It's A Colourful World!

Colour coordination is tricky business. If you don't get it right, you may look like a clash of the seasons or worse, some disney character! I once knew a lady in the corporate world who would dress from head to toe (literally!) in the same shade of colour. Once, she was dressed all in pink; pink hair clip, pink pearl necklace, pink ring, pink pant suit, pink handbag and of course, pink shoes!!! No kidding. And the Boss called her the Pink Panther. Another time, she came dressed head to toe in green. And the Boss called her Kermit. Just yesterday I saw someone wearing a bright orange bandana, orange earrings, orange T-shirt... trick-or-treat, Halloween's coming! I bet if she could find a pair of orange pants, she would have worn it! Hence, I felt compelled to give my two cents worth of advice on colour coordination less more fashion crimes are being committed.

Here are 4 simple rules:

1. Monochromatic Colour Scheme

Choose a monochromatic colour scheme and you will be safe. Monochromatic colour refers to different tones of a single colour. As it lacks in contrast, it projects a calming and soothing mood. To avoid looking dull, play with different textures and prints.

2. Colour Intensity

Colours of the same intensity will look harmonious when combined. Intensity refers to the brightness or dullness of a colour. For example combine pastel pink and blue, cobalt blue and canary yellow, dove grey and daffodil yellow.

Pastels

3. Two-Colour Combination

For a business look, wear only two colour families e.g. navy suit with white shirt and red tie or teal skirt suit with red inner blouse. One of the two colours should be dominant and the other colour would be subordinate.

4. Colour Contrast

Strive for colour contrast to create an authoritative and outstanding look. Combine two colours that are opposite of one another on the colour wheel e.g. green and red, yellow and purple, orange and blue.