The Influence of Colors

The colors have a very big influence on clothes and on the person using it. Choosing the correct combination can give more harmony and a better aesthetic to the look. The color tones can emphasize the beauty of both the clothes and the person or make the person look like a complete disaster. So it's very important to know a little bit about how to combine colors before going shopping.

Does this match? Does this go well with that? What can I wear with this? Are just some of the questions we ask others and ourselves while we shop for clothes. Usually we go with the safe and boring, choice. Black goes well with white and practically every other color, but what about pink and orange? Do they go well together? The answer is YES!!

It is not easy to make the right combinations. To help with that, one can use the Color Circle or the Chromatic Color Circle.

The neighbor colors on the circle are similar and they have the same base color. Example: Dark Yellow and Dark Red have the color Orange in common.

The opposite colors are called complementary colors because they are contrasting each other.

So choosing the complementary colors right, has a huge impact to the end result and if matched improperly, can be a complete disaster. So please be aware of that before going out looking like a Christmas tree!

Even having and understanding the circle, the only safe way you will know if two colors match is by trying and experimenting them together. Usually the most personal outfits are the most original ones. But it is important to know that not all colors match and not all colors compliment each other.

An easy rule

An easy rule to remember and apply is that very similar shades of the same color almost never go well. Lets use two different shades of grey as an example.

A light grey and a medium light grey will look like a rainy day. Sad, boring and not creative (some may call that conservative or professional) but let's be honest, you can be both professional and conservative with shades of rouge, blue and even lilac. By using the same shades of the same color, it will only make you look like you have a bad dress sense. But if you choose two shades that are far apart it will have an amazing effect and still give you the matching look that you're looking for.

In order to make your outfit a bit livelier, dress the grey with pink or yellow.

This will allow you to dress for any occasion, whether professional, casual, smart or even sexy (think secretary).

So the rule is not to try to match two colors that are almost the same. The shades have to be far apart, which also means never to wear jeans on top and bottom.

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