You may have not known how to combine a green shirt or a blue skirt, but there are very specific rules that establish how to best combine colors. Of course, once you understand the guidelines, you can always tweak them a bit, but it's good to know the basics first. Read on to start matching the colors of your clothes the right way.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Knowing the Colors
Step 1. Use the color wheel
Its function is to tell you how to best combine colors. Inside, it is possible to observe certain color combinations that are particularly pleasing to the eye, that is the color harmonies. The basic primary colors, i.e. red, yellow and blue, are used to create the secondary ones. Tertiary colors are instead created by mixing primary and secondary colors.
- There are warm and cold colors. The former include orange, red, yellow, and so on, while the latter include green, blue, and purple. Mixing warm colors with warm ones and cool colors with cold ones is useful for beginners, so that they can acquire greater mastery.
- White, black and gray are neutral colors (very important for coordinating clothes correctly).
- When white is added to a base color, it creates a tint and increases the brightness. When black is added to a base color, it creates a shadow and decreases the brightness. When gray is added to a base color, a tone is obtained. To coordinate clothes, you need to understand how different colors, shades and tones blend together.
Step 2. Avoid complementary colors as much as possible
A color is defined as complementary when it enhances the opposite color on the color wheel (such as orange and blue). Don't be fooled by the name: while these colors complement each other, that doesn't mean they'll complement each other too.
Now, you don't have to shy away from matching complementary colors, especially if you like to be daring and are confident in your style. An effective way to use them to the fullest? Match a complementary color to a lighter tint than the opposite. For example, you could combine a royal blue dress with a shawl and a pair of champagne-colored shoes
Step 3. Use analogous colors, which are adjacent colors on the color wheel, such as green and yellow or red and orange
Since they are similar, combining them creates a more subtle effect.
- For example, you could pair a scarlet red dress with gold accessories and pink shoes.
- Try not to use more than three similar colors in an outfit. If you consider the example made just above, you already have three analogous colors (pink, red, golden), so you shouldn't go overboard by adding orange or purple.
Step 4. Use primary colors
You probably know what they are since you were in elementary school: red, blue and yellow. It is difficult to combine them, unless you are particularly daring, although the right combination can allow you to achieve a good result. Primary colors are ideal for a monochromatic look, which is when you dress in a solid color.
- For example, you could wear a white shirt alongside dark blue clothing and accessories, such as skinny jeans, ankle boots, and a jacket. To break up, you can add a red or bright purple scarf.
- Another example for using primary colors well? Pair them with various neutral colors. For example, you could wear a pair of red chunky heels, blue skinny jeans, and yellow accessories, then break it up with a black jacket and gray sweater.
Step 5. Don't mix certain colors
Some colors aren't meant to be combined, but many still make the mistake of matching them. Avoiding these missteps will help you better coordinate your clothes.
- Black goes with everything, except two colors. Don't combine it with navy blue. They are similar, but together they do not create a pleasing aesthetic effect. The other is brown. Don't pair it with black, unless you're really sure.
- White and creamy white do not go well together, as it seems that you have tried to combine these colors with no success (creamy white and brown instead go very well together).
- Brown and gray don't go well together either. They are too neutral and dull to be able to enhance each other.
Part 2 of 3: Matching the Colors
Step 1. Use neutral colors
To dress in a coordinated way, this is one of the main tips to remember. Neutral colors will highlight the basic ones you've chosen for a match, plus they'll make it look well-coordinated, never over-the-top.
- Gray is particularly useful for this purpose. Pair a gray skirt with a dark purple top and a champagne scarf. You can also wear gray formal pants, a white shirt, a blue blazer and a red tie.
- Remember that a tailored white shirt is perfect for most outfits. It can be made more formal with a pair of black trousers and a tie, but also more informal with a sweater or blazer and a scarf.
- Avoid colored pants, unless they're paired with a neutral shirt (like a pair of red skinny jeans and a gray sweater). Usually, colored trousers can make a combination not harmonious and become a focal point.
Step 2. Use the Munsell color system
Basically, each color has three dimensional coordinates. One of these is brightness, which can make a color darker (shade), lighter (tint), or softer (tone). When combining clothes, your goal should usually be to try to combine the colors you choose using different degrees of brightness.
- For example, you could wear a solid-colored tie, a light blue shirt, and gray or black pants. Solidago is darker than light blue (one is closer to pastel, the other is brighter).
- Try to imagine the colors you use as if they belong in a black and white photo. This will help you determine the variations in brightness, so that you can combine them appropriately (for example, the darkest with the lightest).
- Using only pastel colors tends to be a little cloying, but you can go a bit more daring by combining only bright colors. Take the example of the solid color tie and the blue shirt. Instead of a light blue shirt, you could choose a garnet red, which is more intense, and pair it with the solidago tie.
Step 3. Practice
Play around with colors to see firsthand why you shouldn't pair a canary yellow scarf with an electric blue shirt. Instead of canary yellow, you could choose a more subtle (like Naples yellow) or darker tone (like solidago).
Part 3 of 3: Making Fail-Safe Combinations
Step 1. Use neutral colors
When preparing an outfit, be sure to use neutral colors together with the others, so as not to overdo it. Remember that the function of neutral colors is to emphasize other colors.
- Combine a color and a neutral. For example, you could wear a fiery red shirt, a black skirt, and a pair of red ballet flats. You could also wear jeans, a white shirt, and a blue scarf.
- You could combine a color and two neutrals. For example, she wears an orange dress, a black and white sweater, a pair of black Converse and white earrings. You could also pair a pair of brown pants with a cream-colored sweater and gold scarf.
- If you want to be a little more daring, you could combine two colors and a neutral. If you are unsure, it is better to choose two similar colors. For example, you might be wearing a red blazer, white dress, orange shoes, and handbag. You could also wear black pants, a navy sweater and a garnet red scarf.
Step 2. Use warm neutral colors
If in doubt, you can always use warm neutral colors like brown and cream, which go well together and instantly create a sophisticated effect. You can also pair them with a color in earth tones (these colors have been mixed with gray), such as olive green.
Step 3. Use prints with neutral and solid color clothing
Prints can be very difficult to coordinate, so don't overdo the patterns and at the same time don't eclipse them with the rest of the outfit.
- Try wearing a print with one or two neutral plain-colored clothing. For example, you could wear a knitted tunic with purple and black stripes, a pair of black leggings, and gray boots. You could also wear a flannel shirt, brown corduroy pants, and a white T-shirt.
- You could also wear a solid-colored piece of clothing in a color inspired by the print pattern. For example, if you have a red skirt with a yellow and orange sun pattern, you can choose an orange shirt that matches the print (although you should make sure you have neutral shoes first).
Advice
- Limited to three colors per match, including neutral ones. This way you will make sure you don't overdo it.
- Try not to overdo it with pastel colors. To avoid this, combine a pastel color with a neutral one, or a pastel with the same color, just a darker and more intense shade.
- To give an extra touch of color, you can add a small accessory that has a degree of brightness similar to that of the main color. For example, you could wear a pair of yellow earrings with a green shirt or blue tie and a red shirt.
Warnings
- Remember that you can dress however you want. If others tell you that you failed a match, but you got the result you wanted, what does it matter to you?
- Avoid using two colors that are nearly the same, but not identical. You have to match them exactly or use a neutral tone, otherwise the combination may not look right.
- Remember not to combine brown and black unless you are sure. For example, wearing brown shoes and black clothing will create a particularly uncoordinated effect.
