5 Rules for Patterns Matching

You often see in fashion shows mix-matching of patterns you would never think would fit together - and yet they do!

When it is a famous designer proposing combinations, you may not even question if the matching is actually appropriate. You just take it for granted.

The question is how to dare mix-matching when you are not a stylist nor designer, without risking being told you are completely tasteless.

There are - luckily - some basic and simple rules one can follow. 

You will here find listed only five of them, the clearest and simplest ones. 

These are suggestions which would help when combining clothes and/or clothes with accessories. 

But they will also be helpful next time you will play combining fabrics to create your own bag, using our app.

1 - Use patterns of different size (and style!).

The goal with mix matching is to create a balanced effect. It is therefore a good option not to choose two fabrics having the same pattern size. Two fabrics with big flowers or two fabrics with small dots would create an overwhelming/too busy effect. And it would make it difficult also to choose what to wear to finish your look.

2 – Choose patterns which do not compete with each other. 

Try to avoid selecting two fabrics which both have very strong “personalities”. Two flowery fabrics, though with flowers of different size, would not give a balanced effect, if they both are in strong, contrasting colours.

Try to balance, by choosing one which is “bold” and gives the main theme and one which matches, but looks like complementary.

3 – Use patterns with one colour in common. 

Complement fabrics by choosing those having at least one colour in common. Even if the fabrics are very different in patterns, this would give a final harmonic result.

4 – Stay within the same family colour.

If you find it difficult to match fabrics having one colour in common, you can try stay within the same family colour. This would make it easier to get a balanced effect.

Use fabrics all toned in green, teal, yellow but having different shades.

5 – Mix with a neutral color.

This will make you play safest. If you mix with white, black, beige or grey, you will probably always end up with a good match

This is only a short summary of the many suggestions you can find online on the topic.

In case you want to read more and become an expert patterns-matcher, here are some nice articles you can read:

http://rollingout.com/lifestyle/fashion-alert-how-to-pull-off-mixing-patterns/

http://www.thechicfashionista.com/rules-for-mixing-patterns-and-textures.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_4489629_mix-clothing-patterns.html

And now, have fun mix-matching!

And if you...dare (!), send us a picture of the result: nunomadsfactory@gmail.com

We could write an article about your patterns-matching attempts!