Choosing and Combining Colors Correctly
Combining bright colors is not easy for many, which is why they prefer to only wear blue and black. But there are so many easy ways to combine colored clothes into great outfits if you know a few rules and how colors work.
There are great color combinations that always work. They depend on your type, everyday life and what you wear during the day at work. Blue & White, Blue & Red, Camel & Navy, Brown & Orange, Purple & Yellow, Green & White, Red & Pink, etc. There are classic color combinations that many people can wear. But which ones should you choose and combine?
Combine colors with classic clothes:
- blue blazer (or jacket)
- a blue dress
- a blue blouse (or shirt)
- a pair of jeans
- a blue sweater
If you have some of these pieces in your closet, you're going very well and classic, but you can add WOW effects with color. For example , orange goes great with navy blue , and classic red or pink also go great with it . This can be done at the beginning with smaller splashes of color such as towels, bags or shoes.
Combine colors in clothes
Wouldn't it be exciting if you also showed your individuality and personality through colors? When people come up to you and say: "Oh, you look great today!" or "How nice that I find you here among all the others."
This happens when you wear unfamiliar colors. This gives you a positive feeling and it often makes it easy to get into a relaxed conversation. By the way, you can ask at this point: "Do you think so?" You will get an honest and nice answer that is much more detailed.
Influencing your counterpart with colors?
Colors not only influence our visual perception, but also our feelings and thus have a direct influence on our behavior. Color perception happens at a subconscious psychological level.
You know that: A woman in a bright red dress is a real eye-catcher. Thoughts like: "Wow- she's self-confident" or "Oh, sexy" or "like a light buoy, how embarrassing". As you can see, such a strong performance naturally polarizes.
How to choose and combine colors correctly:
Choose 1-2 basic colors (black, navy, white, grey, beige) and now combine them with an accent colour. Accent colors are colors that look really good on you and make you shine. This can be, for example, cool aqua or pastel tones or warm autumn colors such as mustard yellow and rusty red. If you know what colors suit you, it's easier. If you are unsure, a color and style consultation will help.
Combine high-contrast colors
For a high-contrast outfit, the colors should have a high complementary contrast. They are opposite each other on the color wheel and reinforce their effect. Examples here are red and green, blue and orange, purple and yellow. This is for the fashion forward, you can see such examples in the pictures above.
Contrasting color combinations for beginners
If the combination of a red and green piece of clothing is too much for you, start with accents. To do this, repeat the basic and accent colors (this is called the staple technique) within the outfit, in the accessories or in the shoes.
Combine colours: tone-in-tone looks classy
You can also make the colors in your outfit monochrome. Then take the colors from only one color family in gradations. You can imagine it as being in the Caribbean: the many beautiful shades of blue in the water, sea and sky.
For example, your outfit could consist of such shades of blue in different brightness levels. Monochrome outfits work best in shades of blue, grey, burgundy and brown. It becomes very elegant in beige and cream tones.
Combine colors at events
Colors also have a strong effect on your counterpart. With your know-how, you can evoke the desired reactions in a well-considered manner and appropriate to the occasion... "You're so radiant today!"
Combining the color red – how does red work?
- Red is self-confident, active, determined, loud, feminine, erotic, dominant.
- Red demonstrates power, focus, confidence and a little dominance.
- In the past, CEOs and managers often wore red or red-striped ties with dark blue suits to signal their position. Example Trump.
Red gives authority
The positive thing about red is that this color attracts attention and is used discreetly, reflecting strength and self-confidence. A regular employee or trainee wearing a red tie would look awkward. Some would blaspheme: "He wants to make himself important".
Combine the color red – this is how it works
Red with black looks very dominant, although it is a classic. Camel and red look harmonious and classic together. White and red look fresh. Pink and red are super cool. In autumn, red and chocolate brown are a pleasantly warm duo. In spring, light blue looks fresh with red.
Combining the color blue – how does blue work?
- Blue is competent, steady, friendly and clear. It has a noble character, but also seems a bit conservative, but it always works.
- Blue is THE business color par excellence in many countries. All color types can wear dark blue and it goes with a great many other colors.
- The effect of dark blue is orderly and matter-of-fact - like in the navy or in uniforms.
- Of course, it depends on the garment itself, which cut it has and how it is combined.
- Blue business outfits may be unimaginative, but you can rarely go wrong.
If you wear blue to important negotiations, you play it safe.
If you want to radiate creativity, it is better to use other colors or mix fresh, unusual combinations and patterns.
Combine the color blue correctly
Blue as a base color goes with a huge number of colors and depending on the depth of the blue tone, it can be combined in different ways. Navy blue looks great with camel, orange, grey, red and khaki. Lighter shades of blue harmonize very well with shades that are just as light as cream, pastel and sage.
Combining the color green – how does green work?
- Green has the attributes of natural, growing, dependable, and transparent. As it is a mixed color of blue and yellow, it can contain many other colors and changes greatly with the incidence of light.
- Light green as a natural color is associated with lightness and immaturity.
- Stronger green symbolizes intimacy and growth.
- Dark green has a harmonious, relaxing and energetic effect.
It is not for nothing that many health insurance companies and naturopaths have the color green in their logo. Balanced people who do not want to attract attention are well supplied with green.
If you want to stand out, wear emerald green - it looks elegant and unusual. If you combine it with camel, it becomes classy, with white it becomes sporty, with pink, green becomes super upbeat .
Combining the color yellow – how does yellow work?
- Yellow is a happy, active, and hopeful color.
- Yellow stimulates the mind, is encouraging, exhilarating, promotes concentration and performance.
- Yellow brings clarity, makes you open, promotes exchange and conveys cheerful relaxation.
This is how you combine the color yellow correctly
There is a suitable shade of yellow for every skin type. Whether lemon yellow, egg yolk yellow or mustard yellow. People in yellow ensure a sociable appearance and cheer up a dull day. The color goes well with individual items (blouse, sweater, tie or scarf). Unfortunately, many people do not dare to approach yellow, although some color types can wear it very well. A color consultation can help.
Yellow goes well with these colors:
Choose your shade of yellow consciously. Fresh lemon yellow goes well with grey, camel and white. Bright sunny yellow can look great with a bright Yves Klein blue in summer, and orange also goes really well with it. In autumn, warm yellow tones such as mustard yellow harmonize wonderfully with muted colors such as brown, grey, navy blue or fir green.
Combining colors – how does orange work?
- Orange is vital, sociable and open-minded.
- Orange is associated with life affirmation, activity and the desire for experiences.
- It gives courage and has a constructive effect, which is why it is certainly an option for some professions and appearances.
- But orange is also reminiscent of the 70s and plastic.
With an orange blazer, shirt or sweater you appear full of energy.
However, the effect of orange also has an intrusive and cheap side. It is reminiscent of the plastic of the 70s and looks pretentious. I would therefore not recommend the color for the stage. Incidentally, there are very few prestige items in orange. Alternatively, the shade "coral" works much better.
This is how you combine the color orange correctly
A gentle shade of orange with camel or caramel looks classy. With gray or navy blue, orange becomes more classic. With violet you create an exciting contrast to orange. White in summer is a super classic.
Combine color – how does black work?
- Black looks strong, solemn and elegant,
- But black also seems distant, lifeless and heavy.
- In Germany, the color is associated with law, death and mourning.
- A lot of people in the creative industries wear black, like Steve Jobs.
Black is the typical color for evening wear, for creative people, designers, individualists and highly authoritarian people such as lawyers. Because it is an easy and elegant to combine "color" many people like to wear it.
Black from head to toe is classy. But if the black isn't flawless, it loses elegance.
That's why only high-quality fabrics in black look classy. For example, the “little black dress” should always be of good quality. With accessories in your colors you round off the look. For a bigger impact, I recommend pairing it with another color that suits you.
Combine the color black:
Any other color can be combined with black, although dark blue should really be a visible tone lighter, otherwise it doesn't look classy. The combination with white, cream or pastels is classic. The only shades that don't go well with black are very dark shades of brown, red, or green. They're just too close to black, so it's irritating. Otherwise everything is allowed.
By the way: Black reveals how old or how young you are. A black turtleneck is super cool, but shows every fine line on the face twice as much.
Combining the color white – how does white work?
- White stands for cleanliness and impeccable hygiene.
- White is clean, futuristic and neutral.
- White is not assigned any negative effect.
- Therefore, it is an ideal color for many people. Still, many avoid white because it's prone to dirt.
People dressed head to toe in white attract attention.
White - as the color of the highest rank and of great care, appears "perfect" and enjoys high social status. When a woman walks down the street dressed all in white and she's not a doctor's assistant, you automatically think, "Oh wow, how does she keep that clean for a whole day?" You feel admiration and a little bit of respect, right? Only in Eastern cultures does white represent death and mourning, so it's the other way around.
Which colors suit you?
You can find out which colors make you shine and give your personality a boost in a color and style consultation.