“The picture will have charm when each colour is very unlike the one next to it,” said Italian author, artist, architect, poet, priest, linguist, philosopher and cryptographer Leon Battista Alberti. It seems evident today that Alberti’s dated yet insightful statement is very much apparent in fashion today… and I couldn’t agree more with it. Don’t be afraid to combine bright and highly contrasting colors – that’s my style advice of the week.
In stores everywhere, highlighter colored tops and bottoms are scattered from wall to wall. I dare say some colors are so bright, they are actually almost too bright to look at! But hey, if you want to make a statement, wearing brights is definitely a way to get some serious attention. Not to mention, bright colors also brighten up one’s skin tone and literally add a certain glow to the wearer. Colors are always in, especially in the summer time.
This week’s Waterloo Fashionista sports a very colourful, feminine and playful outfit combined with some very “in” shaped glasses, layers and a rockin’ print shirt; a combination of many trends we see today. Such an outfit makes for excellent flexibility, because it’s not too casual and not too formal… the perfect balance suitable for various events and occasions. “When buying clothes and picking outfits, I pay close attention to buying pieces I can wear to work, and wear for fun. The pieces I wore in the photo are pieces I have worn to work, and pieces I have worn out in the summer,” says the stylish Fashionista.
We see that this Fashionista’s outfit exuberates two highly contrasting colors… blue and orange. Her choice is splendid, mainly for two reasons. Firstly, her dark blue printed top she has on under her button-up shirt has discrete hints and accents of orange which help to soften up the contrast and pull the look together. Secondly, her color choice is fabulous. On the color wheel blue is a primary color and orange is its polar and secondary opposite. Two colors across each other on the color wheel create the highest amount of contrast and can also work together as compliments. Don’t be afraid to mix the colors around and combine those which were formerly considered “awkward.” You’d be surprised to see what magic you can actually create with color alone! Steal this Fashionista’s look here and check out Salvatore Ferragamo Spring-Summer 2012 collection for some exciting combinations of print and color.
So if you must only remember one thing, remember this – contrasting colours makes for composed and complimentary concordance!