How to combine colors in our clothes correctly?

 

 

 

If you peek into your wardrobe and see mostly neutral or darker colors, don't worry, you're not alone.

 

 

 

 

The truth is that many people are not sure how to precisely combine different colors and which shades they can use to their advantage. But we have some good news - there is a whole science behind the color palette. This means there are easy rules you can apply to your outfits, so you never have to worry again about which color to pair with which.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Color Theory

The color wheel was invented by Sir Isaac Newton in the 18th century when he attempted to condense the color spectrum into a wheel and visually represent the relationships between them. The wheel is divided into several categories. Although we will focus on its use for clothing and outfits, this theory is universal and applies to almost everything related to colors.

 

 

 

 

 

--------------------- Part 1 - Get to know the colors ---------------------

 

• Primary Colors

 

 

Those are red, yellow, and blue. No other colors can be mixed to produce these three.

• Secondary Colors

Secondary colors are a combination of the primary 3 colors.

1. red + yellow = orange
2. red + blue = purple
3. blue + yellow = green

 

• Tertiary Colors

These colors are a combination of primary and secondary colors. Mixing these colors produces shades like mint, aqua, coral, etc.

 

 

 

 

• Warm and Cool Colors

 

 

 

Warm colors include shades of red, orange, yellow, brown, etc. If you want to appear softer and more delicate, this is your choice.

 

Cool colors include shades of blue, purple, green, etc. They are calming and relaxing.

 

 

• Neutral colors

 

Neutral colors are self-defined. They are simply muted. Black, gray, and white fall into this category.

 

 

 

--------------------- Part 2 - Combine the colors ---------------------

 

• Monochromatic

Why it works: Light and dark variations of one color blend beautifully.

For best results: Wear darker shades on the parts you'd like to downplay and lighter shades that catch the eye on the areas you want to highlight. Experiment, mix textures (say, satin with knits) to add depth to your overall look.

 

 

 

 

• Complementary

 

 

 

Why it works: Red and green, purple and yellow, blue and orange - complementary colors work best when brought together. They are exactly opposite each other on the color wheel. It may look like a bold combination, but the results will be perfect.

 

For best results: Use about 75% of one color and 25% of the other. Giving two shades equal weight can look like a sports uniform - be cautious with that. Ideally, use one color as the background and the other for accents/accessories.

 

 

 

• Similarly

 

 

 

 

Why it works: These are any three colors next to each other on the wheel. They blend effortlessly together. This scheme is also stunning by nature. (Imagine a sunset with shades of red, orange...)

 

When you assemble a whole outfit, it looks simultaneously striking and stylish. If you're wondering how to incorporate orange clothing, choose a shade from both sides of the color and work with them.

For best results: With analogous colors, it's best to avoid shades, as they can blend, and avoid combining warm and cool colors in this scheme

 

 

 

 

• Triadic

 

 

 

Why it works: The combination of colors that are equally spaced from each other on the color wheel. This scheme is high-contrast but more balanced than complementary colors.

 

For best results: Let one color dominate and accent with the other two

 

 

 

 

And don't forget - combine the colors according to your skin tone!

 

 

If your skin has paler or yellowish tones, choose colors from the cooler side of the palette, such as gray, navy blue, various shades of green, aqua, emerald, burgundy, etc.

 

If you have a deeper skin tone, you can pull off lighter or warmer shades of brown, coral, copper, gold, amber, taupe, etc., as they look fantastic on this skin tone.

 

Now you have a basic idea of color theory. Print out the color wheel and stick it to your wardrobe door. The next time you pick an item of clothing, just refer to the chart to see which colors in your wardrobe will complement it best. Good luck!