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Lots of pattern mixes

Brooklyn

Veteran

Hi all

I thought I would join in the pattern mix fun by posting a collection of some of my pattern mixes. Some older, some newer.

I pattern mix a lot. I enjoy it partly as a creative challenge and partly because it helps me to get more variety and mileage out of the patterned items in my wardrobe.

My versions are not as adventurous or trendy as the versions that Angie shows but I think they apply some of her principles.

Pics 1-6: pattern mix lite. Easy pattern mixes where I used accessories to add another layer of pattern (scarf, guitar strap, handbag, jewellery, shoes). Lots of geometrics, florals, stripes and animal print, which are easy to mix (no 1 on Angie’s list).

Pics 7-9: quiet and loud pattern mixes. Small dots or squares with larger, bolder patterns (chevron, baroque, abstract). No 2.

Pics 10-17: black and white pattern mixes. The monochrome colour palette makes it feel comfortable for me, even when the patterns are big and bold. I am fond of this type of pattern mix and probably do it about once a week. Lots of stripes and florals. Nos 1 and 3 on Angie’s list.

Pics 18-21: “neutral” or low contrast pattern mixes (no 4). Both of the tweed jackets have a pattern but it’s subtle and almost neutral. So they are easy to pattern mix. My ombré jacket falls into the same category. I seem to be able to wear it with almost any pattern. And the subtle pattern on the space dye skirt also makes it easy to pattern mix. I suspect a lot of people do this sort of a pattern mix but don’t think of it as a pattern mix.

Pic 22: repeated pattern (no 5 on Angie’s list). Matchy-matchy pattern mix!

I hope to see some more pattern mixing on the forum. Just don’t ask me to colour mix

37 replies

Latest reply was from Chris987

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I hereby crown you Queen Neutral Pattern Mixing, and Queen Chevron Stripe. KILLER all round Brooklyn, and thanks for providing inspiration for the post.

I can't pick a fave!

Brooklyn

Veteran

Thanks Angie! I’m glad you didn’t crown me Queen Pattern Mix because I would have to demand that title go to Rachy. Happy to graciously accept the “neutral” title. And yay to chevron, I always say

taylor

Veteran

Ahhh, so that's how it's done !
You make it look so easy ! Fabulous

Bonnie

Veteran

Wonderful pattern mixing.

Anonymous

What a lovely collection of outfits. My favourites are 1 (orangey skirt) and 11 (white moto and pencil skirt).

jussie

Veteran

Some great examples of how to pattern mix here. Not too loud at all, just lovely.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Brooklyn, I was VERY specific for good reason

Sal

Veteran

Great inspiration!! Lots of lovely looks but my pics are 1 2 3 5 8 19:) (love the A line and assymetric skirts obviously!)

And I think Angie should have said Queen Ombre too along with Chevron and Neutral Pattern Mix but that might be too greedy.

Amy Isabella

Veteran

A fab masterclass in pattern mixing! You never put a stylish foot wrong and always look so effortlessly pulled together. Super inspirational :).

Brooklyn

Veteran

Thanks Amy Isabella! You are always so positive.

Sally, I love the asymmetric skirts and am contemplating duplicating the first one in another pattern because I haven’t bought much for Spring/Summer. And “Queen Ombré” makes my toes tingle (as Angie might say)!

Angie, I would expect nothing less from you

Thanks Jussie, Smittie and Bonnie!

Thanks Taylor! I think my neutral pattern mixing is pretty easy. I find it much harder if there are lots of colours involved.

Sal

Veteran

I really like that skirt (sadly I have really spent my budget already this spring summer and there is a great new boutique opened less than five minutes walk from my house!!)

Brooklyn

Veteran

Oh no Sally! The temptation! I’ve been really disciplined this Spring partly because it’s not my season and partly because I’m not working within an office as much as I did this time last year. So I’ve suddenly lost interest in work clothes. I think I will just skip Summer and go straight to Autumn

taylor

Veteran

I totally agree with you on this . Pattern mixing is much more complicated (for me)by adding lots of colors AND colorful designs ...just too much for me to even attempt.
I am almost strictly a neautral person anyway so adding shades of neutral designs in complimentary hues is something I find very appealing ,and I must say you did a fantastic job!
I just have little to no clothing with print or design ..., graphic , floral, or otherwise, to pull this off . So a big thank you for all the visual inspiration

Aquamarine

Veteran

You make it look so effortless. I don’t even think *ah, she’s pattern mixing* when I see your outfits. It’s just smooth, cohesive, elegant...always.

Brooklyn

Veteran

Thanks Taylor. For me it’s a good reason, when buying a patterned item, to stick with patterns that only have 2 or 3 major colours. It makes mixing much easier. For me, if a pattern has 4 or more colours, it’s pretty hard to mix it with another pattern that has 4 or more other colours, even if 1 or 2 colours are the same. It starts to look quite hectic. Not that it can’t be done, it just can’t be done by me!

Brooklyn

Veteran

Thanks Aquamarine!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

WOW. A master class indeed. You do pattern mixing like nobody's business and make it look easy and effortless. I find it difficult to pick a favourite, too, but what I love most of all is how all these outfits express your style and feel very much like "you." I think this is partly because you have refined your own neutrals and colours to such a degree that -- as you say -- they feel cohesive. But you also do great things with proportion. And you have the right pieces.

A lot of people can't do pattern mix "lite" because they tend to buy simple solid accessories. I think a leopard or cheetah or floral (or what have you) bag or belt or shoe or scarf in one's favourite neutrals/ colours is basically a gift from the gods and we should all be so lucky to find as many as you have!! I love how these items add interest to an outfit in an almost exponential way.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

What a treat first thing in the morning! Unfortunately as it is truly first thing I can't be very specific, but I love the way you also use necklaces and even your hair as part of the pattern mix. Zebra bag is gorgeous. Your pattern mixes are so cohesive that they become their own 'whole is greater than the parts' pattern.

Joy

Veteran

What Suz said. You make it look so easy. #13 and 17 may be my favorite ever of your outfits but it is all fabulous.

Mirjana

Veteran

OMG, how beautiful outfits! Love all. I agree with Angie, you are Queen of that pattern mixing and I especially like how you mix stripes and floral and chevron. I will make a note. It's really very difficult to pick favourites, as they are all wonderful, but at the moment I like the best #3, 4 , 12, 16 and 21.

Brooklyn

Veteran

Awe, thanks cousin MJ! You like the black and white mixes on me. I reckon you can do more adventurous full colour versions!

Thanks Joy! Still waiting to see yours....Anytime in the next day or so would be fine

Thanks Shevia! I hope it wasn’t too early for the *loud* patterns.

Thanks Suz for your lovely detailed response. I agree that patterned and embellished accessories can add a lot to an outfit. I’ve got a lot of wear out of my black and white bags, also my leopard bag and the newer diamond pattern MK bag. I’m much more drawn to pattern and texture than I am to colour, which is pretty obvious I guess.

Sooo... my husband and I are going out to lunch tomorrow. And he said to me **can you wear one of those pattern mix “thingies”? ** He knows all the lingo, ha ha!

Bijou

Veteran

So glad to hear that your husband appreciates how gorgeous you are! I hope you have a fantastic lunch tomorrow.

Thank you for posting this, I would like to pattern mix more, so this post is giving me lots of inspiration.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I'm amazed at your gorgeousness as usual Brooklyn. And I'm amused at your husband knowing the lingo. Sometimes now mine asks me "How are the ladies of the forum today?" ( Referencing "The Ladies of the Forum of the Court of King Caractacus", old Rolf Harris song. While clearing our 27 years of detritus from the current house we found an old Rolf Harris record, which made us shudder with his relatively recent convictions).
I can try bright pattern mixing instead of you, when I get home from Bali
I haven't bought much else, just 2 beautiful pairs silver earrings I can post about at a later point.
Love your monochrome renditions. I love monochrome as well as bright colours.

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

Brooklyn, always a treat to see your outfit photos. Really beautiful, and though at first glance many seem “monochromatic,” in fact there is a lot of subtle color mixed in there. Especially dusty pink, I think. Although I don’t think of you as wearing “a lot” of pink, but the touches of rose color add to the romantic feeling. Your wavy hair looks kind of romantic too, so it all works.

Elizabeth P

Veteran

This is fantastic Brooklyn, thanks for pulling these together into one post like this. It really helps to get a sense of your style, as well as how you approach pattern mixing. A true treat. Too many favs to list... Queen Neutral Pattern Mixing indeed.

lyn67

Veteran

Oh, My, this is a treat for me to see some of you killer gorgeous older and newer outfits gathered here together! Love the new if I can remember well burgundy lace up long boots, wow!!!! Of course I can hardly pick a favourite say all the middle column if I'd really have to:-))))-but love dearly all your outfits and you do pattern mixes like a pro you really are! Thank you so much for inspiration, and Happy Thanksgiving!:-)

JAileen

Veteran

These are just wonderful. I love your ombre jacket. And #21 is so fabulous my head is spinning!

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

The way you've organized this post is nice. And the outfits are, of course, superb. Quite a few were so harmonious that I had to look for more than one pattern! Also, I haven't seen your hair the way you're wearing it in 7 and some of the others. I like it! Also new you to me are the colors you're wearing in the last one. They are great on you. Thanks for sharing.

Suz, you are quite right. I am finding, now that I have my winter things out again, for the first time in years, that many of them are monochromatic. I will have to be quite intentional about adding pattern whenever I get something new.

Cee

Veteran

Brooklyn... if that was anymore killer, you'd be receiving a visit from the Homicide Squad and CSI.

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