How do you style a patterned shirt with plain clothes?

A patterned shirt can be the starting point for an entire outfit. To make styling it easier, look at its background colour and the colours in the print, then choose a plain pair of trousers or a skirt from your wardrobe. You can then use an open jacket or an accessory to decide how much you want the print to stand out.

Start with the background colour

Look at the whole shirt, then take a closer look at the detail. Is the background light, dark or hard to distinguish from the print? This helps you decide whether to pick similar colours or create a stronger contrast. Try this with the actual garment whenever you can: screens and photographic lighting can affect how a shade looks.

The Desigual Ts Naomi women's shirt in black is described as black with a floral print. The Desigual Cam Tamesis women's shirt in white is listed as white, also with a floral print. Their photographs offer two different starting points to explore; the brand name alone cannot tell you which colours appear in the print.

Choose trousers or a skirt you already enjoy wearing

Lay the shirt next to a plain pair of trousers or a skirt you like wearing. For your first combination, pick up the background colour or a subtle shade from the print. You do not need an exact match: simply compare the pieces together and see whether you like the contrast.

If the combination feels too busy, change one piece at a time. Try different trousers or a skirt first, rather than changing the shoes, bag and jacket all at once. This makes it easier to see what brings the outfit together.

Use a jacket to reveal just part of the print

A plain jacket worn open reveals the centre of the shirt. Check how it looks at the collar, front and cuffs. Then fasten the jacket if you also plan to wear it that way: a different part of the print will be on show.

Wearing the shirt tucked in or untucked also changes how much of the pattern is visible. Our guide to wearing a shirt tucked in or untucked offers pointers based on the length of the shirt and how comfortable it feels at the waist.

Let your accessories complement the outfit

Start with the bag and shoes you already wear with your chosen trousers or skirt. If you want to pick up a colour from the shirt, a small detail can be enough. Mixing prints is an option, but you do not need to do it to build an outfit around your shirt.

Check the details a print cannot tell you

Two floral shirts can have different fabric compositions and suit different uses. The Ts Naomi product details list 95% polyester and 5% lycra; the Cam Tamesis details list 100% viscose. Check the size and care information for each model, rather than assuming that the print tells you how thick or sheer the fabric is, or how easy it is to wash.

Finally, take a photo of your favourite combination using pieces already in your wardrobe. You will have an outfit you can easily return to, plus a practical reference to help you decide whether a new shirt will work with what you own.