Email
Password

Add More Color to Your Wardrobe

If your wardrobe is mostly black, there is still ways to add color without breaking the bank and investing in a whole new wardrobe
Written by Kasmira K

Fashion Lady and I get together once or twice a month. We inevitably end up dishing on fashion - what we like, what we want, what we bought, and what other people say to us about the clothes we wear. Oddly enough, we both hear a similar comment from our coworkers (and we work at different companies): "You wear so much color!" One could interpret the comment a couple different ways. It could mean, "My God, are you color blind? My eyes are bleeding." Or it could mean, "I wish I could introduce more color into my wardrobe." I prefer the latter. There is nothing wrong with an all black wardrobe, but if you are interested in punching up your color quotient, these are a few of my color mantras.

Punch It Up. The simplest way to add color to a neutral wardrobe is to add a single, bright accent color. Adding red shoes to a black and white outfit is probably the first example that comes to mind. Don't feel limited to red though. Try hot pink, instead, with black and white. Add bright turquoise to browns. Carry a purple bag with your all gray outfit. If you find a color you love, buy many accessories in that color. Then, sprinkle them liberally through your neutral outfits.

 

Opposites Attract. The surest way to create a "get noticed" color combo is to wear opposing colors from the color wheel. However, I'd stay away from purely primary mixes (like red/green), and, instead, mix petal pink and lime or persimmon and turquoise. Pairing opposites looks fresh, bold, and fun.

 

Watch Your Saturation. Nope, this isn't an admonition against drunk dressing. (Heck, a little wine may be just what you need to get your inspiration on.) Saturation refers to the intensity of the color. Ever read about jewel tones or pastels being the season's "look"? These are colloquial terms that refer to saturation.

A pulled together look consists of color combinations that are matched in saturation. Hot pink looks great with leaf green (at least I think so), while pale pink looks better with light green or even soft gray.

You can mix colors that may one may not normally think of as "going together" (like yellow and purple), if you keep the saturation the same (mustard and amethyst). While you can create a unique look by mixing saturation (like Queen Michelle's off-color palette), it's an advanced skill.

 

Be Matchy-Matchy. Or not. If you're wearing your hot pink dress, should you wear your hot pink shoes? I say, "Go for it!" (And I have.) It isn't the most sophisticated look, but it's fun and will garner you attention. But you don't need to be overly color coordinated.

If you pay any attention to the In Style spreads, you'll notice that while the whole outfit goes together, it isn't entirely color matched. For example, adding red pumps to an outfit mostly in shades of blue and neutrals is unexpected and sophisticated (check out this example from Fashion Lady).

If you don't want to match, don't, but try not to add more than one "unmatched" color into the mix and be sure to Watch Your Saturation.

 

Black and Brown Go Together. And so do black and navy. I don't recommend wearing just a navy dress and black shoes, but if you throw a matching black belt and perhaps a black purse into the mix, the look is chic.

The key is to mix these colors as if you meant to do it, not as if you got dressed in the dark. I find this trick especially useful to incorporate navy items into my wardrobe. I already own black and brown footwear.

Who wants to maintain navy as well? By incorporating black into my navy ensembles, I don't need navy pumps. If your feeling gun-shy about combining black and brown, try using leopard print as a bridging piece, as pictured here.

 

Are you ready to add color to your wardrobe? I've recapped some of the above advice and grouped it by difficulty.

Beginner. The beginner has a wardrobe of mostly neutrals (black, brown, gray, white). Pick your favorite color and use that as your guide to purchasing colorful items. Add one colorful piece to a neutral outfit to Punch It Up. Be Matchy Matchy. People will think your style is sharp!

Intermediate. Pair opposite colors, but Watch Your Saturation. Try incorporating two colors (other than neutrals) into an outfit. Add an accessory in a third color to be not Matchy Matchy. You'll hear the words "chic" and "sophisticated" used to describe you by folks at the water cooler.

Advanced. Mix black and brown or black and navy. Mix saturations. Wear an outfit composed of three or more colors (but don't turn into Rainbow Brite). You'll notice people giving you double and third takes as they struggle to digest your outfit. Some people won't get it, but true fashionistas will.

Most importantly have fun and wear your colors proudly. You can carry almost anything off with the right attitude. If you are truly happy with a wardrobe of neutrals, don't change. But if you're longing for more color in your life, don't think it's only for those "fashion-y" people. Wear what you love, and others will love it too.

Be the first to comment
Create an account to add a comment.

What are you wearing today?
Create a lookbook and
share your style

OOTD Blog Posts
  • Michelle
  • Maegan
  • Christine
  • Kasmira
  • Kathii
  • Rumi
Fashion, Style News and Trends
  • When did Guys wearing Skinny Jeans become Acceptable?Not too long ago, skinny jeans were completely rejected by men, including fashion designers. Even today, skinny jeans are not generally approved of or...
    Read the rest of this fashion article.
  • Ashley Benson's Fashion Sense Ashley Benson is an up and coming actress from the popular ABC television series pretty little liars. Ashley Benson plays Anna Marin a popular 'it...
    Read the rest of this fashion article.
  • How to Dress Like a RockstarDo you know how to dress like a rockstar? Well to dress like a rockstar you need to have lots of funky fashion. Don't be afraid to express yourself. e...
    Read the rest of this fashion article.
Other Topics
  • Fitting Room EtiquetteFitting rooms, or as I call them, The AA Room (Addicts Anonymous Room, I will explain later) in clothing stores are not a requirement but are favorabl...
    Read the rest of this fashion article.
  • Why Sharing Your Clothes Is Not A Good IdeaMost people at one time or another has loaned a sibling, friend or a roommate an article of clothing from their wardrobe. In some cases, siblings or r...
    Read the rest of this fashion article.
  • Kylie Jenner A Fashion Mogul?Kylie Jenner is a fashion icon. There is no debating that. Whether or not she is a fashion mogul is yet to be ascertained. The American model and entr...
    Read the rest of this fashion article.
  • How Much Cleavage Is Too MuchBelieve it or not but breasts have etiquette's attached to them and in life, it is important for a woman to understand the whole concept of how much c...
    Read the rest of this fashion article.
  • Everything you need to know about Big Baller BrandBig Baller Brand, trademarked as BBB, is an apparel and footwear company based at Chino Hills, California in the United States. The private company wa...
    Read the rest of this fashion article.
  • Should Your Boyfriend Like the Way You Dress?Lets face it, what girl doesn't like to dress good and look sexy from time to time. You occasionally like to dress in that low-cut top, short dress or...
    Read the rest of this fashion article.