A Wheel of Color

Day 4 of the 21-Day Challenge was color blocking — when an outfit combines two or more blocks of solid color, usually by placing them next to each other.

shirt — Como (thrifted)

silk jacket — Rafaella (thrifted)

skirt — Liz Claiborne (thrifted)

sandals — Madden Girl (thrifted)

Mixing separates of bright colors — turquoise, fuchsia, and __________ (I need my crayon box to figure out what color my jacket is) — is a fairly standard way to color block. You can also mix shades of the same color or use one item of clothing (a dress) that has been color blocked for you.

I've seen some people add a colorful purse, socks, and jewelery, and even paint their nails when color blocking. I wasn't quite so daring, but since the color of choice for my wardrobe has been pretty drab in the past, these colors were well outside my comfort zone, so I was kind of proud of it.

* We're talking dark colors here — browns, black, navy blue, dark green, and so on. 

I pretty much just grabbed some clothes in bright colors, and then mixed and matched until I came up with something that I thought looked pretty good together. But I don't always pair the best colors together, and I often stick with the tried and true instead of trying something new. Using the color wheel to do this approach to color blocking would help avoid those pitfalls. (Did you know that Sir Isaac Newton invented the color wheel in 1706?)

Image from Corporate Fashionista

The easiest way to pick harmonious colors when color blocking is to select colors that are either complementary or colors that are analogous colors. Complementary colors are opposite each other on the color wheel (red and green, or shades of red and green to keep from looking like it's Christmas in August). Analogous colors, on the other hand, are next to each other on the color wheel.

Although the mix of colors in my outfit worked pretty well, I don't think the Mom jeans kind of look of my skirt worked so well. In fact, it was kind of depressing. What gives with that? My skirt doesn't have to be form fitting and hug every curve, but I do think that it should flatter my shape. And this particular skirt is not doing me any favors. A wide black belt might have helped avoid the Mom look a  little (at least in the front). What do you think?

What's your favorite color to wear?

A Block of Color

Monday, April 4, 2011

I did it! Woot! Woot! Hip, hip, hooray! I am now an official color blocker, and I can say that I have climbed fully on board with one of the fun spring trends! At least I think I did it. You be the judge.

 skirt -- Anthony Richards (thrifted)

sweater -- Delia*s

tights -- xHilaration (Target)

shoes -- Mia (DSW)

I was so proud of this outfit -- from remixing the skirt/dress to the colors to wearing my peep-toe shoes (these are the highest shoes I've ever worn!). And yet, it really elicited some really strange reactions at work. One guy, a friend, after indicating to me that he liked my outfit -- asked me if the people at work give me strange looks with how I dress sometimes. I laughed, and said all the time. I work in a very conservative office -- most of the guys who I work directly with have stopped being surprised when they see me, even though they still tease me on the occasion. It's all good -- I deserve it most of the time, and I can give it back pretty good.

The second guy, however, I was really looking forward to his reaction. I thought I had put together this really cool outfit, and even though it was a bit outside my comfort zone, I thought it was pretty good. He is this very sweet older man, and I always ask him for his opinion because I can trust what he says. Well, he took one look at me wearing this, and he practically started shaking, he was so horrified! Oh my, he didn't want to say anything to me -- I had to force it out of him.

 

Yikes! 

He was literally horrified by how I had put this together. LOL! He didn't like the necklace, the shoes, the color combination ... I don't think there was anything that he really liked about it. Oh my -- it was funny. He usually likes what I wear, and pumps me up and makes me feel better about myself. I did swap out the necklace for a different one after I talked to him, but I don't think he liked it all that better. 

I think these are the tallest shoes that I have ever worn -- the heel is 4 inches! That got a whole nother reaction from all the guys at work, as I either towered above them or was the same size as them!

Here's the other way that I wore the skirt/dress. Ignore the horrible look on my face -- I was having a fight with my photographer about politics. Suffice it to say that we are complete opposite sides of the spectrum. We usually don't talk about it, because we've found out that it's better for our friendship if we don't.

Here are other ways that I have worn the cardigan.

 

Now, head on over to Pretty Shiny Sparkly and see how Bloggers do Color Blocking better!