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Prints 101: share what you know

Eliza

Veteran

As I sort through my closet to remove the clothes that no longer work, I am struck by the role prints can play in elevating looks, preventing boredom and tying pieces together visually. I am also aware that I must select them carefully to avoid creating looks that I ultimately don't want to wear or even shouldn't wear.

At this point, one take away is that I have to be on red alert for my candy eye for printed tops that would "go with anything" color-wise, meaning most of my neutrals (gray, cream, white, black, most blues, and a little taupe). It is very easy for these tops to read "muddy" or frumpy on me (late 50s, very fair skin). These are closet orphans in the donate pile. Additionally, I usually like to amp up my outfits with texture, garment structure, silhouettes, colors and accessories, so I sometimes feel overwhelmed by or not quite myself in prints.

This brings me to my second observation: my love of structure extends to prints. I seem to do better with contemporary geometrics, including stripes, than dense abstract painted looks, most florals or tiny prints. Proportion plays a role (slightly tall, medium sized person) as does the fact that my skin has enough variations with some freckling that it can get "busy" around my face quickly. High contrast can work well, perhaps because my hair and eyes are dark.

Anyone want to chime in on how they optimize prints in their wardrobe or what is challenging about them? I have a lot more to learn.

Thanks.

Dressing

23 replies

Latest reply was from Eliza

Anonymous

I haven't worn plaid or stripes since my mom got too old and sick to sew for me. Why? Because she's the only one who ever painstakingly matched up the pattern at the seams. Thanks to her, I'm a real stickler about that. I recently saw some really cute striped blazers at Gap, and was going to buy one for my DD; but when I examined them and saw they weren't matched at the seam, I backed off. My DD agreed that she didn't like the mismatched side seams. I explained that it takes extra fabric and time to match the pattern correctly, and that I suspect the garment manufacturers want to cut corners to maximize profits; thus the mismatched plaids and stripes seen everywhere these days.

I love prints, and do wear them. Most of my blouses and dresses are printed, and some of my jeans are as well. I have one striped blazer (that is mercifully matched properly, else I wouldn't own it) that works well over floral tops and blouses. That's the extent of my pattern mixing. I usually only wear print in one place on my body; solid everywhere else. That's mostly because I'm petite and don't want my overall look to be too "busy."

I'm interested to know what types of prints you YLFers think look old ladyish and which do not. When buying prints, there are certain ones I avoid because I think they look like they're for old women. That said, I have a niece who never wears prints because she says they look dated after a while. Maybe so, but so can solids, and life's too short IMO not to wear a print if you like it. Thoughts?

Susie

Veteran

I strongly prefer graphic patterns; in fact, I have only one floral print top and that one is rather large abstract flowers. I also don't wear plaid though I do really like stripes. And there are no whimsical prints in my closet!

I tend to prefer solids or tone on tone patterns and texture to add interest.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I love whimsical prints - in fact, I have to make a conscious effort to buy things WITHOUT prints so I don't become a prints monster :p

I have everything from airplanes to owls to apples to ravens to skeletons - but I think it's a part of my own quirkiness. My psychotherapy supervisor says that it is my "rebellious" side that comes out - he did not like my bubble gum pink skirt.

Anonymous

I don't do whimsical, either. I do love the tone-on-tone (jacquard) patterns. Tweed is also nice.

Anonymous

My favorite prints, other than evenly spaced stripes ( don't like mixtures of width and spacing), are watercolor-like prints and what I think Angie calls panel prints, where the print is not repeated. Many florals look old lady to me, probably because I remember old ladies wearing them.

rachylou

Veteran

Off to the side: I saw a square polka dot that I've decided is the polka dot for me. I tend to shy away from polka dots, they feel too sweet for me in general, but the square polka dot... that's the ticket.

One thing about prints, I should think it's important to have different sized ones, esp. if you like to pattern mix. Big florals on top and bottom, right, and you'll look like a sofa...

Diana

Veteran

I adore prints, but for me they are an extremely emotional thing. Either I love them or I don't, and I don't generally change my mind. It's some elusive combination of pattern, color, and scale.

But in general my favorites are botanical prints. Natural looking flowers and leaves. I also have a penchant for certain types of Victorian florals, Liberty prints, Grandma's couch tapestries, etc. The trick with those is to pair them with something graphic (like b/w stripes) or with something sharp and black, like a strong shouldered blazer or something. I like some geometric patterns, especially to pair with the wild florals, but not all of them. In general I do not like small, regular repeating motifs on solid backgrounds (think the preppy standbys like little white anchors on navy background, that type of thing) although I don't mind polka dots.

So I realize I'm not being helpful, as for me it's all about gut feeling.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I've been enjoying a few what I call "neutral" prints this past year. I just bought a jcrew navy button down with tiny embroidered white dots all over it and I really love the texture and style. Pic included.

I was inspired to buy it after my recent epiphany and comments from the helpful YLF's that I can feel free focus on my favorite colors to build my wardrobe as long as the items are unique in style/texture.
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....or-choices

I think overall I prefer a subtle print, two colors or maybe three tops, not whimsical, no flowers typically (though I do own a couple but rarely wear them). I like my stripes to have lower contrast (eye thing) but I do have one navy/white striped tee that does not fit this rule and I like it sometimes as long as I don't look at the stripes in the mirror. lol

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Suz

(website)

Veteran

It's fascinating to read people's different responses. Maybe our attitudes to prints say as much about our style preferences and personae as anything else!

I'm still learning about what prints work for me and which don't. In general, I like geometric patterns (stripes) and abstract patterns that include diagonals or other angular lines. Polka dots or round shapes can also work if they are the right scale for me.

I also like abstract florals where the pattern mimics the size of my own features; a couple of my summer dresses have patterns of that type, I notice, and I felt comfortable in those.

Occasionally I like a whimsical print (my kitty top) and I've even been known to enjoy an "old lady" floral where the colours were exceptionally flattering and the size of the print was correct for me.

Hmmm. It sounds as if I haven't ruled anything out, yet somehow I feel more confident of my choices.

Day Vies

Veteran

I love colors more than prints. I am still adding prints to my wardrobe because I simply don't have enough of them. I completely agree with your observation that a great print is very versatile and adds lots of interest to an outfit. I love jewelry and I find when I have lots of visual interest from prints in an outfit I don't need jewelry at all.

Peri

Veteran

I struggle with prints also...a lot of them just seem to overwhelm me. I did a post one time wondering why a jacket looked great on another YLF member and not on me. I did get some really interesting answers, but some people felt it looked fine on me. Part of it is comfort and what you love I guess.

So, can't help with answers, just commiserating!

milehighstyle (Linda)

Veteran

I wear a lot of prints: stripes, florals, graphic, whimsical, leopard. Usually just one at a time, but I have experimented with pattern mixing here and there. Nothing too crazy - similar colors tying the prints together, I'd call it print mixing level 1. I prefer colorful prints and medium to high contrast. What I love about wearing prints is picking colors from the print to wear elsewhere in the outfit. It's an easy way to pull an outfit together instead of trying to figure out what colors to wear together or just defaulting to a color (or print) with all neutrals. Yes, I bat for team matchy. Inside out style blog has some useful posts about choosing flattering prints.

Sarah A

Veteran

I owned probably not a single print that wasnt in a a scarf (and most of those were gifts!) before joining YLF. Not I have al least half a closetful but one thing that really stands out for me is that with a single exception, all printed items have two colors. No less no more. Most are geometric in nature: stripes, dots, lines in various curves, and a very few florals. Most are high contrast, black/white (cream), navy/tan, navy/green, navy/white, navy/red. Typing this I just realized I really like prints grounded with navy... Like Diana I go with my gut, usually I love it or not and sometimes what I love are very different from what I consider my usual "go-to's" so I consider those areas as potential style growth areas when I decide to go for them. Crazy pattern mixing is sometimes fun for me so different scales in the same color families are helpful for that. I like leopard for shoes and belts but not for clothing... go figure

Isabel

Veteran

Like others, I do almost all prints in scarves. I have a hard time with prints. But I have started wearing subtle prints and realized that is because I really like what is traditionally "meanswear" prints. Prints for me make me feel conspicuous and overwhelmed.I like more subtly. I also feel that they are just too memorable. Though I have one Gap pull over that is a medium print and I love it for some reason. I like them on others, though. I especially enjoy them when one of the colors ties back to other things in an unexpectant sort of way. I think that Mary K does this in spades.

Deborah

Veteran

I like prints, but mostly on others:). YLF has encouraged me to try new things and prints/patterns have been given a bit of a run but I have now pretty much reverted to solids. When I do wear prints, I prefer them to be tonal and in my neutrals.. For example I have a blazer, a floral in black/grey and white. An animal print tunic in black/grey/white. Generally speaking i prefer abstract prints in clothing. It's in my accessories that I don't mind adding prints ie..polka dot clutch, animal print shoes, patterned scarves. Feel that strong prints can accentuate my size, make me feel conspicuous and uncomfortable:).

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Isabel

Veteran

haha, Deborah we said the same thing at the same time !

DonnaF

Veteran

I like prints, and I like prints on others. I am starting to want printed jackets, skirts, and pants just because they are less common than printed shirts. That being said, these days I always ask myself if a particular garment's print looks *old lady*. When I was younger it didn't matter, but now I kinda squint my eyes to see if I can picture it in a shuffleboard game.

donnat

Veteran

The only prints in my wardrobe right now are stripes and various animal print. Looking back i have always had a sugar eye for polka dots.
I have fazed out the dots feeling that they are now dated.(rachylou you may have something with the square dot)
Since joining ylf I am hot for whimsical prints. There are a few ladies here with a siamese cat blouse which i covet. ( i had two siamese for 22 yrs)
There is a teacup print from gap that i love. So... I am on the lookout for some cool print that doesnt scream crazy old lady.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

That Siamese cat blouse may still be available, Donna! I saw it on Ebay.

It's such a lovely shirt. So glad I got it.

Eliza

Veteran

Thanks to all for weighing in on your experiences with prints. I unintentionally posted without realizing I would be tied up for hours. I look forward to replying in greater detail soon. Lots of interesting points!

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

Hi, Queen Print checking in here...I haven't met a pattern I don't love. LOL! Well, that is a slight exaggeration, but not by much! I never get tired of wearing prints! I do either love or hate a pattern instantly, but once I love it, I rarely get tired of it, which is why I have such a poor filter for datedness.

I love prints so much, I am not happy with my outfit if it doesn't contain at least one print. It's one of my rubric elements. Which explains why my wardrobe is so large, because I have so many different prints and not all of them go together. So I have to have solid bottoms to go with my printed tops and solid tops to go with my printed bottoms. I like to do some print mixing (my six year old daughter is into extreme pattern mixing!), but I am much more into print matching/hypermatching (like the Kate Spade floral dress+purse+laptop case, or the Bobeau dot skirt that matches my Kate Spade dot diaper bag). My accessories have to match--so I have lots of patterned purses, and of course shoes too!

I love all types of patterns and have all these prints in my closet in abundance:
1) animal prints--snake, peacock, pony, leopard/cheetah
2) animal prints that are actual animals--owls, cats, bees, horses, jellyfish
3) nature prints--floral, tree branches, agate/ocean
4) preppy patterns--houndstooth, plaid, tweed, equestrian
5) polka dots (maybe this should be #1!)--big ones, small ones, irregular ones, colored ones
6) stripes--bold, thin, chevron
7) "old lady" patterns--lace and fleur de lis skirts, baroque pattern like my signature outfit with the mustard blouse
8) geometric patterns
9) abstract painterly patterns
10) tropical prints
11) whimsical patterns like hearts (and see #2 above)

I do find that I struggle with printed scarves. I already have so much print in my clothes that it just feels like too much to add a printed scarf on top. Plus scarves in general feel too fussy on me and aren't practical for my lifestyle with work and the baby (and yet I have a whole scarf hanger of patterned scarves!). I also don't do well with patterned jackets for the same reason. I really struggled with the lace bomber because it was just too much on top of my outfits, so I ended up passing it on to my sister. Conversely, I also don't like the "so subtle you can barely see it" prints like microcheck--I'm all about statement prints. I don't think it counts as print mixing when the pattern is so small the item looks like a solid! I'm also less keen on the tie-die, boho, artsy-craftsy prints because they don't jive with my polished ladylike style as much.

Other than those few caveats though, I can't get enough of patterns. No matter how big my wardrobe is, there's always room for one more cute and eye-catching patterned blouse, skirt, dress, bag or shoe!

Mander

(website)

Veteran

I tend to like menswear type patterns (houndstooth, microcheck, plaid, herringbone), medium to large scale abstracts, florals if they are fairly simple and bold, Asian- and ethnic-inspired patterns, and stripes. The main common feature in all this is that I am drawn to bold, graphic, and high-contrast patterns, often with multiple colors. Sometimes a tone-on-tone pattern, like woven stripes in a different thread, also appeal to me. I like the idea of whimsical prints but I don't think they suit me, so I have only admired them from afar. I might cave in and get an inexpensive whimsical printed scarf this year, though -- I was tempted by a scarf with zebras on it last year (as in the whole animal, not just the stripe pattern), a print of stacked teacups and saucers, and the ubiquitous McQueen skull inspired knockoffs but I never did pull the trigger.

Eliza

Veteran

Wow- lots of ways to approach prints as elements of wardrobe creation here, from print domination to print avoidance, with all sorts of preferences and caveats in between. I have found the language people used very helpful in zeroing on how I should consider prints going forward. It is getting clearer what I should appreciate on others vs. incorporate into my own closet. Combining everyone's comments with their great style sensibilities is most illuminating.

Ruth- agree that execution and matching can matter so much. Still have poison eye for unmatched plaids and stripes. As to what makes a print "old lady", I think some variables are: is it dated, rather than classic, too sweet, too busy, too girly (I know, ironic), too cutesy. Tweeds can work and also incorporate a menswear vibe or not, depending on cut and colors.

Susie- with you on the graphic preference with limited florals.

Lyn- I love the idea of whimsy as rebellion. In today's work force, I think deliberately feminine clothes (and think of how men vs. women generally use prints-very different) really stand out. Does that make it a rebellious act or just a failure to buy into the norm that a masculine appearance is required to command respect and authority? Very interesting.

Joy- I like watercolor looks also, but am realizing that I have to be very careful to choose patterns with limited colors to avoid the muddy look on me.
The newer panel prints can be beautiful and have an almost architectural quality. I'll keep my out for more of those.

Rachy Lou- I share your "not too sweet" sensibilities. I tend to prefer many masculine aspects in my clothing, but clearly am not a member of "team tough" as Angie describes it.

Diana- gut feelings and clothing selections can go hand in hand. I am finding my gut is a good starting point, but then I have to take off my rose colored glasses and see what I could really be bringing home. Tapestry, geo and "no preppie" work well for you.

Texstyle- You have describe some good guidelines that fit with my style aspirations as well. Neutrals, subtle and fewer colors, low contrast prints could be welcome additions here.

Suz's comment about prints and style personae rings true throughout the postings here. Interesting about it being helpful to have patterns mimic one's proportions. I never considered that in quite that way.

DayVies- You are so gifted in putting together outfits that the absence of prints never struck me till you mentioned it. Great examples of how many variables can be used to elevate a look.

Peri- I know what you mean about prints being overwhelming or a bit challenging. It seems we are not alone (waving to Isabel, Deborah, and Sarah A). I am finding it very helpful to see how other people think about prints, because now I can better label what I am looking for as I make future print selections.

Linda- Inspiring to hear how you are working a variety of prints, with simple pattern mixing.

SarahA- Great to hear how considering prints and going with your gut can propel one's style forward incrementally. That is useful perspective.

Isabel- scarves seem to be a great focal point for prints and your point is well taken. I so understand about feeling conspicuous. If I am confident about what makes me stand out, I don't mind being conspicuous, but I have some prints that I never choose to leave the house in and they are out. I think my gut is telling me something and these posts are helping me articulate it better. The menswear concept will be central to many selections going forward.

Deborah- like you, I think prints will always play a background role in my wardrobe, though I like the idea of becoming more deliberate and skilled in using them. Tonal and neutral often works for me. Two key words to focus on.

DonnaF- I hear you about adding more prints and avoiding old lady. LOL about shuffleboard imagery. Very clarifying. Using patterns in pants is sometimes a dilemma for me. I have a pair of cream and black high contrast pants (an Angie pick from last year). I love them, but pair carefully because I do feel very conspicuous in them in a way that I would not the same print was in a top.

DonnaT- interesting how print choice varies with style evolution and also how certain ones become tired to our eyes with time. I remember when wide stripes were only on "muumuus" and circus tents, and now they are having their day. I like the square dot look also.

Goldenpig- queen of prints you are. You make "hyper-matchy" look so today and deliberate. You are the inverse of those who add a patterned scarf to a no-pattern outfit. Looking at your wardrobe provides lots of options for how to incorporate prints of all types.

Mander- High five on the tone on tone, menswear descriptors, with pattern in the weave of the fabric. That can read so today. Asian prints can also add a lot to the mix, and some are subtle as well.

Thanks for all the sharing. I think it is going to be easier for me to purge now that I have this input about the roles prints can play and how to think about what you want them to be relative to your style goals. This will be, as many of you have said, an ongoing process for me as well.