A different way of adding a new colour to your wardrobe

I really enjoyed reading Angie's blog about adding burgundy and olive to her closet and how it works for her.

I have a different approach but it also works for me - because alot of my footwear, pants/shorts/skirts are neutral.

I add a single piece in a new colour with the goal of wearing it with jeans or black or white bottoms (and cognac/black/cream/metallic shoes)

This winter I added a winey burgundy dress - worn with white sneakers, brown boots and tan ankle boots

This spring I have added a yellow floral tee and a periwinkle blue cotton top. Mostly these will be worn with denim....

Two summers ago I added a blush pink silky tee, then the following winter a blush sweater.

I do sometimes build - my navy capsule has grown to three items (patterned skirt, sweater and a tee) and I now have three jade green pieces (a coat, tunic and a dress). Even if I don't wear the pieces together the footwear often swaps between the pieces.

I do wear colour and pattern very happily - but wear a base of neutrals. I often wear colour and pattern in a dress which means it can stand alone.

I sometimes add a plain item in a colour that ties in with a pattern I already have.... this is harder though but it has worked for me.

With a smaller budget or wardrobe size I do think you can add in a single piece and it can add the oomph that you need......

Has anyone else found this too?

6 years ago

The Cat

Veteran

Yes, Sal, I agree. And perhaps one of the secrets that make the one piece in a new colour work, lies in choosing an item for your UPPER BODY, like you have done in many cases (a dress, a tee, a top, a sweater, a tunic, a coat--it could also be a jacket, a scarf or a statement necklace). In my opinion, it is more difficult to make pants, skirts, shoes or boots in a "stand alone-colour" look great, unless that colour is repeated somewhere on the upper body or near the face.

But of course, we all have different bodies and different preferences. Through the years, I have spent some time analysing how I like to place colours on my body, and I have concluded that a non-neutral item can always be worn on my upper body, without needing to repeat the colour elsewhere. However, when wearing a non-neutral item on my lower body of my feet, I feel best (and think I look best) if that colour is repeated near my face--perhaps just as part of a patterned scarf.

So, I absolutely think you are right. It is not always necessary to buy several items in a new colour. (A tee or a scarf in a new colour may be enough and is an inexpensive way of trying a "new to you colour.") Thank you for bringing this up. Others may want to try your approach.

anchie

Of course, it is possible to just have one item in some color, but I always feel more pulled together if the color is repeated somewhere in the outfit. If not then I like to add light neutral or another complementary color, because only one color plus dark neutral can seem to severe to me.

Sal

Yes I agree The Cat....and I think many people wear a lot of neutral bottoms (olive green, black, denim blue, charcoal, white)

A patterned scarf is always a useful piece to incorporate new colours isn't it.....

Anchie - I agree black can be harder to mix in a new colour with... When I wear a blush pink with black bottoms I do wear either metallic or camel footwear and bag... that extra colour makes it work.

Anonymous

That's often where statement items come into my wardrobe - they are usually in some colour or texture or print that isn't represented elsewhere.

Yes I agree too Lisa. I love a simple look with a statement - whether it is bold colour or a shape or pattern.

It is hard to put a science on it (and I am sure I get it wrong many times) but sometimes a colour can work with one addition (as The Cat said on the top often) and sometimes it can look bitsy/mismatched too. I do think two neutrals can help that.

My original thought was that for people who have a small budget or buy limited pieces that you can add a new colour in with just one addition and still make the new piece sync with existing items.

Yes, Sal, two neutrals can help. Or one neutral and one non-neutral in addition to the "new" colour. Dressing in three colours often look great, as shown here:
https://stylenorme.wordpress.c.....colours-2/

Aida

Since I wear a lot of different colors (and neutrals for that matter), I don't tend to add new colors in compliments except for those few signature colors that I can never seem to get enough of/have to stop myself from buying too much of Definitely similar to your approach.

I think this works for me for a reasons: the first being that any color I bring into my wardrobe is one that would be flattering so I am comfortable mixing with any other color already in my wardrobe (since all my items share the color property of looking good on me, I'm therefore happy to mix away willy nilly), and a very related second reason being that I have a high affinity for color mixing. This all probably also helps with the whole making it look deliberate -- I don't often repeat colors in an outfit as it is!

(For example today I'm wearing a mossy green blouse, pale-almost-aqua blue denim, cream booties, rose gold jewelry and a bright orange coat + gold purse; not one color repeated!)

I like that look The Cat. Great colours and very funky.

Aida (nice to see you!) That sounds like a yummy colour combo - all soft with the bright orange coat. I am not as confident with colour mixing despite being confident in colour.... Yes I definitely have colours that I am drawn to (melons and corals being top of the list - they are not quite so popular at the moment in retail though).

I found early on that it helps to think of the kind of outfit that doesn't have multiples of a color in it as a Giant Colorblock effect where each color is one "block". Also, I tend to think of ALL things as colors -- colors AND neutrals are all treated as "color" -- so I am basically dressing "colorfully" all the time. How do you feel about wearing lots of neutrals at once? I feel like many people are more comfortable with that than with colors. All personal preference!

Melons are particularly yummy colors (haaah~) but yes they don't seem to surface often, do they.

Joy

When needing to stick to a tight budget, aiming for a column (matching top and bottom) in a versatile neutral often makes it possible to add a unique color or pattern. The ideal would be to have the top that matches the bottom be a jacket of some kind so that it is an outer column of color rather than an inner one with top, rather than topper, matching the bottom. It also feels like this sort of outfit adds height visually when one is petite.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Sal, I like your deliberate approach by complementing with neutral wardrobe essentials. Grounding, and nicely done.

binkle

Team single piece!

I have mostly neutrals too (I put denim and chambray in that group).

Over the last 3-4 years I've added a pair of dark brown cords, a couple of multicolor stripe tops, one burgundy dressy velvet top. It would be nice to add a burgundy sweater for everyday.

Gigi

I am the same way. My wardrobe is very heavy on neutrals, and then I have a handful of items in nonneutrals to spice things up. I do find that I seem to need only one item in a particular color. I think I would get sick of the color if I had more than, say, two items of the color. (I get bored easily, so I have to be careful not to overdo it!)

I too rely on my neutrals to give me a background for my more statement-y colors. I lead a casual life, so I can easily pair something with jeans or black pants. I don't generally worry about wardrobe orphans for this reason.

Sisi

I always like to add some lively color to a neutral outfit. I have an emerald puffer jacket, a turquoise bag, a coral bag, some colorful scarves ... and at a certain point in my life I was nicknamed "Miss Red Shoes"!

I really like your use of color, Sal. I always find your outfits very interesting.

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