In selecting prints, the stealthiest mistake I make – tell me if this one get you too – is in this:
The scale of the figures in the print should be in harmony with the scale of the facial features.
In other words, no large florals for me!
Are your features small, medium, large or extra-large? A combination? Look at length and width of:
- Eyes and eyebrows
- Nose
- Lips
Also consider how much facial space surrounds your features. Obviously this relates to how much background space you would want in a print.
This isn’t a precise science. But does it give you any ideas why certain prints have never worked for you?
This sort of post is precisely why I love your blog so much. I wouldn’t have thought of that in a million zillion years, but it makes…sense. 😀 Following this line of thought, I’ve probably made print mistakes frequently by choosing shapes too large for my narrow features? I’m too visual though…I think I shall go hunt up a few pictures & see if I can better process this.
I have to ditto Katie’s comment.
Fascinating. I’ll have to think about this more. In the last 4 years that I’ve been collecting my FFF on fashion, I’ve tried to make my wardrobe more mix & match. I find myself NOT having many prints or liking them. I’ll be this is why. I need to come up with the right scale. Brilliant!
This is soo why you rock! 😀 😉
Thanks ladies. These are the kinds of posts I like to do, but I get distracted easily. Hopefully adding the link to a bunch of print clothes to look at will help.
The large scale prints especially get me when it comes to dresses. So many nice large florals, especially for Easter!
This is different than Stacy and Clinton’s what not to wear advice. They say the size of the print is determined by body size and height.
I was just thinking about that, well not Stacy and Clinton, but how most other advice is based on the body while mine is primarily based on the face. I admit I am more concerned with flattering my face, but I also just think it honors the individual more.
In my case, Stacy and Clinton might recommend a slightly bigger print for me because I am average height. But I’m still pretty small.
The other thought, though, that’s been in the back of my mind is whether a print used on the lower half of the body would be better related to body size, while one used near the face would relate more to the features.
Hmmmm. ???
I think contrast also matters. I think a person with a more blended color contrast with complexion and hair could do well with quite large priints if they were lower contrast but if they used a high contrast print on only the skirt it would still draw attention away from the face.
But a person with vivid or strong coloring could probably hold their own with a boldly printed skirt or even pants.
That said, your post inspired me to chuck a black cotton sweater with a huge, HUGE floral print in mostly primary colors. I thought I was clever in cutting it open and making the floral side the back – like those old Mexican jackets. But still drowned me out, I felt. And also purged a navy two piece knit with white banding near the bottom of skirt and top and, wait for it, a few flocked white seagulls on the top. What was I thinking? I used to feel good in this which must prove that attitude is almost everything.
IOW, though I haven’t seen this idea anywhere, I wonder if
vivid contrast is equivalent to large features? Because it emphasizes the ones a person has.
I don’t wear a lot of prints, but for my taste it can depend on *where* the print is worn and the kind & colour of print it is. I have a fine bold colorful print skirt that suits me well. I’m not so sure it would work in a dress, though.
Bold graphic prints can look fine on me, while you’d find it difficult to pay me to wear a large floral. (Of course that related to my style idiom as well.) My “Easter dress” is a good example. And (if I could only afford one) I think I’d look great in a fun Pucci print, too!
Not to play devil’s advocate, but I’m not *totally* sure about that. By that logic, I wouldn’t be the best large-floral candidate either, but I have a skirt that looks fantastic in a large floral. Also, who would wear ditsy prints? 🙂 I tend toward the body/weight/shape analysis of prints. Enhancing the body, enhances the face.
I’m 5’10, medium build. My mom pointed out one day that ditsy prints usually don’t work as well on me as larger ones. It took me a bit of reflection, but I’ve come to agree with her.
The more I think about it, the more I go for the idea that skirt print relates more to body size and isn’t as critical near the face. And certainly this isn’t the whole story either, contrast and color, shape and line, all factor in. Prints are a complex subject.
I’m not certain what the definition of a ditsy print is, but I’m thinking a very small floral?
Who looks good in it – young person with curly hair, freckles, and romantic type personality?
Who does not look good in it – well, I have a specific person in mind, so I’d better shut up now. 😉
There are other small prints, though. For example, I find that whenever little black & white or navy & white checks come in style, they look good on me. The regular, geometric shape and the high/low color contrast work. But a larger black & white pattern can sometimes be overwhelming.
Excellent discussion!
I always thought of a ditsy print as a very small floral, with little or no space in between the flowers. A busy, small print – Little House on the Prairie calico, maybe?