mix 'em & match 'em: damask

This guide is a combination of three of my favorite prints, featuring my all time favorite: the Damask print.  Now I will be the first to say that Damask has been a little over done for the past couple years(I mean it's no peace sign but you catch my drift) however, in my opinion it is one of the most visually interesting print.  I mean come on, it's so chic(but, I digress).  

These prints were created in Adobe Illustrator by me, Sarah Katherine Ormsby.

1.  For someone who designs prints, I wear A LOT OF solid colors.  In my opinion color blocking is an interesting print, but you can achieve a similar aesthetic if you color block some of the things you are wearing. For example: a skirt, tights, visible fashion socks and boots.  Color blocking ads visual interest without tying too hard.

2.  Let's take a moment to appreciate the Houndstooth... okay... and we are back.  Houndstooth is a weave but is rendered in garments by printing all the time to save costs.  I'm not sure the genesis of this pairing but their are another pairing that just works.  

A little trivia, the Houndstooth starts as a Gingham check but during the weaving process it is put into a "twill," creating our beloved Houndstooth.  Here is the link to check out my Print Guide on Gingham. Go ahead.. Check it out!

mix 'em & match 'em: ikat

And now, for your blog viewing pleasure, another installment of name that pattern!  No, it's not tribal,  diamond or a Swedish furniture store...  The Ikat has just about as many variations as a pizza.  Normally seen as an Indian textile the Ikat mixes shapes in a unique way that resembles animals, shapes or more modern Damask prints.  With so much character, some may find it difficult to add another print into the mix but that is have the fun of it, right?

These prints were created in Adobe Illustrator by me, Sarah Katherine Ormsby.

1. Since Ikat has su much character and has such a worn feel to it, by mixing in a very Mod Polk-a-Dot updates it by contrast.  The boldness of this print works with the Ikat, however, I would shy away from any Polk-a-Dot that is too small.  The size and concentration is what works here.

2. To pull from the veins in the Ikat, Ombre is a hot combination that mimics but does not copy.  I would suggest being adventurous with color and pick something in contrasting colors since we want to mimic and not copy.

mix 'em & match 'em: faire isle

You know that print that you TOTALLY know what it's called, it's just you can't think of at the moment?  Yeah, this is one of those kinds of prints.  For the longest time I would refer to the Faire Isle pattern in my head as, "that one that you only see on ski gear with the reindeer." Seems legit, right?  It amazes me when I find out a print or patter has a specific name all the while I have just been giving it longer titles than a Fall Out Boy song.  SO, moral of the story, that cold weather print is called Faire Isle. 

With the Winter season coming at us faster than Fall left us, I wanted to make a more seasonal Print Guide to accompany those new Faire Isle leggings you are going to pass off as pants.... because I know you will.

    

These prints were created in Adobe Illustrator by me, Sarah Katherine Ormsby. 

1. Go ahead and reach within for your inner Norwegian/Canadian/Olympic Skier for this one.  Go ahead and breakout the plaid with this one.  The opposites work for some reason, maybe it's a Christmas/Hanukah/Kwanzaa/Holiday miracle(just be sure to stick with complimentary colors).

2.  The dainty print was a figment of my imagination and is supposed to represent something soft and delicate looking.  The harsh lines of the Faire Isle and Plaid need a little abstract counterpart for balance.  In this case I felt like this print mimics a snowflake.  Creativity gets you everywhere when it comes to mixing and matching prints!

mix 'em & match 'em: landscape

I love when art reflects life whether it be a landscape, like our featured print!  This Print Guide gives me a major case of the warm fuzzies because all the components can be very personal to the wearer (it could also be nostalgia kicking in due to a case of senioritis..).  I think we all have a couple items in our closet because of the way their aesthetics made us feel.  

The Landscape print is generally an allover print that cannot be kept off the runways for the past couple seasons.  Another example of a "landscape" all over print is the Galaxy print that has also taken off... like a rocket ship... do you get it?  Anyways..  Since this print is so attention grabbing alone you may wonder what you could possible pair it with without looking like a nature scrapbook, am I right?  Well read on!

All these prints were created in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop by me, Sarah Katherine Ormsby.

1. Going with another nostalgic or personal print theme, I included a mock handwritten or Script print.  (In all honesty this may be a Pinterest craft that you created.)  I love the way all these prints sit together and I think the reason they all "work" together is thanks to this simple Script print.  A note on how this print was created: I use a pen and drawing tablet so I simply wrote a couple phrases in cursive.

2. This print is a new take on a very different bandanna print that I created this summer. (you can view the original on my website shameless plug here...).  I did manipulate it in Photoshop and then again in Illustrator for the curious.  The Paisley brings a little variation to the more realistic Landscape and script.

mix 'em & match 'em: eyelete

Here is another complete print collaboration that all seem to "work" together.  I am a huge fan of eyelete and thought I would rework one of my older prints inspired by the Dogwood flower, another personal favorite of mine. I enjoy putting my own twist on textiles that are traditionally a weave, by making them into a print!

All prints were made in Adobe Illustrator by me, Sarah Katherine Ormsby.

1. The Watercolor print is one that I didn't think would last past a Spring Fashion Week has fared quite nicely and is a lovely touch to most print combinations.

2. This print is an example of an abstract Watercolor inspired cameo, swallow and decorative medallions.  I love taking older motifs of my own and giving them now life (Illustrator makes this so, so easy and fun).  This creative graphic could be replaced by just about any novelty print you may have lying around!  Let your [Print] Freak Flag fly!

mix 'em & match 'em: aztec

Who said Aztec prints have to look like they have been around since... well... the Aztec people?!  This take on the recently popular print gives the normally rustic and worn print a feminine appeal.  Another plus for this print guide is that all of these all work together, creating a fantastic collaboration of three of the hottest print trends this year!

All these prints were created in Adobe Illustrator by me, Sarah Katherine Ormsby.

1. Chevron has had quite the spotlight lately and while it is a fantastic print by itself, it's even better paired with just about ANY other print.  In this case you can see that the Chevron mimics the lines created by our Aztec print.

Bonus!!! If you are feeling that your chevron has lost its appeal throw it with just about any other print you may have to give it a little facelift!

2. The Lace Skull is a softer take on a regular skull and crossbones.  This placement print would look wonderful on a top and when paired with a Chevron skirt and Aztec scarf you will be unstopapble in these beginning days of Winter!

mix 'em & match 'em: paisley

This Print Guide has flair!  Inspired by non western cultural designs this combination brings together three prints from completely different print families.  Another guide for the print savvy fashionista/fashionisto.  

Our focus here is the Paisley print which takes its origin from India and Persia.  Many motifs and shapes used in paisleys are also seen in Henna tattoo art.  Paisleys are by far my favorite print due to their unique shapes and designs within.  Like a fingerprint no two Paisley designs are the same which allows for endless opportunities for creativity and innovation.

Depending on the appearance of your Paisley, you may be able to have more options for pairings.  In this case I looked at two prints that would pair nicely, yet provide good contrast for an interesting ensemble. 

These prints were created in Adobe Illustrator by me, Sarah Katherine Ormsby.

1. First off we have a stripe modification with a African tribal feel.  The uniformity of the line columns provide a nice balance to the fluid and intricate appearance of the Paisley. 

2. Another print style that provides a lovely contrast is a geometric take on something organic, like in this case a flower.  Unlike the stripe which is very uniformed and the free moving Paisley, this geometric print has look of movement like gears in a watch, yet at the same time the orderliness of the shapes given the prints a unique mixture of the other two prints.