Mastering The Color Mix

In the summer I always get the urge to pile on as many bright colors as I own. The idea always seems much greater in my head. The mirror tells a different story...Mixing colors is about creating an eye-pleasing look. It is not a talent, it's a skill that takes practice. Which is why I want to share some of my master mixing skills with you to make the process fun!

Step #1: Find a print you love.

For me, I like using whites, splashy blues, and pinks. I found this adorable off the shoulder crop tee from Zara this past weekend and I fell in love. I actually waited in line for an hour and a half to get this shirt. It was on sale for $9! Such a steal. That's dedication.

Step #2: Consult the color wheel.
Start by mixing in colors that are complementary. These colors are typically directly across from each other on the color wheel. Let's take my outfit for example. As you can see, the base of this outfit stems from this adorable minty blue pencil skirt from Charlotte Russe. If you look directly across from the blue hues in the below diagram, you can find the complementary colors. In this case, it's pops of yellow and orange. I decided to add a touch of orange with this convertible shoulder bag from Aaraa Boutique.  It's important to note that when you are creating this look you must keep the colors within the same family. Which brings me to my next point...

Step #3: Don't disobey the color family.
Have you ever seen a mix-matched outfit gone wrong? Well, I have and it's my worst nightmare. When you are building an outfit make sure to keep the colors in the same family. Cool tones (shades of blue, light pink, purples, greens..etc) do not mix well with warm tones (deeper colors such as red and brown).

Step #4: Intensify your outfit with saturation.

This is the last part of building a mix-matched colored outfit. Once you have the base of your look you can start playing with the hues. Think of your outfit as a photo you have just taken with your phone. What filter would you like to put on it? Do you want to increase the saturation and make your outfit bold and rich? Or do you want to desaturate it by toning down the color and creating an ombre effect? For example, if you look at the shade of my skirt and heels you will  notice they are actually a very similar color, their levels of saturation are just slightly different. When these two elements are combined it adds a little extra oomph.

Step #5: Have fun, be playful.
Don't forget the basics. It's ok to mix bright colors with...more bright colors! There really are no rules (except for the ones I've outlined above). Have fun with it and when in doubt, send me pics of your color combos. A little honest love always goes a long way ;).

What I'm Wearing: Charlotte Russe Skirt (more adorable looks here)℅, Zara Top and Shoes (on sale for under $25!!, click here), Aaraa of Hoboken Clutch, Necklace, Bracelet and Ring.


XO,