Are you on the struggle-bus each morning, trying to work out how to match your striped sweatpants with your hoodie from your high school synchronized swimming team so you feel comfortable yet polished enough to call yourself a human being?
Yeah. I was there once too.
Let me tell you the story of how I went from being a plain Jane, wearing all black most days, to finding joy each morning as I mix prints and textures for outfits that are comfortable and make me feel exactly like me.
The year was 2014. Or was it 2013? Yeah, it was somewhere around then. I remember distinctly seeing a woman wearing this striking outfit of head-to-toe, uneven dots. It was like a dot within a dot, and a bit misshapen, which made it look artisanal and interesting. I loved it. She looked captivating but not distracting.
My eyes weren’t drawn to a weirdly colored neon belt or some super bright accent shoes, they were drawn to her.
I immediately complimented her on her outfit, assuming it was a jumpsuit or a dress, and she responded, “Thank you! I had this top and pant that are both in the same print, and on a whim decided to pair them together!”
Mind blown. Okay, maybe I’m being a little over dramatic. But this one interaction DID forever change the way I dress, so maybe not?
This interaction sparked something in me. I decided to reorganize my closet (by outfit! Not the Marie Kondo way) to help me find creative ways to wear what I already owned. By organizing my clothing in a new way and seeing my clothes as ingredients in an outfit-recipe, I was able to actually get rid of more because, for the first time, I was able to see if each of my apparel items were actually contributing something unique.
So, where to begin, you ask?
The secret to mixing prints begins here: start with monochromatic or tonal prints (aka- same color, different shades).
Yeah. You heard me right. Don’t go all in mixing cheetah with florals. Start small, and pick one color (plus a neutral) and go to town.
Another tip? Start small. Just like that old phrase, “good things come in small packages,” this is true for prints too! The smaller the print the less aggressive it will be to the eye and the easier it will be to pair it with another print.
You could even begin by wearing same or similar colors together. A red belt draws the eyes to your belt. A red outfit will draw the eyes to YOU!