Ever wonder how some of your favorite fashionistas put colors together to create eye-catching and fabulously colorful outfits? Well so does Fashion Bombshell Kendra who wrote in asking, “As a recessionista engineer, I cannot afford to buy a new wardrobe for the spring/summer. I have great pieces in my wardrobe already so I want to know how to make the most of my wardrobe by playing around with different color combinations. My mom gave me a color wheel as a gift. Unfortunately, I can’t seem to get it right…”
“…Can you please provide tips on how to combine colors for clothes? I saw the awesome post about color combos for makeup featuring Nicki Minaj. I would love to do the same with clothes. For instance, in a recent post Elise Neal wore a fuchsia dress and carried a blue clutch. The fuchsia and blue colors look great together! I would never know to do that. Also, are there certain rules for accessories?
Hey Kendra!
The color wheel is an excellent wardrobe tool! In fact it was one of the first things I learned about back when I studied Image Consulting at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Figuring it out isn’t too complicated. Here’s a quick breakdown:
You can make the following combos using the color wheel as your guide:
1. Colors directly next to each other (i.e. yellow and yellow-orange; yellow and yellow-green; violet and blue-violet, etc.)
2. Colors that form right (90 degree) angles with each other (i.e. yellow and red-orange; blue and violet-red; green and orange, etc.)
3. Colors directly across from each other (i.e. yellow and violet; blue and orange; red and green, etc.)
4. Colors that form a T (i.e. blue, orange, and violet-red; yellow, violet, and red-orange; yellow, blue-green, and red-orange, etc.)
5. Colors that form an X (i.e. blue, orange, violet-red, and yellow, violet, blue-green, and red-orange, etc.)
Since brown is a neutral, it will go with virtually any color on the color wheel. I love to pair a chocolate brown with cobalt blue or fuchsia or bright red—such a fun and bold combo. Of course white, black, and the hues of blue found in denim are also neutrals that go with just about anything.
Colors that are a part of a “color family” also apply. So for instance, you can substitute pink with red and still be able to pull off the combos based on the color wheel (i.e. we see that blue and red form a right angle with each other–then in Elise Neal’s outfit she wore fuchsia and cobalt blue). Get it? Good.
As for accessories, I’m definitely not a fan of colored jewelry or belts, but go crazy with colored hats, bags, shoes, or scarves. When choosing jewelry, pair gold (or gold-toned) jewelry with your warm colored outfits. Warm colors have a yellow, gold, or orange undertone to them. Wear silver (or silver-toned) jewelry with your cool colored outfits. Cool colors have a blue, pink, or red undertone to them. Since colors are broken down by hue, temperature, intensity, and tone any single hue can be either warm or cool. Just look at the undertones.
You can also use the color wheel when coming up with color combinations for your makeup. It can help you decide which makeup color to wear so that you don’t match your eyeshadow with your outfit. Check out how Rihanna paired gorgeous purple eyeshadow with her red frock:
And there you go—a breakdown of how to use color combinations to spruce up your wardrobe. You’ll be looking more fab in no time.
~Danielle
April 16, 2010 7:14 am
Great post. I’ll be printing this out!
April 16, 2010 9:57 am
This is a great post. Thanks for the tutorial! I will also be printing this out.
April 16, 2010 11:10 am
Awesome post, extremely helpful!
April 16, 2010 11:40 am
Bravo! Thanks so much for this post! Definitely one for printing!!
April 16, 2010 5:30 pm
How cool are you for posting this! I love it. Thanks!
April 17, 2010 1:09 am
[...] full post on The Fashion Bomb Blog /// All Urban Fashion… All the Time Color, Colors, Combine, Wardrobe, [...]
April 17, 2010 1:45 pm
wow, that was one of the most helpful, useful posts ever! i’m printing it and posting it right next to my mirror.
April 18, 2010 12:21 am
Good job, Danielle! I would love for you to do a post on how to determine cool and warm undertones.
April 30, 2010 2:08 pm
[...] color? I was – and still am. On the Style and Beauty Doctor, here’s a primer on how to use the color wheel to make dynamic color combinations in your wardrobe – and in other areas of your life as [...]
May 1, 2010 2:24 am
[...] since my last post, just about a month I think! Anyway, as I was Stumbling today, I came across an interesting blog post, with tips on how to combine colours in your wardrobe, without looking like Ugly Betty. Its fairly [...]
May 7, 2010 1:24 am
[...] bright look. How do they do it? They know their color combos! Break out a color wheel and study How to Combine Colors in Your Wardrobe (can be used in makeup, too). Remember it’s just makeup—you can always wash it [...]
May 10, 2010 10:25 pm
omg! reading this blog for the first time and i came upon this…u kno i will be saving this under favourites!! thanks so much. now am on a break so i cant wait to try this :)
May 31, 2010 11:57 pm
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June 8, 2010 7:00 am
Great post!
Love the LV shoes..
June 8, 2010 7:01 am
Great post!
Love the LV shoes..
LOx
June 8, 2010 4:14 pm
Green & Orange don’t form a 90 degree angle. Green & Orange-yellow do. As does Orange & Yellow-green.
Blue, Orange,Violet-red & Yellow don’t form an X. But Blue, Orange, Violet-red & Yellow-green do.
June 10, 2010 2:45 am
[...] Guys! Today’s look was inspired by Danielle’s informative color wheel post: Orange and blue are across the color wheel from each other, so colors in the same family like [...]
June 18, 2010 11:08 am
[...] with your own color combos! If you want ideas on different color combos, check out my post on Combining Colors with the Color Wheel. Works for your wardrobe and your [...]
August 27, 2010 1:32 pm
[...] to make my outfit “pop” from everyone else. Please help me out?” A quick look at Danielle’s color wheel post reveals that the best colors to go with purple would be turquoise, yellow, pink or even red! [...]
August 28, 2010 3:23 pm
[...] to make my outfit “pop” from everyone else. Please help me out?” A quick look at Danielle’s color wheel post reveals that the best colors to go with purple would be turquoise, yellow, pink or even red! [...]
September 17, 2010 1:57 pm
[...] out our informative color wheel post for more ideas on what colors go well with purple. That does it for today! Tonight I’m [...]
October 29, 2010 10:26 am
[...] For full on glamour Diana, pair contrasting eyeshadow and lip colors with a bright blush, contour, and lashes. For ways to create cool color combos, check out our post on the color wheel here. [...]
November 10, 2010 3:21 pm
[...] Combinar cores pode ser um desafio assustador principalmente quando se sai do básico “preto com qualquer outra cor”. Graças à Rosácea Cromática, agora você tem cinco regras para misturar cores inusitadas. [FashionBombDaily] [...]
November 11, 2010 8:18 pm
[...] out of your neutrals-only funk. Jason Schwartzman is my hero. Staying on the topic of color combos, this old but good post from The Fashion Bomb breaks down the color wheel and shows you how to combine hues for the most aesthetically-pleasing [...]
November 12, 2010 12:37 am
[...] on the topic of color combos, this old but good post from The Fashion Bomb breaks down the color wheel and shows you how to combine hues for the most aesthetically-pleasing [...]
November 12, 2010 3:57 am
[...] on the topic of color combos, this old but good post from The Fashion Bomb breaks down the color wheel and shows you how to combine hues for the most aesthetically-pleasing [...]
November 13, 2010 2:48 pm
[...] on the topic of color combos, this old but good post from The Fashion Bomb breaks down the color wheel and shows you how to combine hues for the most aesthetically-pleasing [...]
November 24, 2010 9:58 pm
[...] All out color. Hey, if you wanna go there then just do it! Grab a color wheel and learn which colors complement each other to create your makeup color combos. To get the maximum punch out of bold makeup colors, [...]
January 19, 2011 10:49 am
[...] it out with your own favorite color combos. Stuck on what color combos to create? Check out my The Color Wheel: How to Combine Colors in your Wardrobe post from last [...]
January 19, 2011 11:27 am
[...] it out with your own favorite color combos. Stuck on what color combos to create? Check out my The Color Wheel: How to Combine Colors in your Wardrobe post from last [...]
January 23, 2011 1:51 am
I don’t have much to say about this post but I just wanted to say that the websites header “Fashion Bomb” is fantastic. Whoever created that should pat themselves on the back.
January 26, 2011 11:30 am
I love how they mix the colors of what they wear.
January 30, 2011 11:43 pm
Love the post, and the celbrity examples. Just tweeted it! Thanks!
January 31, 2011 6:10 pm
Great post!
February 4, 2011 9:46 am
[...] how we went over the color wheel and how it’s a really cool tool for making color combos in both your wardrobe …? You can use those same techniques to make colors appear bolder and brighter. Colors like your eye [...]
February 10, 2011 1:04 pm
I think this is a stupid website
March 15, 2011 6:52 am
Great tips and yes … brown really does go with any color
March 18, 2011 11:01 am
[...] You can add a pop of yellow to virtually any eye makeup look be it already bright or neutral (see The Color Wheel: How to Combine Colors in Your Wardrobe and Makeup for color combining ideas). Using a liner brush like MAC #263 (provides thinner, more precision [...]
March 24, 2011 1:50 am
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April 5, 2011 10:58 am
[...] wheel photos fashionbombdaily.com [...]
April 26, 2011 1:19 pm
[...] dig in your closet for fun separates in solid colors that you can mix and match: Study our post on how to find the right colors for your wardrobe and makeup, and get to mixing and matching! For this look, we paired a draped jersey Viviennet Westwood top [...]
April 27, 2011 9:39 am
[...] blending two or more colors together. You can find a great tool for finding the right ones in my How to Combine Colors [...]
May 19, 2011 9:54 am
[...] feeling Keri’s color combo? Come up with your own! Check out The Color Wheel: How to Combine Colors in your Wardrobe for more [...]
June 2, 2011 3:06 pm
[...] not something to be intimidated by; all it is is an excuse to wear more color! I found this great color matching wheel from Fashion bomb daily. Its a little cheat sheet to keep us from getting too wild. Now I know Lady [...]
June 3, 2011 2:58 pm
[...] wear colors that clash. Remember your color wheel because it looks really bad when you wear certain colors together, like red and pink. Yellow is a [...]
June 9, 2011 11:30 am
[...] Furstenberg, Rachel Roy Spring/Summer 2011 Left to Right: Z Spoke, Gucci, Prada How You Wear it: Whip out that color wheel and get to mixing and matching! You can cop the trend by pairing solid [...]
June 9, 2011 12:24 pm
[...] Having trouble coming up with the perfect combo? Check out our post on combining colors. [...]
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June 25, 2011 1:35 pm
Like the way, things presented here.
June 30, 2011 1:59 am
[...] You Wear it: Whip out that color wheel and get to coordinating! You can cop the trend by mixing solid colors or patterned prints. Have [...]
July 4, 2011 3:40 am
[...] Having trouble coming up with the perfect combo? Check out our post on combining colors. [...]
July 13, 2011 10:01 am
[...] to center your look around glitter, bright colors (find out how to come up with great color combos here), and a vivid imagination. Carnival makeup can go from very pretty to very avant garde so my [...]
July 13, 2011 3:36 pm
[...] to center your look around glitter, bright colors (find out how to come up with great color combos here), and a vivid imagination. Carnival makeup can go from very pretty to very avant garde so my [...]
August 3, 2011 1:42 pm
this is such a handy guide. i too never seem to get the color wheel down–it’s a problem. Thanks for the advice!
August 29, 2011 1:50 am
[...] the day. Here is a basic color wheel of fashion and an explanation on how it works that I found on http://fashionbombdaily.com/2010/04/16/the-color-wheel-how-to-combine-colors-wardrobe-accessories/. Fashionistas and stylists should be familar with this, but it’s definately helpful to [...]
October 11, 2011 11:21 pm
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November 22, 2011 12:25 am
[...] but you can go with a color that plays well off the main color, pink. If you take a quick look at our color wheel post, you’ll see pink can go with anything from gray to purple to green! Have fun with [...]
November 22, 2011 12:48 am
[...] but you can go with a color that plays well off the main color, pink. If you take a quick look at our color wheel post, you’ll see pink can go with anything from gray to purple to green! Have fun with [...]
December 22, 2011 6:50 pm
[...] 2. Colors that form right (90 degree) angles with each other (i.e. yellow and red-orange; blue and violet-red; green and orange, etc.) 3. The Color Wheel: How to Combine Colors in your Wardrobe & The Fashion… – StumbleUpon [...]
December 28, 2011 12:47 pm
[...] as 2011′s colorblock trend. The craze had fashionistas all over the world whipping out their color wheel, mixing and matching bold hues from primary to pastel. Whether pairing pink and orange, purple and [...]
January 13, 2012 2:32 pm
[...] that I can wear with these bottoms for college.” If you’re looking to get creative, whip out that color wheel, and start playing around! I’d personally pair green with a cute mustard colored sweater, but [...]
February 2, 2012 10:25 am
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February 12, 2012 2:33 am
this is a great guide. Thanks!
February 20, 2012 9:11 pm
[...] The following advice came from fashionbombdaily.com. [...]
February 27, 2012 1:47 am
This is great! And I’m a guy! HA! /favorite
March 2, 2012 11:14 am
[...] searched the net and found this article. I think it’s a straightforward and clear. The following is the excerpt from the article. [...]
March 22, 2012 3:31 pm
[...] The Color Wheel: How to Combine Colors in your Wardrobe & The Fashion Bomb Blog /// All Urban Fa… 2. Colors that form right (90 degree) angles with each other (i.e. yellow and red-orange; blue and violet-red; green and orange, etc.) 3. Colors directly across from each other (i.e. yellow and violet; blue and orange; red and green, etc.) 1. Colors directly next to each other (i.e. yellow and yellow-orange; yellow and yellow-green; violet and blue-violet, etc.) [...]
April 3, 2012 10:00 am
[...] Here I have an amazing website which will provide you with all the information you need when you want to combine colors: http://fashionbombdaily.com/2010/04/16/the-color-wheel-how-to-combine-colors-wardrobe-accessories/ [...]
April 13, 2012 1:11 pm
Great post. I’ll be printing this out and share to my friends.
April 28, 2012 4:13 am
Hi, it’s a great post but for me it’s not so clear how to combine colors that form 90 degree angles, because colors in the image have the shape of triangle so what is the rule if two triangles form 90 degree, can you be more explicit about that rule, thanks.
May 17, 2012 1:12 pm
i love dis
August 7, 2012 10:15 am
great idea,i love this!
August 25, 2012 5:39 pm
THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR THE POST! i can finally color block
September 1, 2012 9:36 am
Hi there. Thank you so much for this great guide! Do you think this holds true for ALL skin tones? (I am white.) I just know that darker skin looks GREAT in yellow, but it makes me have a green tinge. (Jealous!) :)
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September 13, 2012 5:02 pm
[...] are rules that apply and that’s what we’re here to share with you. According to Fashionbombdaily.com, the following rules apply when putting colors [...]
October 31, 2012 6:10 pm
[...] This color wheel is a great tool: Color Wheel [...]
December 2, 2012 11:10 pm
This is a great post. It’s interesting how art theory plays a role in mainstream fashion.
January 12, 2013 8:31 am
[...] Simple enough right? Well join in on the challenge! Here is a link to an interactive color wheel that I will be using to help me figure out color complements. Some awesome bloggers have also written posts about color theory and color complements. You can find those posts here, here, and here. [...]
January 12, 2013 5:56 pm
Awesome! Loved the color wheel tool. Fascinated to see how creative the people could be :)
February 11, 2013 5:44 am
[...] check this out: The Color Wheel: How to Combine Colors in your Wardrobe – The Fashion Bomb Blog : Celebrity Fashion,… You have to scroll down til you see the colour wheel and after that it goes into colour [...]
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