How to Wear Prints and Patterns Without Overthinking It
Written by Artemis Clo
If you have ever stood in front of the mirror holding a floral top and wondering what on earth goes with it, this is for you. Learning how to wear prints is mostly about a few simple habits, and once you have them you will reach for pattern without a second thought.
How to wear prints: start with one
The easiest way to wear a print is to let it be the only one. A printed top with plain bottoms, or a printed dress with plain shoes and a plain bag, always looks deliberate. Nobody will ever think you got dressed in the dark.
To pick the plain half, look closely at the print and find one of its quieter colours: the navy in the background, the green of a leaf, the cream between the flowers. Wear that colour on the other half of your outfit. A ditsy floral button-front blouse with navy trousers, or a watercolour floral button-front shirt with white jeans, works because the colours are already talking to each other.
If your print has lots of colours, black, navy, white or a soft neutral are always safe partners. Browse our blouses for florals and abstracts that are easy to start with.
Blouses to start with
A few pieces that fit what you have just read.
Ditsy Floral Button-Front Blouse with Notch Neck
Watercolour Floral Button-Front Shirt
Abstract Floral Blouse with Puff Sleeves
Scale, colour and where the print sits
Three things decide how a print looks on you: the size of the pattern, the strength of the colours, and the part of your body it covers.
- Scale. Small prints such as ditsy florals and tiny spots read as almost plain from a distance and feel calm. Large prints make a statement. A medium scale is often the easiest everyday choice.
- Contrast. High contrast, such as black and white, is bold and graphic. Low contrast, where the colours are close to each other, is softer and easier to wear for long days.
- Placement. A print draws the eye. Wear it where you want attention: a printed blouse brings the focus to your face, a printed skirt to your stride.
If you are not sure which colours suit you, our guide to seasonal colour analysis can help you choose prints in your best shades.
Mixing two patterns without the clash
Once one print feels easy, you may want to try two. It can look wonderful, and a few rules make it far less risky.
- Share a colour. Two prints that have one colour in common look like they belong together. Navy spots and a navy-and-white stripe is a classic for a reason.
- Change the scale. Pair a small print with a larger one, so they do not compete. A fine stripe with a bold floral works; two bold florals usually fight.
- Use a stripe as a neutral. A simple stripe goes with almost any print. It is the easiest second pattern to start with.
- Break it up. A plain cardigan, belt or jacket between two prints gives the eye somewhere to rest.
If two printed garments feel like too much, start smaller. A patterned scarf with a striped top, or a printed bag with a floral dress, gives you the same effect on a smaller scale. Accessories are also the easiest place to test a pattern you are unsure of: if you love it on a scarf, you may well love it on a blouse. And if a mix looks busy in the mirror, take one piece off and swap it for a plain one. Nobody needs to know you tried.
Co-ord sets are a clever shortcut here: the top and bottom are designed to go together, so the work is done for you. Take a look at our co-ord sets for printed pairs that you can also wear separately.
How to wear prints for different days
A print can be relaxed or smart depending on what you wear with it.
| The day | The print | What to wear with it |
|---|---|---|
| Weekend | A printed blouse or an abstract floral blouse with puff sleeves | Jeans, trainers, a cardigan |
| Work | A small geometric or a fine floral | Plain trousers, loafers, a blazer |
| Lunch out | A printed midi dress | Plain shoes in a colour from the print, a small bag |
| Evening | A bold abstract | Simple jewellery, plain heels or smart flats |
A printed dress is the easiest way in, because the outfit is done in one piece. See our dresses for everything from soft florals to bold abstracts. And if you fancy the boldest pattern of them all, our guide on how to wear leopard print is the next step. For days when you want a rest from pattern, how to wear neutrals keeps things interesting.
Start with one print you already own, find its quietest colour, and build from there. The rest comes with practice.
Next, from our dresses
Something from a neighbouring rail, for the same moment.
Loose V-Neck Midi Dress with Bold Abstract Print
Geometric Print Midi Shirt Dress
Spotted Tiered Midi Dress with Frill Sleeves
Your questions, answered
Can I wear a print to a formal event?
Yes. A print in a refined colour palette, such as a watercolour floral or a small geometric, reads as smart. Keep the shoes and bag plain and let the print be the statement.
Can I wear florals in winter?
Yes. Florals on a dark ground, such as navy, black or deep green, feel right at home in winter, especially with boots, tights and a plain cardigan. Keep the pale, sugary florals for spring if you prefer.
What shoes go with a printed dress?
Pick out one of the darker or quieter colours in the print and match your shoes to that. Nude, navy, tan and black all work with most prints.
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