Would You Wear… Mixed Prints?
From left: Rachel Bilson in a The Lady & The Sailor top and a Myne skirt, Dries Van Noten runway, Taylor Swift in Los Angeles
Mixed prints have been a controversial topic of fashionable debate for a long time. Recently, however, fashion houses like Dries Van Noten and Ungaro have sent their models down the runway wearing the mixed print look loud and proud, whilst celebrities have been donning more subtle version of the look.
I, personally, love a mixed print and find that some of the best outfits I’ve seen have been outrageous and daring combinations worn by my friends – clothing which I would have previously thought should never be worn together. However, when done incorrectly, mixing patterns can also go horribly wrong, so it’s definitely a trend to be careful with.
For the more daring or adventurous in the crowd, your turn has begun. With spreads in Teen Vogue and walks down the runway, the fashion world seems to be saying that more is more, and the brighter and busier the patterns combined, the better. For this, there are no real rules, so trust your instincts and wear your ensemble with pride.
To check out some more easily wearable mixed prints, take a look at the outfits below.
Outfit #1: When You’re Feeling Loud and Proud
Product Information: Sunglasses: H&M, Plaid Shirt: American Eagle, Floral Dress: Forever21, Black Leggings: Rocha. John Rocha, Velvet Oxfords: Sexy Shoes, Gold Hoop Earrings: Giles & Brother
Outfit #2: When You’re Feeling Soft and Subtle
Product Information: Jacket: H&M, Striped Shirt: American Eagle, Floral Skirt: Old Navy, Tights: Forever21, Bangles: Community Friendly Movement, Oxford Pumps: Pink Studio, Olive Earrings: Gorjana
What do you think? Would you wear this trend?
Would you wear mixed prints? Do you think they’re visually interesting and a great way to mix things up, or do you think they’re messy and confusing? Would you like to see more celebrities rocking this trend in the future? Holla at us in the comments!
 |
Posted on on January 19, 2010 / Filed Under: Would You Wear? / Tags: Celebs, Dries Can Noten, Mixed prints, Myne, Patterns, Rachel Bilson, Taylor Swift, The Lady & The Sailor, Trends, Ungaro
Like this post?
Comment Rules: CF is a positive place and our comments section is no different. Constructive criticism is fine, but if you're rude, we'll delete your comment. Please use your PERSONAL name or initials and not your business name and do not put your website in the comment text, as both come off like spam. For more info, see our 
Gabriella
Hmmm i think you need to be very bold and super confident to pull this look off. definitely cute but I’d say not for everyone – esp. not me!
SubstituteK
I love the second outfit. The first one is so loud.
Alana @ The Good girl gone blog
It’s definitely hard to do, but if you do it right, then it looks amazing!
Kath
I prefer mixing prints that are the same color like #2 and Rachel Bilson’s look. Mixing colorful patterns looks very editorial, but a monochromatic palette draws the whole look together for real life.
Tieka
My favorite thing ever is to mix prints! Most always you can get away with it.. and it’s interesting and looks great! I love all of these looks.
Charlene
Initially, I was taught that mixing patterns was a heinous, ugly crime, and that wearing brown and black is also unforgivable.
But after seeing gorgeous examples of confident pattern-mixing from DVN and bloggers like The Glamourai, I realized that you could chuck all rules out the window. This article is the perfect example of showing how it’s all about you and your instincts, and whether you can pull it off!
I actually like the first outfit, though pattern mixing really is a tricky thing.
Charlotte
lovelovelove this!!
i love mixing prints!! i recently did an outfit on my blog with a black colour dress, striped top, check shirt and tartan tights!!
i think mixing prints is great if you really want to stand out, and if you keep some block colour in your outfit and use clever layering you can avoid it looking too messy.
i think mixing prints is fun- i also love my topshop haunted house skirt with a striped top. i’m really into stripes at the moment- i love to have fun with fashion so i’m really glad to see mixed prints are in!!
delightfully tacky always seems to do a fabulous job of mixing prints on her blog- she’s such an inspiration!!
Charlotte
Jennifer
I definitely don’t mind soft and subdued mismatch prints, but I can never go loud with them. Not my forte.
JG
I’ve always loved prints. I think mixing prints is great but you really have to do it right (this post definitely helps you to do just that). Proenza Schouler did some great things with mixing prints for spring 2010 RTW and I thought it was fabulous.
Shannon
The second outfit is really cute, but the first one is really impractical. Honestly, imagine wearing a flannel shirt underneath a tight dress. It sounds so uncomfortable.
diana
I would! It’s a hot trend that I’m starting to see more and more on celebs, blogs, and magazines. I was just looking at Forever 21′s new spring look book and I was drooling over the floral and stripe prints combination. The looks are eye-catching and daring. Love it!
Brianna
I like outfit number two because the prints compliment each other. However, in my opinion, outfit number one has too much going on. I think that if the top was a red stripe rather than red flannel, it would be much more appealing and easy on the eyes. But outfite number two—Adorable :)
Danielle
I agree that it is a hard balance to strike…but when it’s done right it can be so perfect! I love love love stripes and floral.
Kristina
I don’t think this is a trend I’ll be following. I think I’d be too worried walking around in public thinking I looked like I didn’t even care what I threw on. I would never be confident that the mixed patterns actually look coordinated. I think in very subtle ways, or even the way Rachel Bilson wore mixed prints, it CAN look very nice. I just don’t think I’ll be trying it out.
Adrianne
I once accidentally found that red buffalo plaid and tan leopard print look amazing together. I was wearing a leopard print hoodie, and because it was freezing out, pulled a buffalo plaid jacket out of my car, thinking to myself that it would look ridiculous, but at least I’d be warm. When I looked in the mirror, I was pleasantly surprised to find they looked great together. I wear that jacket and hoodie together all the time now.
jane
No waaaay ;x
It’s UGLY !
Antoinette T
Omg I so love the look of outfit #2. i love the jacket from h&m (its on sale now so get it while you can) i bought when it wasnt on sale ( :( ) but i still love it. the picture doesnt do the jacket justice. and lol at jane
Carrie
I like Taylor Swift’s outfit.
aish
i like
fashion should nt have ne restrictions or rules
always push the envelope and take risks…thats how u learn
this idea was a good one
ne thing look good is ur confident
love the outfits
Inkit Myway
wear loads of dark and bright colors like orange goes owsum with blue,grey and purple to have a cozy and safer feeling in the season of hot and cold.i’d like to mention Leigh Lezark’s unique style and Erin Wasson to get a cindy crawford feeling and girl olivia and Nicky Hilton are next to mention.
Madeleine
I would not wear mixed prints because I think they look like you closed your eyes and just stuck your hand into your closet and wore whatever you pulled out, it makes outfits lack movement or order. I think they just look messy and confusing and make the wearer look a little crazy. I wouldn’t like to see more celebs rocking this trend in the future because that will just make this fad last even longer.
StefBags
I HATE mixed prints so much. I think this trend takes it to a new level of ugly by making it popular.
kaylee
i absolutely love mixing prints. the first look is too bold for almost anyone. I almost always wear mixed prints and find the key is chosing subtle patterns from the same color family, like a grey and white abstract print tank top with a tan and grey printed skirt. the key is subtlety. it adds layers to an outfit.
Larissa
I’m afraid of wearing prints at all. I think it will look like I’m over doing.
anna
it was the coolestarticle ever!