A Simple & Stylish Way to Mix Stripes & Polka Dots

A Casual & Stylish Spring Outfit

I know this is a timid take on pattern mixing but when you just want to wear something casual without much hustle and bustle – stripes and polka dots will always work. There are a variety of ways of mixing these two patterns from tame to extreme. For example, a bold black and white striped dress with a polka dot clutch might be too daring for some but ultimately it’s really what you’re in the mood for.

In this outfit, I went with a skinny striped top with a polka dot scarf and two bright accent colors. I kept spring in mind with putting this outfit together. I wanted to keep the color theme consistent. As I mentioned in my previous post, I’m in the brighter side of spring. Since the top has such thin stripes I went with larger polka dot print on my scarf to play with proportions. A thin striped top with small polka dot scarf would make this outfit a little too busy; the key to successful mixing is to vary the scale of the patterns, from small to large.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when mixing patterns in outfits:

• The key to successful mixing is to vary the scale, from small to large.
• Work with the same color intensity (color families)
• Complete your look with a solid piece to balance the entire outfit.
• Don’t select patterns that compete with each other. They need to complement one another, so if one is bold, the other shouldn’t be too busy.

Have you tried mixing patterns in your outfits? Let me know in the comments I would love to read what patterns you’ve worn together.

Stay Stylish,
-V

Photos: @peterlang