A Return to Orange…With a Split!

Posted on | August 23, 2010 | 12 Comments

A Return to Orange…With a Split!, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Blue Tank – Banana Republic
Red-Orange Belt – BR Outlet
Yellow-Orange Flower – Blue Onion Marketplace
White Skirt – score form clothing swap
Sandals – Charlotte Russe
Earrings – Gift from A2

Endnotes:

Like L., I failed to get my last color-challenge outfit in last week, but here it is – a split complementary using two shades of orange! I really wanted to push myself with this go at the Fashion 101 on color mixing. I already tried out this red-orange shade in my monochromatic look, but this time I took it a bit further by incorporating it into a split complementary. As E. explained quite well last week, a split complementary has you start with a color on the color wheel (in my case blue) find its compliment (orange) and then the two colors on either side of that complement (red-orange and yellow-orange). If orange is a daring color choice for me, yellow-orange is flat out radical! This fabric flower brooch from Blue Onion Marketplace is the only yellow-orange thing I own, and in the past I have only used it to adorn a summer bag or clutch. Today, I took a cue from S. and pined it up near my face.

A Return to Orange…With a Split!, originally uploaded by academichic.

I think the two shades of orange each pop off the deep blue tank and really help add the needed bunch to this otherwise simple ensemble of blue tank and white skirt. This skirt came from a small clothing swap E. and I recently went to (I also walked away with one of E.’s dresses and she left with one of my belts and a pair of my jeans). I have been looking for a fuller white skirt all summer and have even bought a few, only to return them later. This one might not be perfect, but its a fun summery piece that fits well enough considering its price tag. I love the scalloped hem and the embroidered and eyelet detailing.

Detail on White Skirt, originally uploaded by academichic.

Two things both the color challenge and the clothing swap had in common: the chance to reassess my closet and the chance to create new ensembles for free!

Have you ever been to a clothing swap? Did you walk away with a bunch of great new items? How was it organized? Was it just free for all or where there rules? I’d love to know the best way to host one.

A Return to Orange…With a Split!, originally uploaded by academichic.

26 February 2009

Posted on | February 26, 2009 | 4 Comments

26 February 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Red-violet cardigan: Ross
Red-orange scarf: Target
Green tee: Ross
Maternity jeans: Old Navy, remixed now and for the next 4.5 months
Brown pointy toe pumps: Target

End Notes:

It took a while for me to convince myself that red-orange and red-violet really do “go” together, but this morning I put all my faith in the color wheel and piled on an assortment of colors on my top half. Rather than tying the scarf around my neck or waist, I folded and pinned it to the edge of my cardigan to function as a bright, patterned border. To keep things looking a little more “office casual,” I added brown pointy toe pumps, always a sure bet for dressing up an otherwise laid back outfit.

Frankly, I find it difficult to keep a straight face around split complements. They’re just so darn playful.

26 February 2009 – Wackadoodle, originally uploaded by academichic.

My husband and I are hitting the road tonight for a quick visit to our old college town. Since all my department professors are out of town for an annual conference, we’re taking advantage of a free Friday, a rare and beautiful thing. My next installment for academichic will be from the road!

25 February 2009 – Splitting My Compliments Take 2

Posted on | February 25, 2009 | 2 Comments

25 February 2009 – Splitting My Compliments Take 2, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Blue-Green Cardi – Gap
Blue-Green Tank -BR Outlet
Blue-Violet Tee – Forever 21
Brown Woven Belt – BR Outlet
Jeans – BR Outlet
Orange Shoes – Old Navy
Earrings – Forever 21

Endnotes:

While E. was worried that her shoes made her a cheater yesterday, I’ve found shoes to be the best way to complete a split complimentary look. I am very much in my comfort zone with this blue-green and blue-violet (split blue as compliment of orange) but I also love the unexpected pop added by the orange shoes.

I also have to say the pleased and relaxed expression in both of these pics has everything to do with the gorgeous weather we are having today! -A

25 February 2009 – No Cardi, originally uploaded by academichic.

New Orange Shoes!, originally uploaded by academichic.

25 February 2009 – Noisy Split

Posted on | February 25, 2009 | 1 Comment

25 February 2009 – Noisy Split, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Orange cardigan – Forever 21, remixed
Blue-green top – Banana Republic
Denim Skirt – Old Navy, remixed
Bella Band – gift from A. and S.
Red Wedges – DSW, remixed
Square earrings – gift from the husband, found a little stand in Austin

End Notes:

I’ve been something of a slacker for this week’s color wheel challenge, but I’m trying to make up for it today with this split complementary outfit. The combination of orange cardigan and blue-green top toes the line of a pairing that I would have made prior to our Fashion 101 series. But I would have never, ever thought to wear my red wedges with this. They’re unexpected, and I love how it makes the whole outfit a little bit quirkier. It’s a cheerful, casual — albeit a bit noisy — look, perfect for a day of a running errands and revising a paper.

Square Earrings, originally uploaded by academichic.

24 February 2009 – Splitting My Compliments

Posted on | February 24, 2009 | 2 Comments

24 February 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Red-Orange Cardigan – Gap
Red-Violet Tee – Forever 21
Charcoal Cords – Gap Outlet
Green Flats – Banana Republic

Endnotes:

I had a monochrome pink outfit ready to go last night but decide this morning I needed to push myself in this challenge and try out a split complimentary scheme. This was by far the hardest outfit in these color challenges for me to pull together. I stared at the color wheel for a long time then moved between color wheel and closet for a bit longer. In the end though I’m happy with this bright color combination and think splitting the compliments (red and green) with a the neutral pants makes it more A. outfit.

Shoe Detail, originally uploaded by academichic.

23 February 2009 – Split Complementaries

Posted on | February 23, 2009 | 5 Comments

23 February 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Blue necklace – thrifted
White cami – old
Yellow-orange tee – Mango
Red-orange cardi – Zara, remixed
Blue belt – TJMaxx
Brown skirt – Old Navy
Brown boots – Dillards, remixed
Cat – Louie, remixed

Endnotes:

For this week’s Fashion 101 module, we’re experimenting with monochromatic looks (as A. did so wonderfully today) and split complementaries. This latter seemed more challenging to me so I thought I’d jump right in and try to create such a look. I combined blue with two variants of orange (its complementary color), like this red-orange cardi and yellow-orange tee. I would have never thought to mix these items prior to this module, but am happy with the end result. I’m also hoping that this bright cheery outfit will infuse me with some bright cheery spirit to start what will be a very busy work week for me. -S.

Blue and Oranges detail, originally uploaded by academichic.

Necklace detail, originally uploaded by academichic.

Fashion 101: How To Combine Colors: Monochrome and Split Complementaries

Posted on | February 22, 2009 | 27 Comments

Module 4: Monochrome and Split Complementaries

We enjoyed playing with multi-colored ensembles so much last week we decided to give it another go…but we’ll also try out more subdued monochromatic looks. Week 4 of our Fashion 101 on Colors again explores two different color schemes: split complementaries and monochromatic colors. There are not many examples of either of these schemes in our archive of outfits, and the split complementaries will likely be a challenge on par with triads. It even sounds a little bit complicated.

Monochromatic:

Monochromatic color schemes use multiple shades of the same tone. Rather than dressing head-to-toe in a single tone of blue, for example, you can mix a pure hue with lighter and darker tints. This simple combination can be quite subtle and sophisticatedly understated. But, because shades of the same color can risk looking rather boring, this is also a good opportunity to play with pattern and texture.

Monochrome, originally uploaded by academichic.

E. and A. both sported black and grey for monochromatic looks but not with out a pop of color in at least their accessories.

Split Complementaries:

Split complementary color schemes are a bit more complicated – they are a variation of the complementary color scheme covered in Module 1. In the split version you pair one color with the two colors adjacent to its complementary. Examples include yellow with blue-violet and red-violet (adjacent to purple) and (dark) blue with red-orange and yellow-orange (adjacent to orange). The best way to figure out a split complementary scheme is probably to pull out the old color wheel, draw a line straight across to determine a complementary pair, and then look to to the immediate right and left of the complement.

Split Complementaries, originally uploaded by academichic.

Only S. has worn a split complementary when she wore salmon (orange-red) with blue and green (adjacent to blue-green).

Homework:

This week we will be challenging ourselves to master the split complementary and try out monochromatic schemes beyond black and grey. If you do too, drop us a comment and let us know!

If you missed Modules 1, 2, 3 click here for background on our color project!