Do you complement OR clash? Or both?

Sal

I loved Angie’s post about complements - and I do use this strategy often.

But I also like a pop of colour ie yellow bag on a neutral outfit with neutral shoes - or a clash/ mismatch such as navy boots and a tan belt.

There may be other strategies too with accessories?

I do have a couple of accessories where I have to use them as a pop of colour as they are lone players. Or I might have a dress or top featuring the colour too.

Do you use all these strategies too?

3 years ago

Dressing

24 replies

Latest reply was from Cardiff girl

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Batting for both teams with you, Sal.

I clash or mismatch a lot - with patterns and non-neutrals because my outfits are bold. But throw in some colour repetition so that the eye can rest, and so that my look is organized instead of cluttered.

My match can be as subtle as wearing white pearls and white footwear. I love Team Blatant Matchy-Matchy too!

My clash can be as bold as wearing 4 solid brights at once, with no neutrals.

3 years ago

nuancedream

Veteran

Definitely bat for both teams, Sal. I never turn down the opportunity to pattern mix. On the other hand, I
like matching jewelry or scarves to footwear or handbags.

3 years ago

LaPed

Veteran

Definitely both. I like a solo pop of colour as well as a matchy duo or trio. I also like to think in terms of tonal complements (eg burgundy, cranberry, fire engine), or even whole colour family complements such as "icy pastels" or "warm earthy neutrals". I wear a lot of simple neutral outfits so I don't mind if my accessories add some variety.

3 years ago

Runcarla

Veteran

Both. One of my favourite combos is to wear cobalt gloves, and a red beret with a black coat, and black boots.

3 years ago

Brooklyn

Veteran

I like to complement. I think I rarely clash. I’m not a big colour mixer generally but if I do mix I like a combination that’s grounded in a neutral. I think I have a general preference for low contrast looks these days. I do pattern mix a lot but I don’t think of that as clashing as I usually choose patterns that are in the same colour scheme.

3 years ago

Anonymous

I prefer to complement rather than clash .

3 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

My feelings are very much like Brooklyn’s. I’m not much of a clasher.

3 years ago

Anonymous

I don’t see pattern mixing and clashing as one in the same , if that makes any sense .

3 years ago

Sal

Veteran

Oops corrected my heading error!!

I can see that with your styles Lisa and Brooklyn - you are both strong at pattern and tonal dressing with texture.

They can all work can't they. I use both strategies depending on the setting and the pieces involved.

3 years ago

Sal

Veteran

And I think maybe clash is the wrong word (but I thought it was fun in the heading).

I think the right word would be contrast. Such as wearing a red bag and blue shoes or black belt and brown shoes......

3 years ago

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Both - but I think of it as complement or coordinate. So a red bag with grey shoes coordinates in my book. Pattern clashing is a whole other beast.

3 years ago

slim cat

Veteran

What @Brooklyn and @lisa p said - mixing patterns with some contrast.
However I did get icy blue puffer with black zippers that I wear with black sneakers and black bag with some turquoise print and multi colored scarf ( scarf isn't always visible enough though ) - fav thing to wear now .

3 years ago

Joy

Veteran

Some of both but more matchy because it is easy to put together.

3 years ago

Lynne

Veteran

Team compliment most of the time, I find it easier and it feels more "me". Like Shevia I occasionally bat for Team co-ordinate; but I find it requires more effort :).

I love bold looks on others but I think has to be true for you to pull it off.

3 years ago

Astrid

Veteran

I'm probably in the middle somewhere with items that coordinate. Although I prefer a lower contrast overall most of the time, so I rarely wear an item that really stands out colorwise.

3 years ago

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I don’t like to be all matchy-matchy. It doesn’t feel like me. But I do like things that go together, like my oatmeal hat & mittens with fuzzy oatmeal/bronze trim with my cognac shoes and cognac purse, or black shoes with a purse that has black in the guitar strap and hat/gloves in a color in that strap.

3 years ago

cat2

Veteran

I tend to wear neutral clothing mixed with one color at a time, and my accessories are mostly families of neutrals as well. I do have wild for me groupings of burgundy, army green, and teal. I am also really drawn to purses and shoes that cross neutrals, like black mixed with brown or blue or cream, and also love metallic shoes that play off my jewelry.

3 years ago

RobinF

Veteran

Definitely no clash for me. I feel not put together unless there is something tying colors together. I guess I am more a matchy person overall.

3 years ago

Anonymous

My rule is "full house + 1". 1 color 3x, 1 color 2x and 1 color 1x. Think I read (probably in Inside Out Style) that it should be 60%, 30%, 10% for outfit colors.

3 years ago

Bijou

Veteran

Both. I often add a colourful bag or shoe to liven up an outfit. Whilst I love matching, I quite enjoy playing with unexpected colour combinations too. I happily wear leopard as a neutral too.

3 years ago

bj1111

Veteran

any mixing i do is on pattern. i really like monochrome but i'm branching out.

3 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Actually, I assumed that:

pattern mixing is clashing
wearing bold colours together is clashing

I think that the combinations that I wear harmonize - otherwise I wouldn't wear them! But I guess in the true sense of the word - it's a clash.

3 years ago

Tanya

Veteran

I also do both, but I'd say I complement about 75% of the time, and clash about 25%, usually when I am feeling daring/bold. I also feel that pattern mixing is clashing, even if the patterns are subtle and highly complementary in colors.

3 years ago

Cardiff girl

Veteran

Both ,sometimes you can’t beat a good clash and other times something abit more harmonious is called for.

3 years ago

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