We'll start with a bit of controversy: matching clothing colors well has nothing to do with following fashion trends . Come on, if you're here to find out what Pantone or WGSN have decided on for this upcoming season, sorry, open another tab.
For us, colors are something else. Colors represent emotions and energy, personality and nature.
A powerful weapon, tinged with history and culture, yes, but above all a tool of self-expression to make us feel good: safe, alive, ... In coherence with who we are and with the environment, event or situation in which we find ourselves.
So, it's all a matter of taste , as my mother used to say?
Anything goes? Are there no rules for choosing and combining colors appropriately?
Read on, and we'll tell you why it's important to combine colors well in fashion, who decides which shades go together and why, and a ton of tips : both general and less conventional. Because, are there forbidden color combinations in fashion ? And are there toxic colors ?
Find out…
Clothing color combinations: a basic for dressing well
No one would dare deny that colors are essential in fashion, a basic element for dressing well, but what is dressing well?
As with your favorite colors, dressing well is a subjective concept. It may mean something different to you than it does to us. Let's find out with these four questions :
- Is comfort essential for you to dress well?
- Do you think it is important to wear sustainable and quality clothing ?
- Do you need to follow the latest fashion trends to feel beautiful?
- Do you consider your mood , the environment and the occasion when choosing your outfit?
For us, for Elisa Muresan, dressing well means choosing sustainable, quality fashion , measuring your energy and knowing what you're going to do that day to feel comfortable, forgetting about fashion trends and being true to yourself.
Do you agree? The question now is choosing and coordinating cuts and styles, textures, patterns, and…
Colors .
Because without color, fashion would lose much of its capacity for communication, expression, and creativity: cultural identity, appeal and differentiation, emotional impact, personality, seasonality, and so on. Colors are an integral part of identity and aesthetics in fashion. They bring designs to life and allow for rich and diverse expression.
So diverse, so unique, like every woman, like you.
What do we use to determine if two colors match? The 4 key tools
We've already seen the subjective side of colors. Now it's time to put this whole mess to bed. Do you know how to evaluate whether two colors go well together?
Check out these 4 criteria to start combining : Combined, not mixed!
- Color Wheel : The best thing about the color wheel is that it gives us a ton of clues at a glance. This tool knows everything about the relationships between colors: their classification, temperature, intensity and saturation, tones and hues, harmony and contrast.
- Color psychology also plays an important role. Colors evoke emotions and convey messages. For example, blue is often associated with calm, while red can express energy or passion.
- Context : Keep in mind that colors that work well for formal events may be inappropriate in more casual or relaxed situations. Additionally, some colors may be associated with certain styles, cultural meanings different from our own, or fashion trends.
- Nature : It's a great source of inspiration for achieving harmonious combinations. Observe nature and apply it to your style.
That said, remember, who better to break the rules than you? Experiment and have fun with color .
Main color classifications to consider in fashion
In fashion, we classify colors according to their hue, temperature, intensity, relationships, etc. The color wheel is a great ally. These are the most commonly used categories in fashion to clearly show you the infinite range of colors:
- Basic Colors : Also called primary colors, all other colors are derived from them. We're talking about blue, red, and yellow in their purest forms.
- Neutral Colors : These include white, black, navy blue, gray, or beige. They're the most versatile and pair easily with other colors. They're a good base to start experimenting with.
- Pastel Colors : These arise when we mix the most intense colors with a lot of white. They are soft, calm, and light tones: pale pink, sky blue, lavender, mint green. They are often associated with spring.
- Earth Colors : Inspired by nature. They include browns, ochres, moss or forest greens, and terracotta. They are warm and natural colors. They evoke a sense of connection with the earth.
- Jewel Colors: Intense and deep. They resemble precious gems: emerald, sapphire, ruby, and amethyst.
- Fluorescent colors: also known as fluorescent or neon. These are vibrant, highly saturated colors that seem to radiate their own light. If you want to exude energy and vitality, stand out, or create a visual impact, use one of them.
- Cool Colors : blue, green, and purple in all their intensities, shades, and hues. They have a refreshing appearance and are associated with cold climates.
- Warm colors : reds, oranges, and yellows, the colors of fire. They evoke feelings of energy, passion, and warmth.
- Complementary colors : These are diagonally opposite pairs on the color wheel. For example, blue and orange, yellow and violet, or red and green. Combining complementary colors generates attention, contrast, and energy.
- Analogous colors: These are colors found next to each other on the color wheel. For example, green and its two adjacent colors: teal (turquoise) and lime green. Combining analogous colors is a commitment to harmony.
- Monochromatic Colors : This involves combining the same colors or different shades of the same color. If you're not willing to take risks, this is a good option. For example, dress entirely in a variety of blues.
- Metallic Colors: Such as silver, gold, bronze, and other shiny alloys. They are often used as accents to add a sense of luxury, for parties, or for special events.
Now that we've introduced you to them all, which ones are your favorites? Whether you prefer neutrals, bright neon and metallic, or blending in with nature, here are a few styling tips.
General tips for combining clothing colors
And as always, what better way to get inspired than to see them in action? This is how we combine colors to create women's fashion at Elisa Muresan. We'll show you some examples. You can find many more, and new looks every day, on our Instagram account .
How to dress in monochrome colors
With identical color, as in these examples, or in different shades of the same pigment.
How to combine earth colors in fashion
And also take care of the environment with undyed garments, like this organic cotton knit sweater with its natural color and zero dyes.
How to stay neutral and stand out
How to combine black without leaving black
How to combine colors to breathe nature
How to bring black to life with your outfit
How to combine colors to create a serene contrast
With a rebellious touch.
Are there any "forbidden" color combinations in fashion? And any toxic colors?
If you know us, you'll surely know that for us, there are no forbidden combinations. What you might not realize is that toxic colors do exist.
You see, fashion, as we tell you in every article, belongs to you and no one else. It's part of your expression and depends on your personal preferences, emotional state, context, and occasion.
Your skin tone, color psychology, fashion and culture, harmony, and contrast are all factors that influence us, no doubt, but the decision is yours. So how do you know if there are color combinations you'd never wear?
Experiment! Trying will lead you to discover unique and attractive combinations that suit your style and others that don't.
Regarding toxic colors … Do you know the impact dyes have on the environment?
Fabric dyeing is the biggest pollution problem in the already polluting fashion industry: toxic chemicals, dirty water discharged into the sea, etc. That's why, at Elisa Muresan, we only use fabrics in their natural color or dyes with GOTS certification, the most rigorous certification currently available. This ensures that both the fabric and its processing and dyeing are free of contaminating residues.
Discover the colors of Elisa Muresan…
