One of the deepest dilemmas when it comes to the wardrobe concerns color coordination for clothes. Navigating through different color shades and patterns without making a mistake is truly a complicated task: so let's discover together with Artigli the best color combinations for clothes for an impeccable result!
Matching clothing colors: the basic rules
Everything starts from the famous Itten color wheel, a tool used as a guideline for color matching in clothing. It looks like a circle containing a hexagon, which in turn contains a triangle. The triangle, which stands out in the center, is formed by the three primary colors: yellow, blue, and red. Moving outward, we move to the secondary colors, formed by the fusion of two primary colors: thus we find ourselves with orange, green, and purple. The circle containing everything, on the other hand, presents all the different shades of primary and secondary colors to use in color combinations for clothing.
The rule that suggests how to match colors in clothing according to the Itten wheel pushes us to pair colors that are in opposite positions to each other, but never those that are adjacent. Each color can then be paired without problems with black and white, the passe-partout shades in clothing-color combinations. Further suggestions in the field of color matching in clothing suggest that we should also consider that every color can appear in a light, dark, or vibrant version. These color shades of different tones help us when we have garments of the same color: it is better not to combine them unless they feature different tonal gradations.
The standard rules for women's clothing color matching also tell us not to pair two primary colors or two secondary colors. When choosing the color combination for clothes, it is better never to match more than three colors at the same time to avoid a "Harlequin" effect. The skin tone should also be taken into consideration: dark skin is enhanced by light colors, while fair skin is best brought out with vibrant colors. Never underestimate the hair color tone: the most successful women's clothing color combinations are those that see pastel tones paired with light hair and warm tones paired with dark hair.
How to match clothing colors with shoes?
A proper color combination in clothing cannot ignore the touch that shoes can add. Here is a basic overview of the main combinations between clothes and footwear colors. Silver-colored shoes, such as jewel sandals, in addition to being pairable with all cool tones, are perfect with different shades of green, eggplant purple, magenta, orange, and light blue. White shoes go well with all neutral and light tones, but they add an extra touch to outfits of the following color shades, such as orange, navy blue, gingham print, and olive green.
Do you have a pair of blue shoes and don't know how to wear them? Let yourself be amazed by the beautiful effect they give in combination with yellow, white, aqua green, black, and orange. Brown shoes are a must-have in the female wardrobe, especially in the colder months: following the advice on the perfect color matching in clothing, we discover that a pair of brown ankle boots goes very well with denim, yellow, beige, powder pink, and plum color.
Finally, the inevitable black shoes, a guarantee of style to own in every model and height. In terms of elegance, black goes hand in hand with the following color shades: fuchsia, cream, pink, light blue, and red.
How do you match accessories to a dress?
If you think that color matching in clothing has no more secrets for you, you still haven't accounted for the choice of accessories. Matching clothes and colors requires an attention to detail that must be applied across different seasons and occasions. The rule of matching the colors of shoes and bags seems to be definitively shelved. To avoid mistakes, it is advisable to choose a bag in neutral tones—black, white, or beige—that does not clash with the rest of the outfit and that echoes the color of the shoes or a similar shade in some detail.
In winter, hats and scarves also appear among the accessories: the advice is to choose them in vibrant colors, daring to brighten up classic coat colors, whether they are light or dark. In the warmer months, the scarf is replaced by the very elegant foulard, to be chosen in the most disparate patterns to liven up a sober outfit, or in a neutral solid color so as not to overdo a look that is already vibrant.
Finally, special attention for jewelry, which must be worn according to some guidelines: metals must be coordinated with each other and generally, one follows the undertone rule when matching clothing colors to those of precious accessories. Silver goes with outfits in cool tones, while gold goes well with warm looks.
Artigli offers colorful garments to mix and match to create looks that are always different and suitable for the various occasions of daily life. Let yourself be inspired by this quick guide on clothing and color matching and discover all the new arrivals by Artigli immediately to stylishly renew your wardrobe!