Afraid of Adding Color To Your Wardrobe

I love color in my home decor but I find myself afraid to experiment with color in my wardrobe.  Sometimes I will wear one piece that is bold in color but adding accent pieces that are not neutral is a bit risky so I don’t. The color wheel explanation below was very helpful in figuring out how to add color accent pieces and mixing colors in my wardrobe.

“You can make the following combos using the color wheel as your guide:

• Colors directly next to each other (i.e. yellow and yellow-orange; yellow and yellow-green; violet and blue-violet, etc.)
• Colors that form right (90 degree) angles with each other (i.e. yellow and red-orange; blue and violet-red; green and orange, etc.)
• Colors directly across from each other (i.e. yellow and violet; blue and orange; red and green, etc.)
• Colors that form a T (i.e. blue, orange, and violet-red; yellow, violet, and red-orange; yellow, blue-green, and red-orange, etc.)
• Colors that form an X (i.e. blue, orange, violet-red, and yellow, violet, blue-green, and red-orange, etc.)

Since brown is a neutral, it will go with virtually any color on the color wheel. I love to pair a chocolate brown with cobalt blue or fuchsia or bright red—such a fun and bold combo. Of course white, black, and the hues of blue found in denim are also neutrals that go with just about anything.

Colors that are a part of a “color family” also apply. So for instance, you can substitute pink with red and still be able to pull off the combos based on the color wheel (i.e. we see that blue and red form a right angle with each other.” Nicki Minaj

Pop of Color In Your Outfit Tips

1. Use color subtly

By using soft colors to balance your bold main piece.

For example, in the outfit above your old self would have just left out the blue thinking Coral is enough color for me.  But the light blue was such a subtle way to add interest to your outfit and to tone down the coral.

2. Use different shades in the color family

Come out of your comfort zone and don’t use the normal red that we have often seen paired with nautical navy stripes.  Use another shade in that color family (orange, pink, burnt orange, fuchsia, green…..)

3. Use accessories to add your pop of color

Make your pop of color small but bold with your accessories.

In the above picture lime was the pop of color to her safe lavender and gray outfit.

4. Don’t be afraid to use main pieces like pants, cardigans, blouses to add color.