Three Tips for Fabulous Fourth Style: Tip Two—Mix Prints for a more Festive Look!

For a fun and festival Fourth of July look, mix prints in red, white, and blue. This will be a more unexpected look, especially if you choose prints that are not something clearly "Fourth of July prints"—like an American flag print. Bonus points if you can mix a strip with a star print!

Tips for making it work:

Three prints, including a star print and stripe print. Outfit: Striped Favorite Tank, Picnic Short, Star Print Scarf, and the Bow Ballet Flats

• Make one of your prints stripes for more clear reference to Independence Day
• Consider mixing a stripes print and a star print, if you have them, for a fun play on the American flag (and this mixes two of the same types of prints [geometric], which is a win for print mixing)
• For the Fourth, you can have a lot of fun mixing prints in the three colors, which automatically gives you a limited palette and the opportunity to go bigger and bolder than normal
• Follow the rule for mixing prints so the outfit works together, especially these:
  • It may be easier to mix prints if you choose one main color that is in each of the prints to bring the outfit together (white may be easiest and is used in my examples)
  • For a more complicated mix, try prints with different main color (such as red, white, and blue) [These last two conflict, but either can work, so go with what best fits your style and experience with mixing prints]
  • If mixing prints in the same color, emphasize differences in size, fabric, and style of print
  • Play with size, mixing smaller prints with larger prints
  • Look for different fabrics and structure, such as a loose knit and a structured cotton
  • Consider stripes a neutral when mixing prints
• Have fun—it’s the Fourth you can go a bit wild and not be the craziest dressed person

Two prints with different main colors, textures, and print size. Outfit: KRIS TOP, PICNIC SHORT, STAR PRINT SCARF, AND THE BOW BALLET FLATS

Two prints both in the same two colors with the same main colors in different sizes. Outfit: Butterfly Print Scarf, PLEATED STAR SKIRT, SLEEVELESS DOUBLE DRAPE TEE, AND BOW BALLET FLATS.

Check out the first tip: Wear Two & Pop One and tune in tomorrow for the second!

Three Tips for Fabulous Fourth Style: Tip One--Wear Two & Pop One

For a classier, and more subtle take on  patriotic style , choose two of the three flag colors, such as blue and white, and base your outfit around them. Then choose one or two key elements (probably accessories) to pop the third color—red (or whatever is left).

Tips for making it work:

Gotta love the pop of a red shoe!

Outfit: PLEATED STAR SKIRT, SLEEVELESS DOUBLE DRAPE TEE, AND BOW BALLET FLATS.

• Think scarves, shoes, bags, and statement jewelry to pop your third color or wear a print that has some of that third color in it
• Limit the amount of the pop color to one or two pieces to make it really work
• Consider mixing prints in the two main colors of your outfit for added fun
• Take it even further and wear a dress, jumpsuit, or outfit in one color and then accessories in the other two
• Don’t be afraid of having blue and red as your two main colors—if you can do it more power to you!
• Have fun—it’s the Fourth you can go a bit wild and not be the most crazily dressed person

The red here is very subtle--in the stripes. I could also add a red shoe for added fun.

Outfit: CRUISE JACKET, Destructed Slim Boyfriend jeans from cabi Spring 2016, Fifth Avenue Tee past season cabi, Older Target shoes, Michael Kors, Selma Medium Satchel, Stella & Dot necklace, Sloan Ranger Knot Earrings.

More red shoe pop!

Outfit: PLEATED STAR SKIRT, Kate Spade handbag,  older cabi Drape Tee and older Aerosoles shoes.