We are sure your wardrobe is full of amazing collection of clothes, but when it comes to pairing your outfits with each other, it might still be a total mystery to you. No worries! We’ve put together this guide to help you out.
Your first step towards mastering the art of mix and match is gaining some basic knowledge about colour matching. Fashion and style is about harmony of colours, after all. Next comes incorporating necessary elements in your closet as per your work, lifestyle and preference. That’s all you need to do to make the most out of what you’ve got in your wardrobe.
Keep this colour wheel handy
This colour wheel is your best friend and will come to your rescue whenever you are in a fix while matching clothes. We’ll tell you how this colour wheel works and how it’ll be even more useful, now that your mum is not choosing outfits for your every day.
Red, blue and yellow are the primary colours, the ones all other colours are derived from. They work great for a monochrome look, which uses a single colour to lengthen and streamline your body. When pairing primary colours with each other, go for their toned down version to contrast your outfit in the most balanced way!
Colours adjacent to each other on the wheel are called analogous colours, and can help you create a harmonious and cohesive look. If you wear any three colours adjacent to each other, it’ll always work. Take the example of olive, navy and denim together. Simply wow! Similarly, yellow can be paired with light green and light orange shades.
Complementary colours are those which are opposite to each other on the wheel. Two is a good number to shoot for when choosing complementary colours. Some pairings that go well together are: turquoise-maroon, violet-yellow, orange-blue.
Black is one colour that goes with just about everything. Be careful not to pair intense yellow with black. It’s safe to go for lighter shades of yellow, or you’ll end up looking too bright.
Tips for matching your clothes
Always have some neutral coloured bottoms in your closet, like black, white, brown, grey and beige. They are the simplest to match, and you don’t have to worry about colour coordinating.
Never make the mistake of putting on too many bright shades together. You don’t want to be too harsh on the eyes. If you are craving to have an ultra-bright colour like fluorescent in your closet, go as low as you can. Like fluorescent yellow shoes is okay, but not a t-shirt.
Buy a scarf which can be used in either a formal or casual context. You can even get jewelry to emphasize a formal as well as casual outfit by having one set which looks elegant and another which looks fun.
Choose colours that complement your skin tone. Cool skin tones will look beautiful with colors like gray, blue-green, purple or blue. On the other hand, warm skin tones will be more attractive with colors like brown, orange, yellow, and yellow-green. A little bit of tweaking with your hairstyle, a shoe etc. also helps in changing the look.
Mixing prints and patterns
When wearing prints, remember to consider the size of the print pattern! Smaller prints are best paired with larger prints and vice versa. Like wearing delicate polka dots with a substantial ikat print, or thin thick stripes with bold florals makes sure your outfit looks interesting instead of too jumbled.
Keep your prints from the same colour family when pairing them. For example, stripes in a complimentary colour palette would look great with houndstooth.
So keep experimenting and keep creating refreshing new looks. The ultimate secret lies in owning the look. Looking confident is half the battle won when you are mixing and matching your clothes.
