8 Tips for Wearing Printed Clothing

Nowadays, wearing solid single-colored clothing is the primary trend when it comes to dressing up. Neutral colors such as black, white, beige, and dark blue, coupled with a few brightly colored pieces, are the mainstays. This doesn’t mean, however, that everyday fashion no longer has room for printed clothing. On the contrary, wearing patterned apparel—whether alone or matched with neutral garments—could give your outfit a bolder look.

That said, achieving this bold printed look is not easy. Matching patterns and prints are notoriously tricky and walk a thin line between stylish and over the top. The question then lies: how can you match and wear patterned clothes in a way that’s chic and easy on the eyes?

Stylists who are used to matching clothes pull off this tricky skill with no issue. Even if you’re not a professional stylist, however, there are a few tips you can use to make the matching process easier. 

Before anything else, bear in mind that prints and patterns mean different things. Patterns refer to repeated designs on a piece of fabric. Meanwhile, prints refer to designs that have been printed on a garment. However, these two terms are often used interchangeably, which is also the case in this article. Whether you’re dying to sport this cool printed shirt or have a deep love for patterned designs, here are some tips that can help you pull off the printed look.

Match Patterns with Neutral Colors

The first tip is the most apparent. If you’re having trouble matching printed garments, pair it first with an item that has a neutral color. Common examples include a light floral blouse with a pair of snappy gray slacks and a dark cropped top with a black plaid skirt. The neutral item will serve as an anchor for the printed garments and ground the striking patterned designs. Hence, make sure to stock up on solid color bottoms (especially bottoms) to match with your printed clothes. You can start by looking up where to buy cotton leggings online or visiting a nearby department store.

If you’re still not sure how to match your patterned clothes, another tip is to stick with either warm or cool tones. You can also never go wrong with pairing printed items with monochrome colors, namely black, white, and gray.

Start with Printed Accessories

Accessories with vibrant patterned designs are always fun to look at. If you prefer to wear single-colored clothes, printed accessories make for excellent statement pieces. They’re an effective and more forgiving way to introduce some pattern in your daily ensembles without being too out there.

For example, you can amp up your casual wear with a brightly colored bag with a geometric pattern. There are also plaids, animal prints, and floral designs to choose from. A black and white striped clutch, in particular, never goes out of style and matches well with several different outfits.

Experiment with Outerwear

Once you’ve become more comfortable with having some pattern on your daily outfits, think about outerwear next. Printed designs on outerwear like coats, blazers, jackets, cloaks, and ponchos will make you stand out anywhere you go. Start by pairing printed outerwear with monochrome garments such as black pants and a white blouse. 

As you become more used to it, try out different colors and more vibrant patterns and have fun matching them with your daily outfits. This is a big leap from printed accessories, but it will give you a better feel of the patterns and which designs you like best. 

Spread the Prints Across the Look

One other practical tip in wearing printed clothes is to “cut” the patterns and spread them across your outfit. In this manner, the distinctive visuals are spread out and flow more seamlessly with the rest of the ensemble. It’s also another way to introduce more elaborate designs into your clothes if you typically wear single-colored apparel.

There are many ways to accomplish this. First, you can match your accessories. If you have shoes, belts, scarves, hats, or bags that all feature the same or a similar pattern, wear them together for a more cohesive look. 

Another thing you can do is to put on another garment or accessory to break up the pattern. For example, you can wear a sweater or a vest over a plaid polo or striped turtleneck. If you have a long floral blouse, try wearing a matching solid color belt to break up the pattern. 

So far, the tips have focused on how you can wear single-printed items of clothing. Moving forward, here are some tips you can use for wearing multiple printed garments.

Choose Prints with Similar Hues

A practical trick that several pattern-wearers use is to choose a single hue and apply it throughout the outfit. This means that if you wish to wear a skirt with a predominantly blue color, you pick garments that also have a similar blue hue, albeit in different shades. Also, as mentioned before, stick to either cool or warm tones.

The key to pulling off this look is contrast. If you have a light-colored top, wear bottoms that have a darker shade and vice-versa. It allows each piece to come together yet still stand out, without drowning out the other garments in the ensemble.

On the other hand, if you plan to wear a printed single piece (e.g. a floral dress), make sure to coordinate your accessories to pull the look together.

Stick with a Color Palette

If single-hue outfits aren’t your thing, no worries because you can always go with a color palette. The great thing about determining a color palette for a printed outfit is that you can use the patterned garment as a guide when picking your clothes. 

Take a saturated yellow silk blouse with dark blue polka dots. Using the blouse as a guide, you can look for items in your closet which have a similar shade of blue and yellow. Considering contrast, the blouse fits well with a pair of dark blue plaid slacks and bright yellow heels with a matching bag for a striking look. 

Additionally, the color palette provided by your printed garment can serve as the basis of your makeup look that day. Pair everything with the right hairstyle, and you’re sure to turn a couple of heads around.

Match Small Patterns with Big Patterns

Matching different printed items can get messy pretty quickly. Designs could clash easily, so it’s crucial to be purposeful when choosing garments to match. One way to pull off the print-on-print look is to pair small patterns with bigger ones. One example is a thinly striped blouse with a floral overcoat.

When you match them in this manner, the small patterned item functions as the new “neutral” that grounds the overall look. This is because the prints aren’t fighting for your attention. There is a clear hierarchy of patterns; your eyes draw first to the large designs, and upon closer inspection, you then see the smaller prints.

Be Confident in Your Choices

Wearing printed clothing is a bold step, and more often than not, there’s no strict right way to wear them. The tips laid out in this article are merely guidelines on what you can try as you venture into patterned apparel. Once you get the foundation down pat, take the risk and explore different palettes, styles, and textures to build your custom wardrobe. 

After all, that is the thing about trying clothes of different styles; it’s a risk. The key to pulling the look off lies in confidence. Have fun trying out different clothes and matching different patterns. In the end, it’s all about how you feel about the outfit you chose.