Finding the right print and patterns in clothing can feel a little overwhelming. We are often attracted to prints we see on others or online, but then once we put them on, they just don’t quite feel right. So, how do we choose a print or pattern that works best for us? Start with color! If you’ve had a seasonal color analysis, you should have a color palette that helps you find your best colors and this includes prints.

I always say that your color palette is a tool to help you find your best colors. It does not represent the only colors that you can wear. When you are selecting a color, compare it to your palette and see if it could be another swatch. Is it friends with your palette? Does it have the same undertone, intensity and value (warm vs cool, soft vs bright, light vs deep)?

We use this same concept to choose the colors of our print, it’s just a bit more nuanced because prints often have many colors. Also, opposing colors might be used to make the print “pop.” Since the colors are opposing, they won’t be in the same color palette. As I said before, we are looking for colors that harmonize, so if the top is 80-90% correct, it’s not going to have a detrimental effect. Let’s look at two examples using the Soft Autumn color palette.

In looking at the print on the left, you almost sigh. It just fits. If you look more closely, it has a neutral-warm creamy background with neutral dark browns and tiny pops of bright. The bright colors are brighter than the palette, but they are so small that it doesn’t make a negative impact. It works well, because the overall feel of the print is soft and blended and that is a key trait for a Soft Autumn. 

As I think you can see, the Soft Autumn color palette gets overwhelmed by the print on the right. It’s hard to find the palette and the print almost gives you a headache when looking at it. A Soft Autumn might pick this print, because they notice that some of the colors – like the soft olive green and the warm/soft red -work well for them. Unfortunately, once they put it on, they probably would feel a bit out of place as there is a brightness and an energy to the print that will overwhelm them a bit and maybe even make them feel uncomfortable. 

Why is this? Well, choosing the best print is not just about color. The style aesthetic – almost the “feel” of the season – is also a very important factor.  So, let’s look at each season and what to look for when choosing a print or pattern. 

Springs are often the “girl next door’ type and can be described as light, bright, and radiant. The key to their colors is clarity, so they should look for colors that are clear and patterns that are light and bright. The prints they look best in are floral or impressionistic, but there needs to be space in the print and the flowers should be distinct rather than blended.

Stripes and patterns should be in color versus neutrals – like the blue and green striped sweater or the green gingham shorts. They are also the only season who can wear whimsical prints like little birds, bows, or other such details. The black top and skirt are a great example. Tropical prints also work well for them as with the blue and the green dresses. 

Summers are blended, diffused, and restful and their prints should match this quality. Like Springs, Summers look great in floral prints; however, their flowers should be more indistinct to gain the softness that is key to Summer colors. Blended prints without a lot of space also provide the complexity that Summers wear well. In addition to florals, Summers look beautiful in paisley. In the pictures below, the two floral prints are not overly spaced together.

The top right, has more space because it’s better suited for Cool Summers. The bottom middle, although it has space, it’s a sheer fabric that has an overall very soft feel to it. With stripes, Summers should stick to low contrast like the two pictures on the left. Finally, Summers could consider some texture as a print as with the bottom right sweatshirt. This gives interest to an outfit, but in a more subtle way. 

Like Summers, Autumns are complex, so they don’t need much space in their prints and they look good in paisley along with nature, tribal, camo and animal prints. Autumns are vivid, dynamic, and intense while the key to their colors is tonation, so there should be a toasted quality to the colors they choose.

In the pictures below, you can clearly see the animal, tribal and camo influence. Nature can be seen in the top right top. Autumns tend to like leaves and tropical prints more than floral. Stripes can work well, but better in an Autumn color versus a traditional black/white or navy/white pattern as that can often be too harsh. 

Winters are elegant, dramatic and striking; and therefore, they actually don’t wear prints very often. When they do, they often have contrast as that is the key to their colors. The prints that work best for them have a simple design and are uncluttered. There should be some space in the print – abstract, stripes and geometric often work well for Winters.

The first example provides dots and stripes and a wonderful contrast that works well for Winters and is more of a pattern than a print. The top right is a great example of a geometric print – clean, simple and dramatic. The top middle and bottom left are good examples of prints that work well, but are not geometric. They both have space and simplicity, which is why they work.  The gray textured sweater is a nice example of added some texture to an outfit versus having a print. 

I would love to hear how you feel about prints in the comments. Does your season resonate with you? Please note that if you are one of the flow seasons (like a Soft, Light, Deep, Bright, Cool or Warm) then you may like aspects of prints from the two seasons that you are in between.

All of the items pictured are from cabi and you can find the items HERE.

Please note that I do receive a small commission from purchases.