My apologies for double posting this outfit, but I would love to have some discussion about the intricacies of pattern mixing. This particular mix met a varied response. Some people thought it worked, others didn't. Paraphrasing the reasons given:
Worked: The top's small print almost reads as a solid; black & white tones are echoed in the skirt.
Didn't work: Too busy; need to be in more similar tones; need another element of the teal in the outfit.
Would love to hear more thoughts on this mix (and complex mixing in general), and what makes it work or not work for you, alone or in context of the whole outfit. I've added a close-up of the top's print; it is composed of black, white, and turquoise which I think got a bit lost in the original photo. Does this change your opinion on whether the pattern mix works? If not, what would you change? If you could swap one of these pieces to another patterned piece, what would it be?
I'll post my own rationale behind this particular outfit after we get some discussion going, I'm curious to hear your thoughts first :)