Easy Concepts to Beautifully
Coordinate Three Similar Patterns
Base on my experience, having to coordinate three similar patterns is the most difficult.
In order to do it beautifully, it would take a lot of trial and error as well as ability to visualize the aesthetic of pattern combination.
The usual failure in creating sartorial styling with three similar patterns is the failure to understand about scaling.
If not properly done, most men would be deemed as being too “trying” with their attempt to show themselves.
As mentioned in matching two different patterns, we need to know which part of the outfit is the first pattern.
When we coordinate three similar patterns, the first pattern should be the outfit that is considered as the inner one.
Start off with the inner pattern, usually the dress shirt, with smaller scale and increase the scales for second and third similar pattern.
The second and third patterns would be the outer clothing and apparel, for example the suit is the second pattern and the tie/pocket square is the third pattern.
To coordinate three similar patterns creates strong tension between the patterns. Without proper scaling base on the sequence of the clothing will create confusion and discord to the viewer’s eyes.
Personally, putting three checks together is of a much greater task than stripes even though the theory applies. Examples like tattersall checks and plaids are patterns that are closely knitted compared to stripes. The tension effect toward the eye is a lot stronger than stripes.
To further illustrate, look at the first picture where I have put together 3 check patterns together.
A houndstooth suit, a Windsor check dress shirt, and a plaid tie.
Notice that the transition between the patterns can become intense with three check patterns.
But the dress shirt's small check combined with the houndstooth allows the difference in scale to break up this intensity.
The larger plaid pattern on the tie takes away the possible discord against the small check dress shirt and houndstooth suit.
Imagine it was a small check pattern tie, the vibration between the three similar patterns would definitely disrupt and overwork the viewer's eyes.
Another example of three check patterns, this time we put together a gray plaid suit and a small blue check wide spread collar dress shirt, and a plaid tie.
The difference in scales once again sets up nicely for this combination. Start from the small check dress shirt, then working outwards we set up a nice large plaid suit as well as a large check pattern tie.
There is further ease toward the viewer's eyes for both illustration when we practice similar hues for the three patterns. The second example, also showed great coordination of blue hues against achromatic hues like gray.
Applying the same theory, we can coordinate three similar patterns with stripe by breaking up the monotonous dimension of the lines.
We set the stripe scales to graduate outward and create a nice layering effect with sartorial style for observers.
I have put a stripe suit from Sierra Trading Post with a small scaled stripe blue dress shirt and a wide scaled stripe tie.
This combination once again shows the play of scales focusing with smaller scaling from the first pattern on the inside then graduating the scales outwards.
The large stripe and wide scaling of the tie takes away the possible strain involving the closely scaled stripes of the dress shirt and suit.
It is always easier said than done. To coordinate three similar patterns can alwaus make the wearer look ridiculous if not done properly done. The best way to learn is to play around with various patterns in our wardrobe to gain experience.
Mixing Two Similar Patterns
Matching Two Different Patterns
Mixing Three Different Patterns
Matching Three Patterns Where Two Are Similar
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