The Dos and Don’ts of Print Mixing

This past weekend I went shopping with my best friend. The morning started out with Forever 21, a paradise for men and women alike. In Forever 21, there were a lot of hits, but there were also a lot of misses. One of the biggest fashion disasters I saw was not one article of clothing in particular, but an ensemble worn by one of the mannequins. The mannequin wore a cute overall dress and a striped long sleeve shirt, which is totally fine on it’s own. But the big mistake was the blue paisley scarf. In essence, the look was a case  of print mixing gone wrong. Print mixing can be very trendy, but it can also be a fashion faux pas. Here is STITCH’s guide to all things prints so you can feel confident and comfortable knowing that your print mixing will be a success.

1. Do  have a vision in mind.

Killer print mixing never starts with someone just throwing on random articles of clothing. Start with a vision or a goal in mind. If you want to look flirty, go for lighter color prints, but if you want to go dramatic, take some dark prints out of your closet. Having a plan is essential when assuming the role of a print DJ.

2. Don’t go overboard.

Remember - being loud and fun doesn’t mean you need 7 different mega-prints. Mixing prints is a delicate process, one must approach it with the utmost caution. Large prints on large prints can often times look overwhelming.

3. Do start slow.

Baby steps are important when mixing prints. Don’t necessarily start out by mixing a red animal print with polka dots or by mixing large stripes with small stripes. Start by mixing smaller, less prominent patterns with larger ones. A good stepping stone is small polka dots and long vertical stripes or a floral.

4. Don’t jump color schemes.

Here is where many people go wrong. Jumping color schemes creates a clear rift in an outfit. It is important that the prints are cohesive and that the color scheme carries through the whole outfit. If you want to mix a print that’s black and maroon, mix it with another print that has black and carries the color scheme through. If you want to take a risk, mix it with a complimentary color. For instance, a nice orange with a seafoam green compliment one another nicely and don’t clash.

5. Do mix animal prints.

A mixture of animal prints can be incredibly effective in an outfit, and often times it is bound to look fierce. Even though it can quickly go over the top, mixed animal prints work well when they share a similar color scheme. That’s the key. Mix a nice gray cheetah print with zebra, or a red leopard print with a black leopard, and you’ll be strutting in style

6. Do have a statement piece.

All memorable looks have a piece that incites a gasp. Have a statement piece that takes people’s breath away, and formulate the look around that. These pieces normally have a more vibrant and bright print, and they help to pull the entire look together. Statement pieces should be the center of any print mixing outfit.