Written by Fly11, Fashion Chick, The Cubicle Chick.com Style ContributorRemember in preschool picking the loudest and most vibrant colors from the crayola palette and splashing them against paper until someone said “How lovely?” Well because we aren’t five, the onlookers might be a little more critical than nice when observing your latest attempt at color blocking. Worry not! It’s easier than you think and once you preview these Color Blocking Commandments you’ll be a walking billboard for what everyone else should’ve done this morning. “I don’t need to try color blocking. I’m happy without” you say? This is the part where I remind you that color used to be your favorite thing to do in preschool…tap into your inner child and fearlessly go where all fashionable closets have gone before.
Color Blocking Commandments…
1. Thou Shall Use Solids: mixing trends can be fun and a way to set yourself aside from the copycaters of fashion mag’s who do everything by the book. However, mixing the wrong trends would be style suicide. So as much as you may want to throw in a print or pattern such as stripes with your color blocking extravagance…please note that color blocking is most righteously done with solids for the full color effect.
2. Thou Shall Strive for Color Balance: yes fashion is both art and science. This color balancing aspect may very well be the trickiest of tasks. When color blocking, all items must have equivalent pizzazz. If you choose one pastel hue, all other colors must be of the same color depth. If you choose a bright cobalt blue, then your other colors must be just as bold such as a fire engine red. Mixing pastel and bolds might turn out well for you but it won’t give you the color blocking look that has been haute for at least the last four years.
3. Thou shall Use Complementary Colors: these are the colors that appear directly opposite from one another on the color wheel. Check out the wheel below to get a few ideas on color combinations for your next color blocking attempt:
- Color Wheel: Look for Opposites
I’ll never be in style, my favorite color blocking look is different shades of the same color. I especially like blues, navy blue & powder blue. I also like purples together, violet and lavender.
Terri, thanks for commenting. I think style and fashion aren’t just trends, but the unique way people put looks together. Color blocking was something we all did in the 80’s and 90’s and seeing it comeback and be redone into a classic and trendy look is fun. I love working with colors. 🙂
Terri, that’s absolutely a great way to start and I also love to mix different hues in the same color family. Color blocking is about the contrasting shades though so don’t be afriad to take it up a notch and try a bright red with your navy blue or a sunny yellow :).
Thanks for the tips! I haven’t really tried this kind of look though I have been meaning to for the fear that it may end up a fashion disaster. But I think I can now.
WOW! How awesome to know that the post has made your feel more confident about expressing yourself stylishly. That was the exact intention :)! I’d love to see what you come up and hear about your experience. Good luck Fashionizer!!
Another good tip I’ve learned when it comes to color blocking is to use different textures instead of using patterns (like Fly11 says above!). For instance…a crocheted top with a solid color pair of shorts, or denim with khaki…etc.
Actually I would recommend being careful with different textures because texture can change the vibrance of a color as well as it’s blendability. I have seen this tip done before but it is quite difficult to pull off and I wouldn’t recommend it for beginners.
I am having trouble pairing a blazer with a cobalt-ivory and black colour-blocked dress, with cobalt being the most dominant colour (see weblink). What colour of blazer would you suggest? Thanks.