“Never mix prints” is one of the outdated fashion “rules”, similar to “blue and green should never be seen“, and we now often see examples of print mixing, and it’s a really fun way to elevate your style.
And yet, many of us still hesitate before placing two prints next to each other, and it never quite seems to look right when we attempt it ourselves.
Mixing prints is a little daunting, and yet when done right it looks fabulous. So, here are a few tips to help you get mixed prints right.
1 Cheat
You can follow my example and cheat by having all the mixed prints in one piece, such as in this skirt from Claudie Pierlot.
I paired it with a simple green sweater, from Sezane, which picks up one of the colours in the skirt. (see this post for how to wear a bold print).
2 Pay attention to Balance
Balance large and small prints.
If one print is big, then balance it out with a smaller scale print.
Balance loud and subtle prints.
If one print is bold and bright, balance it with a more subtle print, or mix neutral coloured prints with a bold coloured prints.
You want the overall look to be balanced and not about competing prints!
3 Make use of the “new neutrals”
Simple black or navy horizontal stripes are considered as neutrals for the purposes of print mixing, so you could combine a striped top with a bolder print skirt, or vice-versa.
Similarly, subtle animal prints such as snakeskin and leopard print, are considered as “neutral” for this purpose, so style them with a bold print, such as florals.
4 Pay attention to your body shape
In general, large prints and horizontal stripes make you look bigger, whereas small prints and vertical stripes are slimming.
With this in mind, wear the larger print/ bolder print on an area of your body that you want to draw attention to, and keep the smaller/ subtler print for the area of your body that you want to minimise/ distract attention from.
5 Mix prints that have a colour in common
Pick prints that have a colour in common to make the look more harmonious.
Or if you want to start simply, opt for black and white and mix black and white polka dots with black and white stripes for a subtle take on mixed prints, or opt for shades of grey.
The polka dot print above is so subtle, you can barely discern that there is a second print.
6 Mix prints of the same colour but in different sizes or inversed colours
For example, you could wear a black top with white polka dots and a white skirt with black polka dots. This will be aesthetically pleasing and create a balanced harmonious look.
7 Make use of accessories
If you’re not ready to commit to full-on print mixing, try adding the second print with an accessory, such as a print scarf or bag.
You can even try print mixing with your dog!
I hope you enjoyed these tips for how to wear mixed prints, and you can also have a look at more of our style tips if you want some more inspiration.
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