With tons of fun patterns trending out there – chevron, florals, stripes – why choose just one? Heading out of the house with something snazzy on is a great way to up your confidence and make the most of your day. Gone are the days when mixing patterns was considered a faux pas. Today, a great pattern is especially well appreciated when it has found its perfect partner in crime.
Image via blasfemmes.com
I don’t have the time (or money!) to spend on the latest fashion magazines, so I’m always a fan of a good trend roundup like this one from Goodwill Industries of New Mexico (Albuquerque). That’s where I spotted the chic ensemble pictured above. This look is such a wonderful example of how to pull off pattern mixing by playing it safe with one clean pattern, like a crisp stripe, and one subtle pattern like lace. Topping these two with a solid plays them down so you can ease yourself slowly into this fun ladies fashion trend if it feels a little unnatural to you!
Image via pinterest.com/palmettogoodwil
All that’s not to say that pattern mixing is just for women, though! I spotted this stripe and plaid combo on a dapper fellow on Goodwill Industries of Lower South Carolina (North Charleston)’s “Men’s Style & Fashion” pinboard. Pinboards, like trend roundups, are a great way to see lots of fresh styles that you may want to integrate into your own personal style. Pattern mixing, for example, is something that is nice to see on others before you decide to try it for yourself. Once you’re ready to give those bold designs a go, one simple tip to make sure they’re working together is to match colors. You really can’t go wrong when the colors fuse as well as this guy’s do!
Image via theborrowedabode.com
And I always love the challenge of bringing new looks straight off the runway and into my roost. For the noncommittal, throw pillows are a great way to accomplish pattern mixing without putting in a lot of effort. Anyone who feels brave, though, could follow in the footsteps of The Borrowed Abode by slapping patterns on the wall and furniture, too. That’s right, the bed frame is a DIY project using fabric that could easily be found in your local Goodwill (try using a sheet or curtain for seamless lengths). Since you did it yourself, swapping out different patterns later on won’t be too difficult either!
What do you think? Is pattern mixing as cool as current trends dictate or is it something we’ll all be cringing over when a decade passes? Ultimately, the choice is yours. If you want to give it a shot, I’d definitely recommend starting at Goodwill. Not only will you save time and money at Goodwill, but since they address the unique needs of families by providing financial literacy and coaching opportunities to develop and meet specific financial and asset building goals, you’ll also be helping others. Win, win!
Albuquerque
