A beginner’s guide to combining stripes, florals, polka dots, and more.

For some people, mixing prints feels completely natural.

For others, the idea of wearing stripes and florals in the same outfit feels about as risky as cutting your own bangs.

If you’ve always admired print mixing from afar but never felt confident trying it yourself, consider this your sign to start.

Because despite what you may think, print mixing isn’t reserved for fashion editors and street style stars. Anyone can do it. You just need a few simple guidelines.

Start with Prints You Already Wear

If the thought of pairing leopard with polka dots makes you nervous, start small.

Look at the prints already living in your closet. Chances are, you own stripes, florals, gingham, or maybe even leopard.

Begin by combining familiar patterns rather than immediately experimenting with bold combinations.

Fashion should feel fun, not stressful.

Use Color as Your Common Thread

One of the easiest ways to mix prints successfully is by choosing patterns that share at least one color.

For example, a striped top featuring navy can pair beautifully with a floral skirt that also contains navy.

The shared color helps create cohesion, making the outfit feel intentional rather than random.

Mix Different Scale Prints

Scale refers to the size of the pattern itself.

Generally, combining one larger print with one smaller print creates balance.

Think oversized florals with thin stripes. Or small polka dots paired with a larger plaid.

When both prints are similar in size, they can sometimes compete for attention.

Treat Stripes as a Neutral

If you’re brand new to print mixing, stripes are your best friend.

A striped shirt works surprisingly well with florals, gingham, leopard print, and even other stripes.

Think of stripes the way you would think about denim: versatile, classic, and easy to style.

Leopard Is Practically a Neutral, Too

Speaking of neutrals, leopard print deserves its own category.

Fashion people have long treated leopard as a neutral because it pairs so effortlessly with other colors and patterns.

If you’re hesitant to mix prints, try starting with leopard shoes, a leopard handbag, or a leopard skirt paired with a striped top.

You’ll be surprised how wearable it feels.

The Bottom Line

There are no official fashion police handing out citations for imperfect print mixing.

Style is meant to be experimented with.

Start small, trust your instincts, and remember: sometimes the most interesting outfits happen when you break the so-called rules.

By Julia Belian