Color Theory: Pair Colors like a Pro
Color is slowly but surely taking over the millennial beige era. Bolder colors are trending more and more. I used to see colorful clothing as tacky and a little immature. Now, I see it can be playful and even chic. If you’re trying to incorporate more color into your wardrobe, you might have noticed that it can be hard. I had a difficult time with it when I started drifting away from the safety of black. I’ve since learned a super easy method for pairing colors. And guess what it is? I use color theory (basically the color wheel). Here’s how you can use it, too.
Monochromatic & Tonal
Making monochromatic outfits will be the easiest way to start wearing color. You basically just make sure you whole outfit is the same color... yep, that’s it! For example, you can wear all black, or all red, or all cream.
Tonal dressing is also pretty simple and very similar. You’re still wearing the same color, but the shades and tones can very. For example, you can wear a white top with tan pants and a camel jacket. Or you can wear a pink top with a red skirt.
Complimentary
Complimentary colors are right across from each other on the color wheel. Complimentary pairings are red and green, blue and orange, and yellow and purple. I really enjoy pairing complementary colors in a subtle way.
It can be pretty bold to pair opposite colors together, but you can start out by adding complimentary colors in your accessories, like a muted olive greendress with a red-orange bag. Another way to dip your toe in is to have soft or muted shades of the colors so they’re not so bright or bold.
Analogous
The boldest and hardest method of pairing colors is analogous colors. These color families are right next to each other on the color wheel. Oftentimes they seem to clash with each other, but these clashing colors have some sort of satisfaction to them. It’s strange, but it works! For example, put blues, greens, and yellows in the same outfit. At first it seems like a lot is going on, but they work well together in an eye catching way.
HOT TIP: When I’m pairing colors, I like to start with a piece I know I want to wear. For example, a navy blue top. I put it up to the rest of my clothes in my closet and slowly move it from left to right to see what it goes well with. Sometimes, I like to stop it on a pair of orange-tan pants for a nice complementary pop. Other times, I like to pair it with blue jeans and a blue wool coat for a monochromatic look. It really just depends on my mood.
Being able to pair colors easily and well opens up a whole world of options! You’ll be able to get more use out of your clothes, and you’ll be able to break into the world of color.
Until next time - may your weekend be full of creativity and style.
