, I must come to the animal print combos. This can seem at times to be a tricky duo to try and piece together, but really it can be quite effortless if you want it to be. The most basic thing to look for is small print versus big print. What I mean by this is if you have a pair of large-printed Zebra-striped pants, try coordinating it with a top that has a smaller animal print on it, like cheetah spots or something of that nature. As well, try looking for a realistic print and pair it with a more abstract, exaggerated print. This allows you to mix both prints, but make it look fashionable as opposed to tacky.
