Carefree Coordinates: How to coordinate colors without looking "matchy"
Photo Credit @lizv photography
Visual interest. Achieving visual interest in an outfit is what makes people stop you and say, Ooh, I love your outfit. Generally there's something that their eye is drawn to, and they can't help but comment. Visual interest can come in a lot of forms, most notably through color, pattern, texture, and shine. Subtle (or bold) cues involving these themes speak to us in a third eye kind of way -- we don't know why we like it or what it's doing to us, but girrrllll, you look good.
One of the questions I get asked a lot as a stylist is, what goes with what? How do I know what matches, or goes together?
When I was still working full time as a consultant in public education reform, colleagues would say, "I never would have thought to put that with that, but I love it!" Now that's one of the things I love hearing most when I help my styling clients with their wardrobes. So how do you achieve visual interest at home?
Let's start with color. I could write a treatise on this, but we're going to keep it simple.
Step 1: Choose a base item.
A base item could be a skirt, pants, a top -- whatever you're excited about pairing with something else.
Pencil Skirt, J. Crew (old) Similar here
I wanted to wear this printed skirt. I like the paisley print and textured fabric. But tops to pair with it..., hmm.
Matchy shirting choices: red, powder blue, white. Totally appropriate, but devastatingly boring.
We can do better.
Here's the trick:
Choose one color in the base item and pair it with something in a color adjacent on the color wheel. I chose blue, and purple is next to blue on the color wheel. So, blue and purple are friends. Instead of a dark purple I kept the look light and summery by going with a lighter purple shade in this lavender top. See? Easy peasy.
I also could have gone orange (or peach for a lighter tonal version), or pink, both sitting next to red on the color wheel.
Saddlebag, Dooney & Bourke
I kept my accessories neutral. You've gotta have a good tan or beige belt in your arsenal, and I'm a sucker for the classic styling of this mini saddlebag. I got mine in 1998. Yes, I am old. You can find similar ones here and here.
Happy Pairing out there! Tag me @brandeisnicole on Instagram in pics of your newly paired outfits!
All Photo Credit @ Liz V. Photography
Dooney & Bourke, $148 (sale), Free People, $40 Rebecca Minkoff, $195, Kate Spade, $198