Mixed prints

Drew Barrymore showed off her penchant for Spring florals not once, but twice at the Fashion and Beauty Blog Conference in LA yesterday. First, she tucked this Splendid floral tee ($78) into geometric-print tuxedo trousers, then completed her mixed-print look with white pumps. It didn't stop there, though. Barrymore slipped into a more casual ensemble in the same afternoon, wearing black skinny jeans, black pumps, and a floral short-sleeved button-down. With both looks, she accessorized with a gold pyramid necklace, a tan leather bracelet, and a gold bangle. Shop Barrymore's exact Splendid tee and soak up our key styling tips on how to work prints into your Spring outlook.

• When mixing prints, start with a lightweight floral top, then add a pair of loose-fitting printed trousers. We love Barrymore's fusion of florals with a geometric print, but any pattern with complementing colors will work. Other options we love? Florals with stripes, stripes with polka dots, and florals with leopard print.
• Punch up your favorite denim with a printed button-down, just like Barrymore did in her second look. Then, add pumps for a polished finish. To take this look to work, just add a blazer.
• Of course, no outfit is complete without its statement accessories. And we're all in favor of adding a few of your favorite baubles for a hint of shine.

Mixed-print looks emerged as one of the hottest trends for the season, being shown on the runways from brands like Rebecca Minkoff, J.Crew, and Rodarte, as well as on some of our favorite celebrity style setters — and it's proven to be a fun (albeit risk-taking) look for Summer. It's much harder to get wrong than it is to get right; all you have to do is layer up with your favorite prints. Whether it's leopard and florals, stripes and tropical prints, or even paisley and polka dots, you'll create a cool, laid-back look that's all your own. Here are a few ways to make it work:

• Start with a Summer-ready striped tee and pair of plain white high-tops; this will be the perfect base for your mixed-print look.
• Add a pair of floral cutoffs (or even a flowered skirt!) for a high-powered dose of prints. As long as you stay in the same color family, it really doesn't matter what kind of prints you put together.
• If you're feeling even more bold, half-tuck your tee and cinch the waist with a leopard belt. Otherwise, keep accessories neutral, like a thin gold pendant necklace and navy leather crossbody bag.

I know mixing prints has been a trend for some time now, but I continue to love it just as I did on day one. And so this week, I challenge you to create an ensemble of mixed prints — at least two, but more if you can handle it! But, there's a twist: the key is to fuse the most unexpected patterns and make them look like long-lost soul sisters. Are you up for it? I hope so, because I can't wait to see all your genius pairings!

There are no rules, only creativity. Remember to create your spread in ShopStyle then post it in the Fab Stylist group — here are detailed instructions.