mix it up: tips for how to mix & match prints

As you may or may not have already noticed, I love prints. I don't think I ever intentionally set out to create outfits that involved print mixing, but it inevitably happened because almost everything I own is printed. I sometimes don't even realize how many prints I am wearing, but there have been times where someone has stopped me on the street to ask how I put together my outfit, and I have to look down to remember what I am even wearing. Although mixing and matching prints is second nature to me, since I have gotten questions about how I pull it off, I decided to analyze my thought process and write a blog post about it. Here are some tips: 

Stick To One Color Palette:
This is the number one rule when it comes to print mixing. Some of my favorite color combos to mix prints with are black and white (and sometimes adding a pop of color) or red, white and blue, like the outfit I am wearing in this post.

Mix Scales:
You don't want to wear all large or small scale prints at once, so it's best to mix it up. 

Mix Structured Prints With Organic Prints:
I try to avoid wearing prints that are all linear (such as stripes and plaids together) or all circular (such as polka dots and conversational prints). Instead, I aim to get a good mix of both structured and organic prints. This outfit is a perfect example, as both my top and skirt are more organic shapes with the polka dots and flower motifs, so then I added the plaid sneakers to balance out the look.

Pay Attention To Color:
I may be hyper aware of this because I am a fashion designer, and analyzing color is part of my job. But, when I am putting outfits together I make sure I am wearing pieces that have the same color tone. For example, there are hundreds of shades of red, some are cooler, with a blue undertone, others are warmer and look more orange. When mixing prints in the same colors, I make sure the tones of each print match.

Add a "Neutral" Print:
If you're hesitant about print mixing, start by adding a classic leopard print. Since the colors in this kind of print are all neutrals, you won't feel crazy wearing multiple prints at one time.

I hope these tips were helpful. Do you have any advice for mixing prints?

Shirt: C/O Seaplane Shirts 
(www.seaplaneshirts.com)
Skirt: Francesca's; Sneakers: American Apparel 
Location: West Village, NYC