Adding prints & patterns to your wardrobe

Happy Monday! I thought it was about time I started to get through my backlog of images, starting with this monochromatic transitional season look. We’re slowly edging out of trench coat weather (today was a glorious 23 deg C), but I really loved this outfit I wore a few weeks back for so many reasons. Tonal looks are always something I’ve found effortlessly chic. Opting for a simple colour scheme like this really elevates an outfit, adds richness through texture, and looks sophisticated.

Wearing Everlane alpaca sweater, Christopher Kane camo skirt, FRONTROW black trench (10% off with ‘mademoiselle10’), Everlane day heels, Celine trotteur bag, Muru Jewellery necklace, Mejuri earrings, Linjer watch

The real hero of the look though, is the camo printed skirt. This was a pre-loved find from The Real Real. After trying to track it down for years, I’d finally found (and bought) the navy version of this Christopher Kane skirt a couple months prior. Clearly, I loved it enough to think the grey would be a great alternative for something slightly more pared back. What’s most striking to me about this skirt, is how unexpected it is. Camo isn’t typically a print I’m drawn to, but the wool/silk mix fabric, and muted grey tones told another story.

Given my wardrobe is so heavily based on the classics, I thought I’d touch a little on the three criteria, or focus points, that I use when looking to add a bit of pattern to my wardrobe.

1 | Focus on timeless prints

Polka dots, stripes, gingham checks, ditsy florals, camo; I certainly have a type when it comes to prints, and they’re almost always a classic. Bold prints can date fairly quickly, and if you’re reaching for a printed piece on repeat, you’re less likely to get wear out fatigue from a classic. The devil is definitely in the details, though. Will the piece be a hero item when worn, or a complement to my outfit? That’s usually the first stepping stone. If it’s the former, then I’m happy to go all out and opt for a splash of colour. A great example is this Faithfull ditsy floral wrap skirt I bought a few months back in a saturated tomato red hue. If it’s the latter, then I opt for muted tones. Anything neutral will do, and unexpected details like this mono-toned camo print help to make these classic prints feel special.

2 | Use the five-outfit rule

If you get the right printed piece, it can be as versatile as anything, but generally I find that my prints are worn a bit less than any solid-coloured items in my closet. It can be really helpful to think about how easily you can incorporate it into your existing closet. A common tip I see for adding anything to your wardrobe is to visualise a minimum of three outfits the item would work with. For prints and patterns, I like to extend this to five. I do allow the odd exception though. Some pieces are special enough that I want to hero them on their own. Like a cute printed sundress. It’s a full outfit in itself, just add shoes.

3 | Wardrobe colour scheme

The final thing I consider is colour scheme. Just because you’ve spotted an item in your favourite print, doesn’t mean it’ll be something you reach for often, especially if it’s outside of your usual colour scheme. I’ve noticed this most with stripes. I love a good black and white, red and white, or navy and white stripe. Anything outside of that tends to get a little lost in my closet. I feel less “inspired” to wear it, or less like myself. Instead of buying a printed piece because it’s a classic pattern, I consider how it fits in with my overall colour scheme, and if that combination is realistically one I’d reach for on a regular basis.