ALL IN THE DETAILS: Pairing Patterns

After a day of splurging on a new wardrobe, the excitement builds as you select how to complete your outfit for the day. Sifting through your crammed closet, you ask yourself how you can make your look more unique. The answer to this is simple: mixing patterns is the perfect way to get a double take as you walk through campus to your next class. Between plaid, stripes, floral and animal prints, the possibilities are endless on how to mix and match your look.

This Fashionista shows us how to combine two very different patterns while still maintaining a clean, trendy image. Her plaid scarf stands out while keeping her warm during the cold weather and tying together her pink top and green jacket. While plaid prevails as the main pattern in her look, her subtle cheetah-print ankle booties draw attention to her feet and create an overall eye-catching ensemble. Besides her main pieces, the inclusion of an extra design in her earrings adds a further pop of pattern for an even more unique and fun appearance.

There are many diverse ways to mix and match patterns; you can enhance your look with bold accessories, as this Fashionista perfectly displays, or you can dare to contrast a patterned top with an equally decorative bottom for a statement look that will never fail to stand out. Some clothing flaunts mix-and-match patterns on its own, such as this button-up shirt. On other occasions, one must choose which set of patterns to utilize in their outfit. The biggest trend of pattern mixing I have seen is stripes and floral. Pairing a striped top with a floral skirt is just one of many unique combinations for a day around town.

How To: When deciding which two articles to combine, keep it simple; wearing two large, printed pieces can distract one another, so make an effort to match small and large patterns or two more subtle patterns for a more flattering finish. Don’t be afraid to be bold with your options and experiment with all different combinations!

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