Fashion 101: Color Review Session 1

Posted on | July 12, 2009 | 15 Comments

Color Wheel of Clothes, originally uploaded by academichic.

When we first explored the color wheel and experimented with various color combinations, we found it to be extremely helpful in lending us new eyes with which to see our wardrobes. This was so useful the first time around, that we decided to revisit the color modules and to challenge ourselves to a review session using our summer wardrobes. (Since E. recently gave birth to baby e., she’ll be excused from the review session unless she decides to join in from time to time.)

This coming week, we will review Neutrals and Neutrals with a Pop. To read more about this color mix lesson, click here…

Neutrals — black, brown, gray, tan, and navy (okay, and white too) — are the staple of most wardrobes. And for good reason. They can easily mitigate more piercing color combinations, toning down an outfit and providing cohesion. They can also produce rich and textured outfits by themselves when layered and combined with just each other. With this module, we explore how ensembles comprised entirely of neutrals achieve a rich and interesting look, and how a simple pop of color brings an unexpected boost to an otherwise softer neutral palette.

Neutral Colors:

In painting, neutrals are made by mixing disparate colors together. Mixing red and green paint together will give you a brown, mixing red, yellow, and blue together will push you towards black, and so on. The fact that neutrals actually contain many colors is part of what allows them to look good next to any color.

Neutrals, originally uploaded by academichic.

Like Stacy and Clinton always say on What Not to Wear, “neutrals go with everything,” including each other. Injunctions against wearing black and brown or brown and gray or black and navy together simple aren’t true. When mixed together in a range of shades and textures, an all-neutral outfit can be minimal but sophisticated. Pairing two neutrals in different textures such as jersey and lace or silk and wool can create a clean look. A. is our resident expert on wearing multiple neutrals, dexterously mixing a variety of fabrics and shades.

Neutrals can provide a softer look on their own, or serve as a background for another color. When pairing one “pop” of color with an all neutral palette, the neutrals allow the brighter color to add a wow-factor.

Pop of Pink, originally uploaded by academichic.

S. and A. have both used pink to “pop” an otherwise neutral outfit, S. dressing it up for a date and A. punching up a teaching outfit. While neutrals dominate, the splash of color is what makes the outfit memorable.

Homework:

While an orange-and-black or yellow-and-black combination may be something to avoid because of holiday and wildlife connotations respectively, use other combinations and mix boldly. Pair yellow and gray together. Try out navy and purple. Give black and tan a chance. We’ll be playing with neutrals all week. If you do too, drop us a comment and let us know!

Comments

15 Responses to “Fashion 101: Color Review Session 1”

JustMe
July 12th, 2009 @ 10:29 am

can i just say that your color wheel plate situation is just the coolest thing ever?!! i love you guys :)
Kari
July 13th, 2009 @ 6:12 am

Oh, wonderful!

I have been so inspired to try new combinations as a result of your previous color modules. I can’t wait to see what you will do with neutrals.

I’ll keep my eye out for your updates.
penny
July 13th, 2009 @ 6:22 am

heey!look forward to this challenge!personally i never wear black pants with brown t-shirt but I m always open to creative combinations!
mjb
July 13th, 2009 @ 10:10 am

I think of green as a neutral in my wardrobe (esp olive and khaki greens)- I think this came from Clinton too, but isn’t it a neutral in nature?
13 July 2009 : academichic
July 13th, 2009 @ 11:16 am

[...] Necklace – handmade gift Endnotes: Today marks the start of our week-long review session on neutrals. I am no stranger to neutrals or neutrals mixing (my favorite colors include grey and navy and I [...]
Michelle
July 14th, 2009 @ 4:49 am

Hi, great lesson! I am really loving learning how to mix and match colours.

What do you think of Trinny & Susannah’s caution against wearing colour with black? They say the bright colour cheapens the black. I’m not sure I agree entirely but would love to know what you guys think.
16 July 2009 : academichic
July 16th, 2009 @ 8:08 am

[...] introducing our Neutrals Review for this week, one reader asked whether we would consider olive or khaki green a neutral. My answer [...]
17 July 2009 - Summer neutrals : academichic
July 17th, 2009 @ 7:17 am

[...] the week’s review session on Neutrals progresses, my outfits are also getting increasingly lighter in hue. I think it’s easier to [...]
18 July 2009 - Neutrals with a Pop of Baby : academichic
July 18th, 2009 @ 7:16 pm

[...] rotating through my trusty jersey skirts, but today I wanted to make one little contribution to our review session on neutrals and pulled out this airy cream cotton skirt that has a forgiving elastic waistband. The open front [...]
17 July 2009 - Playing Catch Up : academichic
July 20th, 2009 @ 7:11 pm

[...] Beads – Limited, remixed Endnotes: This was my outfit to wrap up our week of neutrals last week (writing deadlines kept me from posting). I felt very sophisticated all week in my [...]
21 July 2009 : academichic
July 21st, 2009 @ 6:30 pm

[...] to elevate the jersey separates a bit. I think the wide stripes of cream and beige (two soft neutrals) add a dose of polish and sophistication to this cozy piece. Mixing fabrics always adds visual [...]
Fashion 101: Color Review Session 2 : academichic
July 26th, 2009 @ 5:14 pm

[...] When we first explored the color wheel and experimented with various color combinations, we found it to be extremely helpful in lending us new eyes with which to see our wardrobes. This was so useful the first time around, that we decided to revisit the color modules and to challenge ourselves to a review session using our summer wardrobes. In our first eview session we reexamined Neutrals and Neutrals with a Pop. [...]
Fashion 101: Color Review Session 3 : academichic
August 10th, 2009 @ 7:44 am

[...] ourselves to a review session using our summer wardrobes. In our first review session we reexamined Neutrals and Neutrals with a Pop, and for the second review session, we tackled Complementary Colors and the Two-Thirds [...]
Fashion 101: Color Review Session 4 : academichic
August 16th, 2009 @ 2:30 pm

[...] to challenge ourselves to a review session using our summer wardrobes. We have recently reexamined Neutrals and Neutrals with a Pop, Complementary Colors and the Two-Thirds Rule, Triads and Analogous Colors, and are now left to go [...]
21 September 2009 – Pseudo Neutral : academichic
September 21st, 2009 @ 6:55 am

[...] realized that even though neutrals serve as the core of each of our wardrobes, we each have a slightly different take on these go-with-everything hues. I think of A. as our [...]