Life’s too short to play it safe—in romance, finance and yes, of course, in fashion. So when I noticed a bright trend on the style horizon for spring-summer 2025, I wanted in. The look is clashing stripes with patterns, bright colors and bold prints, and it’s basically the love child of frazzled English lady style crossed with fisherman aesthetic, resulting in an absolutely uplifting, carefree vibe.
I Rocked Spring’s Most Unexpected Fashion Trend (With a Little Help From a Stylist)
You already own this look, here's a fresh way to style it
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Published Apr 24, 2025
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Original Photo by Dana Dickey
Original Photo by Dana Dickey
But as any sartorial student knows, it’s a fine line between quirky and disheveled, and you have to treat this kind of mixing and matching with the utmost of care. That’s why I turned to Boden’s spring-summer look book and, specifically, their brilliant design team to help explain how to nail it. Then I rocked an Amalfi-print circle skirt with a striped T-shirt and got so many compliments. Here’s everything you need to know.
Meet the Expert
Mariam Boutorabi is Senior Design Director at Boden. A fashion industry veteran, Boutorabi oversees womenswear and childrenswear design and print at the London-based fashion and accessories brand.
Courtesy of Boden
1. How do I Mix Stripes and Patterns (and Look Intentional)?
“Stripes are the ultimate neutral in Boden’s world—especially bold, graphic ones,” Boutorabi told me. “The key to pairing them with other patterns is balance. Think of stripes as the grounding element. A Breton tee, for example, works beautifully with our bold lobster print. Or layer classic stripes under a heritage check trench—it’s playful, not chaotic. Look for shared tones to keep things cohesive.”
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Jeremy Moeller/Getty Images
2. What are your tips for starting to add bold patterns to your wardrobe?
Boutorabi says to start by treating bold patterns—especially stripes—like solids. She says that a rainbow stripe cardigan can be thrown over denim and a white tee just as easily as a neutral one, or that a printed blouse can easily be layered under your classic blazer.” Accessories are another easy in,” she maintains. “A printed silk scarf, striped crossbody bag or printed flats instantly add interest without needing a full look overhaul.”
Courtesy of Boden
3. Can you mix one stripe with a completely different one?
“Mixing stripes works brilliantly when you vary scale or direction. Keep the color story aligned (navy and white with a pop of saffron), and suddenly it’s an intentional, high-impact outfit. And if you’re mixing two patterns together, start with one “hero” print, and let the second play a supporting role,” she says. “Also ensure to keep the color palette harmonious. It’s all about scale—pair a smaller, tighter print with a larger, more open one- it keeps things fun without feeling too busy.”
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Edward Berthelot/Getty Images
4. Any tips for styling bold outerwear, like a coat or a jacket?
“A statement coat does the hard work for you—just throw it on and go,” Boutorabi says. “Keep everything else low-key, or pick out one color from the print and echo it somewhere else in your look. It’s about contrast, not matching. Throw a statement embroidered overcoat over your comfiest jeans and suddenly you’ve got a look; the bolder the outerwear, the less you need to fuss underneath.”
