COLOUR BLOCK IS BACK.YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
Remember your art class in primary school about the colour
chart? Well you can use that knowledge to help you with mixing your colours.
The colours at the center of the wheel are Primary colours; Red, Yellow and
Blue. By mixing equal amounts of the primary colours you
get Secondary colours,the inner ring. By mixing the primary colours
with the secondary colours you get the outer ring, tertiary colours. We will
work with the outer ring.
Colours opposite each other on
the colour wheel are complimentary colours and those next to each other are
analogous colours; they are in the same colour hue. Also there are Warm
colours; these are the yellows, reds and oranges, they convey energy and have a
warm psychological effect on us. Then there are Cool colours; these are blues,
greens and violet, they have a calming effect.
With this simple knowledge it’s very easy to colour block without looking like
a clown.
The secret to pulling it off is
choosing shades that are the direct opposites on the colour wheel. Try clashing
pink and yellow, orange and blue to create the most effective blocking effect.
DO: Choose shades that have the
same level of intensity. You can't team fluro yellow with blah purple - make
sure that each piece has the same amount of grunt otherwise the look will be
unbalanced.
DON'T: Add prints, stripes,
florals or patterns of any kind when colour blocking an outfit - it's a fast
track to circus clown.LOL
COLOUR TONE If you're scared of super
bright colours you can try colour toning. Similar to blocking, it uses shades
within the same family.
DO: Opt for neutrals, metallic or
black accessories to keep the look simple and allow the colour to pop.
DON'T: Accessorise with bags and
shoes in the same shade as your outfit - this look belongs to 1985 and it needs
to stay there.
COLOUR POP- My favourite way to wear brights is in a single pop. One
colour, on one item in your look. Try a pink shift dress, a yellow bag or an
aqua shoe.
This is a way of dipping your toe
into the trend and working it back with the basics in your wardrobe like black,
white and denim.
DO: Choose seriously bright
colours when wearing a single statement piece. Don't be afraid to go a little
crazy - think fluro, neon, even sequins.
DON'T: Jumble your hues. Be
strict. The key to successfully pulling this look off is restraint.
BODY TRICK: Know your shape and
use colour to work it. If you're pear shaped opt for darker colours on your
bottom half. If you have a tummy avoid horizontal blocks across the stomach,
minimize a large bust with a darker shade on top, maximise a smaller
décolletage with the reverse. Colour blocking looks great on an hourglass shape
when you cut the look in half - right on the waistline.
Get your
combos right
To
flawlessly accomplish this trend, choose the right colour combinations.
Examples of colour-block colours that work well together are pink and purple,
yellow and green, red and pink, cobalt-blue and red.
The brighter
the better
If you are
bold enough for colour blocking, there is no point in investing in pale colours
and pastel shades ( no matter how much they clash). That would just look faint
hearted. Go bright or go home!
Invest in a
pair of coloured jeans
A bright
pair of jeans is a good start for a colour blocking newbie and a staple for a
colour blocking addict. Something in the colours pink, red or blue will do it
for you.
Mix up your
fabric
To avoid
looking like you are off to a rave, chose rich fabric such as silk, satin and
taffeta in bright colours. They will add a splash of luxury to your look and
give the bright block colour an even more sumptuous feel.
Do not
overdo it
It’s not
that more than three to four colours don’t look nice, it just looks very ramp-ish.
Besides more colours will keep cutting your body shape here and there, in this
way accomplishing the opposite of its intended effect.
Colour
blocking without colour clashing
If you don’t
feel brave enough to clash your colours, you can still wear the colour blocking
trend by wearing one vibrant shade from top to bottom for example, wear a long
dress in sunshine yellow, bright red or eye-popping pink.
Tone the
look down with a simple black or white tee
A black or
white tee in a cotton and/or silk mix will complement bright coloured trousers
or skirts beautifully.
Add pops of
colours with accessories
The easiest
way to wear the colour blocking trend is to add an accessory or two in
deliciously-bright colours. A bright pink clutch bag, a pair of neon yellow
shoes, a vivid blue bangle is all you need to lift an understated outfit up.
Mix bright
colours with light hues
A simple way
to tone the look down is by wearing one brightly coloured piece and keeping the
rest of the outfit muted by wearing neutral shades. For example, a colour block
shift dress in red or bright orange will look fantastic with nude shoes.
Wear
brightly coloured stripes
If you still
don’t have the balls to rock this trend all-out, you can start subtly by
investing in a dress with vivid coloured stripes. And then progress gradually
till you are bold enough to do a thorough colour block.
Keep the
look suitable for work
The best way
to wear this trend for work is by choosing items in colours that are updated
styles of usual work wear. For example, swap your navy suit with a more vivid
blue. Tone the look down with a simple white shirt.
Dear readers,all said and with the pictures above. These simple rules are all you need to achieve the perfect colour
block. Do not say you weren’t told because the next time I see you in public causing
a catastrophe with your supposed colour-block outfit, forgive me if I walk up
to you with a revolting face and say “excuse me ma’am, you are colour-blocking
my view” You can pair
two or three contrasting colours, anything more than four is excessive.
Let me know what you think about this post and please feel free to send your colour block pictures to me.info@sexylittlething.com.ng
