After playing around in my closet mixing, matching, and trying to find the perfect contrast of patterns and prints, I discovered a few key tips.
Avoid Crazy Costume-y Pieces. Stay away from prints, colors, and fabrics that remind you of a clown. For me, this included a bright-red dress with huge white polka dots. Avoiding overly costume-y pieces will make the mixing-and-matching process much easier.
Pick One Easy-On-The-Eyes Pattern. Choose one print or pattern that can be categorized as more demure. This can translate to a softer, more neutral color palette, or just a pattern that's easier on the eyes, like thin stripes, black, cream or navy florals, teeny-tiny polka dots, and black-and-white geometric prints. Pair these less frantic patterns with one that's more bold, bright, and "out there." Mixing the two will give you the "pattern-on-pattern" look without looking too clownish.
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Go Monochromatic. Choose different patterns in the same color. The playfulness of the look will come through without being overly abrasive. Some great examples of this are a navy silk button-down blouse with white polka dots paired with a navy skirt with purple, cream, and green floral details.
Experiment With Printed Accessories. If you’re still apprehensive about looking like a clown, wear one patterned garment and mix and it with patterned accessories, like mint-green and pink floral socks, or navy, turquoise, and black Aztec socks with floral Mary Jane’s, American flag Converses; a patterned bag or clutch is always a nice touch, too. Word of advise: Make sure to not wear them all at the same time.
I hope this helped. I’ll see you next week for more tricks of the trade!