“But that doesn’t really go.” Whether it be in a fitting room or our own closets, we’ve all been on the sending and receiving end of this sentence. Put this mindframe in a box of your ex’s things and light it on fire, because nowadays it all “goes,” honey.
Here’s how to master printing mixing and not look like its 7th grade spirit week.
Exhibit A:
No stripes, no florals, no glory: Starting out easy- stripes and florals. Stripes and florals are prints worn every single season. The best way to revamp the LY stripe? Wear it with its best friend: florals. I prefer a floral top with a vertical striped bottom because I overread everything and think it looks like petals and a stem. Vertical striped bottoms are a must in your wardrobe! They make your legs slender and a mile longer. Beetlejuice was onto something. A classic black pinstripe pant would also work, as a more tame option. For girly vibes in the spring I wear a pale blue and white thinly vertically lined v-neck with a ruffled pink and purple Free People midi skirt. Print mixing is not just for fall.
Most people try to mix printed articles of clothing that have a distinctive shape. This is not necessary! The wrap top I am wearing is a kimono meant for around the house, but it was begging me to go play in the park, so I caved and wore it in public. With heeled sandals or booties and of course, a dark lip, this meant-for-bedroom ‘fit can be worn in the club to the wee hours of the morning.
Connect the Dots: Black with white polka dots or white with black? Why not both? Doubling down on one print is also an unexpected way to mix it up! To avoid looking like Cruella de Ville’s prey in head to toe spots, opt for different fabrics on your upper and lower halves. For instance, an acrylic sweater with a 100% cotton denim skirt. A belt or scarf tied loosely around your midsection highlights the top and bottom as two individual pieces. This look can also be achieved via stars, hearts, or any small shape on a solid ground.
The Secret Garden: Buckle in we are going up to advanced level 3! Boho kaleidoscope prints meet animal patterns at the corner of Modern and Hot Damn! This unexpected combo works because they go back to the same color family. The tan and black in the pleather snakeskin are accent colors in the top’s flowy medallions. The tan hue is replicated on the model’s sandals. A great rule of thumb: as colors get brighter creating a cohesive palette gets tougher.
Here is one of the very few times in my life I will say to keep accessories simple. Whatever your daily jewelry is (i.e. watch, studded earrings, small gold chain) is enough. For your bag select a solid color, but not something boring. A deep plum juxtaposes warm colors and is a subtle update on go-to black.
Animal print + whimsical geos are often combined into one shirt by designers for an update on patchworking. Nicolas Ghesquiere, the creative director for Louis Vuitton is now known as an “expert clasher” with his pre-fall mixed up line.
Whether your strutting the runway, or pounding the pavement in NYC, mixed up is not messed up!
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