From dainty florals to ethnic and animal, we are certainly spoilt for choice this summer when it comes to wearing print. The traditional rules of pairing print with neutral fabric have been thrown out of the window in recent years. It is now perfectly acceptable and very cool to wear your prints with prints. Don’t try to match them, just experiment with what you have. If it feels right then go for it! Please note however that this bold way of wearing print will only work well for you if you feel confident in a dramatic, statement outfit and can “own” the look.
If you are worried that too much print will overwhelm you, it probably will. This blog is for you. It will help you recognise what to look for in a print so that you feel confident that you are wearing it well rather than have it wearing you.
Pattern worn in the wrong way can:
• Make you look bigger
• Draw attention to parts of your body that you would rather hide
• Overwhelm you
Pattern worn in the right way can:
• Re-balance your figure
• Add interest to your outfit
• Look fabulous!
The five key mistakes that people make when wearing print
1. Too much or too little contrast
Whether you suit a contrasting print or a tonal one depends on your colouring. Do you have highly contrasting hair and skin tone? Perhaps your hair is much darker than your skin tone? Do you have bright sparkly eyes? If you do then you are very likely to suit a print with dark and light tones mixed together.
If your hair, skin tone and eye colour are similar to each other you are likely to suit a softer print so opt for something with soft tones.
2. Choosing the wrong size for your scale
If you are tall and/or above average weight and have heavy bones, you will look great in a larger print. If you are petite a large print will overwhelm you and you will look good in a smaller, more delicate one. If you are fairly averaged sized, look for medium sized prints.
Your preferred clothing style will also have a bearing on the size of print that suits you. When I work with clients on a one to one basis, I am able to be very specific about the size of print that will work best but it is complicated to calculate and I won’t try to do so here! Broadly speaking, if your style is very classic or girly you might try taking your print size down a little and if your style is dramatic or natural try a slightly bigger one.
It’s worth noting that not everyone suits prints. If your style is very classic you are probably happier in flat blocks of neutral colour and that’s fine too!
3. Choosing the wrong shape
Your bone structure is likely to be predominantly straight or predominantly curved. Indicators are your jaw line, your shoulder line, your waist, the tops of your limbs and your hips. If your bone structure is curved, a swirly print is very flattering and if it is straight boned try a geometric one. This may be contrary to what you have read in fashion magazines or seen on TV make-over shows but I firmly believe it to be true. Give it a go!
4. Choosing the wrong type of print for your style
The clothing style that suits you depends on many things and a professional image consultant can help you to determine what your best combination of styles is. This will further guide you as to the range of patterns that you can wear well. For example, if you suit a very classic style you will feel safer and look better in flat block of neutral colours . At a push a stripe may work for you.
If you like to follow fashion or enjoy making a statement with your clothes then you will suit pattern and bolder the better.
If your style is very girly and feminine or romantic try polka dots and floral prints.
If you look and feel your best in casual clothes and an “undone” style then try wearing paisley, checks or an ethnic print.
When you wear a style that isn’t authentic to you, it doesn’t matter whether the colours, size and shape are correct, the overall look won’t be quite look or feel right.
5. Wearing too much print at once
Start slowly if you are new to wearing print and feel a little nervous. Try a patterned shoe or a scarf or handbag.
Introduce pattern into your wardrobe in a small way to see how it feels for you. Choose printed fabrics on simple shaped clothes because an unusual shape and a pattern might be a step too far for you to being with.
Experiment with all five factors above to help you to determine the best patterns for you. Do let me know if and when you try this out. I’d love to hear about your success (… and disasters!).
Great informative article, I’ve previously tended to only go for smaller prints but using some of your tips I will gradually introduce others into my wardrobe. Thanks
Thanks to all your help and advice in the past I am much more confident in choosing what to wear. This blog on patterns has added a new dimension to my choices and I found it very helpful – Thanks!
Hi Debbie. thank you for you comment. I’m pleased you are feeling so much more confident in your clothing choices. You definitely suit print!
Other than the odd top, I tend to stay clear of prints. I almost bought some print trousers the other day but wasn’t sure whether they would suit me. However, having read your tips, I think I will go back and buy them as from what you describe, they should suit me.
Printed trousers are so gorgeous Carol! I hope you enjoy wearing them!