Mixing and matching colors and patterns are not easy tasks. However, there are some ground rules to go by.
For patterns, rule number 1 is: DON'T mix patterns, never, ever, ever. There are no exceptions to this rule. Use a pattern with a compact piece, something in one color.
When mixing a pattern with a one color piece:
The particular color could be one of the hues visibly present in the pattern
The particular color could be a neutral one, like black, white or gray
To mix colors, be reasonable. Try to keep a maximum of 3 hues in an outfit. You don't want to look like a rainbow.
Always mix a bright color with a neutral one, to make it more balanced. Avoid using two bright color at once (like yellow and orange).
Don't mix colors that are in the opposite sides of the color spectrum. The colors you choose to put together are more likely to match if they are near each other in the spectrum. Purple and orange, for example, shoud never go together. Another example is brown and yellow.
The best choices of color for dynamic pieces of clothing are the neutral ones (black, white, gray), earth tones (browns and reds), darker or opaque shades of blue and green.
