Today is the first installment of my Tip Tuesday Series!!
On Tuesdays I'll share tips, ideas and strategies on on how to get you dressing easily, quickly, with some pizzazz and drama free!! Well, actually drama-less, not drama free since I can't do anything about the little ones running a muck as you try and get ready for your day... Or maybe that's just my house... But, I can help you with your styling needs and have you looking good, feeling good, and out of the house "relatively" quickly.
The Color Wheel
Today's tip will teach you how to use a color wheel to help you quickly coordinate outfits. A color wheel is basically a device that shows the relationships of colors, whether they are primary, secondary, complementary etc. It can help you choose which colors will go together to form various clothing combinations and which colors to avoid. So, how exactly will a color wheel help you? Well, instead of staring at your closet and just reaching for your black pants and white shirt because you have no time to figure out what colors go with each other- grab a color wheel (or use the one below), look at your closet and pull clothes that have colors that work together. Viola!
The Basics- Below is an example of a basic, easy to use, color wheel. There are others that show the hues of colors, warm vs cool colors, etc. No matter which color wheel you use, you can create fabulous color coordinated outfits. The key is to match certain colors together, sometimes with neutrals (i.e.- greys, browns, blacks and navys), to create the outfits. Here are some ways on how you can use this color wheel to help you achieve different types of looks.
- The Analogous Look- This look features 3 colors that blend well together. Match 3 different colors that are next to each other on the color wheel. For example, pair a Yellow Top and Green Pants with a Yellow Green Necklace.
- The Complementary Look- This look features 2 colors that are not the same, but complement each other. Match colors that are opposite from each other on the color wheel. However, be careful when using complementary colors, you could end up overloading yourself with color, therefore, use a neutral color to ground the outfit. For example a Yellow Top, Gray Pants (neutral color) and a Violet handbag.
- The Split Complementary Look- With the split complementary look, you still want to be cautious of overloading on color, like the complementary look. However, the addition of a 3rd color, helps to even it out a bit, therefore the outfit will not be as high contrast. For example a red top with black (neutral) pants, yellow green shoes and a blue green necklace.
- The Triad Look- Pulling off the triad color look is probably the trickiest of all, at least I think so. Because the colors are so different, depending on how you put them together you can end up looking fabulous or you could look like a not so nice "color medley". Triad colors are evenly spaced from each other on the color wheel. For example, Blue denim jeans, a Yellow top and a Red handbag.
- The Monochromatic Look- This look features different shades of the same color. Match similar colors that are next to each other on the color wheel. For example, pair a Blue Violet Top with Blue Denim Jeans.
Hopefully this tip will help you coordinate your outfits a bit more and get you out of the "black pants / white shirt" rut...
Have a style dilemma that you wish you had an easy tip for? Let me know, I'd be glad to help!
