Poll Post: Mixed Prints

Source

Hey guys. It's the first Poll Post of 2014 and I'm ready.

I've been against mixed prints for as long as I can remember. As more and more people catch on and prove me wrong, however, I now feel obligated as a blogger to give it a second chance. Ironically enough, it was probably the worst fashion faux-pas commitable before it became a huge trend. Mixing prints is basically all about visual appeal, so in a way there's not much to it. Just play around until you make a match made in heaven. But if you've been avoiding it and that seems daunting, have no fear! There are just a few basic things to keep in mind when taking on this daring trend. 

1) Keep your overall ensemble simple. Mixed prints make a statement, so let only two printed pieces take the spotlight. Any more than that will look chaotic. Try not to add too many other pieces and accessories. What you do add should complement the mixed prints. Also, highlight either the prints or the underlying elements. 

2) It's gotta be symbiotic. For those of you who forgot everything you learned in high school bio the second the bell rang, my nerdy side is trying to say that both prints have to work with each other. I don't say "balanced" because that's too specific. It means that they can't clash. But clashing- granted, harmonious clashing- is the entire point of mixing prints. So while you can balance your prints, you don't have to. Remember, in the end you have to ask yourself if it looks good, because that's all that really matters.

3) Look past the prints. It can be really hard to like an outfit with clashing pieces. Everything looks off and it just doesn't look good. But if you look past the prints while putting it together, the outfit as a whole will look really cool. What I mean by "looking past the prints" is that you should focus on the color scheme, cut of each piece, texture, and other elements before you look at the prints.

Finally, remember: don't just mix prints for the sake of doing it. If you are unsure, just look in the mirror and decide if it's truly aesthetically appealing. 

Since I don't do this often, let's look to the real experts for some inspo.

Leandra Medine, aka The Man Repeller

My favorite pieces here are the jacket and shorts. The top features a small print but mostly serves as a neutral. I personally don't understand the choice of shoes here, but I guess when you're mixing prints, why not?

Camille Charriere of Camille Over the Rainbow

Camille keeps it simple in this all-neutral ensemble. She keeps the focus on the prints with the simple color scheme- her simple black bag and nude heels are understated and don't clash with her top and skirt. The prints work well with each other; the medium sized animal print draws your eyes down from the bold thick stripes. 

By Rebecca Laurie of Raspberry & Rouge

I found this blog back when I started leather & rouge while checking to make sure that the name was all mine. While I wouldn't wear this look, it's not completely unacceptable as the pants' light pastel print is brought out by the strong leopard print of the shoes.

 If you liked the examples above check out my Blogroll gadget (on the bottom of the left sidebar) to find the links to the websites. What do you think of mixed prints? Which picture was your favorite? Comment and email me at leatherandrouge@gmail.com.