Question about pattern mix - YouLookFab Forum

3 weeks ago we went shopping for DD(21) for new fall clothes and came back with this mini capsule in nr. 1(+ the shirt dres in nr 4).
For your ref. she is attending now the 3rd year at the college (Phsychology) and aditionally started working half time at a big and well positioned HR company-so we wanted nicer clothes (good for the office she works in) still young and not very fussy or pretentious as she is not changing between college and work. Think we have done well!:-)

Here are some of her outfits. Skirt and dress will be mostly worn with nude or black sheers or opaques just not fully styled here but I have to say my fave is the pants outfit (nr 2).

I am not a big pattern mixer at all(neither my DD is) but I so love the floral top with the plaid pants here (but suggested nude knee highs and not sheer blacks). Chunky black cardi is furry like but knitted.

Still, no matter how I praised she is not yet confident enough wearing this one (nr 2) and so we decided to put it up here and ask/listen for your professional opinion.

Please be gentle but trully honest as we do really want to avoid any fashion faux pas here. Thanks so much for your opinion we trust and appreciate a lot!

This post has 4 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

5 years ago

Bijou

Veteran

Well your daughter is STUNNING and would look beautiful in anything, so this is pretty easy to rave about how gorgeous she is....and how there is no fashion faux pas here. The only thing I would say is see if the shorter dress rides up too much when she sits down, Just check in front of a mirror to see what it looks like in an office environment as you often have to spin in your work chair to talk to someone that comes up to your desk.

I love all these outfits, but #2 is my absolute favourite. The fit is perfect and the pattern mix works and looks very current. I really hope she wears it, I am sure she will be complimented on how lovely her outfits are. The blue puffer is gorgeous too and works so well with these pieces.

You did do well!

Cardiff girl

She looks gorgeous,my only comment is that those skirts are quite short for a professional environment so I m glad that you said they would be worn with opaques.You must be very proud of her,looks AND brains.

Sara L.

I love the plaid and floral together, but if she's not comfortable in the combo, then I wouldn't encourage her to wear it. Maybe she'll become bolder after working there a few months.

Joy

I agree with the others. Your daughter looks like a model and could wear anything. Do the sit down test with the dress in #4, especially if it buttons or snaps in front. I have no problems with the pattern mixing. This mix is gentle, not at all jarring, as the plaid pants is almost more of a texture. Everything looks fab together.

L'Abeille

I love all the looks. Here is how I eased myself into pattern mixing: I would wear something like that blouse and pants together, but I would interpose another layer, like a sweater vest or a pullover sweater, in a solid preferably that is in both prints (or, in my case, black). Somehow that helped my eye to bridge them, since the patterns weren't actually touching each other.

My daughter is also much more conservative than I am. She thinks I am overdoing it when I wear inverse plaids, like black-with-white on the bottom and white-with-black in the top, which to me barely registers as a print.

Stagiaire Fash

I agree with everyone else that your daughter is good looking and looks great here. But I also want to say that it is her style, her body. If she truly isn’t comfortable in an outfit, then it will hang in what is probably a teensy-tiny college closet, taking up space and never being worn. In that case, better to split these up and find something else to go with the pants. In time she may combine them, but at least they won’t take up valuable real estate for nothing.

How funny that she doesn’t want plaid + florals in that outfit, but seems very happy to have them combined in the dress in 4. I agree with others that the dress is unlikely to pass the sit test for work. I bet the HR company has guidelines for candidates in what to/not to wear, and for recruiters on what clothes to ding a candidate’s score for. Maybe have her look those up and draw her own conclusions. (That’s what I’d have to do with my son). If she wants to return it, that could cover the cost of new matches for the pants & top in 2.

I like 3, think the skirt has enough pleats to be fine sitting down. It’s cute with the floral top!

kkards

I'm not a pattern mixer, I lucky if I wear 1 pattern....

but I did want to say that I love #4...super cute dress and the boots are FAB!

The Cat

Nice colours and patterns. I particularly like the shoes and the light blue puffer.

Mixing checks with florals can look great if the patterns have one or more colours in common, as they have in #2. No problem. (But if you don't feel comfortable in the mix, then don't wear it.) By the way, I wonder why the pattern mixing in #3 was easily accepted while #2 was not.

I am sorry to say that the skirt and dress look too short for professional settings, but I hope to save you from some trouble ... Are you aware that MIDIS are in fashion? For inspiration, see Angie's blog post of today.

Jane

All super to my eye and what a lovely selection. I would pattern mix all the way! DD is beautiful!

Anonymous

All look fab. Love the pattern mixing, and colours. Shoes are so fun, fab, trendy and comfortable!

rachylou

That’s the perfect pattern mix! It’s really very subtle.

cindysmith

Pattern mixing skill: expert!

The plaid is subtle, so it almost reads as a solid, allowing the top to be the star. Your DD is beautiful and I hope she works up the nerve to wear the floral top & plaid trouser together

Toban

I love the pattern mixing of the trousers and floral top. I echo above posters concerns about the skirt and dress being too short for a professional work environment even with opaque tights (they look great on her, though). They would not be appropriate in my work environment.

jussie

Wow I absolutely love number 2. It looks so fresh and trendy, but not like it’s trying too hard.
I think the dresses will be ok for work as long as they are worn with opaque tights. I say that because they have plenty of coverage on top plus aren’t bodycon, so it balances out overall.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

WOW.

DD21 is KILLER gorgeous and very stylish. Fabulous pattern mixing. How fun that you can shop and play dress-up together.

Brooklyn

DD is gorgeous and the capsule is fab. I love the pattern mix.

Katerina

The pattern mix is really wonderful, LOVE the outfit in pic 2. My favourite too.
Your DD is so lovely and what a fab and interesting capsule, beautiful colours and patterns. Cool bag too!
Best of luck to your DD on the new job!

binkle

What a nice capsule - and she wears everything very well.

I like the pattern mix in 2 - the plaid is very subtle, so works with the floral. I'd suggest trying not black, not nude, but very sheer ivory or subtly patterned sheer trouser socks on ivory or grey. The black, though sheer, seems a bit too contrasty with the shoes and pants.

I also agree with others that the skirt and dress look too short - and might still look too short even with tights (when I hear "tights" I think of opaque pantyhose). Presumably her office has or will give her a dress code? I am a old fuddy-dud when it comes to work clothes, so I am probably WAY out of step with the times!!! But....I also think the pants are too snug for the office - fine for casual. Sorry for the buzz kill.

Category