Take a Risk in Paisley

It's not just for hippies anymore. The colorful print once relegated mostly to maxi dresses has been showing up on Hollywood's most fashionable recently--from Eva Mendes to Miranda Kerr--but some fearless Brits have taken the colorful teardrop pattern to new heights.

Jessie J and Fl

orence Welch both know the key to wearing a print as busy as paisley from head-to-toe is keeping everything in the same color family while sticking to more structured pieces like cropped trousers and crisp button downs. Jessie J matched up these clean-cut black and white separates from Topshop to create a seamless look accentuated by her trademark bright red lips and hoop earrings.

















You can take the matching look beyond the monochrome with coordinating separates like the paisley print shirt and cigarette trousers from Topshop. With separates, you care wear each item on it's own, or pair them together for a look that will truly wow. The orange and navy print is interesting enough to get you noticed but still doable for everyday wear. If you choose to wear the pieces together, we recommend tucking the shirt in--lest you look like you wandered out of the house in fancy pjs. Be sure to stick to neutral shoes and accessories and keep jewelry to a minimum to avoid overwhelming your look.











Florence Welch, a favorite around The Thread office, took a paisley approach to suiting this January in this all over printed Kenzo outfit for an appearance BBC1. Trading in her ethereal frocks for something a little different, the "Ceremonials" singer gave a master class in bold print-wearing. But again, if paisley everywhere sounds overwhelming for your day-to-day wardrobe, you can always pair a patterned top with a solid bottom.













This gold and peach shirt has all the classic, crisp lines you look for in a button-down, but the intricate pattern is stylish enough to go from work to play. Pair with a neutral pant for that office-appropriate look, but if you want to go all out in the evening, you can swap neutrality for a shimmering skirt like this one from Forever21.



Whatever you do, don't fear the print!