Long gone are the days of subtlety in fashion. For the last several seasons, it’s been all about pairing unlikely patterns and prints for a seriously creative (and somehow cohesive) sartorial statement. (We can’t remember when stripes became a neutral, but they are and we love it.) This fall is no exception: Pair the season’s boldest patterns with—well—other bold patterns and march with confidence into your day. Here, we give you a little inspiration for how to sport the head-turning look successfully. Because let’s be honest, learning how to mix prints is an art form. Done wrong, it’s nothing short of a disaster. Done right, it’s a fashion win. And we love winning.
Photo: Caroline’s Mode
Pile On The Patterns
Piece By Piece
Step up your game with a look that speaks volumes without being too loud. Pick a neutral color or two (in this case, navy and burnt orange) to help tie your mix-and-match ensemble together.
The Patterned Coat
A wrap silhouette and peacock-feather motif makes this coat a one-two punch of outerwear fabulousness.
The Striped Skirt
The slightly textured tweed of this curve-hugging skirt offers just the right amount of menswear-inspired elegance.
The Plain White Tee
A crew-neck tee is the backbone of any wardrobe: Use it to temper an otherwise busy outfit.
The Color-Blocked Pumps
Simple heather grey pumps get an unexpected jolt of color with a pop of orange on the toe.
The Classic Sunnies
Retro chic is the name of the game for these go-with-everything shades, and at $55 they’re a total no-brainer.
The Dainty Bauble
This delicate necklace works double duty by lending a touch of glitz to your look, while the evil eye protects you from bad juju.