So You Want To Wear Color (Part II)

when the vibe calls for more is more

Hi Readers!

I’m back with a reader-requested follow up to the newsletter from last month where we talked about Meeting Your Unsung Color Heroes.

The often forgotten hero colors like Olive, Grey, and Beige tones that perfectly compliment your favorite bold colors and patterns. I like to think of it as an introduction for neutral lovers who want to experiment with infusing more color into their wardrobe, or want to learn how to style those “how to wear” statement pieces in an approachable way.

Today’s newsletter is going to take it a step further and cover different ways to mix color on color, pattern on pattern, and have more fun with those statement pieces already hanging in your closet!

I just love the anything goes fun of Summer - the fancy ladylike Liberowe tweed shirt, the patterned pareo (that I like to imagine she found for $10 from a street vendor while traveling), the chill Vans slip-ons, and no label raffia tote. No other season allows you to mix-n-match with such carefree spirit!

Here’s what we’ll cover today - in this order but not necessarily in particular order of easiest to hardest or simplest to boldest!

1. The 3 T’s - Tone, Tint, Texture

2. Stripe Mixing

3. Consistency In Color

4. Consistent In Prints

5. Another Unsung Color Hero To Introduce You To!

6. What To Wear Instead Of Your Default White Button Down

7. What To Wear Instead Of Your Default White Tee

8. Leopard As A Neutral

9. Embellished Statement Pieces

10. Shoes As An Intro To Color

11. Harmonious Colors

12. Non-Neutral Neutrals (saving my favorite for last!)

Before we dive in, I want to share this practical tip first:

I know color and patterns can feel a bit bold and intense which is why neutrals can feel like a cozy comfort zone but remember:

• You don’t need to have color/print take up a large visual “footprint” on your body. You can easily inject and layer colorful interest through smaller elements like accessories and shoes.

• You don’t need to always choose color that sits close to the face. This is where I think a lot of people get stuck. The majority of color I find in clients’ closets are in Tops. It can feel harder to wear colors when you are seeing it right next to your face so if there are colors you like but don’t necessarily love wearing, try moving it farther away!

Try a colorful statement on a pant so it sits farther from your face, break up bolder colors with neutrals to create visual “breathing room”, or use accessories like shoes to inject the statement.

THE 3 T’s: TONE, TINT, TEXTURE

One of my favorite ways to play with color is creating tonal looks. Not only because I find it to be the easiest, but because it can look incredibly chic!

I think this is a great option if you want to inject more color in your life but love the simplicity and clean impact of neutrals. Essentially, you are creating a visual “wash” with color.

When creating a tonal colorful look, keep in mind the 3 T’s:

• Tone - The darker shade which is made less vibrant by adding a bit of gray (or, a mix of black and white). Cheat tip: Just think of “toning down” the color intensity

• Tint - A color made lighter by adding white. It could either be directly matching the tone color but it can also just be within a similar color family (ie: pink + coral)

• Texture - The element that’s going to help your looks from feeling too intense or too flat

Some other visual examples - notice the tone (darker shade) + tint (lighter shade of the tone) + texture (difference in fabrications, trim details, finishes)

This is an easy formula you can apply through any season — and it will then feel easier to incorporate other colors depending on if you want to go for more or less color (ie: the blue lace trip of the slip dress, the blue clutch, the mint and green sandals)

STRIPE MIXING

Ok, I know all of you have some stripes in your closet! So how about we play with some fun easy mix-n-match ideas, shall we?

Option #1: Stripes on Stripes

If you want a bolder cleaner visual, look for stripes of similar width. You can play with inverse colors (ie: Red ground White stripe + White ground Red stripe) or mix-n-match colors.

My personal favorite is a combo of 1 classic stripe + 1 variegated stripe (like the 1st image or last 3 images). It feels a bit more subtle while also being playful.

I know you all have some version of these stripes sitting in your closet…have fun experimenting! I particularly love the contrast between a vertical and horizontal stripe like the last image (I also love the fabric juxtaposition of a slouchy knit with a structured poplin)

I can’t wait to rewear this outfit from last summer…a blue linen stripe shirt + a wider striped scarf-turned-pareo that has a similar blue in it

Option #2: Stripes With Track Pants

This is a more specific idea but I love a good track pant or short for casual days. The simple vertical side stripes are the perfect foundation to layer additional stripes on top of. You don’t need a striped pant for this…try with a gingham, a boxer stripe etc.

I think I’ve had this first image of stylist Emma Jade Morrison saved for like ten years. It still feels so cool and effortless to me and you can see that the stripe mixing idea continues to deliver through the more recent images on the far right.

Option #3: Blue Stripes Are Basically A Neutral

The reason I love an oxford blue solid or stripe button down is that in a lot of ways, it can act as a neutral. Similar to how a pair of light blue jeans or a chambray button down kind of works with anything.

Going from more subtle to more is more: Stripe Shirt + Subtle Check Pant // Stripe Pants + Hawaiian Floral // Stripe Shirt + Multi-Plaid Skirt + Herringbone purse (this last image is a good example of how sometimes when you want to wear a statement like the plaid skirt, it can actually feel more visually balanced by adding more pattern on top of it vs something like a solid black tee which would feel very high contrast and make the skirt stand out too much)

Also, love this idea of playing with stripes and either more stripes or pattern via a scarf or bandana -

If mixing patterns scare you, take baby steps! Step 1: Consistent color to create error-proof cohesion (Brown) // Step 2: Mix colors - This will work with either white ground or varying ground colors // Step 3: Mix stripes with a print. I like that the stripe color is still neutral to make it feel sophisticated vs super bold

CHOOSE A CONSISTENT COLOR STORY

An easy way to play with color and print is to choose two things that share the same color. This will create a visual through-line to help with cohesion, pairing things that “shouldn’t” go together and making them work.

These examples show one consistent color shared between the main pieces. The beauty (and ease) is that it doesn’t really matter what the item and/or pattern is — stripes with geo, plaid with paisley, geometric tweed bag with tropical florals, scarf prints with pinstripes etc

CHOOSE A CONSISTENT PRINT SCALE/STORY

How do you make two very different prints work together? Try to find consistency in scale (the size of a motif in a pattern), or finding a similar print in varying scales. This will help visually tell a cohesive story when the colors may not feel like they would work.

The first two images are different prints in similar scales. The last two images are similar prints in varying scales.

A new-to-me brand I’ve been loving - Carlota Cahis - A Barcelona based knitwear designer. It’s kind of giving me High Sport vibes but at a more affordable price point and a bit more interesting.

ANOTHER UNSUNG COLOR HERO

In our Unsung Color Hero newsletter, we talked about Olive, Grey, and Beige tones but I’d like to introduce you to yet another great hero color — Brown.

But not like a flat brown…something with a bit of texture by way of fabric or finish or weave, or with an interesting undertone that helps it read more like a Mocha Brown vs a serious Espresso Brown.

The richness and depth of the brown will help ground bolder colors and prints through softer contrast. It can also help visually “lift” and bring out other secondary colors and prints.

Such a great color combo! And I love how the brown helps pick up the pale yellow bandana scarf tucked inside the shirt.

Both yellow and red are quite bright and saturated colors. White feels like the easiest choice but it can sometimes feel too stark and high contrast. I love how brown creates a softer contrast while adding richness and depth.

Another example - obviously different styling but see how the Brown visually brings out the colors of the floral pant more than the White top does?

My linen brown tank ties in the butter yellow, blue, and red of my outfit here. White would easily work too but I think it would lose the subtle richness that brown offers.