How to mix prints without chaos

Prints are fun, and so is color. But combining colors and prints in one outfit can quickly become chaotic. You stand enthusiastically in front of the mirror and then think: “Hmm, this is not quite it.” That is why it helps to know how to mix prints.

Luckily you do not have to be a fashion professional to combine prints well. With a few simple rules, you keep your outfit in balance. Below are five ways, plus how to choose a print that suits your colors and season.

First choose a print that suits you

Before you start combining, it begins with the print itself. A print consists of several colors, and the color that appears most determines how the print looks next to your face. So choose a print whose main colors are in your palette.

Also pay attention to the contrast in the print. A print with a big difference between light and dark, such as black-and-white stripes, often suits people with high contrast. If you have low contrast yourself, soft prints with colors that are close together usually suit you better. Read more about your personal contrast level.

Prints per season

Each season also has prints that suit it well. These are guidelines, not rules:

Where do you wear your print?

A print draws attention to the place where it sits. If you want people to look mainly at your face, wear the print on a top, blouse or scarf, and choose the colors that suit you best there. If, on the other hand, you want another part of your outfit to stand out, a printed skirt, trousers or bag is a great choice.

The size of the print matters too. On a small, petite frame, a very large print can quickly overpower, while a small print on a larger frame sometimes looks a little lost. There are no hard rules, but it helps to look in the mirror and see whether the print wears you, or you wear the print.

How to mix prints and colors: 5 ways

1. Start with a neutral base

Still unsure? Start small. A neutral base gives a print room. Think of one printed piece, such as a floral skirt or a polka-dot blouse, and keep the rest plain. You can read which neutral colors suit you in wearing neutral colors.

2. Let prints share a color

The easiest way to combine two prints is through a shared color. A blouse with blue flowers and a skirt with blue stripes feel like a whole, even though the prints are very different. You do not need an exact match: the same color family often works already.

3. Combine different sizes

Two prints of the same size will fight for attention. So combine a large print with a small one: a bold check with a fine floral, or a wide stripe with small dots. One print forms the base, the other the accent.

4. See stripes as your base print

Stripes behave almost like a plain color. They combine with almost any other print, as long as the colors match. Choose stripes in colors from your palette, for example navy with white, or camel with cream.

5. Let accessories connect

A scarf, bag or belt in a color that appears in both prints connects your outfit. The eye then sees one whole, instead of two separate pieces.

How to mix prints: three ideas

Florals and stripes

A floral skirt with a striped top in the same color family. The stripes keep it calm, the flowers give the outfit character.

Check and plain

A checked blazer over a plain top and trousers in a color from the check. One print, but with impact.

Animal print as a neutral

An animal print in warm brown shades behaves almost like a neutral color. Autumn types in particular can combine it well with plain olive, rust or camel.

Common mistakes

• Choosing a print because you like the motif, while the colors do not suit you.
• Two busy prints of the same size in one outfit.
• Too many colors at once: keep it to two or three colors from your palette.
• Accessories that also have a print: one or two printed pieces per outfit is usually enough.

Want to know for sure which colors belong in your prints? Take the free color test or get your colors analyzed. Your Style Guide also contains advice on prints that suit you. With a color fan you can quickly check in the shop whether the colors in a print are right.

Looking for inspiration? On our Pinterest page we collect outfits and color combinations for each seasonal type.

Frequently asked questions

Read also: Monochrome outfit and Refresh your wardrobe