how to: mix prints

By now I’m sure you’ve seen plenty of people mixing prints (me: here). You might even be a pro at it yourself. But for those of you that aren’t just yet, here are two (easy) examples of print mixing, just to help you get your toes wet. However, if you’re ready to jump in and rock a head-to-toe print mixed ensemble, please do! And then send me pictures or the link so I can check it out and be impressed with your mad print-mixing skills.

 

 

 

 

 

But for the newbies, a few simple steps…

Step 1

Wear a striped shirt. Or maybe plaid. Or polka dots. Or just a printed shirt.

Step 2

Add a printed scarf in a similar color family (blue floral on blue stripes). Black and white stripes can really go with any floral. A similar color family keeps the prints looking cohesive, not like you got dressed in the dark.

Step 3

Put on pants. Or a skirt. Or some type of bottoms.

Step 4

Maybe add a jacket. Or not.

Step 5

Add accessories and shoes. Or not. Shoes would be another great place to add in some unexpected print mixing – think polka dots, stripes, leopard, plaid, etc. (stick with the same color family, though!)

Step 6 (the most important)

Love on your dogs.

left:

 striped shirt: Old Navy

 floral scarf: Target

jeans: Aéropostale

flats: WalMart

belt: American Eagle

right:

striped cardigan: rue21

floral scarf: thrifted

crochet skirt: Aéropostale

jacket: thrifted

sandals: Shoe Carnival

1 Black Maxi. 2 Ways.

 

 

 

  

 

Here are two different ways to style a basic black maxi dress. Yes, they both include denim, but trust me, they’re different! 

One incorporates a denim jacket AND a scarf (a wild, leopard print scarf), and the other a chambray shirt. The chambray can be worn similarly to a jacket (open, unbuttoned), OR buttoned up like a shirt, letting the maxi shine as more of a skirt than a dress. Whatever you prefer! Great for when you need options...or when the weather’s being weird and you may or may not need layers...

maxi dress: Old Navy

on the left:

denim jacket: from a friend (Old Navy Outlet)

scarf: WalMart

Cleopatra sandals: Shoe Carnival

on the right:

chambray: Lauren Conrad via Kohl’s

Cleopatra sandals: WalMart

1 Pink Blouse. 2 Ways.

  

  

 

  

 

Here are two ways I’ve recently worn this floral sleeveless button-up. I really like how the olive pants worked with this top and denim jacket - never would have thought to pair them together before I started taking pictures of my outfit and posting them on the internet...

Next time you can’t think of what bottoms to pair with a floral top, why not give your olive green skinnies/shorts/capris/skirt a go? I like the white skinnies, as well, but the green bottoms are a little less expected ;)

I picked up this top back in March while shopping with my cousins. Funny enough, I have a phone case with the same print on it (got that back on Black Friday). Didn’t think to swap out my phone case when I wore this top, and received some teasing about how I matched my phone to my shirt. 

Not true, buttttt, it DID look like I’d done it on purpose...

sleeveless button up: J. CREW Factory

on the left:

denim jacket: from a friend (Old Navy Outlet)

olive pants: Aéropostale

sandals: (one of my friends has started calling them "Cleopatra sandals") Target

on the right:

white pants: Old Navy

Cleopatra sandals: Target