Three Quick Ways to Choose the Right Pattern for You

I’ve held many fashion consulting seminars and one of the biggest issues my clients seem to have is patterns.  How do they choose a print that fit their personality?  You cannot rely on the latest trend to guide you because not all patterns work for all people.  It can be difficult at first to choose a print that works for you, but definitely not impossible.  I’ve compiled some practical advice from my fashion consulting seminars to help you avoid the common pattern pitfalls of just following the latest trend in prints. 

Picking the right pattern can truly highlight your personality.  Prints can show others that you have depth and interest.  When you pick a pattern, often the big question is whether to choose a large or small one.  The latest trend may dictate one preference, but in my years of fashion consulting, I know that the latest trend may not be the right choice for everyone.  The best way is to look at the spacing of the print.  Then measure the spaces between your facial features.  This means from the top of your forehead to the center of the eyebrow, from the center of the eyebrow to the corner of you mouth and from the corner of the mouth to the chin.  If your features are closely spaced, buy a pattern which is also closely spaced.  If your features are farther apart, choose a pattern with wider spacing.

The next issue is how much business in a pattern you can handle.  The latest trend in the complexity of patterns varies from year to year and season to season.  From fashion consulting, I can tell you that to establish how much print commotion you can handle, you must look at your own personality.  Are you a person who likes a lot of excitement?  A more complex pattern would probably suit you best.  If you are more subtle, you would probably be better with pattern that has less commotion.  The key when choosing a pattern is to feel comfortable with the print.  If you are wearing something incongruent with your personal energy, you will not feel relaxed and assured while wearing it. 

But how do you work pattern into your outfits?  Any piece of clothing can have a pattern, not just clothing represented in the latest trends.  If you do not want to be overwhelmed by it, try working it into an outfit with a patterned scarf.  In my fashion consulting seminars, I tell my clients that scarves are terrific accessories.  They can be worn in multiple ways; around the neck, as a waist sash or even a hair tie.  If you are bolder or looking for more to accent your look, you can get a blouse or skirt with a print. 

Despite whatever the latest trend may be, patterns can work for anyone.  I have given many fashion consulting seminars and tried to impress upon all who attended not to be scared of prints.  They can help express the inner you and make your outfit more interesting.  So next time you are looking to add a little spice to your look, consider adding pattern.