09/05/2017
wear black and gray. Do you have any tips to make mixing
colors easier?
A: Color mixing is not the sort of thing that anyone is born
knowing how to do, but that's a good thing. It's not a
talent. It's a skill. And like any other skill, it can be learned.
Here are six strategies to make it easier.
1. Keep it in the family.
It's pretty straightforward: pastels with pastels, earth tones
with earth tones, jewel tones with jewel tones, etc.
DIEGO ZUKO, COURTESY IMAGES, KATHRYN WIRSING
2. Use a color wheel to find complimentary colors.
When you're talking about colors, "complimentary" actually
means "opposite." Black and white, for instance, are
complimentary colors. That's why they look so great
together. You know, "opposites attract." That whole thing.
Every color has a complimentary color. It's just whatever is
on the opposite side of the color wheel. True
complimentary colors are the same distance from the
center of the wheel, but it can be very striking to combine
a color from the center, like a pale yellow green, with its
complimentary color from the outside edge, like a deep
mauve.
DIEGO ZUKO, COURTESY IMAGES, KATHRYN WIRSING
From left to right: Ice Blue Shirt, IRIS & INK, $98; Orange
Animal Print Skirt, RIVER ISLAND , $42; Green Skinny Jeans,
NEW LOOK , $33; Pink Gingham Crop Top, NEW LOOK , $17
3. Give it the ombré test.
Different shades of the same color or similar colors almost
always look good together (yes, this includes red and pink).
If you need some help, do a Google image search for
"ombré [insert color here]" and see what pops up.
DIEGO ZUKO, COURTESY IMAGES, KATHRYN WIRSING
From top to bottom: Pink and Red Crop Top, TOPSHOP ,
$72; Red Pencil Skirt, RIVER ISLAND , $20; Pencil Heels,
ASOS, $47
DIEGO ZUKO, COURTESY IMAGES, KATHRYN WIRSING
From top to bottom: Blue Blazer, FRENCH CONNECTION,
$110; White Cutoffs, AMERICAN EAGLE, $40; Pink Suede
Pumps, JEFFREY CAMPBELL , $140; Blue and Purple Drop
Earrings, STYLE&CO.; , $16
4. Try the "J.Crew Hack."
J.Crew shoots all their clothes fully styled on a model, and
they have a really great way with color. Take the piece of
clothing you are looking to build into an outfit, then go on
JCrew.com or open one of their catalogues and find
something, anything, the same color. Then just make a
note of the colors they are combining and copy it with
clothes from your own wardrobe. I call it a "J.Crew Hack,"
but really it works with any brand or site that shoots their
clothes on-model: Nasty Gal, Net-A-Porter, Zara. It's just a
matter of finding a brand you like and copying the combos
they use.
DIEGO ZUKO, COURTESY IMAGES, KATHRYN WIRSING
First row from left to right: Printed Top, J.CREW , $298;
White Beanie, COCCODE , $69; Lavender Bra, JOURNELLE ,
$99; Second row: Silver Pineapple Earrings, JENNIFER
LOISELLE, $75; Denim Shirt, MANGO, $50; Third row:
Chartreuse Skirt, RIVER ISLAND , $50; N**e Strappy Heels,
SHOE REPUBLICA, $50
5. Let a print be your guide.
Find a print from a designer you love (or even something in
your own wardrobe) and break it down into its different
colors; then make an outfit. If you want to take it to the
next level, rank the colors in the print from most used to
least used and wear larger items like dresses, coats, or
sweaters in the most-used colors and smaller items and
accessories in the least-used colors.
DIEGO ZUKO, COURTESY IMAGES, KATHRYN WIRSING
Clockwise from the top: Orange Paisley Scarf, JOHN LEWIS ,
$150; Blue Sunglasses, TOMS EYEWEAR, $179; Cream Biker
Jacket, RIVER ISLAND , $120; Yellow Crossbody Bag, DVF ,
$150; Black Leaf Earrings, MONIES, $187; Blue Caged Heel,
WHITE BLACK M
6. When in doubt, black and white.
Neutrals in general (navy, khaki, gray, denim, gold, silver,
etc.) are great for color mixing, but black and white,
especially together, are definitely the superstars of the
family. It's like they're Beyonce, and every other neutral is
Solange. You literally cannot go wrong.
J.Crew is style over fashion and offers timeless outifts for Women, Men, and Children. It's sneakers with suits, color blocks & pattern-mixing, denim jeans with chambray. At J.Crew there's more than one way to wear an outfit.
