Some of you may think that mixing different animal prints together is impossible. It can be quite doable if you know what you’re doing…

Mixing and matching patterns can definitely be tricky. It is very much like matching colors and uses many of the same elements in order to do so successfully and yet is also more complex. When it comes to mixing animal print there is a way to make it possible.

The first rule about wearing more than one pattern in general is to be subtle. Too much of both will definitely overpower your look so you will have to find just the right balance. One way to go is use prints that use the same color scheme, such as black and brown or black and white. This way the patterns essentially “match” and you can break up the outfit with solid colored pieces and accessories that either offset or tone down the overall look. One thing you can do for instance is say wear a black and white cheetah print top with a neutral snakeskin clutch under a solid cardigan and with a solid colored pant to add balance.

Another thing you can do is mix prints that are the same or similar but use differing color palettes so that there is still some symmetry there but is made all the more dynamic and interesting. You wouldn’t want to wear one thing right over another so it’s best to choose your pieces wisely. If you’re going with a pant and top that feature patterns, then break it up with a belt, bag, scarf or even a combination of all three. You can use a neutral color like beige or black that will always be safe but bold colors can work too that will make more of a statement without making your outfit look too busy.

While it is doable to perhaps combine two large pieces featuring a pattern together, they can be used to much better effect if used more subtly. Such as in the example above, one piece is a larger clothing and one is an accessory. This way, you can still mix and match if the look isn’t working for you and the smaller pieces works more to accent and offset the larger one. Wearing an animal print top with a different patterned shoe or bag is a good example of this use. Also, the pieces are not too close to one another so they do not clash. Adding pieces of clothing and accessories puts distance between them and balances out your entire look.

You can find great animal print accessories at Chicastic.