One Pattern, 11 Outfits: How I’m Wearing Kaleidoscope Print

Since living in Texas, I’ve struggled to find dresses that I can truly wear year round. There’s nothing wrong with having season-specific styles, but I get a sense of comfort from clothing I know I can turn to no matter the temperature. As soon as I tried on the Aisling dress, I knew I’d found my missing piece. The printed jersey knit felt ultra lightweight and cool against my skin, but the stretch and buttery smoothness made it cozy, too. Plus, kaleidoscope print can read as vibrant and summery or moody and autumnal, depending on how you style it.

I knew I wanted to try kaleidoscope print with one of our Interweave jackets to see how the patterns got along—and I was so excited by how good they looked together! The dress’s chic midi length and bold pattern balance out the “properness” of the Lilia jacket for an ensemble that’s classic, but also fun. What really tied this look together for me was the bright white shoes (my wedding shoes, incidentally, which I was excited to revive). They bring out the lighter shades in both the jacket and the dress, making the whole outfit look fresh.

Next, I wanted to try dressing the Aisling down to create an outfit I’d wear for a dinner out or a weekend day. I turned to my trusty vintage Levi’s jacket (originally my dad’s in college—but this one is similar) and some statement loafers from Shop-Pêche. The silver Jessel necklace and Claressa earrings helped the outfit feel elevated but not fancy.

I’ve always seen the Nora (a long-time M.M. bestseller, for those not acquainted) as a true office top. But in this new printed jersey, I think it could also be—dare I say it—a going-out top. The ease and stretch of the knit make it especially easy to tuck and give the draped cowl neck a less formal feel. In other words, it’s the perfect thing to wear with jeans for an instant outfit.

You can also style the Nora top and jeans in a Power Casual daytime outfit. For this look, I tucked the Nora into the baggiest jeans I own (from Uniqlo) and paired that with the Merritt jardigan and some leopard-print Stuart Weitzman flats that used to belong to my very stylish grandmother. The super-casual silhouette of the slouchy jeans contrasts with the sharp lines of the Merritt and the preppiness of the flats, making the overall outfit feel unexpected and chic.

All the outfits I’d tried thus far revolved around neutral pairings that toned the print down. It was time to go bold and make that joyful orangey-red POP. Once again, I turned to my grandmother for style inspiration. Her lipstick-red wool jacket, alongside the tusk Daria jeans and my Doc Marten Chelsea boots, perfectly complemented kaleidoscope print’s palette without feeling too matchy-matchy. 

The Rani is one of those rare pieces that somehow manages to be conservative and sexy at the same time—perfect for everything from weddings to work parties. I typically shy away from bodycon styles, but the asymmetrical gathering and the print made me feel covered-up despite the figure-skimming silhouette. 

The silhouette and subtle A-line flare of the Rani feel very feminine, so I decided to inject some contrast by styling it with menswear-inspired pieces: my Shop-Pêche loafers and an oversized wool jacket I got at a vintage shop in D.C. (the Kati jacket is similar). I really love how this outfit turned out—it’s so simple (and cozy) but made me feel super fashionable.

I saved the best for last: Yes, we made the Axam turtleneck in kaleidoscope print! This will be my fifth color, which sounds excessive but is justified by the fact that I wear an Axam at least four days a week during the fall and winter. The great thing about a patterned turtleneck is that you get a wide range of options for how you can wear it. You can make it the main event of your outfit, but you can also layer it to add a pop of pattern to otherwise neutral looks. Here’s how I used it to add interest to my all-black outfit—the Lagarde shirt, Milo jeans, and vintage Louis Vuitton loafers.

Last but not least, I had to try pairing the Axam with the piece I wear second-most during the cold months: my vegan leather Sierra shacket. Stretchy, surprisingly cozy, and polished without being fancy, it’s my ideal layering piece. To emphasize the playfulness in the print and introduce another texture, I wore my golden Everlane corduroys and my wine-hued Jeffrey Campbell boots (get the look with the Lana in burgundy).