Patterned trousers: which top goes with them

Patterned trousers hang in many wardrobes and rarely come out — not because you dislike them, but because of the question that follows: what do I wear with these without it becoming too much. The answer has more to do with colour than with courage. Here is which top works, when you can mix two patterns and which colour goes with what.

One pattern, two quiet pieces

Patterned trousers are the largest continuous surface you wear. They draw the eye downwards and set the tone for everything else. What is meant to stand out has already been decided.

That gives you the formula that goes wrong least often: one patterned piece, plus two plain ones. Everything else simply has to give the trousers room. Have a look at what is in stock right now under Trousers.

The picture above shows exactly that: wide trousers in brown with vertical wave stripes, a plain short top in brown and white strappy sandals. Two quiet pieces, one loud one, and plain tops for that are in Basics.

Picking up a colour from the pattern

This is the one trick that almost always works. Look at the pattern, pick out one of the colours in it and use exactly that one for your top.

Why it works: the shade appears twice in the outfit, once across a large area and once as a detail. The eye connects the two, and the look feels planned rather than thrown together.

The picture above and the photo further down in black are both built this way. Matching shades are in Tops.

When you want to mix two patterns

It can be done, and it is less tricky than its reputation suggests. Three things decide whether it looks calm or restless.

• A shared colour. Both patterns should have at least one shade in common. Without that common thread they sit next to each other instead of together.
• Different scales. One large pattern with one small one. Two patterns of the same size compete for the same attention.
• One pattern leads. The trousers take the large surface, the second pattern stays small. Fifty-fifty rarely looks good.

The easiest pairing is dots and stripes, as long as both share the same base colour. If you would rather stay with one pattern, the post on striped shirts covers the calmer option.

Stay with no more than three colours in the whole outfit. That is the point where it starts to look busy. Plain counterparts for that are in T-shirts.

Dots, stripes and leopard print compared

Not every pattern behaves the same way. That changes how much calm the rest of the outfit needs.

Dots. The friendliest pattern: small dots read almost like a texture, large ones set a clear accent. A plain top in the dot colour is quite enough.

Stripes. Vertical stripes lengthen the line, horizontal ones widen it. Both are easy to combine, because stripes go with almost any plain piece.

Leopard print. The loudest of the three. It needs the least around it and looks elegant with black, lighter with cream.

The post on the leopard print trousers covers this in detail. The ground rules are in the leopard print basics.

Which colour goes with what

Brown. The warmest shade and the most straightforward. It takes the edge off any pattern and goes with cream, white, camel and all sand tones.

Black. Makes the pattern crisp and evening-ready. A black or cream top with it, nothing more is needed.

Beige. The lightest version and the calmest. Here the top may be a little stronger without becoming too much.

Bordeaux. The shade for the cooler season, which carries an outfit on its own and works well with cream, black and soft browns. Fine knitwear to layer over it is in Jumpers.

To see which shades have just arrived, have a look at New In.

Proportion and shoes

Many patterned trousers are cut wide. In that case the same rule applies as with any wide trousers: if the waistband sits high, the top ends at the waist or is loosely tucked in at the front.

With shoes, it comes down to the length of the trouser leg. If it rests on the floor, the whole silhouette looks stockier. A flat strappy sandal like the ones in the photos is the simplest solution; a narrow heeled sandal lengthens the line further.

How a loosely and airily cut trouser should sit is covered in detail in the post on cut and fit. For sizing, the One Size guide helps.

Washing without the pattern suffering

Patterned fabrics are most likely to lose colour in the first wash. So start there with cold water and turn the trousers inside out, then the patterned side does not rub.

Light shades such as beige go in with the light wash, black and bordeaux with the dark, otherwise a grey cast settles over the pale areas of the pattern over time.

Not in the tumble dryer, and iron from the inside or place a cloth in between. How the individual fabrics behave is covered in the fabric guide. The care label in the item always has the final say.

Frequently asked questions

What goes with patterned trousers?

Ideally a plain top in a colour that appears in the pattern. That connects the pieces visually without adding anything that competes for attention. Two quiet pieces with one patterned one is the formula that goes wrong least often.

Which patterns can be combined?

Dots and stripes are the easiest pairing, followed by stripes with florals. What matters is that both patterns share at least one colour and differ in scale. A large pattern with a small one looks calm; two of the same size work against each other.

Can dots and stripes be combined?

Yes, that is even the classic combination. It works most reliably when both patterns share the same base colour, for example black on white for the dots and black on white for the stripes. Different scales make it calmer still.

Which colour goes with patterned trousers in brown?

Cream, white, camel and all sand tones are the calmest choices. If you want an accent, take a stronger shade that also appears in the pattern. Brown is the warmest of the shades and takes the edge off any pattern.

Which sizes is One Size intended for with patterned trousers?

At Lisas Boutique, One Size is intended for sizes 34 to 42. Whether an item is One Size or comes in individual sizes is stated in the respective product description. Depending on the model the waistband gives a little more, and that is stated there too.

How do I wash patterned trousers?

Turn them inside out and wash cold for the first cycle, then the colour is best preserved. Wash light shades separately from dark ones, no tumble dryer, and iron from the inside. The care label in the item always has the final say.