Print Cocktail

I’ve broken the rules. Gasp! No, not the fact that I have mixed my prints – because as we all know, that is so very au fait right now – but rather the fact that I have ignored the scale rule, and I have mixed three different patterns.

The most important thing about mixing patterns is tone. When the patterns belong to a similar colour family, they will harmonise in a much friendlier way: to you figure, and to the eyes of innocent passers-by. After all, we don’t want to make random strangers’ eyes bleed, do we?

Some fashionistas advocate not mixing more than two prints, or teaming them with another solid block colour. I have chosen to flout this rule.

I already mentioned another rule I have broken – that of scale. Usually I would recommend pairing a bolder, large-scale print with a daintier, small-scale print. Here, however, I have brazenly combined three prints all of similar scale. Two of the prints – the cherry tank and the floral 70s silk hat – are so similar that to the passing glance they are the same. The third print in the shorts has the same cream background, with red shapes the same size as the cherries, but the overall pattern has a denser coverage. And somehow they all work together. It’s a fun little summer outfit.

If you’d like to attempt this yourself at home (but are feeling nervous), make it easier on yourself by starting with one key piece and building around it. Either polka dots or stripes are great mixers with other patterns, and they work brilliantly together too. Another, subtler way to mix patterns is to use textured fabrics – perhaps a tweed skirt paired with a printed blouse. See my example above: both items are navy and white. I love this combination!

Use plain-coloured accessories to tie the outfit together: a wide belt or large envelope or clutch bag that will not be overwhelmed by the patterns. Jewellery should be simple – a thin chain necklace, or some chunky wooden beads.

For some more inspiration, click on patterns in the tag cloud at right. Have fun!