The runways at fashion week were awash with colour clashes, as were the streets, but in reality, you’ve got to have a little know-how in order to get it right. In order to avoid looking like a Pantone colour chart gone wrong, we lay out some basic tips that’ll set you on the right path.
If you’re apprehensive about the idea of mixing different bright colours together, what you can do is to start off by experimenting with varying hues of the same colour. For example, if the main piece that you’ve chosen is in vermillion, an easy way to colour-clash is to use accessories in varying shades of red. Think of colours like pink, maroon, blush or rust — they all fall under the umbrella of red shades, only differing in degrees of contrast and brightness.
Hues that fall directly opposite each other on the classic colour wheel will go well with each other, even if they seemingly clash. These combinations include blue and orange, red and green, as well as yellow and purple. If you’re playing it safe, leave one colour muted when you’re going all-out with the other.
When two shades fall side by side with each other on the colour wheel, they are known as analogous colours. Examples are red and orange, yellow and green, and blue and violet. These will definitely match well with one another and appear harmonious. Make sure that at least one of the pieces you’re wearing is highly saturated in colour, so that you create enough contrast.
The term ‘triadic’ in colour theory refers to the serene effect you’ll achieve when three hues equidistant to one another on the colour wheel are used together. For example, yellow will complement blue and red, while green looks stunning with orange and violet. To use this technique successfully, the colours should be balanced. In other words, one shade should be the dominating hue, while the other two should come in as supporting accents.
Okay, so you’re not a rainbow-loving kind of person. We get it. What you can do to spice up your ensemble without having the need to go bright, is to opt for two or more neutral colours and combine them. These hues include grey, navy, black, white, brown and nude. Understated yet stylish, these colours will mesh together to create a tonal look.
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