How To: Pairing Prints

Mixing prints can be an incredibly tricky skill, and it can look horrendously inappropriate, particularly in the workplace, if done incorrectly. For starters, it is critical that the colors of the prints complement each other, or at the very least, do not clash with one another.  To help you get started, choose two separates that have at least one or two colors in common so the look will come together neatly.  If you are feeling more daring, choose two separates with deliberately contrasting colors so as to make a bold and unabashed statement with your choice of clothing. 

Floral + Stripes

Blouse, Skirt, Earrings, Pumps, Cuff

I love combining floral garments with striped pieces because the stripes seem to act as a neutral when contrasted with a more literal print.  Here, the blacks and whites in the blouse are echoed in the black and white of the stripes, so the outfit looks deliberate.  A polished pencil skirt such as this calls for lady like pumps, sparkly studs, and a modern, metallic cuff to really bring the look together. 

Geometric + “Animal Print”

Blouse, Skirt, Wedges, Necklace, Bag

Before you ask, yes, I am obsessed with bird print this season.  This hummingbird printed skirt is on trend, and the color is bright and fresh for summer.  Pair this “animal print” with a more abstract, geometric print to counteract the literal imagery on the skirt.  The white in both the skirt and the blouse keeps the outfit tied together, while the deliberate contrast between the blue and the yellow keep the look eclectic and youthful.  Add a pair of red wedges to emphasize the quirkiness of the outfit.  Finish off the look with a neutral carryall bag and a modern statement necklace.