"I love colour but don't know how to wear it"; "I see colours on other people but don't feel brave enough to do the same"; "I just don't know how to put these colours together"; "I stick to the same combinations of colours".
These are all things I have heard from friends, clients and family members and I get it. Wearing colour can feel daunting and it can feel like an art knowing how to wear them together.
First I'm going to introduce the colour wheel - if you're not already familiar - created by Sir Isaac Newton. The colour wheel is a diagram used to represent the colours of the visible spectrum and demonstrates how they work with one another. It's a tool used by artists, interior designers, cinematographers and the fashion industry to name a few. You can simply search for "colour wheel" on a search engine to have a closer look at one.
The colours are arranged by wavelength and shows their relationship with each other. One half of the wheel demonstrates warmer colours - the yellows, oranges and reds. While the other half shows the blues, greens and purples - the cooler colours. Amongst all of these are various shades and tones.
Colours which are alongside each other on the colour wheel are said to be analogous - that is they work in harmony with each other. In a sense they are "easy on the eye". They don't jar when put together.
So to give an example, wearing blue, teal and green will work wonderfully together. They will be beautifully pleasing to each other. The eye won't struggle in processing these colours together. Wearing analogous colours is an easy way to start to experiment with putting colours together. This isn't a dramatic or scary way of incorporating colours. The jumper I'm wearing in the reel below is incorporating 2 analogous colours together - red and pink are next to each other on the colour wheel.
Tip 1: If you have a colourful item in your wardrobe see where the colour sits on the colour wheel and try wearing something in the colour next to it on the wheel.
Colours opposite each other on the colour wheel are complimentary. These colours also work well with each other but in a different way. As they are opposite each other they allow each other to really shine - the colours will appear more vibrant than if they are alongside colours next to them on the colour wheel. Opposites attract!
My love for green and pink is well documented - and these are 2 colours which are opposite each other on the colour wheel. I love both colours individually but together I really feel they bring out the best in each other. Likewise, orange and blue are opposite each other on the colour wheel. They look really bold and vibrant when worn together. They allow each other to shine. Wearing complimentary colours can be a more daring way to wear colour but it really pays off!
Tip 2: A second way to wear colour is to again look at the colour wheel for inspiration and pair your item with the colour opposite.
Think about all the reds and greens we see together at Christmas - red and green are opposite each other on the colour wheel. It's not a subtle combo, but it works. The reds and green can look really sumptuous. Nature doing it's thing with beautiful complimentary colours!
Let's repeat those first 2 tips:
Colours alongside each other work in harmony and are cohesive
Colours opposite each other compliment each other and will appear bolder
This doesn't have to be 2 items of clothing - it might be that your handbag has some pink in it and you put on a similar pink lipstick. It can be as subtle as that. Or it could be earrings, nail polish, belt or shoes. Any combo but try to have 2 items in your outfit that are the same (or as close as possible) colour. This makes for a more "put together" look and can really help your outfit work. It's a simple trick stylists use to help a creation look cohesive.
So, I hope this has given you some ideas when it comes to your own wardrobe. Colour is a fabulous way of lifting spirits and giving you an edge of confidence should you need it. It's a way of expressing your mood or even changing your mood. Have a look at a colour wheel with your wardrobe open and see what colours you can try putting together.
Most importantly, have fun and don't overthink it! Speak to you soon,
Lou x
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