These Prints Can Age You

Print people, unite. There’s just something about a gorgeous print. It can really bring an item to life and give it personality. It can also make it look like your grandmother’s couch or (worse) make you look 15 years older. I think that’s why so many women stick with solids. Solids are safe.

Are you consistently choosing prints over solids because you find prints so challenging? If you’re picking solids because you are not a print person, or because your style leans more towards minimalism, that’s one thing. But it’s a completely different thing to skip prints because they’re so tricky.

Fortunately, I’ve created a sort of cheat sheet for you: A list of 3 (almost always) safe prints, and 4 tricky ones. Keep these guidelines in mind and you can pick pretty prints and skip the frumpy ones.

3 Safe Prints

When they’re kept simple and straightforward, and when worn on modern silhouettes, these prints are (usually!) safe.

The Stripe

A simple strip is iconic and always chic. Just keep it to two colors and keep it simple.

Polka Dots

Classic but also currently trending, there’s a dot print for every woman. Just keep the silhouettes modern and not too sweet.

Leopard

My favorite animal print, leopard can look chic if it’s simple and neutral, and worn on elegant pieces.

4 Prints That Can Age You

These give prints a bad name. They’re tricky at best, and can be deadly to your chic and modern look.

The Nondescript Print

This print is blah and boring, often a classic or geometric print with no real impact or personality, and it adds nothing to the item it’s paired with. These are the prints that seem to be added as an afterthought. Each of these items would look better in a solid.

Better Options

The Bad Geometric Print

Geometric prints can be tricky to get right, which is why we see so many dated ones.

The Busy Splashy Print

One of the main problems with prints aimed at women over 40 is that they are too busy, with too many extra details, and that look is frumpy and also out of style.

Good “Busy” Prints

Bad Florals

Florals can be fatal, or they can be fabulous. A bad floral is one that is too busy, too dated, or otherwise unflattering.

Good Florals

Black & White Florals

This bonus print features graphic black and white florals. Simpler and less splashy prints tend to look more modern, especially when paired with modern shapes.

What did you think of my roundup of prints? And which prints stump you the most? Let me know in the comments!