I remembering hearing “if you don’t want to look like a clown, don’t mix your patterns.” Most guys are comfortable putting together solid ties and striped shirts or pairing a patterned shirt with a solid tie.  Forget what your mother told about the evils of mixing patterns and put aside your fear of looking like a clown. If you keep in mind a couple of simple rules, you can look sharp in a very dynamic combination of mixed patterns.

Before you decide to mix your patterns, remember this:

Opposites attract. If you have a dark shirt, then go for a lighter tie. Unless you’re going monochromatic, contrast is always a good thing

Decide who is boss.  Two strong patterns together comes across more like a shouting match than beautiful dissonance.  Look for dominant/subtle combinations. Much like good design, you should decide where your focus point is. When everything screams “look at me!” you create visual clutter. That’s how you get the clown effect.

Beyond silk. Silk ties are great, but find new textures and fresh expression in wool and cotton ties. These look great specially in a skinny tie. Don’t be afraid to go beyond the predictable.

How do you feel about mixing patterns? Do you like this look?