Wearing Prints: A Complete Guide to Choosing and Styling Prints
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Understanding the Power of Wearing Prints
Floral Prints: Understanding and Styling floral prints
Geometric Prints: How to Style geometric prints
Abstract Prints: Exploring the Creativity of abstract prints
Animal Print: Mastering animal print Styling
Ethnic Print: Wearing ethnic print with Cultural Respect
Print Combinations: Styling Confident print combinations
Colour Analysis: Using colour analysis to Choose Prints
How to Wear a Print: A Practical Guide to how to wear a print
How to Choose a Print: Tips for how to choose a print
Welcome to a comprehensive guide on wearing prints, inspired by Stephanie Rumble’s insightful ‘Style for Life’ podcast episode. Stephanie, a fashion stylist, educator, and colour expert, shares decades of experience helping people build wardrobes that express confidence and authenticity. This article expands on her teachings from the podcast, exploring how prints work, how to choose them, and how to incorporate them into your personal wardrobe in a way that feels meaningful, stylish, and intentional.
Understanding the Power of Wearing Prints
Wearing prints is all about understanding your level of personal expression and how to communicate to the world who you are. Prints communicate personality, influence the eye, and give you so many fun combinations. Many people avoid prints because they fear standing out or worry they won’t know how to style them. Yet prints can act as powerful hero pieces that instantly bring energy and identity to an outfit.
“Think of your wardrobe as having one or two heroes and then lots of supporting acts.” ~ Stephanie Rumble
Stephanie describes prints as storytelling elements. If you’re beginning your style journey or want hands-on guidance in building confidence with clothing, Stephanie’s personalised styling services can offer one‑to‑one support and direction. Learn more at her personal styling consultations. Whether subtle or bold, prints help convey mood, identity, and style essence. They can flatter the body, add interest, create a subtle slimming effect when placed strategically, and serve as connectors between separates in your capsule wardrobe. Wearing prints well begins with understanding the types available and how each complements your colouring, proportion, and personal style.
A print can also create visual effects like slimming a silhouette, boosting confidence, and [adding] interest to an outfit.” ~ Stephanie Rumble
Floral Prints: Understanding and Styling floral prints
Floral prints are one of the most widely recognised pattern families in fashion. They include everything from delicate buds to oversized blossoms. Floral patterns mimic nature, making them versatile and fun for everyone. Floral prints can create softness or visual impact depending on scale, and when paired with expert guidance, can become fun outfit foundations. Those wanting help to integrate or understand how to wear print may enjoy Stephanie’s tailored wardrobe audit and coordination services. Floral prints can soften an outfit or add structure depending on scale. Stephanie notes that florals appear in both women’s and men’s fashion, often through shirts, dresses, accessories and if you are bold even a suit!
Consider how colour plays into your print choices. The colour palette within a floral design should harmonise with your skin tone and wardrobe staples. Neutrals in the print help it coordinate easily with other garments.
When incorporating florals into your wardrobe:
Use small florals to create subtle visual interest.
Choose large florals to make a bold style statement.
Pair florals with colours already present in the print.
These strategies make floral prints workable across seasons and outfit combinations. Florals can also act as transitional pieces between seasons, allowing you to carry summery pieces into cooler weather with the right layering. They also work beautifully as accents within wardrobe coordination, helping you build outfits that mix solid colours with richer print expression.
Geometric Prints: How to Style geometric prints
Geometric prints include stripes, squares, triangles, checks, and structured patterns. These designs communicate order, rhythm, and clarity, making them especially popular in menswear.
Stripes and checks are classic examples of geometric patterns. In Stephanie’s practical workshops, including her popular style education sessions, clients often explore how these prints influence body balance and outfit structure using geometric patterns. They can help create vertical or horizontal emphasis, depending on your styling goals. Vertical stripes lengthen the body visually, while horizontal stripes add width, a useful technique for balancing proportions.
Neutral geometric designs pair well with basics in a capsule wardrobe, making them easy to repeat across different outfits. Patterns like stripes also add timeless appeal, ensuring your pieces remain relevant year after year.
When wearing geometric prints:
Choose stripes to elongate the body either vertically create width horizontally.
Use checks for structure and classic appeal.
Keep colours cohesive for versatility.
These ideas provide a solid starting point for working geometric designs into your wardrobe with confidence and clarity. Experiment with layering geometric prints under blazers or cardigans for depth without overwhelm. Also consider mixing geometrics with solids to let the print guide the colour choices for the rest of your outfit.
Abstract Prints: Exploring the Creativity of abstract prints
Abstract prints are expressive, artistic, and often unpredictable. They may blend shapes, colours, and motifs into designs that do not follow a traditional pattern. This makes them exciting options for those who have a creative or artistic style personality.
Abstract prints often become standalone hero pieces due to their complexity. They work well when you want to convey creativity or add emotional depth to an outfit.
Abstract prints often contain varied colours, making coordination easier. If you enjoy learning the principles behind visual harmony, Stephanie’s broader fashion stylist programmes dive deeper into how colour, shape and proportion impact confidence and presentation., making coordination easier. They serve as excellent anchors in wardrobe building because they offer multiple colour cues.
To incorporate abstract prints effectively:
Choose a dominant colour from the print for your additional pieces to create outfit cohesion.
Keep silhouettes simple to let the print shine.
Introduce accessories that echo the print’s colour story.
Abstract prints are also ideal for those wanting clothing that sparks conversation or feels culturally expressive.
Animal Print: Mastering animal print Styling
Animal print remains a favourite among many, offering texture, visual depth, and personality. Leopard, zebra, snake, and tiger patterns are some of the most common options. Animal print can be both warm and cool in colouring making it an excellent choice for all colour groups.
Animal prints act as neutrals in many wardrobes. For clients seeking confidence-building support in body acceptance or lifestyle transformation, Stephanie’s compassionate accountability coaching can help align personal growth with style expression. in many wardrobes. The earthy tones of leopard or tiger prints pair back well with blacks, browns, whites, and denim.
“Clients often say they don't want their clothes to make them stand out. We have this really interesting culture in New Zealand where we don't want to stand out in our clothes.” ~ Stephanie Rumble
Animal prints can be subtle or bold, depending on scale. When styling animal print:
Treat it like a neutral for easy pairing.
Keep accessories minimal to avoid visual overload.
Use animal print to accentuate your personal style.
Animal prints pair beautifully with textural fabrics like knits or leather. They also elevate casual outfits, adding personality to wardrobe basics.
Ethnic Print: Wearing Ethnic Print with Cultural Respect
Ethnic print refers to patterns inspired by cultural, historical, or traditional motifs. These prints hold meaning and often represent heritage, symbolism, or artistic lineage.
Stephanie highlights the importance of appreciating cultural context when wearing ethnic prints. These designs often appear in fabrics, accessories, or handmade garments.
Ethnic prints can be expressive and deeply personal. Stephanie has incorporated her experience as an educator and speaker into many of her professional sessions. Organisations or groups wanting tailored style or presentation insights can learn more through her speaking services. and deeply personal. They act as conversation starters and can connect you to memories, travels, or personal values.
Ways to wear an ethnic print thoughtfully:
Choose prints that resonate with your identity, aesthetic or cultural heritage.
Pair them with modern silhouettes for balanced styling.
Allow the print to stand out as a hero element.
These insights help expand your understanding of how cultural and traditional motifs can be incorporated with respect and intention. Ethnic prints often showcase rich colour and intricate detail, making them ideal for statement garments. They can also build a bridge between traditional craftsmanship and everyday fashion.
Print Combinations: Styling Confident print combinations
Working with print combinations can transform your wardrobe, helping you create expressive and sophisticated outfits. The key is choosing prints that relate through colour, scale, or shape.
Stephanie suggests beginning with simpler pairings, such as stripes with florals or checks with abstract designs. These combinations work because they share visual harmony. Start small if you’re new to mixing prints. Accessories provide low-risk opportunities for experimentation, and layering also helps soften bolder pieces.
“Clothing doesn't need to be distracting. If you're wearing the right colors and styles for you, it's actually attracting.” ~ Stephanie Rumble
When pairing prints:
Match prints through shared colour families.
Mix large-scale prints with smaller ones for balance.
Keep one print dominant and the other supporting.
These principles give you a strong foundation for experimenting with mixed prints in a way that feels cohesive and intentional. Print mixing improves over time with practice and confidence. Stephanie often explores these concepts in her interactive workshops, where clients can experiment with prints in a supportive environment. with practice and confidence. Learning how prints relate visually can empowers you to build creative looks without feeling overwhelmed.
Colour Analysis: Using colour analysis to Choose Prints
Colour analysis plays a crucial role in understanding which prints suit your natural colouring. Undertones, contrast levels, and personal preferences influence how prints work on your body.
Stephanie explains that 80 percent of the colours within a print should align with colours that flatter you. This ensures harmony and helps the print integrate seamlessly into your wardrobe. Contrast level is also essential. High-contrast prints suit some individuals, while low-contrast designs work better for others.
“Prints enhance your wardrobe by stretching the number of outfits you can create.” ~ Stephanie Rumble
Colour analysis helps you:
Identify prints that brighten your complexion.
Understand which colours to prioritise in your wardrobe.
Select prints that work with existing garments.
Further expansion strengthens your results. Colour analysis also helps reduce wardrobe waste because you can choose prints that have long-term relevance. As Stephanie notes, understanding colour leads to better shopping decisions.
How to Wear a Print: A Practical Guide to how to wear a print
Understanding how to wear a print well begins with confidence and knowledge. Many people avoid prints because they fear being too visible or choosing something that doesn’t align with their style.
Stephanie explains that wearing prints becomes easier when you start small. Scarves, bags, socks, or small accessories help you experiment without committing to a full printed garment.
The key is pairing prints with solids that highlight the colours within the pattern.
To wear prints successfully:
Begin with small pieces if you’re new to prints.
Use colour cues from the print to guide the rest of your outfit.
Pair busy prints with structured basics.
These extra insights can help you apply prints more comfortably as you build confidence and refine what suits you best. Starting with tops instead of full outfits also reduces overwhelm. And remember that prints help expand your style identity as you grow more confident.
How to Choose a Print: Tips for how to choose a print
Knowing how to choose a print properly comes down to your colouring, proportions, and personality. Some people love bold statement pieces, while others prefer subtle designs.
Think about your emotional response to prints. Do you gravitate toward artistic designs, nature themes, cultural motifs, or geometric shapes? Your answer helps shape your print identity. Evaluating scale is also important. Larger prints work on larger garments or for dramatic looks, while smaller prints blend seamlessly into everyday attire.
“Start with something small like a scarf, a bag or a pair of socks to get comfortable with wearing print.” ~ Stephanie Rumble
When choosing prints:
Look for colours that suit your skintone, personality and lifestyle.
Consider the scale relative to your body.
Ensure the print aligns with your personal style.
These ideas further strengthen your confidence as you learn how different prints can support your personal style.
Final Thoughts
Wearing prints opens the door to personal expression, innovation, and style clarity. Stephanie Rumble’s podcast highlights how prints support confidence, identity, and wardrobe depth. Prints help create visual effects, highlight your shape, and bring personality to your daily clothing choices.
By embracing prints mindfully, whether floral prints, geometric prints, abstract prints, animal print, ethnic print, or mixed print combinations, you expand your wardrobe’s potential. With support from colour analysis, you can choose prints that feel intuitive, uplifting, and aligned with your colouring.
Your wardrobe becomes more impactful when prints serve as intentional hero pieces, complement your capsule wardrobe, and enhance your personal style. Prints connect emotion, design, and identity, giving you fresh ways to dress with confidence.
Exploring prints can help you refine your style story. Every print you choose has the potential to reshape your wardrobe, shift your mood, and support your self-expression. With practice and experimentation, wearing prints can become an exciting and empowering part of your everyday style journey.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know what type of print suits me?
The best way to identify prints that suit you is to consider your colouring, contrast level, and personal style preferences. Prints that include colours that naturally harmonise with your skin tone will always feel more comfortable and flattering. If you’re unsure where to start, Stephanie’s professional colour analysis sessions can help you understand the tones and combinations that bring out your best features.
What if I feel too self-conscious wearing prints?
Feeling self-conscious about prints is very common, especially if you’re used to wearing block colours. . Start small by incorporating accessories like scarves or bags. This allows you to experiment without feeling overwhelmed. Over time, wearing prints becomes more natural as you build confidence through small, intentional choices.
Can prints make me look slimmer?
Yes, certain prints can create a subtle slimming effect by directing the eye vertically or drawing attention to areas you feel confident about. Vertical stripes, strategically placed patterns, and darker backgrounds can all contribute to this. Stephanie covers these principles in her styling consultations, helping clients use prints to highlight their favourite features.
Are floral prints only for certain seasons?
Floral prints can be worn year-round, depending on scale, colour, and how you style them. Lighter florals work beautifully in spring and summer, while deeper or muted florals pair well with layers during cooler months. Consider the colours within the print and match them with seasonal wardrobe pieces for an effortless year-round look.
How do I mix different prints without clashing?
Mixing prints is easier when they share a unifying element, such as colour, scale, or theme. A simple rule is to pair one bold print with a smaller, more subtle design. Stephanie’s workshops often cover these concepts, providing hands-on guidance for building confidence in print pairing.
How do I choose prints that match my wardrobe?
Look for prints that feature colours already present in your wardrobe. This instantly expands your outfit combinations and makes mixing and matching easier. If you’re building a capsule wardrobe, prints can act as connectors that tie different pieces together. A wardrobe coordination session with Stephanie can further streamline this process.
Are geometric prints good for creating balance?
Geometric prints are excellent for balancing proportions because they offer structure and direction. Vertical stripes can elongate, checks can add subtle interest, and colour-blocked patterns can define your silhouette. These prints are especially effective when used intentionally to support your style goals.
What makes abstract prints different from other prints?
Abstract prints are expressive and often rely on emotion, movement, or artistic interpretation. They’re ideal for people who enjoy making a creative statement. Their varied colour palettes make them flexible for mixing and matching with solids or other prints. Abstract patterns can also serve as hero pieces in an outfit.
Can I wear animal print to work?
Yes, animal print can be worn professionally when styled with intention. Smaller-scale patterns or neutral-toned pieces work best for office environments. Pairing them with classic items like blazers, tailored trousers, or structured tops creates a polished, modern look suitable for work.
How do I style ethnic prints respectfully?
Wearing ethnic prints respectfully means understanding their cultural significance and choosing pieces that resonate with your values. Style them with simple, modern silhouettes to let the pattern stand out without overwhelming the outfit. If you’re unsure where to start, look for reputable designers or brands that honour the cultural origins of their patterns.
