the Color Series: Part 2 - Complementary colors in fashion

 Complementary color schemes are my fashion go-to for standing out in a crowd.  They are unexpected magnets for second glances and compliments. Complementary colors are opposite one another on a color wheel. Read on to see why working with complementary colors in your wardrobe is the fast ticket to looking like you really know what you are doing when you get dressed.

As you can see, complementary colors sit directly across from one another on the color wheel.  The reason these colors “complement” one another is because the combination of colors across from one another on the color wheel consists of all three primary colors.  For example, blue and orange are complementary colors: blue is a primary and orange is a secondary color, made from the other two primaries (red + yellow).  Here is another one involving tertiary colors (colors made from adding a primary to a secondary color)i: BlueGreen + RedOrange EQUALS (Blue + Blue+Yellow) PLUS (Red + Red+Yellow).

1- OK, enough math, you get the idea; all colors come from some variation of the primaries and our brains really seem to respond to see all the primaries together in some form or er, fashion.

 2- Playing with complementary colors will shows you are confident and a knowledgeable dresser.  As I said before, it’s unexpected and bold.  Something to be aware of is that you don’t necessarily have to use the full chroma version of a color/hue to get a complimentary look.  Chroma measures the intensity or amount of pigment in a hue.  So you’ve got true red, which is incredibly bright and then you’ve got more dull reds, like burgundy and crimson.  

For example, take this deep plum (violet hue) dress and mix it with these dull, metallic gold (yellow hue) peep toe pumps and it creates an elegantly and striking look.

Sometimes I also enjoy mixing something bright with something dull.  Here is a picture of me from this past December wearing a muted green jacket over a true red top that peeked through.  It was different, that’s for sure, but people seemed to love it!

3-Try mixing two sets of compliments to truly get people thinking, “That is fantastic!  How does she put those colors together?”.  Here, Dior is doing it remarkably well!   Why it works:You’ve got one complementary set of colors made of lilac (violet hued) base, embellished with smatterings of gold (yellow hue), paired next to another complementary pair of colors; turquoise (blue green hue) set off with the tiniest bits of burnt sienna (red-orange hue). 

SIDENOTE: I found a blog specifically on Dior’s history with color and some of the fashion house’s rules for implementing color into each new season’s collection—fascinating!  

You’ve got some reasons, now find a way to implement the principles into your wardrobe, be it through a top and a bottom, accessories, a dress with a splendid pair of shoes, or jewelry.  

Here are some more examples from Polyvore users:

Send us pics, we’d love to see what you came up with!