Black and midtones/pastels

Ingunn

Is black (as in a LBD) possible to combine successfully with colors like mint, Tiffany blue/robin egg blue (on a shrug or other topper)? I have doubts. What do you think - and why?

12 years ago

General

15 replies

Latest reply was from Ornella

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I did it today

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....-masculine

12 years ago

Tanya

Veteran

A while ago, I would have said no, that it looks too harsh. But recently, I have seen a lot of outfits being shown that combine black/white and pastels, especially mint and blush. So, I would say, as long as you have a touch of white somewhere, you are good to go.

12 years ago

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

Thanks! I love you outfit, Anna, it works very well indeed. I bought yarn for a shrug in a mid tone mint/robin egg blue, an the idea was to pair it with a black dress. Tanya, you mention that it easily gets too harsh, and that was my first reaction, too. I think it will work with the addition of white, but what? A bag? This serms to be the wrong direction for my lbd.

12 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I wear pastels with black Ingunn, but prefer to add a shade of white into the mix too.

Exhibit A is with a little white - looks fresh to my eye. Footwear and bag were white too.

Exhibit B is sans white - looks less fresh to my eye, although I still wear the combination.

I'm just a sucker for white

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12 years ago

Tanya

Veteran

Hmm, a bag, a watch, a scarf? A little bit of white detail in the shoe/somewhere else?

Like in this Angie's stunning outfit: she is wearing a black suit with a pastel blue shirt; but the watch and the bag are white, the shoes have more white than black and the shirt has a white collar:
http://youlookfab.com/2012/06/.....tty-shoes/

If you plan to wear a lot of such outfits, I would maybe go a pair of nice black&white shoes to go with all of them.

Edit: He he Angie, this is too funny! We typed at the same time and referenced the same outfit of yours!

12 years ago

columbine(erin)

Veteran

I have a black and white floral and polka dot dress I want to wear with a pastel blue/green shrug. Seems to need matching blue/green flats to make it work, though.

12 years ago

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

Thanks, Angie. I love both of your examples, and I agree that the white is making it even better. My problem is probably just as much about the proportions: One big area of black + another in pastel is just not enough to make an outfit work. I need something to tie them together.

12 years ago

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

Oh, Tanya and Columbine, we double posted! I'll work on my options, but shoes, bags and a scarf or necklace must definitely become part of the equation.

12 years ago

unfrumped

Veteran

i think some kind of bridging item can work, too, such as a necklace with the pastel plus black plus white or clear/ sparkle.

12 years ago

jayne

Veteran

I love black and brights and a real mid tone. i have a inspiration photo from a couple years back when the runways were full of this, the spread was called british licorice. It has creamy orange, lilac, mid pink, robin egg blue, and lemony yellow, all shown with a good solid black outfit. Try!

the candies:
https://www.google.no/url?sa=i.....d=iA6zsej6...

12 years ago

Anonymous

I'm seeing stylish women in Tokyo combining black with midtone blush, peach, lavender and blues and would copy them in a heartbeat. Love the idea of mint with black. For transitioning from winter to spring it seems ideal.

12 years ago

Adelfa

Veteran

Another option for white would be to pop a white collared shirt under your LBD and then putting the topper over the whole thing. I stole this idea from Sveta and loved it.

I also vouch for the idea of a white or cream purse in the summer to keep things fresh. I got an inexpensive one last summer, loved it, wore it out, and just ordered a nicer one.

12 years ago

Tina.b

Veteran

I like to do this also, because I really enjoy the high contrast. I feel if I go light all over I just end up washed out. I agree that white is the perfect addition to this combination!

12 years ago

kellygirl

Veteran

I loved Thistle's pairing today of navy and pastel (lilac.) It almost reads as black. She added a metallic belt to add some interest. Great question, Ingunn. I learned something new today!

12 years ago

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

Some of those colours are in my latest WIW , in the scarf

12 years ago

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