Is it better to mix paisleys with polka dots, or hounds tooth with plaid?

Whatever you do, don’t mix parsley and porridge.

I’ve had more trouble with the hound’s teeth messing up my plaids… Gotta train that puppy to stay out of the laundry hamper.

I say mix them all together.

”… near quip-proof…” Well that’s a red rag to a bull if ever I saw one.

I can’t speak to those choices, but I know you should never let a gingham dog and a calico cat be alone together

I think @Hypocrisy_Central should change his handle to @Hipster Central simply for asking this question.

You got it all mixed up: it’s paisley with hound’s tooth, polka dots with plaid…..

And really, why isn’t this question in meta?

Just never, never mix gingham and calico!

^ Silver place settings? Wrong link?

DAMN! Thanks @Seek_Kolinahr!

Just never, never mix gingham and calico!

@ibstubro – COPYCAT!!! :P :D

Sorry, @tedibear! I thought I read them all through before I posted and I thought the reference was obscure enough it had to be original. Eugene Field is a local hero.

That’s what I get for thinkin.

“A mind is a terrible thing to lose.”

@ibstubro – I’m just happy to not be alone in my silly poem remembrances. :)

I was glad the question gave me the idea to re-visit the poem, @tedibear. Decades since I’ve read it, and I see gingham dogs and calico cat figures all the time in the junk I deal.

More detailed descriptions of the items are needed to advise.

Photos perhaps?

It really depends upon two things; the color and size of the designs in question.

There needs to be a significant size differential between the designs of they’ll be competing.

So small paisley a with large plaid or houndstooth would most likely work, depending upon the colors.

As for colors, they should be complimentary to each other on the color wheel. Or, better yet, if one of the designs (such as the polka dot or houndstooth) were a simple black and white, then any other color of plaid or whatever would be fine. (As long as the size differential is maintained.)

Here is one example of a company using the basic principles of this design ethos with significant success although they tend more towards flowers rather than strictly paisley.
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http://www.mackenzie-childs.com/
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….and making some major big bucks with their combination of disparate design elements…
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http://www.mackenzie-childs.com/shop.axd/ProductDetails?edp_no=18882&refid=sli#.Uux70mS9Kc0
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