In the Fine Prints and Patterns
Less explicit in their nature than a graphic displayed front and center, prints and patterns highlight personal taste in a way that is understated and purposeful.
Take for example the Straight Fit Stretch Short, available from Ralph Lauren Boys. Designed for comfort and style in a coastal beige color, the shorts are dotted with an array of bulldogs and tasty bowls of bones, the scattered print adding just the right amount of detail to the piece of clothing. Since the pup print is fairly small, it’s safe to wear another pattern on top, bringing even more dimension to the outfit!
As we’ll learn with each item today, layering and matching complementary subtleties is all in a day’s work for the pattern and print pro!
Displaying its design in a football blue, the Striped Cotton Dress Shirt from Ralph Lauren Boys merges a classic print with a timeless color. This unbeatable combination goes well with the Straight Fit Stretch Short described above, the bold structured pattern balancing the smattering of dogs. The shirt will also go well with a burgundy or tan pair of pants adorned with an offsetting print of your choosing. Start your own sequence!
An all over pattern is the fashion statement you’ve been waiting to make.
With these blue checks on a charcoal backdrop highlighting your stylish self, there’s no place to go but up. The VESTRANO3 pants, vest, and jacket combo show that being repetitive certainly does not have to get boring! Keep this in mind when wavering on the edge of going for that fabulous matching 2 or 3 piece outfit: all over confidence reads very well with all over pattern.
Need a reason to dip into your gentler side?
A good ol’ loosely structured flower print is just the thing you’ve been looking for! Available from Original Penguin Ties and Bowties, The Edberg Floral Tie boasts an ideal pattern with its navy backdrop and impressionist-style soft pink and white blooms. There are just enough cardinal colors on this necktie for it to go with pretty much anything, despite its definitive floral print. If you are looking for inspiration however I would pair this bad boy with a light blue dress shirt and a pant in forest green or teal.
Have these fairly demure patterns and prints inspired you to screw the subtleties and make a loud statement instead?
Great! Then I really hope you’ll feel as crazy as I do about the Birds of Paradise Tie, also available from Original Penguin Ties and Bowties. Created in two beautiful collaborations of color, one starting with taupe, one navy, this necktie has a print that, in either version, is hard to ignore. Prepare to mesmerize and amaze with flowing leaves and bursts of color, and maybe hold off on layering the patterns with this one!