By Danielle Lawrence

As much as we love mixing patterns, we’ve realized that it’s not something that everyone finds easy. The trick of the trade is to practice and look confident. If you look like you know what you’ve got on is runway worthy, chances are other people will too. Besides that, there are a few simple rules that can also help you out.

Looking for patterns that compliment each other is important because you don’t want to look like you don’t own a mirror. One way to avoid that is by choosing patterns that work well together like leopard and stripes or stripes and florals.

Instead of mixing two prints of the same size and density, try patterns that vary. If you mix patterns of different sizes, the prints will often balance each other one. In turn, one print becomes the statement and the other is a sidekick.

When you’re just starting to try out mix-matching, sticking to patterns in the same color family will give you a very subtle look, especially if you’re not trying to look too bold but still a little daring.

Just because you want to mix-and-match doesn’t mean every piece you wear has to some sort of pattern. Try spacing out your patterns by wearing a patterned skirt with a solid top and a patterned scarf, or a patterned shirt with patterned shoes.

Some patterns can be thought of as solids such as small polka dots or thin stripes and checks. They are small enough to be viewed as solids and work especially well with bold patterns.

Mix-matching is supposed to be fun and funky, so you should avoid going head-to-toe in one pattern. If you’re obsessed with leopard, try mixing two different colors of the animal print to stay away from a matchy-matchy look.

Always try and include neutrals in your outfits because they will help space out your patterns to make them look even better. You can do it with shoes, stockings, and accessories.

Speaking of accessories, they can be your best friend or worst enemy when mixing patterns. Sometimes they’ll overwhelm your outfit, and other times they’ll balance it. If you want to break up two different patterns try using a colored belt, colored shoes or a neutral purse. The important thing is not to overdo your look and make sure the patterns are the focus of your fit.

Image Source