Ami Menswear Spring 2014: www.style.com
A favorite spring trend for men and women is to be dressed in patterns from head to toe! Stripes will meet florals, demask may dance with plaid, and animal print will play in geometric jungles. Mixing patterns may seem overwhelming, but it’s all about balance. Follow these tips and rock those bold patterns for Spring and Summer 2014!
Patterned Bottoms
If mixing a bunch of patterns seems too aggressive, start out subtle. Try out patterned pants, shorts, leggings, and skirts. It’s a nice break from standard blue jeans and black leggings, and styling them is easier than you think! You can start with solid colored tops. If you’re feeling particularly daring that day, wear brighter colors or add a solid jacket. It’s simple, bold, and very chic.
*LEFT: Just USA® Flower Print Skinny Jeans in White, Ya Los Angeles® Shoulder Cut Out Top in Cherry, Dex® Sleeveless Studded Top in Black
**RIGHT: 7 For All Mankind® Pieced Skinny Jeans in Art Nouveau Jacquard, Angie® Style But With Buttons Top in Ivory, Angie® Bronze Studded Sheer Top in Mustard
Stick With a Color Palette
Once you’re comfortable with styling patterned bottoms, you can mix in more colors and patterns up top. They can be as outrageous or as muted as you’d like, but for a cohesive look follow a theme of colors. More is not necessarily better! Using 2-3 colors is good range to start out with.
Spring 2014 Vanessa Bruno: www.style.com
Andrea Pampilio Menswear Spring 2014: www.style.com
Spring 2014 Donna Karan: www.style.com
Remember, the more that’s involved, the more complex it gets. While it’s not necessarily a bad thing, it just makes it a bit trickier to put an outfit together
Spring 2014 Stella Jean: www.voigue.co.uk
Thom Browne Spring 2014: www.style.com
Heidi Klum, Olivia Palermo, and Jennifer Hudson
Image Source: fashiongrin.com
Size Matters
Take a look at these lovely ladies. Heidi’s horizontal black and white stripes are two very distinctive sizes. Olivia’s top has a much larger floral print than her skirt. On Jennifer’s outfit, the dots are fairly small, but the leopard print is still much smaller and are much more dense in certain areas. The point of mixing prints and patterns is to flaunt the contrasts! If you’re using similar prints, make sure one is significantly larger than the other, or a different color.
