Mix & Match Prints

People are always so fearful of mixing prints, & I think for good reason.

There is definitely a science to the whole thing, & if done wrong it can quickly go from a chic & put together look to a very ‘Clarissa Explains it All’ over the top hot mess situation.

Basically, when it comes to mixing prints, things can go south real quick if you’re not careful.

Trust me, I get it, I was definitely a little weary of the whole thing… but lucky for us all, there are just a few simple rules that make a world of difference when it comes to the art of mixing & matching different prints.

The Print Mixing Cheat Sheet

1. Start off small with two prints only. Once you advance in your print mixing skills, you can try for three (so ballsy of you!).

2. Make sure one print stands out more than the other. If you’re going for something bold on the bottom, make sure to keep the top a bit more understand (& vice versa). This was the rule of thumb I followed when pairing my new polka dot tiered sleeve crop top with a bold printed floral mini skirt.

3. Keep it in the same color family. Easy enough, right? If you’re going for a tan vibe, keep the whole thing pretty neutral. If you’re going for hot pink, go all out with the bright prints. Example: this black & white cactus blouse would pair perfect with these black & white pinstripe trousers.

4. Speaking of color– if there is one pop of color in one of your printed pieces (i.e. teal), tie it in with a print that also has a bit of that same color (doesn’t have to be a lot! Just a hint.) These navy star print flared pants (BTW, insane) would look so rad with this bandana print crop top.

5. Inverted colors make it super easy to mix prints & is always a good look. I love the vibe of these black & white palm print trousers paired with this flouncy crop top.

6. Patterns have neutrals too, & that’s typically stripes & leopard print. They pretty much pair well with any other print in the game. I mean— how good would this cheetah print shorts look with this striped button up? LOVE!

7. Same print, different color… always a good idea!

8. Keep accessories simple, the mix & match prints will speak for themselves.

Ta-dah. There you have it, a few easy tips to get you on the road to some succesful mixed print ensembles. Anything I’m missing? Chime in!

You can shop this look + a whole bunch of rad prints below. x, Erica

wearing: tiered sleeve crop top | floral print mini skirt (vintage- similar) | Steve Madden flatform sandals | oversized aviators

The Edit | Mix & Match Prints

[  PHOTOS BY ARIELLE LEVY  ]