How to Mix Prints

It’s official: Mixing prints is here to stay, and for good reason—it’s one of the freshest ways to upgrade a tired, old outfit. Not sure where to start? Keep reading for tips on successfully pairing dots with daisies, stripes with squares. And here’s a hint: Leopard goes with everything.

How This Works: Leopard is classic and should be treated as a neutral. Stripes are the ultimate starter print. Together, they make mix-match magic.

Pair them together as shown, or try a leopard-print scarf with your basic striped tee for an easy, everyday update to your mom uniform.

This classic pairing can even work at the office: Tuck a striped oxford into trousers, and finish with a leopard-print belt.

To buy: Striped Midi Dress, $195; Sheila Leopard Loafers, $135

How This Works: When mixing prints, something simple pairs well with busy.

The clean, restrained dot-print pattern is a good counterpoint to the more intricate floral of the shorts, but it's much more interesting than a basic white tee.

Also, keep colors at the same saturation level. The shorts and sweater don't actually have any colors in common, yet the outfit works because both are rendered in similarly soft hues.

To buy: Oversize Spot Jumper, $65; Stylemint Madeline Shorts, $60

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How This Works: Geometric + asymmetric is a winning combination.

The repeating geometric pattern of the top is a welcome contrast to the asymmetric floral pattern of the pants.

Pair different-sized prints together.

The tiny diamond-print top pairs well with the oversize floral blooms. Mixing the scale ensures that your prints complement—not compete.

To buy: Ann Taylor Lattice Top, $58 (available in June); Amori Bay Trouser, $77

How This Works: Reducing the number of colors in your outfits helps to avoid print overload.

Both the black and white of the top are echoed in the patterned skirt. The skirt itself is also predominantly black and white. Simplifying the color palette keeps the look cohesive without overwhelming the eye.

To buy: Stripe Cut out Shirt, $27; Lucia Skirt, $72

How This Works: It echoes the predominant shape … on a smaller scale.

The watercolor pattern of the skirt does have one predominant shape: the circle. Echo the shape on a much smaller scale—in this case, a sheer speckled top. Simplifying the top’s color palette doesn’t hurt, either.

To buy: Speckled Splendor Top, $43; Pleated Printed Miniskirt, $45

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How This Works: Curvy prints love straight lines.

In general, a print with some flow (rounded edges, curved lines) pairs well with a structured print (geometric, repeating). Another factor in this outfit? A neutral color palette. It’s really hard to go wrong with a mixed-print outfit rendered in varying shades of gray and cream.

To buy: Silk Cami in Palm, $82; Ikat Print Trousers, $45

How This Works: Pulling out the accent color in one piece and using it as the dominant color in another piece pulls the outfit together.

The accent color in the top is navy; the dominant color is red. In the shorts, the reverse is true: The accent color is red; the dominant color, navy. Despite the two disparate patterns, the cohesive color scheme pulls the outfit together. Another key factor? The scale of the print. Both prints are busy, yes, but the blooms in the shirt are larger than the tiny floral pattern of the shorts. Thus, they don't compete.

To buy: Blossom Top, $70; Liberty Shorts in June Meadow, $50

How This Works: A mostly monochromatic palette gets some new life with a mix of textures.

Mixing prints is a great way to modernize your style. However, mixing textures can also feel fresh if you aren't ready to take the mixed-print plunge. This featured outfit has only three colors: gray, silver and cream. However, it's saved from snoozeville by the combination of jacquard and silk, and the ever-so-slight pattern mix (the skirt has a subtle silver dot pattern).

To buy: Oversize Animal Jumper, $77; Jacquard Skirt, $380