Un)Coordinated

YOUR GUIDE TO CLASHING PATTERNS

Written by Ava McNarney, Fashion Staff Writer | Modeled Christopher Raemisch and Alyssa Lenius Photographed by Anna Janke, Staff Photographer and Claudia Chan, Contibuting Photographer Videography by Abby Moritary | Makeup by Nicole Escobia, Staff Makeup Artist

I’ll never forget the first time I felt self-conscious about my style. A blissfully naive ten-year-old, I had crafted a colorful getup of a mismatched striped purple top and leggings to wear to dance class. I had a rude awakening on my way out when my mom took one look at what I had on, laughed, and told me to change. I left the house that day with a pink tinge of embarrassment lingering on my cheeks.

Albeit the new outfit my mom had picked out for me was admittedly better aesthetically, I certainly didn’t feel any better about myself. I felt worse–and confused.

Looking back, I’m grateful for my mom’s better judgment. Although I’m not so enthusiastic about the idea of wearing the same outfit today that I put together all those years ago, I almost wish I was. I have a nostalgic appreciation for ten-year-old Ava’s boldness and, finally, the world agrees. The rising popularity of Y2K and similar out-there aesthetics encourages us to avoid the mainstream altogether, opening our eyes to a whole new world of possibilities.1 If you’re searching for a subtle way to start broadening your horizons, you’ve come to the right place.

Over the past decade, the high-fashion world has taken pattern clashing from repulsive to the runway. Check out any of Gucci’s relatively recent collections–drowning in noisy prints from kaleidoscopes to oversized logos; each is a unique feast for the eyes. Marketing for the Italian designer’s spunky Caledio line showcased extravagant backdrops that made each piece appear more vivid than it would alone.2

Global style icons have recently adopted this approach. In 2021, paparazzi spotted Rihanna heading to dinner in a cheetah-print fur coat and red and black patterned dress, carrying a monogrammed snakeskin Fendi bag.3 Her natural aura certainly added to the look, but the clashing patterns could’ve worked in unusual harmony on anyone. While influencers have bursted the intimidating bubble surrounding this technique, Rihanna’s approval is not the only reason why mixing patterns is cool. Even if–or maybe especially if–nobody was doing it, it would still be daring, effortlessly fresh and characteristically creative. It’s an easy and inexpensive way to add countless new outfits to your wardrobe. A pattern-clashing student myself, I’ll share a few tips to get you started.

If you’re understandably apprehensive and wish to start somewhere less daunting, I recommend starting with simple, same-color prints.4 Keeping your color combination straightforward allows

you to focus on the heart of the matter, the size and detail of your

1 Christian Allaire, “Like it or not, gaudy Y2K style is roaring back,” Vogue, Feb. 25, 2022. 2 “Pattern, Interrupted,” Gucci Stories, 2015. 3 Christian Allaire, “Rihanna shows how clashing prints are done,” Vogue, Mar. 9, 2021. ⁴ “How to mix prints 2022,” The Fashion Folks, Feb. 7, 2022. chosen patterns. Purposeful discoordination is the point of pattern clashing; so, if you wish for any part of your look to appear uber-organized, make it color. A color scheme that’s monochrome, features a couple of vivid hues or several shades that align on the color wheel gives your patterns just the right amount of polish.5

Craving a little more contrast? When it comes to clashing prints, opposites attract. Smaller-scale prints like polka dots and pinstripes pair well with larger-scale prints like florals or abstract designs.6 Pairing a dainty-patterned top with louder-patterned bottoms is charmingly avant-garde. One of my favorite stylists and creators, Areballa Bartelloni (known as @lilrotini on TikTok), shows us how it’s done. In a TikTok responding to a comment challenging her to combine a few prints, she pairs a striped and polka-dotted button-up with a large-scale plaid vest. Even though the getup required only a few simple pieces, it was inspirational yet irreplicable.

So you’ve already clashed patterns with artistic color schemes, tried merging prints big and small, or maybe you just have a flair for the dramatic. Luckily, there are plenty of pre-clashed pieces on the market that include multiple prints in one piece. If the Gucci collections I mentioned earlier are out of your price range, check out online vendors like ASOS that highlight more affordable designers offering pieces that are just as bold.7 Of course, you can still invent something chic by sticking to what’s already hanging in your closet. Clash your wildest options and let yourself be the designer.

However you go about mixing designs, I encourage you to use the technique to your sentiment’s advantage and incorporate as many of your beloved garments as possible into one outfit. Pattern clashing isn’t a trend, it’s a side effect of growing open-mindedness worldwide. Dressing for yourself is a mindset that’s here to stay.8

Nobody deserves to feel embarrassed about their personal style. When done thoughtfully, the way we dress is how we choose to express ourselves to the outside world. Therefore, adorning an empowering outfit full of joy-sparking pieces must be the key to finding happiness within yourself. Don’t let the key rust–you’re never too old to stop playing dress-up. ■

⁵ Lindsay Samson, “5 golden rules of pattern clashing,” Industrie Africa, Jun. 2, 2021. ⁶ “Beginner’s guide to pattern mixing like a fashion blogger,” Bella Ella Boutique, Jun. 14, 2021. ⁷ “5 strong cases for pattern clashing,” ASOS Style Feed, Jul. 26, 2018 ⁸ Kimberly Chrisman-Campbell, “Break the fashion rules in clashing patterns,” Wall Street Journal, Mar. 26, 2016.

Therefore, adorning an empowering outfit full of joy-sparking pieces must be the key to finding happiness within yourself.