Exploring Clashing Prints and Colour Blocking in a Wearable and Non-invasive Way!

By Chevonne Clay (Instagram @chevvyzsassystylez)

Stripes

Ever want to look unique? Effortlessly stylish? Rebellious against fashion rules? Confident with clashing bold colours and prints?

THEN, look no further…

Clashing prints and colours are the QUICKEST and quirkiest ways of achieving this! (Not to mention, super playful and fun).

I will be exploring clashing prints (particularly stripes), and also colour clashing/blocking in a way that is wearable in public.

This is especially useful if you’re just embarking on this fashion technique.

Stripes are such a timeless and flexible way to take full advantage of dressing unique but in a fashionable way without worrying about constantly chasing the latest trends.

It can also be dressed up and down and tends to go with most prints.

The images above, display me going to a birthday bash (picture 1), and a catch-up dinner with a friend (picture 2). It’s not overly dressed up but it still looks trendy and like I’ve made an effort

It’s not all about strict rules but I believe there needs to be a foundation of coherence with your outfit, or else, you can begin to enter “costume vibes”.

For example, if you’re just randomly throwing any and every print together; it will lack attention to detail. My tip is to keep one print quite neutral and THEN you have the scope to clash with another print.

Here, in this closeup picture; you can see that I’ve clashed prints via stripes and leopard print. However, the stripy top is in neutral colours so the clash won’t dazzle your peers.

Example;

If I had clashed that stripey top with either of these two designs; it probably would dazzle your audience.

On the other hand, if you’re wanting to be intentionally BOLD (I mean, who wants to play by the rules right?!); then feel free to clash unusual prints together.

Although, I advise that you don’t do this within close proximity of one another (will explore this idea later in the blog).

Flexibility at it’s best!

In these two pictures, I have entered the “androgynous” route.

Keeping some elements girlie with the curly hair and cute earrings but wearing a unisex inspired, oversized jacket; followed by a (deliberate) buttoned up shirt underneath to exude masculine energy.

In contrast, I’ve made it slightly feminine again with a figure-hugging skirt and bold makeup!

You may notice that I’ve not clashed colours here. I’ve just picked colours from the stripy top and played around with it.

My purpose with this look was to explore a different style of fashion with androgynous pieces.

It’s time to dress up!

I’ve used stripes here to look put together and dressed up for a Christmas meal with my mother and friends

I’ve clashed the stripes subtly with the embroidery design on my bag and the lace detailing of my fishnet tights.

Again, I’ve picked out colours from the stripes and expanded them further with my earrings, bag and blazer

Without the jacket the outfit looks a bit more “Oh, I just threw this fun ensemble together”

To add to the chilled/playful look; you could pair this outfit with a leather jacket or an oversized denim jacket.

Colour Blocking;

Now, I know what some of you may be thinking…

Oh gosh! Colour blocking is daunting and yes, it is, if you overdo it…

However, tip number 1 would be to save the image above onto your phone and/or PC for reference. This is called the “colour wheel”.

Pick a specific colour or colour group and look directly opposite to see what colours clash, whilst simultaneously, complimenting each other.

Of course, you can colour block whichever way you wish but these are just some guidelines!

So, for example, the orangey colours in the image would colour block nicely with the blue shades.

So as you can see; I’ve used the colour wheel to inspire this playful conglomeration.

I’ve mixed blue, green, pink, red and burgundy together.

According to the colour wheel, the pink dress with green earrings clash but complement one another.

I’ve also paired this colour blocking trend with a print, but, as I advised earlier; I’ve kept the print fairly neutral so that the outfit is wearable and not costume-like.

Throw in a nice fail-safe black cardigan to finish off the look and you’re ready to make an entrance!

Final examples…

This is a dressed up look!

I’ve colour blocked subtly with the pink floral print bag and red shoes.

Who says you can’t mix red and pink ay?

I’ve also colour blocked with red shoes and green earrings. If you look at the colour wheel; these colours are opposite of each other!

I’ve also clashed two bold prints together. Now, as promised, I said earlier that I’d expand on this idea when I mentioned the proximity of print clashing, right?

I’ve paired the jacket and bag quite far apart from one another so that it’s not an overwhelming mix.

You could explore this principle further with a leopard print top and zebra print shoes OR a floral print dress and polka dot shoes! The list goes on…

However, just remember that if you want to clash bold prints together in a wearable way; then clash the items with considerable space between them. Simple!

Hope this has helped you…

Now go out there and rock your prints and colours!