Colour is the quickest way to make an outfit look intentional. You do not need a design degree. A few simple ideas will cover most of what you wear.
The colour wheel in two minutes
Colours sit on a wheel. Colours next to each other (blue and green) are analogous and look calm together. Colours opposite each other (blue and orange) are complementary and look vivid. Neutrals such as black, white, grey, beige and navy go with almost everything.
Warm vs cool undertones
Skin, hair and eye colour tend to lean warm (golden, peach, olive) or cool (pink, red, blue). Warm tones often suit earthy colours such as camel, rust and olive. Cool tones often suit jewel tones and crisp colours such as navy, emerald and berry.
Three easy outfit combinations
- Monochrome. Different shades of one colour, for example cream, camel and brown.
- Neutral + one accent. A black or navy base with a single colour, such as a red bag.
- Analogous. Neighbouring colours like blue, teal and green for a soft, layered look.
The 60-30-10 rule
Use roughly 60% of your outfit in a main colour, 30% in a second and 10% in an accent. It keeps outfits balanced without much thinking.
Test before you commit
The fastest way to learn what suits you is to see it on yourself. With an app like Kloset you can upload a photo of yourself, paste a link to an outfit and see a preview before you buy it.
The short version
Learn your undertone, keep a neutral base, add one accent, and test colours on yourself before spending money.