A Beginners Guide to Mixing Patterns

mylifeashales
Nov 5, 2018
2 min read

Mixing patterns. Once a fashion faux pa, now a celebration of boldness. Is there such a thing as going too far? When it comes to fashion can you even go too far? Although I am no expert on mixing patterns quite yet, I can offer a beginners guide. A how-to if you will. So without further ado, here is my guide to mixing patterns for you to read at your leisure.

Now when it comes to easing into pattern mixing it is a good rule of thumb to work with the same color scheme. What is the easiest color scheme you ask? The answer is always a very simple: black. Yes black can be boring, but it can also be very chic and bold depending on how you style it. It's also easy to incorporate greys and whites when working with black. For my ensemble I decided to play with shades of grey, white, and black for my pattern mixing. I also decided to take it one step further and added a pop of color and texture.

Adding texture can be a playful way to incorporate a subtle pattern. Take this corduroy skirt for example. One can argue that the lines in the corduroy are vertical stripes, mixing with the horizontal stripes in this turtleneck shirt. If you are playing with neutrals, integrating a colorful skirt or accessory into your outfit can elevate your look even further.

In hindsight, mixing patterns is all about layers. Starting with a top, a bottom, and finishing it off with a jacket or patterned shoes. It can be as simple as wearing patterned denim or pants with a fun top. Or even a patterned dress with a bold coat. The options are limitless and the creativity is all yours! For my outfit, the white and black grid pattern in this coat blend into the grey stripes of the turtleneck seamlessly. Subtle, yet chic. Paired with a bold colored skirt, tights, and knee-high boots it is an outfit ready to take on the city (or wherever you go).