Don’t deny it, patterns and prints are everywhere, especially florals. So if you are psyched about venturing away from solid colours, here are some tips to guide you through printed and patterned territory!

1. Always start small.

If you are new to this, you can start with a patterned scarf, skirt, pouch or top. And it you don’t have any printed clothing to wear, patterned shoes are a great alternative! Accessories are always an easy way to dip your toes into a style like this.

2. Minimal accessories.

When wearing prints or patterns, they automatically make a statement. So don’t try to detract attention away from it with accessories that are too OTT. Keep them simple or dainty and let the fabric do the talking for you.

3. Choose where to focus on.

Remember: our eyes will be naturally drawn to wherever the patterns are. So it is important to choose where you want the focal point of your outfit to be. If you wear them on the smallest part of your body, they can be really flattering. Conversely, try not to wear oversized prints on your “problem areas”. For those who wish to make their lower bodies appear slimmer, choose to wear prints on your upper body so that some of the attention goes towards your top half and make you visually proportionate.

4. It’s all about proportions.

When choosing whether to go for small or large prints, consider your body size and how tall you are. For the petite ladies, stick to smaller prints or risk potentially looking overwhelmed by your outfit, which will make you look smaller. And if you are tall or on the voluptuous side, you can take on a bigger pattern because your body silhouette can handle it.

5. Mix things up.

Shake up your style game by mixing patterns or prints like a pro. You can start off playing with scale by matching an item of a larger print or bolder pattern with a more subtle or simpler one. Choosing muted colours for one or both items always work well. But really, just try and see what matches, because you never know until you try! A floral skirt paired with a shirt in a small polka dot print can look absolutely adorable. And as famed designer Tom Ford once quipped, “When mixing patterns, don’t think about too much — just throw it together.”

6. When in doubt, just stick to the classics.

For those who are really shy about prints, ground them with a solid block of neutral colour! And also, there are a few basic patterns that you can start from: stripes, plaid, polka dots and florals. But stripes deserve a special mention. A classic print that works like a neutral in the world of prints and patterns, they are totally cute, always fashionable and goes with a lot of other clothing items too (even other prints).

Do you have other fashion rules when it comes to dressing in patterns and prints? Share them in the comments section below!