Wearing a pattern can be fun and creative. It adds a unique element to any outfit, and can convey a much different message than solid colors. Personally, I love wearing patterns: plaid, windowpane, checkers, microdots, paisley, and my all-time favorite, pinstripes. But the thing about wearing a shirt or jacket with a pattern is that, since it conveys a different message than a solid color shirt or jacket, you need to be a bit more strategic when wearing a patterned piece.
Yes, patterns can make an outfit stand-out more, but they can also ruin an outfit if used incorrectly. The best example of patterns ruining an outfit is when more than three different patterns are used. My rule of thumb for wearing patterns is that you should typically stick with two or three different patterns; any more than that begin to look chaotic and overwhelming.
Another thing you want to watch out for when wearing patterns is wearing conflicting patterns. So if you're wearing a white and blue striped Oxford with vertical stripes you wouldn't want to wear a tie with horizontal stripes.
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| Photo credit: brooksbrothers.com |
There are so many pieces out these days that seem to be designed to captivate instead of compliment. These range from sports jackets with abstract decals to pieces actually consisting of multiple patterns. For example, check out this newly released jacket. It's definitely not for me because there's way too much going on.
Patterns can be an awesome addition to any outfit if used appropriately. So in today's post, I'm going to discuss the do's and don'ts of wearing patterns as well as when the best time to wear them is.
The Do's and Don'ts (i.e. how to wear patterns)
Do...
Wear patterns. Many people seem to avoid wearing patterns all together, perhaps, because they are not sure how to implement them into their wardrobe. Yes, wearing patterns may require a bit more confidence to pull off, but very much like certain colors, wearing a pattern or two will get you noticed.
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| What colors would work with this shirt? What colors wouldn't? |
Match all the colors. A lot of times, patterns will include two, three, maybe even four colors, which means you need to think more before you wear them. Consider, for example, one of my favorite shirts with a pattern. It is a white shirt with blue and pink which means that whatever I wear with the shirt must go with white, blue, and pink. Fortunately, matching with these colors isn't too difficult, but I've seen some patterns with abstract colors that would be harder to match.
Make sure the pattern is subtle. It should compliment your outfit; not be the center of attention. A great way to ensure your use of patterns is secondary is to wear a patterned shirt under a solid jacket. This makes matching the colors much easier as well. Consider trying to match a solid black jacket with a tricolored pattern compared to trying to match a blue and red jacket with a multicolored pattern. The more colors you wear, the harder it becomes to match.
Make sure the pattern's appropriate for the situation. I'll go into further details in a bit, but you want to always make sure the pattern you are wearing makes sense to wear for the occasion. For example, would you want to wear a blue and red plaid suit to a funeral? Probably not.
Don't...
Wear more than three patterns at once. One or two patterns can be great and even a third if one of the three is a subtle pattern, but you should never get carried away with wearing patterns. For example, if your shirt is striped, your pants are plaid, and your jacket is herringbone, you probably need to rethink your outfit. A good trick to make sure your patterns work is to look at yourself in the mirror and consider what you would think if you saw someone wearing your outfit.
Wear patterns all the time. Much like the colors black and pink, you want to use patterns to leverage your style, and ergo, you don't want to make wearing them an everyday occurrence. Instead, stick to safer choices like white or blue most days and use a pattern to attract attention on certain days. If you wear patterns all the time, people will get use to you wearing them and you'll lose your potential edge.
When to Wear a Pattern.
Because patterns are not exactly professional, the best time to wear them is for casual or business casual events. That means for any kind of formal events or situations-- meeting a new client, working in the office, going to a wedding, et cetera-- solid colors are going to be the better option. For such instances, consider limiting your use of patterns to neckties and pocket squares.
The only exception to wearing patterns for formal situations is if you wear pinstripes. Pinstripes are probably the most conservative pattern choice, which makes them acceptable to wear for most occasions.
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| Without zooming in, it is very easy to miss the white dots on the shirt. |
But for most other patterns, you should reserve them for casual wear especially if you don't intend on wearing a solid color jacket. For example, if you are just wearing a red plaid shirt.
Most of the time, wearing a plaid shirt at the office-- as long as it's not all the time-- won't get you chastised, but there are certain patterns which you want to definitively reserve for the weekends. Basically, anything with a decal. While unique designs can be a lot of fun, they can also make you appear callow. For example, take a look at this navy blue shirt with flower designs. What would you think if you saw someone wearing that? The flowers don't really exude professionalism, right? |
| Tasso Elba Mixed-Berry colored Paisly Tie |
When wearing a pattern, you have myriads of options that you don't have when wearing a solid color. Patterns can be a fun, interesting way to diversify your wardrobe as long as they're used correctly. Do you agree/disagree? Let me know what you think about patterns in the comments and let me know if I should write another entry about patterns. I feel like I may have missed some things, so if you're interested in learning more about patterns just let me know.
-Ryan S.
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