An outfit should be like the person who wears it: complex, but put together.
A good ensemble should always have multiple elements, however, the elements that are placed together should have a cohesive color pattern to make everything pleasing to the eye.
For decades, fashion “rules” have been followed and broken, but one thing has always stayed true: to match, an outfit needs to flow because if not, it’ll become a clashing catastrophe.
A good outfit always starts with basics. I keep a multitude of black, white and denim in my closet to pair with my stand-out pieces. A pair of floral palazzo pants doesn’t have the same statement effect when paired with a patterned shirt as it does when it’s paired with a plain black or white top.
A statement shoe, like a teal stiletto or a studded boot, doesn’t get as much attention if the rest of the outfit is also screaming with patterns and bright colors.
If there’s an item in your closet that’s patterned or bright, it usually looks best with more subdued pieces. This allows for the eye to be drawn to the center of the outfit, wherever that center may be.
However, this doesn’t mean if you’re wearing one pattern, every other part of the outfit needs to be plain.
Putting patterns together can be tricky, but as long as they’re in the same color family, they’ll almost always pair well together.
If one item is a black and white striped shirt it can be paired with other patterned items as long as black and white are involved in the accompanying pattern. So, a black and white floral scarf would match perfectly. A plain pair of pants, like a black or a dark denim keeps the focus on the two patterns and grounds the outfit.
While I’m personally accepting of a full black and white outfit, some people like to find a way to add color to their outfit. To add a pop of color to an ensemble with two black and white patterns is simple, as long as that color stays with the aesthetic.
So far, this outfit gives off a darker vibe, so picking a bright accessory would completely change the flow. I’d pick a burgundy boot with a thick black sole and black laces to add the pop of color and complete the ensemble.
The burgundy is a dark color, so it won’t draw too much attention from the two patterns happening at the top of the outfit. However, it adds color for those who want to shy away from all neutrals.
Combining patterns involving color is another battle completely, but can be done when the same few colors are recycled throughout the outfit.
For example, I’d start off the outfit with a neutral, grounding piece. This allows for the outfit to be built on, instead of starting with color right off the bat.
A white dress is a prime example of a neutral, grounding piece.
The white dress doesn’t need to be a basic cotton, it can be a lace fabric or an off-white, but the fact that it’s neutral is a necessity.
Now, adding is easy when done through accessories. I’d layer the white dress with a teal floral scarf. The teal color is bright in contrast to the simple white underneath. Plus, it has a floral pattern to add more depth and tie together the floral lace fabric of the dress.
Another way to connect the dress to the scarf is adding a skinny, teal belt at the waist. The belt looks like it’s a part of the dress, so it gives the illusion that the scarf is an automatic addition to it.
For shoes, another neutral, grounding piece should be used, so the attention stays on the teal scarf and belt.
I’d finish the look with black knee socks and black ankle booties. The black ties in, not only because it’s neutral, but because the floral pattern on the scarf uses black.
This outfit seems incredibly complex, but works because only one bright color is happening. Every other element is a neutral, so everything is kept in check.
Mixing different fabrics and patterns is simple as long as the bright colors and bold patterns are paired with neutral, grounding pieces.
Meg Ryan is a 19-year-old mass communication sophomore from Philadelphia. You can reach her on Twitter @The_MegRyan.

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