Fashion 101: Playing with Pattern

Posted on | March 15, 2009 | 25 Comments

In our past four Fashion 101 units, we discussed color theory and how to creatively combine colors. But a chic cannot live on color alone. Whether classic designs like stripes, argyle, and polka dots…bolder graphic prints…delicate florals…or exotic paisleys…patterns can add interest — either subtle or bold — into your daily wear. For this module, we’re playing with prints, exploring how to introduce pattern into your wardrobe, how to keep the pattern from wearing you, and how to, yes, mix multiple patterns together. (Note Fab Finds Under 50 readers: great minds think alike!)

Click for more after the jump!

Say Hello, Pattern

Not all of us are big devotees of patterns. E., for one, will admit that she arrived in the world of print rather late, and she still tends to gravitate towards solids on most days. But wearing a print does not mean that it automatically has to be the dominant feature of the outfit. All three of us frequently introduce pattern to our outfits in smaller doses, through accessories.

27 February 2009, originally uploaded by academichic

A., for example, has a stunning collection of earrings that add visual interest with their sometimes bold, sometimes subtle prints. All three of us also regularly wear patterned scarves, using the print as a way to add texture to an otherwise subdued look or to even change the outfit’s entire color scheme. And we all love a patterned shoe. Like the exclamation point at the end of a sentence, a patterned shoe can make an otherwise simple outfit into something special.

Keeping Pattern in Its Place

20 February 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Of course, pattern can also be the focal point of your outfit. If you find a print that you love, make it the centerpiece of that day’s look, keeping other clothing items and accessories more subdued. Or if wearing an all-over print seems too loud for your taste, layering a non-patterned garment over it can tone things down too.

Pattern Mixing

26 February 2009 – Shades of Blue, originally uploaded by academichic.

While it may sound wild and crazy, mixing patterns can actually be a way of introducing subtle, rich interest into an outfit. Ever the academics, here is our methodology:

Mix patterns in the same color family. S. did this in the photograph above and also with this skirt and tights combination.
Let one pattern be the dominant one. A.’s tweed skirt, for example, is a bolder pattern than the more subtle stripes in her shirt.
If in doubt, separate, like A. did when she paired a patterned hair band with an argyle sweater. The distance between the two items allowed for less competition between the prints.
If you’re going big, go small. We’re all surprised that she did this, but E. wore two bold patterns — argyle and floral – right next to each other. But, since she limited this to just her shoes and socks, a relatively small part of her entire outfit, it added a surprising but cheerful twist to the rest of her solids.

Homework:

For this next week, our goal is to wear some sort of pattern every day and to especially push ourselves to experiment with pattern mixing (we will definitely be looking to the pattern-mixing goddess Kimberly for inspiration on this)! We’ll play with a variety of mixes, both bold and subtle, and see how we can freshen up some of our favorite color combinations with prints.

Category: Color Combinations, Fashion 101, Mixing Patterns

Comments

25 Responses to “Fashion 101: Playing with Pattern”

Diana
March 15th, 2009 @ 6:52 am

I have been longing to mix up my wardrobe with more patterns, so this module has given me some good ideas. I’ve always had a habit of gravitating towards all solids, and it’s something I’m trying to break.
Alison
March 15th, 2009 @ 8:34 am

Have fun with this challenge. This is one I should try along with you guys. Kimberly is amazing at mixing patterns. Also, if you want to see more pattern mixing, check out Audi’s blog. http://geekthreads.blogspot.com/
Audi really has fun mixing patterns. I love her outfits!

I can’t wait to see how all of you dress. This will be fun!
16 March 2009 : academichic
March 16th, 2009 @ 9:12 am

[...] together. So like E., I was feeling a bit unsure of how to approach this week’s module on Pattern. Also like E., I found using color as my guide as the simplest way to keep pattern mixing under [...]
16 March 2009 : academichic
March 16th, 2009 @ 10:06 am

[...] today - the green flats? Or maybe I should have take off the first item – the lace cami? Oh pattern mixing… Patterns!, originally uploaded by academichic. Category: Mixing Patterns, Office Hours, [...]
Amy
March 16th, 2009 @ 8:11 pm

Hi Ladies!

Been following your blog for a while, and I love it. This year I decided to really play with my wardrobe and your blog has had some major influence on me.

Mixing patterns came early to me…here’s one example. http://www.flickr.com/photos/8074025@N06/3253487799/

The shirt has a vague purple and grey plaid with the argyle sweater in purple.
admin
March 17th, 2009 @ 3:42 am

Thanks Girls!

Diana and Alison – let us know what you come up with this week.

Amy – thanks for the sweet words. It seems you are quite the pattern mixing queen with all those patterned tights!
19 March 2009 - Getting Closer : academichic
March 17th, 2009 @ 6:24 am

[...] this second day of our pattern challenge week, you’ll notice that my prints have crept closer together, now separated only by the blinding [...]
17 March 2009 : academichic
March 17th, 2009 @ 8:34 am

[...] 2 of pattern mixing. While E.’s prints have crept closer together, mine have moved further apart since [...]
18 March 2009 : academichic
March 18th, 2009 @ 6:40 am

[...] day of pattern mixing, and I’m getting quite comfortable with this. I have been using color as a guide to mixing [...]
19 March 2009 - Hypnotic : academichic
March 19th, 2009 @ 5:22 am

[...] brings me to the admittedly wild print of this dress. I’m not pattern mixing today, but since our module is about simply playing with pattern, I pulled out this crazy red and white number. No one can ignore a pattern like this one, ensuring [...]
19 March 2009 : academichic
March 19th, 2009 @ 9:08 am

[...] still working on our Pattern Mixing module and have mixed patterns by wearing a striped skirt with a striped top together; a combination I [...]
20 March 2009 : academichic
March 20th, 2009 @ 3:15 pm

[...] and some visiting prospective students. This is my last contribution to this week’s pattern module and, although I am not mixing patterns, I certainly am patterned! I’ve been inspired to layer [...]
24 March 2009 : academichic
March 24th, 2009 @ 1:14 pm

[...] for the first two days of our hectic week. I think we all have been grateful for our color and pattern modules, which have provided a framework for spending even a few harried moments looking in our closets but [...]
28 March 2009 - My Rainy Saturday : academichic
March 28th, 2009 @ 2:52 pm

[...] out the fun lining – pattern mixing even in the rain! Fun Lining, originally uploaded by academichic. Category: Mixing Patterns, Pants [...]
7 April 2009 - Curvy Lines : academichic
April 7th, 2009 @ 7:05 am

[...] wear a black top, black pants, and throw a brighter open cardigan or jacket on top. But, since our Pattern Mixing Module, I tried to follow the same principle but with a black and white print. Because the vines on this [...]
CFP: Pattern Mixing Done By You! : academichic
April 26th, 2009 @ 8:34 am

[...] of you have left us comments saying that you were inspired by our pattern mixing module a little while ago. We constantly draw inspiration from other style bloggers and real people who [...]
Daily Outfit: Mixing It Up « Simple Elegance
April 28th, 2009 @ 3:29 am

[...] Outfit: Mixing It Up This outfit was inspired by Academichic’s module on pattern mixing. To keep the multiple patterns from looking too busy, I chose a simple color palette of white, [...]
Pattern Mixing Symposium: Fashion 101 Modules Put Into Practice By You : academichic
May 9th, 2009 @ 4:51 am

[...] our Color Symposium, we decided to ask readers to submit examples of outfits they created using our Fashion 101 Playing with Pattern. Once again we received many great submissions and have definitely been inspired by all of your [...]
20 March 2009 : academichic
May 10th, 2009 @ 8:30 am

[...] am ending this pattern playing week with a bang – check out all these mashed up patterns and textures! Pattern Mashing, originally [...]
15 March 2009 : academichic
May 10th, 2009 @ 8:41 am

[...] not sure if our Pattern Challenge starts today or tomorrow so I threw in a bit of pattern in the belt just in case. This also pulls [...]
1 September 2009 : academichic
September 2nd, 2009 @ 7:56 am

[...] is by no means pattern mixing, but I would argue it should count as pattern playing! A. Dots on Dots, originally uploaded by [...]
Color Review Symposium Part 2 : academichic
October 22nd, 2009 @ 11:38 pm

[...] by our readers just as much as we hope to provide inspiration in return with our Color Modules and Pattern Workshop! Category: Calls for Papers, Color [...]
26 January 2010 : academichic
January 27th, 2010 @ 5:59 am

[...] a few simple pieces with her use of accessories (shoes included). I once called Kimberly a pattern-mixing goddess, but today I am celebrating her as accessory goddess. I started with a simple black dress [...]
Fashion 101 on Cardigans: Playing with Pattern : academichic
March 1st, 2010 @ 10:27 am

[...] a dark, almost indiscernible small polka dot print. We articulated this pattern mix approach in our Fashion 101 on Pattern last year: it seems like mixing one dominant print (the damask here) with a small print (the polka [...]
22 April 2010 : academichic
April 22nd, 2010 @ 10:14 pm

[...] a fair shot today, but stripes once again won out. I tried adding floral accessories for a bit of pattern mixing, but I like the mix of the double stripes better. I promise I’ll try harder tomorrow! [...]