Spice Up Your Wardrobe with Prints

A couple of years ago, I realized how boring my wardrobe had become. I had precious few patterns in my closet, but those that I had, I wore quite often.
Several patterns I didn't feel were "right" and they quickly wrote their own ticket out of my closet. I looked at the patterns I wore the most to see what they all had in common and tried to figure out why I felt great and looked good in them.
I realized all the patterns shared one trait - they all contained beige or yellow. They worked with my coloring because I am a champagne blonde. It's all about harmony - my hair color was repeated in the patterns I wore.
 
I started using this new tactic, and you know what? I started buying (and more importantly, wearing) interesting patterns! My closet isn't boring anymore!! 
Most of us appreciate a rule of thumb so we are assured that what we buy will look great on us. Fortunately, this concept works for everyone - whether male or female, and regardless of hair color - brown, red, black, gray, or blonde. 
A pattern will generally work on you if your hair color is repeated in it. I think that's why leopard print is perpetually 'in'. It contains so many of our hair colors - blonde, light and dark brown, white, and black. And redheads can wear it because it's in their color palette!

A few more tricks for wearing prints:

The 80/20 Rule This is for anyone who has attended one of my color events. For best results, when you buy prints, make sure 80% of the colors in the print are from your own palette. The other 20% can be any color in the spectrum. Remember, it's all about creating harmony!

Filling Your Closet
The easiest way to incorporate prints is to use the following list in descending order:
1. Stripes 2. Plaids 3. Checks
4. Dots 5. Abstracts
6. Florals

Mimic your face and body shape
If your facial features are on the angular side with dramatic high cheekbones, a square jawline, or thin lips, and you are tall and/or slender, opt for bold, geometric patterns.

If you have softer features and are more curvy, choose soft or rounded prints, like paisley, swirls, and abstract florals.

A mishmash of prints from my very own closet: clothes, bags, shoes, scarves

I'm on the softer, curvier side, so I select patterns that are more rounded, leafy, or swirly - nothing too angular or with hard edges.

Mixing Patterns 
Guys do it all the time - a pinstripe suit, striped shirt, polka dot tie. Women, on the other hand, are generally afraid to mix patterns for fear of looking silly, I suppose. I do it quite a bit and I can assure you I don't look silly. I will pair striped or plaid pants with abstract print shirts or jackets.

How to make this look work:

1. Don't combine more than 2 patterns - unless you are going for a very fashion forward look

2. Items must have at least 2 colors in common

3. Make sure the prints are different proportions - for instance, herringbone (a very tight pattern) and a large print brocade jacket can work well together if you follow all the other rules

4. Mixing patterns mandates toned-down accessories

Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Stripe Trend?

I can't go into a store this season without seeing black and white horizontal stripes everywhere. Because of all the image, style and body line analysis classes I've taken and the books I've read over the years, I've discovered just how conditioned I am - B.F. Skinner-style - to avoid them in the same way I avoid mosquitoes and bears. 

What I didn't realize is that most of my clients, no matter how un-fashion-savvy they claim to be, at the very least know to avoid the evils of the horizontal stripe.

Recently, a few clients have thought I was absolutely nuts when I slipped a couple of such pieces onto their racks of clothing to try on. Scary! This was one response from a 49 year old:

"Oh my gosh, my mother 

would kill me if she knew 

 I was buying this!"

Seriously, folks.

(If you want to read more about mothers, ex-boyfriends, 

catty friends and how they never leave our closets, 

check out my article Fashion Exorcism.)

Trends come into our lives to present us with opportunities to get out of our fashion comfort zones. Some are only for crazy fashion daredevils (did anyone buy into triple-pleated pants that were here and gone in about two weeks?) and other trends can be molded to fit any style, coloring and body shape. 

Horizontal stripes can work for pretty much anybody in one way or another - just follow a few simple tips.

1) Dresses and tops should be close to the body, but not clingy. 

Beware! This full skirt with wide stripes may not be your best buddy.

2) A narrow stripe is typically - but not always - more flattering than a wide one.

3) Don't wear the most obvious thick stripes across the widest parts of your body. (The above is not a good choice if you have a thicker torso.)

4) Confuse the eye - not all stripes have to be horizontal. 

5) Even a small amount of stripey-ness goes a long way. 

 Layer a striped cardigan or jacket over something plain or a plain jacket or cardigan over a striped top or dress.  

Kristen Kaleal is a wardrobe stylist, speaker and fashion writer. The black and white stripe trend reminds her of one of her favorite fashion icons, The Hamburglar. Ironically, she is a vegetarian.  *rubble rubble*

_