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!
Nada Manley says
Thank you so much for this intelligent and insightful feedback about prints from an artistic point of view. I love how thoughtful you are with your prints and how you are inspired by art, as I am. And yes to having breathing room in prints! It makes a big difference! Thanks again!
Karalane says
As a person who has always worked in the creative space, (and even designed wallpaper at one point) I love prints because they fit my artsy, somewhat boho style. But they are definitely more challenging to wear as I get older! I dislike polka dots, and stripes will only work on my curvy body shape if they are vertical, lower color contrast, and not evenly spaced, such as a menswear pinstripe or a wavy hand-painted style.
For me it works better to constrain my prints to 3 types. First is leopard in “natural” tones. This is my classic print that has a forever place in my wardrobe, Second is paisley, a classic elegant print and very versatile. Last is florals. They definitely are the trickiest because they look dated the fastest. I like to be inspired by art when choosing floral prints, such as Japanese woodblock prints, Monet’s Impressionist garden paintings, still life florals of the Dutch masters, scientific flora illustrations, or Art Nouveau floral motifs.
You’re spot on about being mindful of the figure ground relationship and scale of the print. Having that “breathing room” in the print leads the eye and is much more flattering. Thank you for the video!
Nada Manley says
Yes Jennifer! I think it’s buried in the blog post! Here it is! https://hueandstripe.com/catalog/306H&SaXts?s=518174
Jennifer h says
Hi Nada! Do you have any links for the “yes” prints? Thanks, Jennifer 😀