HOW TO MIX AND MATCH YOUR PATTERNS

MIXING AND MATCHING PATTERNS

This season one of the strongest fashion trends is the mixing of different types of patterns in the one garment and/or in the one outfit. Virtually all the chain stores, budget or otherwise, and up-market designers have embraced the idea. The Creative style personalities amongst us will think this is fantastic and you will be spoilt for choice. Classic women, in the main, will dismiss the idea as faddish. After all mixing patterns has been considered taboo in style terms, but not this Spring/Summer! Please note however, it is still a high risk exercise. Done well and you will look current, youthful and modern. Done badly and you could wind up looking like a dog's breakfast.

Style Tips

If you want to be on trend or you're looking to liven up your wardrobe, here are a few tips for mixing and matching patterns successfully.

CREATE COHESION. The different patterns should sharesimilar, if not the same colours.
VARY THE SCALE. You will look way more stylish in patterns that are of different sizes. Avoid mixing little prints with little prints or large prints with large prints.
MAKE ONE PATTERN THE STAR. One pattern should definitely stand out or dominate. Mixing scale is a great way to ensure this.
CONSIDER LIMITING THE MIX TO TWO. It's not that you can't mix more, it's just that it is harder to pull this off - not impossible , just harder.
ACCESSORISE WITH SOLID COLOURS. Use the colour of your shoes and bag to accent the dominant colour scheme in the print. When you combine a solid with patterns, this creates a visual space for the eye to rest.
BE BRAVE. Follow this trend only if you have the courage to do so boldly. If you feel hesitant or ambivalent, it will show and the effectiveness of your visual image will be diminished.

Any designer worth their salt, will be very well versed in these principles. So, unless you're very sure of yourself, let the designers do the hard work and buy garments where the pattern combinations have been made for you. The experts do know what they are doing.

Good luck and have some fun with mixing and matching this season. But one word of caution; don't spend big dollars on a fashion forward garment that could very quickly become 'so yesterday' !!!

Understanding how colours impact our appearance is the first step to looking younger and fabulous. Understanding how the line and design of garments and accessories work for or against us is the first step to looking slimmer, taller and fabulous.

Know Your Colours

When we wear colours that share the same qualities as our own colouring our skin glows, lines and blemishes are less noticeable and our eyes shine. The qualities of colour are:

depth,
undertone (warm or cool)
intensity (soft or bright)

Every one of us has colouring that can be described in these terms. Know your colouring and you will know the colours to wear that make you shine.

Line and Design

When we wear clothes and accessories that use the elongating power of vertical influence to minimise the impact of broadening horizontal lines and enlarging circular influence, we appear taller and slimmer.

Take a Look at Julie.

In one guise she is wearing burnt orange which is medium in depth, has a warm undertone and has soft intensity. This conflicts with Julie’s deep, cool and bright colouring. As a result her skin has taken on an unhealthy sallowness and her beautiful eyes have lost their sparkle. In addition, the orange outfit is making her look heavier than she is.

In the 2^nd outfit, the red and black colours are in complete harmony with Julie’s colouring. Look how clear her skin is now and how brightly her eyes shine. In addition, the 2^nd outfit employs strong vertical lines and a lower neckline to help Julie appear taller and slimmer.

Looking great is not hard and does not take any more time. All that is required is a little information and we think that’s absolutely fabulous!

HOW TO MIX AND MATCH YOUR PATTERNS

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