Pattern Appreciation and Pattern Mixing 101

Don't be afraid of a little clash!

Pattern Appreciation

I am a big proponent of patterns and pattern mixing. 2024 was the year of the pattern for me. I outfitted myself in tartan, argyle, and stripes. I even based all my collections this past semester on patterns. Even though 2024 was the year of the pattern, I believe in 2025, I can outdo myself. That's why the theme for my New Year’s party this year was, you guessed it, patterns. All my guests came dressed to the nines in their most patterned outfits. I am currently going through an obsession with the prints of the Victorian textile designer William Morris, so I was able to find a Morris print fabric the day before the party and sew a whole party dress on New Year's eve- eve.

Pattern Party attendees dressed in their very best patterns

Dillon dressed in a striped jacket with a patterned tie

Alli wearing a tartan kilt, gingham shirt, plaid necktie, and striped socks. (Unfortunately I have no pics of her also wearing her striped ysl blazer)

Sophie (me) wearing a William Morris print dress

Lola wearing an abstract print top

Sabrina (center) wearing stripes with a neckerchief

Pattern Mixing 101

Pattern mixing is one of my favorite things to do when creating an outfit. Wearing one pattern, let alone two, can seem like a lot to some. Fear not; I will give you my tried and true method for pattern mixing, it goes as such:

-same pattern, different colors

-same colors, different patterns

Now, this isn’t the be-all end-all of pattern mixing. Personally, I think the freakier and clashier, the better, but this is a good method for dipping your toe into mismatched patterns

-Same Pattern, Different Color

I love pairing this striped button-up with my hand-knit striped mohair vest. Red, white, and blue is one of my favorite color combinations, but the fact that I look like Miss USA in this is making me want to wear it less.

This has been one of my favorite outfits as of late. Double tartan, in different patterns but still similar enough not to clash too hard.

Tartan cape with clashing tartan scarf.

Presents I wrapped in brown and white toile de jouy print.

-Same Colors, Different Patterns

This pattern-mixing combo is DEADLY. I’ve had people ask me if this outfit is a matching set, and they are shocked to find out that it is not. The Tartan skirt was thrifted, and the patterned top is vintage and gifted to me by my mutual Kelley Heyer. But incredibly, these two pieces have the same color scheme and look great when paired together.

Another great double-thrifted find. This tartan blazer I found at a charity shop while I was in Edinburgh. I love the pink leather accents it has, and it pairs beautifully with this pink striped silk skirt I thrifted in Colorado.

This was my final look from my knitwear class last semester. Although not exactly the same, I tried to have the tartan pattern and argyle share the same purple color scheme. I also used the threads from the tartan fabric of the godets to weave an argyle into the skirt creating a continuous pattern.

Pattern on!

I hope that this little post has given you some outfit inspiration and maybe even pushed you to pull out and style that outrageous pattern that you have in your closet!