The Clash: How to Mix Wild Prints Like the Best-Dressed Stars of Paris Fashion Week

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Photographed by Phil Oh

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Throughout fashion month, it was clear that many top designers were feeling the need to hit the breaks. Miuccia Prada returned to a clean, simplistic wardrobe, while Gucci’s Alessandro Michele nixed his usual magpie styling for something less busy. Sarah Burton presented an exquisite “pared-down” collection of thoughtfully handcrafted garments, while Valentino’s Pierpaolo Piccioli focused in part on reconstructing the white shirt into something beautifully minimal. On the streets of New York, showgoers opted for sharply tailored alternative suiting. In London attendees were classically romantic, while the Milan contingent went without prints for once. Yet Paris did not fall in line with the other more muted style capitals. There the street set proved that boldness was still in fashion.

In fact the majority of the stylists, editors, buyers, models, and influencers who traveled to and from the shows in the City of Light seemed to favor prints on top of prints, be they colorful, graphic, or floral.

Wearing clashing prints and layering them together happens to be a great way to add a bit of spice to an otherwise monochrome fall-wardrobe palette. A floral blouse under a floral dress, perhaps? Or what about a psychedelic tunic over a pair of cropped snakeskin leggings? The possibilities for mixing and matching prints this season are seemingly endless. To get you started here are five ideas borrowed straight from the wow-factor closets of the Paris Fashion Week squad.

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Photographed by Phil Oh
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Balenciaga Sleeveless Top

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Eckhaus Latta Three-Paneled Pattern Jeans

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Horror Vacui Electra Floral-Print Smocked Cotton Blouse

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Gül Hürgel Ruffled Floral-Print Linen Midi Dress

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Chloé Printed Silk Shirt

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Sprwmn Cropped Snake-Effect Leather Flared Pants

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LHD Floral Print Full-Length Dress

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Eloquii Kalley Boots

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Blazé Milano Everyday Pequod Linen Blazer

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Roberto Cavalli Zebra-Print Mid-Rise Straight-Leg Jeans