The Fashion Rule Book: Match Or Clash

It’s a pity so many people shy away from print. Some may dabble with florals or a little check here and there, but time and again we hear from women who are fearful of busy patterns, preferring instead to stay in the monochrome safety zone. But perversely this cautionary approach is often part of the problem. 

When you wear just a hint of print, it's hard to make a statement. Imagine yourself in a pink patterned blouse, or grey checked trousers. Now add jeans or a jumper and voila, you have yourself a normcore outfit formula. Trying to work print into a minimalist wardrobe is the very reason it can be pretty underwhelming.

Enter the ‘Match Or Clash’ rule. A failsafe way to get prints right: essentially it means identifying the key colour in any pattern and matching the rest of your look or clashing it entirely. Let’s imagine that pretty pink blouse again. We’ve already established it looked alright with jeans, but how about a pair of pink wide leg trousers? Or a pink leather midi? Or even pink acid wash denim? Suddenly, you have a runway-inspired way to wear it. Now those grey checked trousers – how might they look paired with the pink print blouse? Or a houndstooth knit? Or – if you’re feeling brave – a mismatched check? You can instantly bring these pieces to life by following the ‘Match Or Clash’ formula.