14 February 2010 – Cozy Sunday Scarf

Posted on | February 14, 2010 | 7 Comments

14 February 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Green Hoodie – J Crew
Teal Scarf – NY China Town
Jeans – Gap
Clogs – Dansko
Hat – Gap Outlet

Endnotes:

After a full Saturday and another overnight dumping of snow, I needed something simple and cozy for just a trip to the grocery store and back. I often throw on jeans and a hoodie on Sundays but today I took a yet another style clue from S. and tossed a scarf around my neck and under the hood.

Scarf and Hoodie, originally uploaded by academichic.

I love this color pairing of bright grass green and teal. It’s an analogous scheme I find comforting, using two of my favorite colors, but I think it has an unexpected playful quality. While, sometimes a hoodie, jeans, and danskos are all I’ve got in me, the easy addition of a brightly colored scarf is a quick fix for an otherwise blah outfit.

14 February 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Fashion 101: How to Combine Colors: Triads and Analogous Colors

Posted on | February 15, 2009 | 33 Comments

Module 3: Triads and Analogous Colors

After a week of soft yet rich neutrals, we’re ready to bring a little more color into our wardrobes. Week 3 of our Fashion 101 on Colors has a two-fold focus: triads and analogous colors. While the latter is a phenomenon found frequently in our ensembles, the prior will perhaps present the most difficult challenge yet.

Triads:

Triads are hues that are equidistant on the color wheel. They can create a colorful and bold mix, but can also threaten to compete with each other for attention. Examples include blue, red, and yellow or orange, green, and purple. Of course, creating a triad with fully saturated, bright hues is often a formula for looking like a German Expressionist painting. Triads comprised of tertiary or intermediate colors, however, can be more subtle but still interesting. Examples would include: blue-violet, yellow-green, and red-orange or red-violet, yellow-orange, and blue-green.

Triads, originally uploaded by academichic.

Thus far, only S. has worn what qualifies as the closest to a triad outfit, by combining purple, green, and red-orange. Clearly, we are going to have to push our color-mixing tendencies this week to dabble in triad territory.

Analogous colors:

Unlike complementary colors or triads, analogous colors are not found far apart from each other on the color wheel. These colors are neighbors and play subtly off each other. While a blue and green scheme may seem like a natural choice, other analogous combinations — such as red and orange — may not be as obvious. If we include the tertiary or intermediate hues in the color wheel, an analogous scheme could also pair violet with red-violet or yellow with yellow-orange. Too close for comfort? We’ll find out.

Red and Orange, originally uploaded by academichic.

Analogous Colors – Blue, Blue-Green, and Green, originally uploaded by academichic.

A. and E. tend to wear analogous colors in the cool blue-green families, while S. gravitates to the warm families of red and violet.

Homework:

For this week’s challenge, we are all excited to tackle the triad color scheme and see if we can translate it into compelling outfits. We will also dedicate outfits to analogous combinations, hoping to produce pairings not usually second-nature to us. If you do too, drop us a comment and let us know! And don’t forget to check back soon for Module 4.

If you missed Modules 1 or 2, click for background on this project after the jump!

(more…)