Pattern Mixing | How to Wear Bold, Graphic Prints Together

Mixed patterns: Windowpane check coat, graphic t-shirt, black trousers and slip on sneakers
So – I’m officially in love with this window pane check jacket as it’s the third time I’ve worn it on the blog in as many weeks.

I’m rather partial to any kind of pattern mixing, but bold graphic prints are a favourite and look very modern as well as giving off a sports-luxe vibe. The galaxy/lightning print t-shirt is from Oasap and couldn’t be any more funky if it tried.

Such bold clashing prints deserved a more subdued bottom half, so I wore black peg legs and sporty slip on sneakers – yes, even I know when less is more πŸ˜‰

I wore this to a local charity event held at John Lewis last week, and some of you may have seen the hilarious Instagram video we made of me trying on the most amazing sequin jacket from Ted Baker (and how dare anyone suggest that those free glasses of Prosecco had any kind of effect on me. =hic=). You have to watch the video to see exactly what the jacket “does”. I’m trying to justify the £229 price tag for something that’s purely for entertainment…!

Are you trying to justify splashing out on any splurge items? If so, do share what they are, I’ve love to know what you’re lusting after at the moment!

Mixed patterns: Windowpane check coat, graphic t-shirt
Mixed patterns: Windowpane check coat, graphic t-shirt, black trousers and slip on sneakers
Mixed patterns: Windowpane check coat, graphic t-shirt, black trousers and slip on sneakers
Mixed patterns: Windowpane check coat, graphic t-shirt, black trousers
Mixed patterns: Windowpane check coat, graphic t-shirt, black trousers and slip on sneakers
Windowpane check coat, graphic t-shirt, silver jewellery
Jacket: c/o George at Asda | T-shirt: c/o Oasap | Trousers: Topshop | Shoes: Asos | Earrings: Asos | Rings: c/o kuka-me / Cornish jeweller | Sunglasses: c/o Lulus | NailsNails Inc Elizabeth Street and Nails Inc Black Taxi (see Friday’s post for a close-up)

Catherine x

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22 Comments

  1. 12 April 2015 / 6:57 pm

    Well, I am lusting after this cardigan: http://bit.ly/1PB1fzy. I blame Not Dead Yet who had it on Facebook! It would be so interesting to mix prints with it, and the colors are so lovely. jodie
    http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
    ps…you would stand out in that blazer—just sayin'!

    • 12 April 2015 / 9:20 pm

      Thank you Jodie – graphic prints are really going to be my "thing" this year I reckon!!

  2. 25 March 2015 / 7:59 pm

    Looking stunning as always and you totally rock clashing prints. Gorgeous x

    • 27 March 2015 / 2:45 pm

      Sometimes I think it's always a happy accident, Vicki…!!!!! Thanks hun x

  3. 25 March 2015 / 3:40 pm

    Oh WOW! That tee is incredible! Such a gorgeous, bold, colourful print; absolutely perfect for Spring x

    • 27 March 2015 / 2:44 pm

      Thanks Gareth – I'd had my eye on it for months, so glad I got it in the end :))

  4. 25 March 2015 / 3:22 pm

    Great to see how you combine such a statement jacket in different ways. I think that's great because many people would shy away from a bold piece thinking they cant wear it often. Just today I battled enourmously With myself over the purchase of a very expensive but perfect jeans…Sigh. I have far too many fancy things already so I bargained with myself it would be ok to buy a good basic, haha!
    See you next time!
    Irmin
    http://fashionsabbaticaldress.blogspot.com

    • 27 March 2015 / 2:44 pm

      Oh I absolutely agree they would be a great basic, Irmin!! Some of my best purchases that I've worn to death have been things I bought on a whim and then thought I'd made a mistake, and they weren't basics either… my best purchase ever being a pair of coral (almost neon) brogues in the sale. We went into a shop for shoes for my husband, we came out with coral brogues for me from the sale rack no one was going near.

      I still love those brogues now, 4-5 years on…!

      So glad you like the styling of my jacket, thank you! x

  5. 25 March 2015 / 2:15 pm

    This is exactly the kind of "easy cool" outfit I dream of but would maybe shy away from. I think hitting 40 recently has made me way too self conscious about buying things that I like but think are too hip/cool for a 40 yr. old if that makes sense. Like I really want some bright 80's trainers but keep shying away. I need to just keep looking at your blog for inspiration and hopefully I will get over it, because it looks fabulous on any age as you prove here when done right! πŸ™‚ x

    • 27 March 2015 / 11:03 am

      Thank you for your lovely compliments, Steff! Though your comment has got me thinking… what is it that makes you self conscious? Did it change overnight the day you became 40? Is it that you're worried about what others might say or think, or is it that you feel we're conditioned by society to stop wearing hip/cool things once we hit the big 4-0? I'm just wondering because I'm thinking of writing a blog post about it… I'd be interested to hear your reasons why!

      C x

    • 27 March 2015 / 11:24 am

      I'm embarrassed to say it's that sort of adage about "If you're old enough to have experienced something the first time round…" which is silly, because my 80's childhood "fashion" – i.e. layering on as much neon lace as possible(!), is hardly what I would be attempting now! I think it is partly to do with turning 40, realizing many 20 somethings wearing 80's fashion weren't even born yet, etc.,all things that I know in this current age of fashion do not matter at all but have somehow stupidly internalized anyway, grr! And it's so silly, because my Mom has never "dressed her age" and always looks great, so I don't know where these hang ups are coming from! Why blogs like yours are really important for women our age I think, just to reassure ourselves that we do't need to dress a certain way, that we should follow our instincts/fashion desires without paying too much attention to what wrong headed ideas have somehow made their way in! πŸ™‚ x

    • 27 March 2015 / 2:40 pm

      Thanks Steff…! Obviously the answer to that question will be different for one woman to the next, but it's good to hear your thoughts, even if you're not sure where your hang ups are coming from! x

    • 25 March 2015 / 12:11 pm

      Hehe thank you Alice, so glad you them (the outfit and the vid)!!

  6. 24 March 2015 / 8:11 pm

    Love the pattern mixing you always pull it off. Great outfit. x

  7. 24 March 2015 / 5:59 pm

    Great coat πŸ™‚

  8. 24 March 2015 / 5:24 pm

    I wanted this jacket so bad and can't explain how sad I was that it was sold out πŸ™ had to go with the blue one instead! (which is also a babe)

    Love how you've styled it here with the tshirt. Very sassy! πŸ™‚ xx

    Little Miss Katy | UK Lifestyle Blog

    • 24 March 2015 / 11:04 pm

      Oh I know, Katy – I seem to have this knack of buyng/choosing things that go out of stock straight away! I'd like to think it's my incredible influence, but I doubt it…!!!!! ;))

      Thank you my lovely, hope you're loving your blue one! x

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