Friday, October 23, 2009

The art of mixing prints

[Photo Agency/ nymag.com/ urbanoutfitters.com]

Rachel Bilson is always well dressed. She has even mastered the tricky art of mixing prints as demonstrated at the Madewell and Lucky Magazine Denim Party. Bilson is wearing a black Juicy Couture cardigan, black-and-white Madewell dotted tank, black-and-white printed Myne skirt and vintage boots.

The second photo is from Diane von Furstenberg's fall 2009 RTW collection. The designer paired a plaid coat with red-and-black printed (almost leopard-looking) leggings, burgundy shoes and a bold hat. Obviously this runway look is edgy, but it works because of the similar colors.

Here are some simple rules to break away from the matchy-matchy...

-Keep it in the color family.
The key to making this look work and avoid looking like a crazy person is to work with a similar color palate.

-Think accessories. Pairing accessories like stand-out shoes in a different color (leopard print perhaps), jewelry or a bold hat (like DvF's) also can have the same effect.

-Add hosiery. Since tights are so in, there are tons of different options out there that can add another dimension to your outfit. Try houndstooth, floral or plaid-printed tights.

-Start with stripes.
A striped cardigan, dress or skirt is always a good place to begin. Then pair it with something floral.

-Cheat. If all else fails, you could always get a dress that has already done the mixing for you. Try one of the above dresses by Kimchi Blue at Urban Outfitters ($39.99).

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