If you are modishly perceptive, you probably have noticed or even attempted the reemerging art of
contrasting! Yes; contrasting, whether it is dressing opposite colors (also known as color-blocking), pairing dissimilar patterns (stripes vs. floral) or contrasting styles (20s vs. 70s), is worldwide. The art has been seen in street style, amongst celebrities, in the West, East and everywhere in between! Contrasting, if done successfully, can implement culture, vitality and spunk, all in one outfit.
The objective is to appear consistently inconsistent but not overdone. The result of an effectual contrasting initiative should have others believing that every item you own coordinates when you style them together.
Here are some examples of contrasting colors, patterns and styles. I will explain why some work and why some do not:
Contrasting Colors (Color-Blocking)
Besides the obviously opulent silk fabric and extreme potency of color, why does the color arrangement of this avant-garde design by
Haider Ackermann's Summer 2012 Collection work? Essentially, once you understand the
color theory, the answer is easily apprehensible. Take a look at this color wheel:
Notice the colors on the color wheel Ackermann contrasted and incorporated in the image above. Blue-green, green and blue (perhaps violet blue, but leaning more so to blue, nevertheless) were his choice colors for the blouse, pants and shoes respectively.
According to the color wheel, these three colors complement each other because they are of equal distance from one another. You see, in color theory, colors that are of equal distance or opposite sides of one another, are automatically complimentary! How simple to understand, right?! If ever eerie about whether certain colors compliment, refer to this color wheel and you shall be successful!
More examples of contrasting colors:
Green vs. Orange
Orange, (count 3) Red-Violet, (Count 3), Cyan (Isn’t on the color wheel I posted but would fit 3 colors after red-violet, between blue and blue-green. (Iknowlee, popular natural hair guru on Youtube.) Garcelle Beauvais and Kim Kardashian show that any two colors can complement each other. Why does Kim Kardashian’s outfit have more options for a third color as opposed to Garcelle’s?
Why isn’t Rosario Dawson’s color-blocking as successful as the others?
With the exception of her shoes, Folake is wearing colors that are consecutive to one another on the color wheel: blue-green, green, green-yellow and yellow. Bassically, these four colors are monochromatic in which they are all essentially a different version of green. When wearing monochromatic colors, the result is the same as if you were only wearing one color. Therefore, another color outside of the monochromatic family can be implemented. Because any two colors can be paired, red, purple, orange or any shoe color would have still made this contrasting look a success!
Contrasting Patterns
Contrasting patterns successfully is just as simple as color-blocking! The essential is to make sure there is at least one component that unifies both patterns, whether that key component is similar colors, one neutral color/mediator, similar lines or shapes, etc.
Here are some examples of show to successfully mix-match patterns:
Keisha paired two different African printed garments together. The differential patterns in the blouse oppose to the shorts are flattering because of their shared colors, in which both patterns have the color burgundy. The neutral brown in the blouse and the similar oval shapes in both patterns help unify both patterns, as well.
Again, the contrasting patterns work because of the shared colors: orange, olive and burgundy, but the patterns also complement each other because they both have similar shapes: diamonds/ squares.
Solange Knowles.
Though the pattern in the blouse, belt and pants are different, they all share commonalities. Such commonalities include color and type of print; the blouse, belt and pants all have the color royal blue and floral prints in their patterns. As a result, the pairing is successful.
Kelly paired a stripped cardigan with a crocodile-like-printed dress. Nonetheless, the look is a success because the prints match in color: the stripes are tan and navy blue and the dress is white and navy blue.
Playful photo shoot featuring the Scottish/Nigerian presenter, blogger and vlogger Peeks
This photo shows some of the many options Peeks has for shoes due to the colors implemented in her shirt, hat and earrings. More importantly, she successfully pairs a colorful striped button-up with crocodile-printed pants. The contrasting patterns flatter one another due to the tan neutral color of the pants, which acts as a mediator among the numerous colors in this look!
Click here to see how to contrast styles!
