shwryr: Color Block Like The Pros

Jonathan Saunders

Color blocking is one of the biggest trend this Spring and Fall's up coming seasons. But how do you color block your clothes stylishly without looking like a clown? The truth is there is no magical combination or answer to this, the key is to keep it simple. But before you start color blocking all over the place lets have a very brief review of color in case you were too busy eating crayons in preschool the first time they went over this.

Above is a color wheel. It is, well..a wheel...of color, that gives you the basic combination's of hues. As a base, there are 3 primary colors: Red, Yellow, and Blue. Now unless you really want to look like the Burger King sign or any other fast foot chair at that, I would probably avoid putting these 3 colors together in large blocks of color. When you mix two of these three colors together you get secondary colors, Orange, Green, and Purple.

Yigal Azrouel

Tertiary colors are colors you get when you mix a primary color with a secondary color. Like red-orange or blue-green, these colors are great colors to start off with when you're color blocking and give your outfits a more interesting look and this kids is where the fun begins.

I've noticed on my fashion adventures that mixing complementary colors (colors that are directly across from each other on the color wheel) is your safest bet for a fun, modern look but not necessarily in their purest hue. Play with different shades and tints in order to create something new with your look.

What the heck are are shades and tints? Tints are basically your primary,secondary and tertiary colors mixed with white, in other words they're pastels. Shades are colors mixed with black, and tones are these colors mixed with gray. Need a visual? click here.

So now that we've been through our little colors, a little advise from me to you. Color blocking is not all about using bright colors. Color block with really delicate and soft combination of colors for an ultra feminine look. Put together a bold color mixes with a muting color like gray, black, or white for a more masculine feel. Bright colors tend to create a very modern look. So its all about what you are trying to achieve with your outfit in general. Don't be afraid to play with colors young Jedi.

Alice + Olivia

Don't just color block with fabrics, utilized your accessories as well. find a nice bold colored or black belt to break colors up the same goes with earrings and bangles as well. Another thing that I keep seeing on the runway is that designers are using printed and textured fabrics to color block with, which is a great look for this coming fall.

Because I adore you for even reading my shenanigans here are some color combination's to start you off. Now some of these combination's are six in a row so don't go all Punky Brewster on me and wear all six together, I will not claim you as my friend if you do.