Welcome back to my second installment of You Can Totally Wear That!
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Now that the weather will slowly be warming up (well becoming bearable at least), we can drag our cute clothing out of the back of our closets! Hurray! Spring wear can be difficult if you don’t have enough transition pieces, like a light sweater or a maxi skirt. One of my favorite transition pieces is patterned pants. Usually made of a light, breathable fabric, they add spunk and personality to any outfit. The nice thing about patterned pants is the available variety. You can stick to a small pattern on slacks, or a loud pattern on some baggy track pants, all depending on how you feel. I love my patterned pants. I have at least 4 pairs and wear them any chance I get.
One thing to keep in mind when wearing these pants is that you’ll want them to be the main focus of the outfit. Let them take center stage and have every other element of the outfit provide support. My rule of thumb for everyday outfits is to stick with three colors. If the pants are composed of just two colors, you usually have some flexibility on the shirt color. As long as the shirt complements the pants, you should be good to go. An easy place to start is with a pair of black and white printed pants. Since this color combo goes with virtually anything, you can toss them on with a solid color tee and head out the door. I like to tie the bottom of my tees so I can get more structure on top. If you have loose bottoms, it’s usually better to have tighter top as to not look frumpy.
If your pants have three or more colors, you’ll want to be a bit more careful with the shirt. I tend to stick with a neutral color, like grey, white, black or nude when dealing with colorful pants.This can ensure an outfit has an appropriate amount of excitement, while still maintaining control over the wild patterns. Another color choice for a top would be one that is the same color as a minor color on the pants. If there is one prominent color on your multi colored pants, avoid wearing a top of the same color to prevent the blob effect. Definition is key here in making sure proportion and color contrast are visible.
Bonus Tips:
- Don’t let loud patterns overwhelm you, but don’t be afraid to work them on your legs. I’ve found loose baggy pants can actually slim down your legs, where as tight pattern pants can make them seem larger. Wearer, be warned.
- Shoe choice can range from flats to converse to heels, all depending on the event and your attitude.
- Jewelry can be fun or subtle, all depending on the mood you want your outfit to portray
Hopefully now you can rock those patterned pants this spring with the utmost confidence and style.