If you've been meaning to start mixing prints but are feeling a little unsure about where to start, let me help you.

Stripes and florals!

There's something about the simplicity of stripes that makes them the natural companion to more frilly florals.

Diane Kruger
Courtesy: USMagazine.com

Dasha Zhukova
Courtesy: vogue.co.uk

Fearne Cotton
Courtesy: TheFashionPolice.net

Blake Lively
Courtesy: WENN.com

Convinced?

Here's what you need.  The good news is that you probably have most or all of these pieces somewhere in your closet!

A striped top (or two)

Women's Perfect Rib-Knit Tanks in Navy Stripe, oldnavy.com, $8.50

Back-Zip Long Sleeve Pullover, jcrew.com, $68

A floral top

Soft Scoopneck Floral Tee, gap.com, $27.95

A floral scarf

Lulu SheerNeedlepoint Floral Scarf, nordstrom.com, $18

A striped scarf

Steve Madden Stripe Scarf, stevemadden.com, $38

A floral skirt

Floral Aura Skirt in Cream, modcloth.com, $34.99

A striped skirt

GB Variegated Striped Skirt, dillards.com, $26.40

A floral dress

Midnight Monet Dress, spottedmoth.com, $62.99

A striped dress (or two)

The Bike Ride Dress, shopredvelvet.com, $80

Broadway Dress, stylemint.com, $59.98

And any other striped or floral accessories you can find!

Personally, I think mixing stripes and florals is pretty hard to mess up, but if you're really worried about "messing up" and would like some guidelines (it does take some time to get comfortable with mixing prints), here you go:

1. Try to have a common color that is incorporated in both the floral print and the stripes.  So, if you're wearing the classic navy striped top, pair it with a floral skirt/scarf/whatever that has some navy in it.

2. Pick either the florals or the stripes to emphasize.  So, wear a top with thin stripes and a skirt with a huge floral print or a top with thick stripes and a scarf with a smaller floral print.

But if you do some googling, I'm sure you can find plenty of successful outfits where this advice was not applied, so take it with a grain of salt!

If you've been meaning to start mixing prints but are feeling a little unsure about where to start, let me help you.

Stripes and florals!

There's something about the simplicity of stripes that makes them the natural companion to more frilly florals.

Diane Kruger
Courtesy: USMagazine.com

Dasha Zhukova
Courtesy: vogue.co.uk

Fearne Cotton
Courtesy: TheFashionPolice.net

Blake Lively
Courtesy: WENN.com

Convinced?

Here's what you need.  The good news is that you probably have most or all of these pieces somewhere in your closet!

A striped top (or two)

Women's Perfect Rib-Knit Tanks in Navy Stripe, oldnavy.com, $8.50

Back-Zip Long Sleeve Pullover, jcrew.com, $68

A floral top

Soft Scoopneck Floral Tee, gap.com, $27.95

A floral scarf

Lulu SheerNeedlepoint Floral Scarf, nordstrom.com, $18

A striped scarf

Steve Madden Stripe Scarf, stevemadden.com, $38

A floral skirt

Floral Aura Skirt in Cream, modcloth.com, $34.99

A striped skirt

GB Variegated Striped Skirt, dillards.com, $26.40

A floral dress

Midnight Monet Dress, spottedmoth.com, $62.99

A striped dress (or two)

The Bike Ride Dress, shopredvelvet.com, $80

Broadway Dress, stylemint.com, $59.98

And any other striped or floral accessories you can find!

Personally, I think mixing stripes and florals is pretty hard to mess up, but if you're really worried about "messing up" and would like some guidelines (it does take some time to get comfortable with mixing prints), here you go:

1. Try to have a common color that is incorporated in both the floral print and the stripes.  So, if you're wearing the classic navy striped top, pair it with a floral skirt/scarf/whatever that has some navy in it.

2. Pick either the florals or the stripes to emphasize.  So, wear a top with thin stripes and a skirt with a huge floral print or a top with thick stripes and a scarf with a smaller floral print.

But if you do some googling, I'm sure you can find plenty of successful outfits where this advice was not applied, so take it with a grain of salt!

Recognize this fabric?  I'm guessing yes.

According to textileglossary.com, seersucker is, "a lightweight fabric with puckered stripes made by weaving with some of the warp yarns tight and some loose. The loose warp threads become crinkled. Frequently made in yarn dye stripes and plaids. Often made of cotton or a cotton blend but can be in a variety of fibers."

But more importantly, it screams summer!  Seersucker looks refreshing and is fairly lightweight.  It can be found on everything from shoes to shorts and skirts to accessories.  Just a word of caution: Most seersucker contains at least one lighter color so if you're wearing seersucker on your bottom half, think twice before wearing dark underwear.

Sperry Top-Sider Women's Bluefish Boat Shoes, macys.com, $89

Note:  I don't own these Sperry's (yet!) but I've heard this particular style often runs about a half size large.

Lilly Pulitzer Ferra Seersucker Dress, saksfifthavenue.com, $218

Cremieux Seersucker Dress, dillards.com, $139

Seersucker Full Woven Skirt, americanapparel.net, $38 (It comes in ten different colors!!)

Note:  I happen to own the skirt above, and while I love it, anyone who's interested in buying it should know that there's no type of closure on the waist.  If you have bigger hips and a smaller waist like I do, it might take some time to get on.  But, once it's finally on, it looks great!

Women's 5-inch Seersucker Shorts, canvas.landsend.com, $45

My most amusing seersucker find?  That would be a seersucker scrunchie.  Should anyone happen to still wear them, American Apparel has you covered!  You can choose from pink, green, or blue seersucker.

Cotton Scrunchie, americanapparel.net, $6

You could also stock up on seersucker pieces from Smashion's marketplace.  Here are some of my favorite listings:

Free People Seersucker Blazer - Size 2, smashion.com, $15

Vintage Seersucker Skirt with Bows - Size 4, smashion.com, $20

Victoria's Secret London Jean Seersucker Pants - Size 2R, smashion.com, $15

Recognize this fabric?  I'm guessing yes.

According to textileglossary.com, seersucker is, "a lightweight fabric with puckered stripes made by weaving with some of the warp yarns tight and some loose. The loose warp threads become crinkled. Frequently made in yarn dye stripes and plaids. Often made of cotton or a cotton blend but can be in a variety of fibers."

But more importantly, it screams summer!  Seersucker looks refreshing and is fairly lightweight.  It can be found on everything from shoes to shorts and skirts to accessories.  Just a word of caution: Most seersucker contains at least one lighter color so if you're wearing seersucker on your bottom half, think twice before wearing dark underwear.

Sperry Top-Sider Women's Bluefish Boat Shoes, macys.com, $89

Note:  I don't own these Sperry's (yet!) but I've heard this particular style often runs about a half size large.

Lilly Pulitzer Ferra Seersucker Dress, saksfifthavenue.com, $218

Cremieux Seersucker Dress, dillards.com, $139

Seersucker Full Woven Skirt, americanapparel.net, $38 (It comes in ten different colors!!)

Note:  I happen to own the skirt above, and while I love it, anyone who's interested in buying it should know that there's no type of closure on the waist.  If you have bigger hips and a smaller waist like I do, it might take some time to get on.  But, once it's finally on, it looks great!

Women's 5-inch Seersucker Shorts, canvas.landsend.com, $45

My most amusing seersucker find?  That would be a seersucker scrunchie.  Should anyone happen to still wear them, American Apparel has you covered!  You can choose from pink, green, or blue seersucker.

Cotton Scrunchie, americanapparel.net, $6

You could also stock up on seersucker pieces from Smashion's marketplace.  Here are some of my favorite listings:

Free People Seersucker Blazer - Size 2, smashion.com, $15

Vintage Seersucker Skirt with Bows - Size 4, smashion.com, $20

Victoria's Secret London Jean Seersucker Pants - Size 2R, smashion.com, $15

At the beginning of every school year I have the same problem -- finding a bag that is large and sturdy enough to carry around a laptop, a few binders, a water bottle, and a book or two, simple enough that it won't clash with what I'm wearing, AND somewhat stylish looking.  It's not that I need my tote bag to be right on trend, but I also don't want to carry around a burlap sack.

This year I think I might have found the ultimate tote (or at least my ultimate tote).  It's the Cotton Canvas Pocket Tote from American Apparel.  It is available is 12 different color combinations!  Right now it is on sale for $24 but it was definitely worth the $40 that I paid for it.

Cotton Canvas Pocket Tote, American Apparel, $24

It comfortably holds everything I need for the day plus it's simple enough that it doesn't clash with anything I wear.  I have the blush pink/brown version (the one of the far left).  You might want a different one depending on the colors you tend to wear or just your color preferences.  I realize that this bag isn't the absolute trendiest, which might be a problem for some people, but I appreciate its simplicity.  I also love that it is made out of 100% cotton so it can be thrown in the washing machine when it starts to look dingy.

My only word of caution about this bag would be that, according to some reviews on American Apparel's website, the darker colors tend to rub off on whatever you're wearing if you don't wash it before the first use.  One reviewer suggests pre-washing the bag in cold water with 4 parts vinegar and 2 parts salt to prevent the color from bleeding and staining your clothes.  Given that I have the lighter color bag, I didn't have an issue with this.

If this bag doesn't do it for you, here are some other suggestions.

When Vera Bradley bags first became popular, I wasn't much of a fan.  I liked how sturdy the bags were, but the prints were too old-fashioned and country-like for my taste.  Although I still don't care for most of her prints, there are a few that grew on me.  My favorite was her Fall 2008 print, Puccini.  I had a tote in it and used it everyday for two years.  I still have it, but it's now too beat up looking to use regularly.  My only real problem with it was that the pattern sometimes clashed horribly with what I was wearing.

Vera Bradley Puccini bag, sold out

I believe the Puccini print in this bag is no longer readily available, but I also like the "Loves Me" print which came out a few years ago.  The Vera tote in "Loves Me" is currently on sale for $59.99.  According to the Vera Bradley website, 10% of their net proceeds from the sale of "Loves Me" products will be donated to the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer as well as other breast cancer projects and services.

Vera Tote in Loves Me, VeraBradley.com, $59.99

Moving on to a different Vera, I've always loved the Simply Vera Vera Wang line that Kohl's has.  It's budget friendly, trendy, and a little classic all at the same time! Last year I used one of her bags as my everyday bag.  Although the bag was adorable, it barely made it through the year. I wouldn't say her bags are poorly made though, I think I just shoved way more into my bag than it was meant to hold.  So, if you're one of those lucky people who travels light to class or work, a Simply Vera tote could be perfect for you!

Simply Vera Vera Wang Tumbled Perfect Tote, kohls.com, $89.99

Simply Vera Vera Wang Tumbled Perfect Tote, kohls.com, $89.99

Simply Vera Vera Wang Bag It Pocketed Tote, kohls.com, $89.99

I'll leave you with the rest of the colors the Cotton Canvas Pocket Tote comes in. Seeing them all together like this put me in the "collect them all" mindset which is a little dangerous...

Cotton Canvas Pocket Tote, American Apparel, $24