Pattern Mixing for the Squeamish

This outfit elicited a dramatic response from one of my coworkers today. A sharp intake of breath, followed by, "I could NEVER do that." She looked like she was going to hurl or something, ha! Top - Old Navy, swap from Patti ; first worn here in July with cerulean Skirt - Savvie; last seen here in May with tomato red Shoes - Half Truth Veda, Fluevog; last worn here a couple of weeks ago with Etro She meant the pattern mixing. Some of the pattern mixing I see on the interwebz is too much for me - I need to have some colours in common. I need a little matchy! The trick (I told her) is take a busy pattern, like this top, and then put it with a...