Imagine putting in time and effort into a proposal, and then, on the morning of the presentation, you get into a near panic over what to wear. Suddenly, colours like nude and black appear boring, and wearing your teal jacket on a cream skirt feels too colourful. You spend so much time worrying about what to wear and which colours to match that you momentarily forget about your presentation.
Okay, so you may not see yourself in that picture, and that’s fine. After all, fashion means different things to different people. For some, things like what to wear is a matter of comfort. For others, colours and clothes are just like art. Either way, we all have to do with wardrobe concerns from time to time.
For those who are safe players, going from black, white, grey, and brown, know this: I did this for the longest time myself. When I eventuallly ventured out with brighter colours, I made sure to keep my accessories firmly in the region of blacks and browns. Right now, I’m more conscious about colour coordination than I have ever been.
With my bold new approach to fashion, I picked up a few secrets about mixing and matching colours. A few of them are listed below:
Match close or analogous colours
If you remember the colour wheel from your elementary Fine Art, you already know that colours exist on a spectrum. Matching colours that are close to each other (analogous) is a great way to put outfits together.
Monochromatic colours
This has been much maligned, but it works when done tastefully. Wearing accessories in the exact same colour and shade as your clothes work with warm and cool hues alike, as well as with neutrals and muted colours.
Gradients of the same colour (ombré)
Wearing shades of one same colour in the same tone is another beautiful way to match your outfit. The darker and lighter shades combined can also be used to accentuate or downplay somebody features.
Contrast opposite or complementary colours
Opposite colours contrast rather nicely. Using the colour wheel as a guide, colours directly opposite each other are complementary.
Different tones
Combining jewel tones with pastels is another way to contrast colours. The jewel tone serves as an accent in the outfit whether as a top or a bottom piece.
Contrasting hues
Neutrals and bright colours contrast well especially when the brighter coloured outfit serves as the accent piece.
These tips can help make your colour coordination choices a little easier. But whether you choose to match or contrast, whether you’re a fashion-forward Prince or a conservative Kate Middleton, you can still make it work. What matters is that you wear your colours proudly. When it comes to fashion, confidence is everything.