Being daring in fashion seems to be relative these days. With rules being thrown out and individuality becoming more and more acceptable in what we wear daily, you are no longer immediately labeled an outcast when you decide to, for instance, dye your hair pink or blue; In fact, you might just be setting the next big trend with that cotton candy hue. The same goes for your choice of daily attire: So many looks can stand on their own and not define you as being “different” or “out there”. Right now, Chris Benz and Mary Katrantzou rule the runways with their out-of-this-world abilities to mix what many may envision as clashing colors, textures and prints- and turn them into beautiful works of art that we want to wear (but maybe don’t know where to start). And on top of that, these runway looks can be translated into streetwear seamlessly; Toning down or zeroing out accessories and keeping shoes and bags simple is the best way to go for those of us who are just stepping into the realm of the mix-and-match trend. However, “more is more” can work well with mixed-print daily wear too (bright sunnies, big bangles, bolds pumps, a beehive- throw it together and go!).
I’m a true believer in having fun with fashion and not setting too many rules for yourself. My philosophy on style is: If it looks good on you, wear it! There’s nothing sadder to me than hearing a gal say something like, “I refuse to wear green.” or “That works for you, but I could never pull that off.” Setting strict limits in one’s wardrobe seems to stifle the whole purpose of present-day fashion- self-expression and individuality. Now, there is nothing wrong with the mentality of keeping things simple or wanting not to stand out too much; there are ways to make statements in that alone. But when a gal closes herself off to wearing a certain print or color, she will inevitably come to a moment when she sees a, say, beautiful leopard print dress that would look perfect on her- but cannot bring herself to wear it because she swore off leopard print five years ago. What seems to be universal with gals, though, is the want to have fun with clothing, but what’s missing for a lot of ladies is knowing where to start or how to take risks with their wardrobe. And that’s the beauty of the more-is-more and mix-and-match trends: rules are up to the individual! It’s what you feel good in and what looks good on you, as it should be no matter what you wear.
Thrifting printed statement pieces (and subtle ones) can be as easy as pie with endless prints from the 60’s to the 90’s being at your fingertips, and it can be a great way to grab up a good variety of printed dresses, tops and bottoms without making a huge commitment budget-wise. Some of you may just want to dive right into trying out prints from your wardrobe with newly-thrifted numbers, but if you are someone who could use a little guide to trying out the trend (or the push to do so!), here’s a tip or two:
- Mix neutral prints with bold, vivid ones.
- Throw on a patterned belt to add even more variety to the palette and break up the clash of prints
- Stripes and florals are a match made in print heaven!
- Mixed prints can camouflage any flaws and look dynamite on any figure when you pair a patterned top with high-waist pants or a skirt
- Leopard with tartan, polka dots with florals, aztec with stripes …Grab those prints, and mix things up!
NOTE: Every item pictured (minus the striped skirt) is thrifted!
By Whitney S. Williams
Photos by Angie Miller
Photo Assistant: Amanda Williams
