How To: Mixing Patterns and Textures
It’s no secret that I love adding variety to my wardrobe. And mixing intricate patterns and touchable textures are just the thing to spice up a closet! Successfully pulling this off can be accomplished using bold colors and neutral hues, alike. Mixing and matching like this gives your outfit a certain Je ne sais quoi and really lets your personality shine. Whether this is your first step into mixing prints or you’re a seasoned pro, here are a few tips to successfully mixing patterns and textures.
It runs in the (color) family
To make sure your outfit looks complete, choose pieces that are in the same color family. Earth-tone hues complement each other, and cooler coastal colors work really well together. Keep your outfit in the same temperature or color family and you’re going to look great!
Pick a base color
Choose one color to anchor the outfit. Whether it’s a neutral white or a bold red, that color should show up in each piece. This will help draw the eye to a single, connected feature and allow the outfit to look gorgeously pulled together.
Opposites attract
If your bottom is a structured fabric or print, wear a top with soft ruffles. Just like if you’re wearing a chunky knit sweater, it will beautifully complement a pair of skinny jeans. Choosing opposing themes will help to balance your look.
Everyone loves a theme
If you’re not sure where to start, pick with a theme! Animal prints come in a variety of shapes and colors, but since they’re all within the same pattern theme, they can be easily mixed and matched. Think: cheetah and leopard prints, they’re similar, but just different enough to make an outfit come together!
Scale
Speaking of balance, change up the size of the print when mixing two patterns together. A small plaid print will perfectly balance a larger floral pattern. Too much of a design in similar sizes can look very busy. Another example: if you’re wearing a corduroy pant, you’ll want to pair it with a top featuring a larger texture or pattern to help balance the small ridges of the corduroy.
When in doubt, add stripes
Stripes are one of the easiest patterns to mix. They’re very classic and simple...and that makes them super easy to pair with other, more intricate designs! If you’re just dipping your toes into mixing textures and prints, start with a neutral stripe and go from there!
