Colour My World

Red and pale blue 

Pale Pink and deep green

Deep blue green and avocado 

Green blue and sky blue
(These colours just don’t match comfortably.)

When wearing colours, try to avoid adding in too much white, as the white will have the visual effect of draining the life out of the colours.  When choosing patterned fabrics, colours on white can be gorgeous, but a white pattern on coloured fabric can be quite matronly looking.

Black and dusky pastel blues, pinks and greens can be gorgeous, but teamed with other pastels can look a little tacky.

When wearing black or white in combination with other colours, try to ensure that the black or white outweighs the colour, rather than vice versa.  A hint of colour with black or white is refreshing and enlivening – a hint of black or white on large amounts of colour tends to have the opposite effect.

If you are matching a series of colours together, make sure that they are all approximately the same shade.  For example, rich reds, greens, yellows, blues and purples look great together, but a pastel pink needs other pastels to show it to its best advantage.  So, when looking at the colour wheel, colours from around the same ring or tonal range work the best when matched together.

Colour matches to avoid include red and green (Joyeaux Noel!), red and yellow (‘Would you like fries with that?”) green and gold (Howzat!) and red, white and blue (C’mon Aussie, Rule Britannia or Yankee Doodle, take your pick).

When mixing colours than you might not normally match (say, pale rose pink and mint), you may find that you feel a little uncomfortable.  The trick to tying unfamiliar colour combinations together is to find an accessory or item of clothing that features both colours, and finish the outfit with that.  For example, a bluish purple skirt worn with a cherry red singlet top can be pulled together with a glass bead necklace in shades of amethyst and ruby, or some red and purple Indian bangles or hair clips.  And a pale pink dress worn with a soft mint cardigan might be finished off with the addition of a pink velvet rose with pale green leaves pinned in your hair.

The hot colour for Spring / Summer 2006 is set to be green, in all shades from pale moss to deep bluish mermaid green.  Soft greens and pale pinks and yellows are very sweet together, and richer lime greens can work well with other citrus tones.  Most greens have a shade of purple that will set them off beautifully.

Be judicious when mixing colour, and don’t fall into the trap of thinking that ‘neutral’ colours (black, white, grey and beige) work with everything. Earlier today I saw a  woman wearing black knee length boots, a cream coloured cotton skirt with red flowers on it, a lily white singlet and a grey woollen shrug.  All the items on their own were fine enough, but together they were a disaster.

Some Surprise Pairings
Contrary to popular belief, pink and red work beautifully together, as long as they have the same basic tone.  For example, pretty baby pink works with cherry red, but not fire engine red, or any other red that would sit directly next to orange on a colour chart.

Cherry red and rose pink

The old saying that ‘blue and green should not be seen, without a colour in between’, is also only partially true.  If the blue is a soft, true blue, and the green is a slightly bluish, mint green, the pairing is heavenly, but the same blue paired with a yellowish, grassy green will be very jarring. A bluish green, a greenish blue and a bluish purple (as long as they are from the same tonal range) mixed together can be absolutely stunning.

Pink and green can work wonderfully well together, but only under fairly specific circumstances.  Pale pastel pink harmonises beautifully with either pale leaf, mint or sea green, as long as they are from the same tonal range, providing a beautiful look that was popular throughout the 1950’s.  The darker the pink and green get, the less compatible the two colours become, though the right hot pink can be absolutely gorgeous with a deeper bluish sea green.

Hot pink and fiery orange are absolutely stunning together, particularly if the two colours share a reddish base.Deep orange and bluish or pinkish purple can also be surprisingly good combinations, though paler purples and oranges don’t really mix.  Pale peach colours and pale pinkish purples are also a little difficult, though if you add in a little pink from the same tonal range, it can produce a really pretty sunset coloured effect.

Green and purple are just fabulous together.  Whether you’re talking lilac and mint or deep iris and forest green, these two colours look just splendid together, as long as they share the same degree of blueness.

Colours and Your Colouring.
This can be tricky, because skin, eye and hair colour vary to such a great extent, though there are a few general tips that seem to work for everybody.
Fair Skin, Blonde Hair
Very fair, light blondes should avoid wearing too much black, as it can positively swamp you.

Olive Skin
Those with olive skin tones should avoid yellows, oranges, orange-reds, and yellowish greens as they will make your skin look sallow.

To Grey or Not To Grey
Grey is great on those with fair skin and blonde or jet black hair, but does nothing for those with brown hair and olive, caramel or chocolate skin. Too much grey on anybody can be very overpowering.

Ways with White
Clean, crisp white is great on fair skinned blondes and brown skinned brunettes, but can be less successful on those with red hair and pinkish fair skin or those with brown hair and olive skin.

In The Pink
There is a shade of pink to suit everybody – it really is the most versatile of the colours.

Blood and cherry reds are generally more flattering than orange or ‘stop sign’ reds, though these colours are breathtaking of women with very dark skin.

Flame Hair
Fair skinned redheads are very flattered by green (though do go easy on the acid grass and sea greens), and by gorgeous dusky and rose pinks.

Purple Patch
Most purples, no matter how dark, tend to have the effect of appearing to widen your silhouette, so sometimes a few purple touches are far better than head to toe lilac, iris and mauve.

Brown Eyed Girl
Brown is often absolutely perfect on those with brown eyes, olive toned skin and brown hair.

With Compliments
And finally, listen to what other people say – if you find yourself being complimented every time you wear a particular item or colour, take heed!  Some colours just seem to have that effect; your skin is radiant, your eyes sparkle, they set off your hair, or just plain make you feel fabulous.  Whatever the reason is, stock up when you can (though don’t go too crazy, nobody needs a monochrome wardrobe), and bask in the compliments!

Happy colour matching!