16 August 2010 – Splitting Complements, originally uploaded by academichic.
Sources:
- Top: Ross
- Cardigan: Anthropologie
- Belt: Old Navy
- Skirt: Banana Republic Factory
- Pumps: Dolce Vita, c/o solestruck.com
End Notes:
I think that this week’s color module — on monochrome and split complementary color schemes — is our most challenging, especially in the summer where there are fewer layering possibilities. Furthermore, trying to figure out what exactly constitutes a split complementary color scheme kind of makes my head spin.
Basically, a split complementary color combination means that you pick a color, draw a line straight across the color wheel to its complement, and then ignore that complement in favor of the colors on either side. For any given color on the color wheel, there are three split complementary color schemes possible.
Allow me:
Here I’m using blue-green as my main color. The complement of blue-green is red-orange, but the split complements are red and orange.
But, blue-green could also be on the “split” side of the equation. For example, if red was my main color, then the split complements would be blue-green and yellow-green (on either side of red’s “true” complement, green).
Or, as I managed to cobble together today, when orange is the starting point, the split complements are blue-green and blue-violet, on either side of the “true” complement, blue.
Whew. I do think that split complementary color schemes, despite being a bit complex initially, have a big pay off. They’re unexpected and a little quirky and they have both the lush feel of analogous pairings and the pop of a complementary color scheme. Perhaps I need to introduce a personal mandate to wear a split complement at least once a month?
Well I’ll definitely require a cheat sheet, but at least when I try this out it’ll be both a fashion AND mental accomplishment!
I love this ensemble! The colors are great together. I really like your complements tips.
Love this look, the belt makes your waist look tiny!
http://www.afashionfixation.blogspot.com
Awesome color combination. I need to print that color palette out and put it in my closet!
I noticed that your outfit contains a very small percent of the start color.
Any thoughts about how the proportions of color should be balanced and what that does to the quirky effect?
Loving those shoes! I am always so impressed by you ladies and your ability to wear heels all day! Any secrets? Any brands/designers that are your go-to for comfort and style?
@GingerR – That’s a good question, and one that I might explore further in a future post.
For this outfit, the proportions of colors were dictated more by what I had in my closet. I liked the close analogous pairing of the “split” colors together up top, and I do tend to use my shoes or a necklace as the location for a “pop” of color. But I think this is worth thinking about more, and I’d love to hear if you or any other readers have any initial thoughts.
- e
Wow, that is sure confusing. More than I can handle whilst getting dressed, at least. But you seemed to pull it off beautifully… at the very least your outfit is lovely.
Every time you wear that white skirt I do a double take. I think I need a skirt like that.
The rest is great too, but the skirt is what I notice.
Yoiks. I’m always impressed by how scientifically you ladies approach these color schemes. I’m all about eyeballing it!
I love your hair and style!
I might also look for such a skirt, even though I would’ve rolled my eyes at it in the store :D
I do a less precise version of this frequently. I put on two or three analogous colors, and then add the complement of one of them. I like having that pop of surprise.
Thanks for the explanation!
whoa! this week’s color module make Lacan’s Mirror Stage look easy.
This is awesome. The colors really do look great together, what a fun and exciting way to make dressing a bit more intellectual. You look terrific! Also, I deeply covet those shoes.
Haha I actually do this a lot. It helps to have a boyfriend who happens to be a painter/illustrator :D
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