Patternmaxxing Prints Trending Now

 By Trina Morgan, Fashion, Beauty, and Lifestyle Blogger

Disclaimer: This post contains an affiliate link; if you decide to purchase, I receive a small commission.

Patternmaxxing to me is just mixing prints because it looks so fun. I’m not doing all that yet but I like looking at it and thinking about how I’d put stuff together. Folks online make it sound like some big fashion rule but it’s really not. It’s just prints on prints because you feel like it. I don’t care about matching everything perfect, there's no fun in that. Sometimes the outfit looks better when it’s a little off. That’s the part I like because it feels more real.

People act scared of prints, but online last week I saw this beautiful plus size woman with mixed prints and she looked gorgeous! Now back to people acting scared of them. They’ll wear one tiny leopard belt and act like that’s bold. Patternmaxxing is not that. It’s gingham with zebra. Leopard with floral. Plaid with polka dots. Camo with whatever. You don’t ask if it goes. You just put it on. I’m not doing all that yet but I like the idea of it. It looks fun. It looks different. Something I’d try when I want to switch it up.

Prints don’t care about your size or shape. I’ve seen all kinds of women wearing prints and it looks good because they wear it with confidence. Slim girls. Thick girls. Tall. Short. All of them. Prints don’t belong to one type of person. Anybody can wear them. That’s why I like the whole idea of patternmaxxing. You don’t have to fit into some box. You just wear it.

The sketches I posted show that. Different women. Different patterns. Gingham. Zebra. Leopard. Floral. All kinds of stuff. None of the outfits match in that “safe” way people like. But they look good because the person wearing it owns it. I like seeing it. It gives me ideas. Makes me wanna try stuff I normally wouldn’t.

The third sketch is even wilder. Mixing prints that don’t go together but somehow they do. Polka dots with floral. Zebra with neon colors. Plaid with leopard. Gingham with camo. It’s loud. It’s fun. Fashion has been too serious lately. Too perfect. Too curated. Patternmaxxing brings the fun back. Clothes are supposed to be fun. Not stressful. I like the vibe of it.

If you've never mixed prints before, don’t overthink it. I’d probably start with two. Leopard and stripes. Floral and plaid. Polka dots and camo. One piece that feels normal and one that’s bold. Put them together. See how it looks. You don’t need rules. You don’t need matching colors. Just try it. You might like it.

Here are a few suggestions starting out

Beginner Mix: Leopard + Stripes Intermediate Mix: Floral + Plaid Bold Mix: Polka Dots + Camo

When you begin combining two prints, it becomes easier and, to be honest, you'll likely end up adding more without even noticing. For example, you might choose a nice patterned bag, some interesting shoes, or a jacket that you really like. All of a sudden, you're wearing three or four prints, and it just seems like the right thing to do. I always stress that you should dress for yourself and not for anyone else's approval.

Patternmaxxing doesn’t always have to be super loud. You can totally keep it soft and simple if that’s more your vibe. Black and white prints are honestly the easiest way to start; think gingham and stripes, zebra and polka dots, houndstooth and plaid. When the colors are simple, the patterns just blend together better. If you love prints but don’t want to jump straight into neon florals with zebra (which is a lot, I get it!), just start with black and white. That’s probably where I’d start too.

Accessories are honestly your best friend here. Grab a patterned bag, some cute shoes, a scarf, or a jacket—whatever makes you happy. You don’t have to go all out with a full printed outfit right away. Take your time and build it up slow. Matching everything is so overrated anyway! Some of my favorite outfits come from mixing things that aren’t supposed to go together. I love the idea of just playing around with it.

The third sketch is honestly the wildest one: paisley with plaid, zebra with neon floral, leopard with polka dots, camo with gingham. It’s loud, bold, and just so much fun. I love looking at it, and it honestly makes me want to try something totally different. This is the version of patternmaxxing where you don’t tone anything down at all. You just wear what you want, how you want.

Patternmaxxing is just a reminder that fashion is supposed to be fun, personal, and definitely not perfect. You don’t have to match everything or dress like everyone else. Mix whatever patterns you want and make it work for you. That’s honestly what I love about it—it feels so free and creative.

If you’ve been wanting to try it, now’s the time! Pull out those prints you’ve been scared to wear, mix them up, and just play around. Fashion is supposed to be fun, and I’m all about fun lol!

Share: