Age doesn't matter.

How to Be Bold and Creative with Print Mixing

The new world of mixing prints with abandon is colorful and artistic.  Artist and painter Pattie Gerrie is an example of someone who shows her true self with joy.  Let’s try some creative print mixing and have some fun!  Age doesn’t matter.

In this post:

  • I start out with the general print-mixing techniques that always work.
  • Then I give examples of prints that work as neutrals, with some outfit ideas for them.
  • Then I present some bold and creative ideas to try. 
  • And finally, I’ll finish up with outfit combinations to inspire you.  

I haven’t tried too much of this myself, so I’m excited to do more of it.  Let’s start experimenting!

Print Mixing the Easy Way

Print mixing Anthro
Printed socks with Annie Capelet from Anthropologie

To start out by just sticking your toe in the print-mixing waters, add a second pattern as an accent piece when you’re wearing a patterned/printed piece.

Mixing Patterns Made Foolproof

  1. Wear a large print with a smaller one.
  2. Same colors, different print; same print, different colors.
  3. Or pair a pretty, round floral with a straight stripe or plaid.
  4. Dots, stripes and animal prints are neutrals that go with any other prints.  See more on this below.

Guidelines for Easy Print Mixing

  1. Similar-sized prints always work together!
  2. To mix bold prints, pick one palette and stick to it.  Mixing prints is easiest when they both contain one or more similar colors or shapes (such as geometric shapes, polka-dots, stripes, plaids, etc.)
  3. Stripes are a neutral that work with anything.  Pinstripes are even easier!
  4. Leopard prints are considered neutrals.  They go with just about anything.
  5. A polka-dot top or bottom could mix with most other prints.
  6. Watercolor or brushstroke prints could mix with most other prints.
  7. Bottoms in a black and white print go with any other color or pattern.
  8. Put mismatched prints together to give them new life — just make sure they have a common color.
Print mixing JohnnyWas
Mismatched prints but both contain black, red, green – Johnny Was

Neutral Prints to Mix and Match:

Here is a list of prints that can be mixed and matched freely because they act as neutrals (adapted from an article by Tina Boomerina):

Print mixing FP
Animal print with tropical print because…animal prints go with anything!  Blue Lagoon Pant from Free People

Animal prints.

Watercolor prints.

Tribal patterns (Aztec, African, etc.)

Tartan plaids.

Tone on tone prints — patterns in lighter and darker tones of the same color.  They work just like the solid version of the base color.

basics-with-busy1
Neutral:  small repeating geometric pattern

Small repeating geometric patterns — such as checks, dots, tiles, squares, stripes and diamonds.

Another easy neutral to use with almost anything is  a print that is so small that the pattern/colors mix together so closely that from a distance they look like they almost blend together to become one shade.

Florals that read like solids — from a distance, they can almost look like a solid color because the flowers are all the same shade or tint in lightness or darkness, or at least low in contrast.

Something A Little More Advanced

Print mixing Tracey Porter page-8.jpg
Tracey Porter wears mixed prints here four times, and adorns her living space in mixed prints too! – from Poetic Wanderlust

Try mixing prints, colors, florals, or stripes with flowers or dots.

Mix a large-scale print with a smaller one.

Instead of thinking “mixing prints,” think “mixing patterns”…by which I mean, use the same pattern in different sizes and colors.  For instance, two or more different kinds of stripes, different kinds of florals, different kinds of plaids, etc.  I will always work!

Instead of thinking “mixing prints,” think “mixing colors”…by which I mean, use different patterns in the same colors.  I always look for one color that is the same in two different prints.  You can use different patterns in complementary colors or triad colors, etc., but that starts to get a little more complicated.  It’s a much safer bet to make sure one color in the two patterns is the same.

Go really crazy and throw on every color and print imaginable:  top, bottom, belt, shoes, jacket, scarf, necklace, sunglasses.  Add one or two cuffs and rings in the metal of your choice.

Accessories

Printed belt with printed outfit from Etro Women’s Fall/Winter 2022 Fashion Show

It’s probably the easiest way to try mixing prints.  Just add a scarf, shoes, purse, hat, etc., in a print with a printed outfit.  Use the tips above, or just experiment.  Also, to tie two prints together, a top and a bottom, you can add a solid belt in a common color in any texture you like.

Add a printed, textured belt to a printed top or cardigan.

Animal Prints:

leopard plaid roses
Leopard, plaid and roses

An animal-print + any color or pattern!  Try a leopard top as a neutral with a printed bottom.

An animal-print vest + an animal-print tunic in similar colors + blue jeans.  Add one or more pendant necklaces + a cuff.  You may want to add a fringed bag.

Try a leopard-print top with a tiger-print skirt, a polka-dot skirt, a floral skirt or other printed skirt.

A leopard-print top + a plaid shirt or printed blouse as jacket.

Stripes:

Prints mixed SS
Leona Jacket from Soft Surroundings:  A striped tunic with a floral topper

A navy striped shirt + black or brown striped pants + a black leather jacket.  You may want to add heeled sandals.

A black top with gold (or any color) stars + black pinstripe pants.

Polka Dots:

Dot Anorak Jacket
Dot Anorak Jacket and graphic tee from Chico’s

A polka-dot jacket over a graphic tee + pants in a color to match a color in your prints.

A polka-dot cami or tank + any plaid shirt worn open as a jacket.

Graphic Tees:

A graphic tee inside a printed skirt (with at least one similar color or design).  Add tall flat boots + bangles or cuffs.

A short-sleeve gray graphic tee inside any print maxi-skirt.  Add any belt + slip-ons or high-top sneakers + mixed metals coin necklace or other similar necklaces + bracelets.

A long black graphic tee over black pinstripe pants.  You may want to add black sandals, a black cardigan.

A black graphic tee under a blue plaid shirt + denim bottoms.  Add black boots.

A graphic tee + a plaid shirt + black leather skinnies + a black leather jacket.  Add black ankle boots .  You may also want to add a beanie.

Plaids:

basics-with-busy3
Prints from Poetic Wanderlust

Plaid + a clashing print in a matching color.

Plaid on plaid (i.e., a green plaid blazer + a teal plaid shirt; or add a plaid cashmere scarf to an outfit that contains a plaid piece.)

Plaid flannel shirt as jacket + a plaid shirt tucked into cargo pants.  Add sunglasses if sunny.

A long-sleeve plaid shirt + a sleeveless graphic tee + flares.  You may want to add a short cross pendant + a couple of short strands of beads + cuffs.

A plaid shirt + leopard-print jeans.

A green plaid blazer + a teal striped top or an animal-print top.

A plaid blazer + a graphic tee + destroyed skinnies.

A plaid shirt open over a tie-dyed tee + jeans.  Add sneakers.

A plaid shirt as jacket over a striped tee + blue jeans.  Add sneakers + a couple of necklaces.

Tribal Prints:

A gray and black Aztec-print cardigan + a colorful graphic tee + blue jeans.  Add a black and gold geometric necklace + a few bracelets.

Business:

basics-with-busy2
Gingham with animal print

Pattern on pattern can work for the office.  Just keep one of the prints on the pared-down side.

Add a leopard-print scarf to a brown pinstripe or tweed jacket + brown or black pants.

A black and white polka-dot camisole + black pinstripe pants or skirt + a jacket/blazer.  If the blazer is not a bright color, add one or more colorful accessories.

A black and white polka-dot camisole + a black pinstripe skirt or a floral skirt on black ground + a cover-up.

A navy striped shirt + navy pinstripe pants.  Add simple accessories to keep the look polished.

A pinstripe suit + a long print scarf wrapped around your neck and knotted in front.  You may want to add a fedora.

More Combinations

homepage_skirts01_lg_022519
Gracefully mixed prints from Sundance
  1. A printed top + printed bottoms + a neutral jacket.  Add shoes to match the jacket.
  2. A paisley tunic with beige ground + a beige skirt with black tiger stripes on it.
  3. A gold blouse with black zig-zag stripes + a beige skirt with black tiger stripes.  Try tying them together with a black or gold embellished belt.
  4. A blue blouse with black geometric lines + a navy skirt with white polka-dots.
  5. A gold blouse with black geometric lines + a black skirt with fine white pinstripes.
  6. A black printed tee + black printed pants.  You may want to add a long tassel pendant + sandals + sunglasses if sunny.
  7. A black silk t-shirt with gold stars printed on it + printed palazzo pants with a black ground.
  8. Mix two patterns, than add black tights.
saramai
Saramai, Print Mixing Icon

 Let’s Connect!

Have you had success with mixing prints?  Please let us know. Leave a reply below!

I hope this was helpful to you. Do you have ideas to add for how to wear a lace turtleneck?  Please leave a reply in the comments below!

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Angie

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4 Comments

  • Wow! This is super helpful! I don’t own a lot of patterns but I do have a floral blazer for spring. I am keeping these ideas in mind! So many really helpful tips! Thank you!

  • Angie, so many super ways to combine prints of all types, thank you! I tend to gravitate towards solids so this gives me inspiration for branching out!

  • I am a big lover of print mixing but you’ve given me even more ideas! I am dying over that gingham top with the animal print skirt! This is a great guide!
    Visiting you from The Midlife Blogging Community!
    xo,
    Kellyann

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