Mixing prints? Yes, with style (and strategy)!
- Daniela Mansur
- Jun 30
- 3 min read
Think mixing prints is just for bold fashionistas or street style stars? Not anymore! With a few smart tips (and a little help from your personal colour analysis), mixing prints becomes a fun and stylish way to express yourself — without looking like you got dressed in the dark.
The secret lies in understanding your natural contrast, working with your colour palette, and learning how to balance proportions. Let’s break it down?
1. Start with your personal contrast
Your natural contrast is the difference between your skin tone, hair and eyes. If you have high contrast (like fair skin with dark hair), you can rock bold, high-contrast prints — think black and white stripes or red and navy florals. If your features are more similar in tone (low contrast), go for softer, more tonal combinations.
👉 Quick tip: if your natural appearance is subtle, stick to prints with low contrast between background and pattern. If it’s bold and striking, embrace prints that mirror that contrast!
2. Let your colour palette guide you
Mixing prints gets much easier when the colours belong to your seasonal palette. That’s because these colours already harmonise with each other, making the mix look intentional — not overwhelming. Florals, stripes, checks or polka dots all work better when they match your undertone, intensity and depth.
👉 Example: if you're a Soft Summer, try combining a small blue floral print with thin lavender stripes — soft, elegant, and totally you.
3. Vary the scale and style of the prints
A great way to ease into mixing is to combine one large-scale print with a smaller one. It keeps things visually balanced. You can also mix two prints of the same theme — like combining tiny florals with larger blooms, or mixing polka dots of different sizes.
👉 Style trick: stripes work almost like a visual neutral — they’re perfect for beginners!
4. Connect your prints through a shared colour
Even if your prints are completely different, having one colour in common helps bring harmony to the outfit. This shared tone ties everything together and makes the mix look cohesive.
5. Pair neutral prints with colourful ones
This is a super beginner-friendly way to experiment. Try mixing a neutral print (black, beige, grey or navy) with a more colourful one. The neutral acts as an anchor and helps tone down the vibrant print.
👉 Style idea: a black and white striped top with a bright floral skirt — a timeless and foolproof combo.
6. Mix the same print in different colours
Want to take it up a notch? Mix two pieces with the same type of print (like checks, animal print or polka dots), but in different colours. It’s unexpected, modern and looks ultra-stylish — especially when both colours are within your palette.
👉 Inspiration: pair a red check shirt with a navy check skirt, or wear a classic beige leopard print top with a colourful animal print bag.
7. Keep the prints apart for a softer look
If you’re still building confidence, try keeping the prints physically distant. For instance, wear a printed blazer with patterned shoes. Because they’re not in direct competition visually, the look feels lighter and easier to pull off.
👉 Friendly tip: this is one of the most elegant ways to start playing with print mixing.
8. Prints speak — so be intentional
In image consulting, prints aren’t just decoration — they communicate! Some are more romantic (like delicate florals), others more creative (like abstract or artsy designs), and some are timeless and classic (like houndstooth or pinstripes). Choose prints that support the message you want to convey, then mix them with purpose.
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