How To Mix And Match Colors In Your Clothes – The Ultimate Color Wheel Guide
Mapping colors to your clothes is as much science as it is anart. You can have all the money in the world and flaunt the most expensive
wardrobe possible, but if you do not marry the colors in your outfit well, it’s
a lost cause. You either need to have an eye for detail or understand the
sensibilities of how colors work. Strike a balance, stay safe or go all out,
whatever you choose to do, know the rules before you break them. Takeyour favorite designers and carefully observe their work; all
of them have their signature shades that they tastefully play around with. Read
on to know how to match your clothes in an admirable fashion.
Even if you just scratch the surface of this one interesting
aspect of styling, you will see a whole world of knowledge, and that’s what I’m
going to help you with. Stay with me and read on.
How To Know What
Colors To Match?
Using the right colors and matching them perfectly can be a dealmaker. Choosing the perfect color for an outfit is what sets you apart. And,
that’s why color and its theories continue to be the pivot for not just
clothes, but everything else like interiors, hair, makeup, and much more.
To explain this further, let’s first understand the basis of
this whole color theory.
The Color Wheel:
The color wheel was first invented by
Sir Isaac Newton in the 18th century when he tried to condense the color
spectrum into a wheel and visually represent the relationship between them. The
wheel has been segregated into the following categories. While we will focus on
using it for clothing and outfits, this theory is universal and applies to just
about anything that deals with colors.
These comprise red, yellow, and blue. No
two colors can be mixed to achieve these shades. Everything else is derived
from these colors.
Secondary colors are a combination of
the primary colors. So, red+yellow = orange, red +blue = purple, and
blue+yellow = green.
These colors are a combination of
primary and secondary colors. By mixing these colors, you get shades like
mint, aqua colors, corals, etc.
Hues of colors like red, orange, yellow,
brown, etc. are warm colors – they make things look smaller in size, and that’s
why most of us prefer wearing warmer colors when we want to look slimmer. Cool
colors, like hues of blue, purple, green, etc., are soothing colors.
Neutral
colors are self-explanatory. They are just muted, plain, and subdued. Black,
grey, whites, off-whites, taupe, etc., fall into the neutral category.
WhatAre The Principles For Matching Colors?
One fundamental principle for matching your clothes, or for that
matter anything, is combining colors that work in harmony. And, that’s what we
need to remember while designing or putting our outfits together.
Red and green, violet and yellow, blue and orange –
complementary colors, as the name goes, work best when put together. These are
exactly opposite to each other on the color wheel. They might seem bold to look
at, but the outputs will be perfect. If you observe carefully, your spring
and summer clothing is mostly designed using complementary
colors. While some might argue against this concept, it is actually a matter of
choice as some like making bold statements.
Matching two or three continuous shades
on the color wheel that blend well with each other is called analogous color
matching. When you put an entire outfit together based on this, it looks both
striking and stylish. If you are wondering how to style that orange or camel
trench coat of yours, pick a shade on either side of the color in the color
wheel and work with that.
The combination of colors that are
equidistant from each other on the color wheel is called ‘triadic.’ They look
great together, but some might argue that they can be OTT. However, you can
choose the muted shades of these colors to make your outfit. A pair of green
cargos with a pastel pink top and powder blue accessories or shoes will look
sophisticated and tasteful.
Perfect Colour
Combination For Dresses:
Keeping it in the family is a mantra you
need to remember. The safest way to do this is by blending different shades of
the same color. However, that will inevitably get monotonous and boring very
soon. Remember how we discussed complementary colors? (Red and green, violet
and yellow, blue and orange.) Play around with a combination of these colors;
they will look great when put together.
Ombre is taking over everything fromhairstyles and cakes to nail art and decor, and not to forget, outfits.
Party-wear outfits, bridesmaid dresses or just a simple jeans and top in ombre
can turn heads. Diminishing shades of the same color either in ascending or
descending order works great. If you are sporting separates, you need to bring
it all together with the top, bottom, shoes, and accessories being in sync.
Wear ombre outfits for your Christmas or winter parties, goes perfectly with
the theme, and the weather too.
It seems like a no-brainer because it’s
just one color in the same shade for the entire outfit. However, it is the
hardest to pull off, for obvious reasons. The good news is monochrome looks
have caught up and are not considered weird anymore. Start with comfortable and
neutral colors like greys, blues, whites, and blacks, then progress to pastel
undertones. Monochrome looks can be customized depending on the season or
occasion. If it’s a formal set up, stick to neutrals, blues or whites,
otherwise explore the pastels, yellows or even brighter shades if you please.
If it’s a printed or patterned outfit,
let the print take over. Prints and patterns are usually a combination of one
or more colors, so you must leave it at that. Keep the accessories in the
neighborhood; more colors only makes it clumsier and unruly.
Another trick of the trade is to balance
out any colors you choose to mix carefully. Anything done proportionately is a
foolproof way of coordinating your outfit. Like they say, too much of anything
is good for nothing.
If you are pale or yellow toned, opt for
colors from the colder side of the palette, such as grey, navy blue, varying
shades of green, aqua, emerald, burgundy, etc. If you have a deeper skin tone,
you can pull off brighter or warmer shades of brown, coral, honey, gold, amber,
taupe, etc., as they look amazing on this skin tone. All said and done, an
ideal way to do this is to always to strike a balance between warm and cold
colors. The same applies to your eye makeup too.
Some people just prefer being muted and subdued
with their choice of colors, and end up opting for just the neutral shades. If
this is you and you do not want to change drastically, go with one cool or warm
color, and leave everything else neutral. It’s always best to keep it this way!
Hope now you got an idea on how to match
clothes the right way. Bringing it all together is what requires skill. Getting
your basics right will help you make the right choices when it comes to colors,
outfits, and eventually, your wardrobe. Get out of your whites-greys-blacks
comfort zone – it’s liberating.
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