Can you wear plaid and stripes together

For a go-to smart outfit using houndstooth, put the pattern to work on a neatly cut blazer — fit is key if you are to pull off any daring outfit — and pair with a crisp white shirt and monochrome knitted tie. Works best on: overcoats, blazers, suits and tailored trousers Works best with: less busy patterns such as narrow pinstripes and monochrome prints.

All it took was four guys named John, Paul, George and Ringo to slip into some paisley shirts in the s and this previously unknown Persian pattern went viral. Clashing paisley is much more of a statement, and there are two ways you can take it, each dependent on your personality: the safe way and the loud AF way.

The latter involves layering with animal prints and using luxury fabrics like leather for a look that is maximalism writ even larger than usual. Go big or go home. To give blokes an easy entry into dressing in dots, most brands tend to use them on formal accessories — think ties , pocket squares and socks — allowing the little flashes of colour to pep up traditional suiting.

Because of their round shape, polka dots work well with straight-lined patterns like checks and stripes — for example, a polka dot tie against a gingham shirt. Match the palette of your accessories with your suit and let the pop of the dots do the talking.

A more daring look would be to combine a check suit with a pinstripe shirt and a polka dot tie. Again, just keep the palette tight throughout so as not to drown out the patterns.

Works best on: ties, socks, pocket squares and shirts Works best with: pinstripes and muted checks. When it comes to mixing variations of the same pattern, the rule of thumb is to play with proportion.

If you prefer the idea of separates , mix up the thickness of the vertical stripes in your trousers and top. In addition to thickness, switching up the direction of a pattern is a move straight out of the style playbook.

Consider layering a horizontal stripe T-shirt under a vertical stripe shirt. On the surface, mixing multiple patterns within the same outfit seems like style advice on a par with investing in a pair of bootcut jeans. But it is a look that can be pulled off, provided you style it out with conviction. Rather than polka dots and puppytooth, opt for stripes and florals. Layering is your best friend here. A buffalo check overshirt can be worn open with a graphic print T-shirt or a striped sweater underneath for a streetwear vibe.

Or throw a plaid blazer over a hoodie with side-stripe track pants and sneakers. Got one or two patterns down pat? Wearing only solid colors gets old pretty quick. There are only so many combinations of neutrals you can wear before getting bored.

This is the perfect time to take the next fashion step: pattern mixing. Take those stripes, plaid, and floral patterns you already have in your closet and start mixing them together! Be careful, though, because sometimes the variety of prints and patterns can becomes overwhelming. It's important to remember not to go overboard, but that doesn't mean you can't have a little fun. To give you a better idea of where to start, check out these pattern mixing combinations below.

For a beginner pattern mixer, stripes are a must! The best part: stripes come in so many varieties! Not only can you switch up the color s , but the stripe width comes in thin, bold, and everything in-between! Pair with: floral , gingham, plaid , polka dots , contrasting stripes , and more complicated patterns for more advanced mixing. Switch between thin and bold stripes depending on the pattern. Plaid patterns vary in size, color, and the number of colors, but there are a few simple tricks to pattern mixing with plaid.

Try pairing two plaid patterns together, but use opposites! I love the look of stripes and plaid when the color theme matches - great idea for interior decorating too. I've never been fond of mixing stripes and plains and hoping this is just a fad. Too many other good choices to be mixing plaids with stripes. Guess I am just old! I love it and I'm going out shopping now! Great photos, but that Betsey Johnson video?

Who would ever where those outfits except to a costume party?! Great shoes though! Great explanation and awesome examples of how to wear stripes and plaids together. I'm lovin' the look! Hair Coloring. Acne Care. Eye Makeup Products. Face Makeup Products. Lip Products. Eyebrow Grooming. Oral Hygiene.

Alternatively, if the print of your stripe is small, wear the stripes with a bigger, bolder polka dot pattern.

Skip to content Articles. May 6, Joe Ford. Table of Contents.