This document provides guidelines for creatively combining multiple patterns without looking silly or overdone. It recommends keeping clothing classic and mixing subtle patterns like argyle tights with a pinstriped dress. Stronger patterns should be the focus, with others as complements. When mixing three patterns, keep each small-scaled. Solid colors like white or black can prevent pattern overload. Knee-length skirts can be sexy when tight, shiny, and paired with fitted tops rather than baggy clothes. Sheer fabrics, floral prints, and pencil heels work well for this length.

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heels tartans rrrgylcs,
for flor:rls,trrrt:rns lnc{ chcclts-is firn,
andstripes;""' f """ :rnd truly hip. The look grtincd cool
:rrsy
here,with black stiltus:rt thc fhll fhshiorrshows,cspecirrlly
over-the-knee Christiirn L,rcroix in Paris ;rrrclChristirrn
andboots.
Fr,rncis Roth in New York. lVhrrt's ltey:
Stuartdress.
PoloRalph Nothing is hlphirz:rrdly tlrrown
Lauren Boys together left to rvhim. "Thc
for or
shirt. Trimfit n risrrr : r t c hing v er y c on-
is
t high -hig hs. trolled," srrys Roth.
Espace boots 'fhrrt's;rll very rvell ibr hinr
to siry, but horv crtrtfirshion civilians
pu ll it o ff with out t he r is k of s illir r es s ?
Here , ou r gu idelines :Keep c lot hing
classic Mixing piltterrrsis interest-
ing,cnor.rg5h itselfl ldding r wild
by
style could be ovcrkill. Idell sh:rpes:
nrerlswcilr looks (blazers, oxfbrd shirts,
strrrigh t trou s er s ): r nd c lean- c ut s c hoolgill
clrcsscs. Skip the hright colors'A person .r h.rll..r
block ;Nvrry shouldn't know you'veurixecl lt,ttterns,"
slys Chlrlene Benson, MLLE's deputy ,rrt clircc-
tor ,rncl urix r.n:rstcr. And stick to the srtnrc(sub-
color frrrnily:clurcoal, navy,black. ti
cltrecl)
Th ink b ala nceYou' ll r nos t lik ely be
nrixing two prrtterns. one is bold,
If Wo r k i n g i x :
m
heepthe othcr one subtle,suclrits the Start with argyle
outsized,rrg,yletights:rnd quieterpin- tights in graylcream;
adda subtlypin-striped
s t r ipec ldr c s s (c e rrte r g h t). T h e
ri jumper,simple
schoolgirl
strorlgerp:lttern is the fbcus;the s h i r ta n d b l a c kc h u n k y - h e e l e d
oth eq a com plem ent . W hen loafers, Betsey Johnson jumper.
rnixing to the rnax-three pat- French Connection shirt.Trenders
terrrs-rnlke sureeachis srnall- by Jessica Landau tights. Free
scrrlcd.Perfectexample: thin LanceLoafers
stripes,tiny flowers,rnd little
ch ecks (be low r ight ) . Add
solidwhite or black This pre-
vcnts pattenl overload.The
bl:rcltoverthe-kneesocksand
boots (top) crrlrn down the A f u n k yc o m b on i
trrrtln rrrd stripes;a white shades gray,relieved
of
b y a c l e a n h i t et e e .
w
shirt (ccnte r , r nd below)
D K N Yj a c k e t .A g n i s B .
brelks up the grrry tones rricely. shirt. Carter's T-shirt.
-NanE Angiello FreePeople Urban by
0utfitterspants.For
details, stores, SH0P
see
It4r D l v l 0l S{:1.1l . SEPT EMB E R 1 9 9 4
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2. Secrets:The New
Youdoh't have
to dress shortto
o besexy. Sl<irts
that stopat the
O F ALL T HE FA LL FA S HION l<nee provethat
n cws, h cn llines m ily be t he bigges t
surprise. We're used to extrelnes,
a littlelegcan
wh etl.re r u ltr ls hor t or r eally long.
goa long way
But sucldenlyone of' the hottest new
leugtlrs is sornewhcrein between-right
snrlck rrt thc krrce.
Doestl'reide:rof'knee-length make It's tight, it's
you think boxy and boring? hard Or shiny,it's black:
to pull ofl?Well,you might just want Seehowcoola to-
to rethink. This look canbe sexy, sleek the-knee skirt can
:rndsophisticirted. What makes work:
it be.Liza.Bruce
thc skirt'sshape:rnd fabric,and the andskirt.New
Moves J.C.
at
wayyou put the rest the look togeth-
of Penney blouse.
er. If you want to give it a try here's
how MLLE'sfirslrion editors, resi-
our
dent pros,say it's done. Shape: The
lengthwon't look dowdyaslong asthe
skirtis either shapely-such thetight
as
:tnd sexylook (largephoto)-or slight-
ly flaredand flirty (below). You don't
wrnt .lnything full. Fabric: knee-
too A
length skirt in rrfhbricthat hasshirre-
hot thisseirson-gives look the mod-
the
errr f-eclyou w:rnt. Other options:
Stretchy cotton/Lycraor wool knit,
wlrichis sleek and body-shaping. And
tloral,sheer babydolldresses look
also
great this length. do fluid wool
at So
crepe skirts(nubbytweed thick
or
wool wouldlook old-news). Tops:
This isn'ttlretirneto raidyour
guy's closet.A snug,waist-
skimrnin g swe. r t er or a
cropped,fitted jacketis the
mostflattering
shapewith this
length-it gives you a long,
lean.unbrokenline.Shoes c
and Stockings:Forget
o
boots (too clunky)
a nd sn ea ke rsor s lipper f lat s
(too droopy). Instead, go for
=
;
shiny black Mary Jane-style =
pumps with a narrowish two-
z
inch heel, or a plain pump. F
Theslipdress !
Come evening, try pencil-thin
reinterpreted,now
heels(sandals pumps).
or longerwith a flirty,
kneeor anklesocks-they breakup llaredhemline. Great o
the line you want.Instead:
sheer for eveningand for
tinted stockings,dly or night. work (adda tee, button
Thatwa5you still showoffgood- the cardigan). DKNY
dress.Funkeesentials z
Iooking legs.-NanEAngiello
cardigan, ThomMcAn
shoes. EricaCourtney
necklace. details,
For
46
stores, SH0P
see