When it comes to wearing mixed print outfits, many of us feel intimidated. We aren’t really sure how to pull off the look without it being too busy. But there are a few guidelines to follow that make creating a mixed print look easy. Whether you are creating the look for yourself, or for your little one, the same rules apply. Here are the things to check for when mixing your prints in an outfit.
Keep the Colours the Same
Maybe you plan on wearing pieces with only two colours. That’s fine. You just want to make sure that the colours are the same. So let’s say you have a black & white striped shirt and some black & white plaid trousers. You can absolutely wear these together. The same goes for your little one. As long as the pieces have the same colours, you can mix any two prints together. This Girls’ Dots and Stripes Sweater from J. Crew would look cute with this Little Girl’s Floral Cardigan from Saks on Fifth.
Keep at Least Two Colours the Same
If you want to mix pieces that have more than two colours, be sure that at least two of them match. Maybe you have that same black & white striped shirt, and some plaid trousers that are black, white & red. This will work, since both pieces have black & white. The extra colour is fine, and it would also be fine if there were additional colours.
Choose Contrasting Prints
Even if the pieces you want to wear together have the same colours, the mixed print looks best when the pieces don’t have the same print. For example, don’t wear two floral pieces together, or two polka dot pieces. It can be done, and it can look good, but it kind of defeats the purpose of wearing a mixed print ensemble. For a boy, I love the idea of wearing these John Lewis Twill Stripe Shorts with this Dakota Plaid Shirt from Splendid. They share the red and blue colours, but they are contrasting prints. It is boyish and fun and works well as a mixed print outfit.
One final thing to keep in mind when creating a mixed print look for your kiddo is to complete the look with simple/solid shoes and accessories. You want the focus to be on the outfit, so you don’t want to add additional colours or prints with the remaining pieces. Choose a solid coloured shoe, and keep the jewellry and accessories in the neutral colour family- this includes silver & gold.
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