One Simple Way to Mix Prints

I've been trying to work my way up to mismatching printed ensembles for ages. I distinctly remember trying to style a floral skirt with a simple striped sweater back in my early high school years and there was a little voice in the back of my head that told me it was a sartorial abomination. And unfortunately, back in 2011, calling one of my own outfits a "sartorial abomination" wasn't a good thing in my mind like it is right now.

Megan Ellaby gives me mismatched print FOMO. That literally makes no sense, but let me break it down for you. I've never seen someone mismatch a print so well (besides the gals at Man Repeller, but that's just a given for the likes of Leandra, Harley, Amelia, and Co) and every time I see a new combination, I feel like I'm missing out. I mean, two different plaids in two different colors and it somehow works? Wizardy, I tell you. Wizardy! Witchcraft! Magic!

Both Megan and another chic fave of mine Mel Soldera both did videos recently on mixing patterns and while my closet is sorely lacking patterned clothing, I managed to piece this together following one key trick to mixing patterns without looking like an absolute clown (which, in my head, would not be the worst thing in the world).

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Shoutout to the squirrel photoboming this shot. I kept it in solely for his spotlight. He is now the true blogger here.

If you're trying to dip your toes into the world of mixing prints, there's one simple thing to keep in mind: make sure the pieces are similarly colored.

Yes, it's honestly that simple. If you want to ease into the occasionally jarring mixing of prints and patterns, pick a subdued color palette and work with neutrals. I paired a pair of vertical striped black and white culottes with a black and white graphic sweater. The colors are the same, but the patterns are obviously vastly different. And I'm sure this could be an eyesore to some, which is cool. I felt great in it (aside from the fact that it was freezing outside and I was, indeed, a bit chilly taking these photos) and am so into trying out more combinations with the very few printed pieces I have in my closest. Who knows, maybe extreme color-blocking will come next! I mean, that would require me to start buying color though, so maybe that's not going to happen anytime soon...

I chose the very typical (for me) black and white color scheme and kept it pretty neutral with silver accessories. Okay, yes, I know it's a bit humorous for me to refer to my silver glitter sock boots as "neutral" but hey, they're not a bright color so as far as I'm concerned, they're a neutral! This color combination is probably the easiest to recreate with pieces in your closet, but don't think that this is the only way to wear it. I mean, in Mel's video, she wore a tan and black striped sweater with a black ditsy floral skirt with tan flowers on it. Still a neutral, but not quite as typical as black and white.

I would say, if you do it right, it'll look good. But truthfully, if you like it then you're doing it right and that's all that matters. I'm still not sure how my mom felt about this look (if she didn't like it, at least she didn't say anything to me about it like she normally would...) but in the grand scheme of things, that totally doesn't matter. I'm just out here living my life, wearing some mixed prints, and letting squirrels become the true star of my blog posts. That's all I could ask for in life.

And maybe for Liam Payne or Niall Horan to love me back, but I'm not holding my breath...