I thought I'd be miserable. Print mixing surprised me.

How about a new way to use what you have? Plus, my Tibi Summer review.

I designated this as print mix week only because a paid subscriber on Substack had requested it! I am that loyalty/”provide value” girl.

But really, I have been leaning toward more minimalist things. I’ve told you my style is “Miami King” — I always vary from more “Miami” (bold, colorful, crazy) to more “king” (masc, heritage). I was not feeling in a very Miami place when print mix was the ask.

BTW, do you want to figure out your own “words?” Here’s your guide:

But you know what? Print mixing surprised me.

p.s. A treat for the paid subscribers: my review of Tibi Summer at the end of this post. Also, see everything I pre-ordered and all the questions I asked in our private chat.

First, the Takeaways:

… ok, 7 Takeaways this week:

1. ABE. Always. Be. Editing. If you have a wardrobe of pieces you love, print mixing doesn’t have to feel off brand for you. You will feel like yourself because you’re working with things that are so you.

2. Use Trinny as a resource. Trinny Woodall has some of the best content around print mixing. In England they call it “print clashing.” Spicy. More Trinny on print here. Three of my key learnings from Trinny:

   1. Mix prints with at least two colors in common

   2. Look for prints of similar sizes to mix together

   3. Look for prints of a similar spirit

3. Play with the amount and placement of each print. This time around I saw the impact of how much each printed piece of clothing shows when you put the outfit together. When I had a red plaid shirt completely tucked into a fruit print skirt completely, the line was too sharp, and it showed too much of the daintier fruited pattern, when the masculine plaid is more “me.” I played with a different treatment of the tuck to show more of the red plaid and bring more of it down into the lower half of the outfit.

4. Sometimes bold plus bold becomes more subtle: This is another Trinny lesson. It also follows the Tibi “ton” principle. The idea that more color eases the eye versus two sharp colors that have you unsure where to look. More print can have the same effect. Multiple bold prints together surprisingly allow your eye to rest more than if you had a sharp contrast plus a single bold print.

5. Print mixing says something to the world. Something like “fashion is happening” or “I know what I’m doing” or “this is playful.” It can just be a fast track to feeling something generally and also interacting a little more with the world.

6. Minimalism doesn’t mean no print. A simple stripe. This dot I’ve been eying. This painterly short. Consider having prints in your wardrobe, even if you’re a minimalist. They give outfits so much texture and interest.

7. Texture can work like a print. There is a lot of crossover. A beige boucle jacket will read somewhat plaid because of the way the threads play together, for example. And you wouldn’t think of a grommeted belt (secondhand Prada are my fave, very adjustable) as a print, but I love treating it as one; it’s like a polka dot.

MONDAY

a casual workday and The Package Room after an active weekend:

• Marc Jacobs T-shirt (boutique)

• old John Elliot pants like these Donni striped pants (we like these too and these)

• men’s Acne Studio gray stripe shirt w. logo (a gem) here’s a good alt , here and we created a striped boutique for you too

• Margiela handbag, different style, mini painted tote (good price for this secondhand white leather) and for straw bags, good brand here w. a range of styles

• secondhand Chanel ballet flats, love this pair - gently worn 38.5 and good brand we discovered through gifting, offers a range of 2-tone styles — I think the bigger idea, though is the power of a print. flat. or THIS sneaker!

Lofted Settledness? Yes.

TUESDAY

working in a cafe, walking and researching

What:

• secondhand Burberry plaid shirt from Veblen, good one here, and like this oversized, this white ground is selling out fast

• Stella McCartney citrus print skirt , similar here and here (like this print too)

• Loewe paseo bag, good shape also and not as flat, but in the family

• Tibi Somerset flat (avail in animal print) liking these cut outs and this style

Lofted Settledness? Yes.

WEDNESDAY

working over coffee before the gym

• BJK t-shirt

• Tibi pleated skirt (and linking this new find - we shop Yoox but haven’t tried the brand … this too!)

• Lioness top around waist

• Tibi tote, sold out, but avail in navy vinyl always love the Issey totes and found a mesh style I like

• Prada hat (secondhand) also like this chino hat

• CDG play x Converse sneakers (also like the leather Stan Smiths)

Lofted Settledness? Yes.

working and dentist appointment in a cold office

• Loewe striped button up and here, this is cool too

• Tibi skirt as above

• secondhand Louis Vuitton belt (similar) and comparable feel - there are loads of these Isabel Marant ones secondhand)

• Miu Miu loafers like this suede

• Issey Miyake Bao Bao bag (beige metallic here, easy to find in many colors)

Lofted Settledness? Yes.

THURSDAY

• secondhand Loewe shirt (sweatshirt here!!) more artful silk, like the spirit of this print and great secondhand find here. But I mean, helloooo: Dario’s. Versace.

• old Celine pleated skirt, this one secondhand, 38. colorful pleat here, another good one (knit style here- Wendy: sharing because I own one of their knit skirts and love the fit and feel.)

• Tibi Somerset flat (avail in animal print) liking these cut outs and this style. Like this Ulla too.

• Tibi tote, sold out, but avail in navy vinyl always love the Issey totes

Lofted Settledness? Yes.

going to a cute pizza place w/my hub with zero time to get ready

What:

• I am OBSESSED with this Maison Margiela shirt (this is a lightweight wool and very comfortable) I like this style, also avail in a cotton oxford, good selection for you of chambray + denim

• Renggli jeans …honestly not the most flattering! Here’s one of Wendy’s favorites.

• secondhand YSL necklace these are great secondhand finds to look for, like this Chanel

• Prada card holder (similar) and mini!! cute coin purse, love this little wallet, and Wendy’s confessional: I love chainmail … currently watching this one

• Miu Miu patent sandals. Tibi sandals (similar) … I like this alt!

Lofted Settledness? Yes.

FRIDAY

working in cafes, walking, lunch with my friend and her mom

• ME+EM striped shirt (a gift I chose)

• Pucci silk skirt (same style but different print here and here (liking this print and a fun one with lace

• secondhand Prada belt (similar) and like this one which has interchangeable buckles

• Jil Sander tote, for flat totes, good value on this white leather and yellow canvas, I like this one with beading and good brand we like, love the leather detail, one more! love this basket with also crossbody strap

• Loewe ballerinas (secondhand deal - the soles look like they’ve not been worn) … Repetto’s version. And not really an alt, but if you like jellies, these are a cute shape and not familiar w. this brand but these look good and like the color assortment

Lofted Settledness? Yes. This was my favorite print mix moment of the week.

SATURDAY

spending the day vintage shopping, then dinner with Liz Best McKay

• Maison Margiela shirt (from Thursday) I like this style, also avail in a cotton Oxford, good selection for you of chambray + denim

• Secondhand Levi’s cut into shorts, good pair here and here

• Tibi Artemis beaded dress (sold out) found one here and a secondhand dress you can layer … Chan Luu’s version. Under $100 and I really like it.

• Jil Sander bag (great shopper tote fabric version)

• old Miu Miu sandals (good color secondhand here) and an easy suede flips and a boutique of color for you, with great sale prices rn.

Lofted Settledness? Yes. I will not stop with this shirt.

SUNDAY

home all day puttering

• Tibi baseball t-shirt (long sleeve here we like)

• Valeria Krasavina Apollo pants

I added shoes too, and then I did a whole bunch of things you could wear at home on a Sunday that aren’t “giving up” —

Lofted Settledness? Yes. With shoes!

OUTFIT PLANNING

INCYMI watch the most recent here!

This week: Tyrese Haliburton style.

Next week: Silver, gray + white. I am feeling this combination!

Let’s get dressed.

p.s. I would so appreciate it so much if you’d like or share this post so others can find me and I can make a living doing what I love. I am grateful!

For access to my weekly finds and cravings, follow HMS here on ShopMy

And now for the paid folks, your Tibi Summer Reviews are here: