Understanding Wardrobe Color Palette

There goes a quick guide of colors for your pieces that have been discussed in our previous blogs (Like a Boss). Colors throughout our lives have had great influence over a variety of aspects. While this is a wide topic, I will be covering only the clothing palette to demonstrate how we can easily match our pieces and accessories to complement an overall iconic look.

What is a color palette, and Why Does it Matter?

Think of it like say a painter, squeezing out their color tube on the board mixing colors or perhaps just laying them next to one another while painting. And then applying on canvas to create a masterpiece. Likewise, when building a capsule/essential wardrobe is to create yourself a color palette.

This in my opinion allows you to mash up different outfits easily, and get the most thump for your wardrobe, mood and event.

“Fashion is an art. You express who you are through what you’re wearing.” – Daniele Donato

Colors have several emotional implications and can sometimes make you feel things (good or bad) wearing them, my advice is, it is great to have yourself this guide however do experiment it personally and see how it influences your mood and makes you genuinely feel. Remember there is no rule to how a piece of clothing nor color should make you feel, to each his own, however it is always good to have guidelines or let’s say other people’s experience with the same to help you steer towards what you might end up loving. 

Make sure your approach to building your wardrobe colors is carefully chosen to avoid having the right clothes but the wrong vibe. You do not want to go back in circles of trying out and then frustratingly wearing whatever you last tried to save time and ruin your entire day.

Let’s get a little technical:

First of all, observe and analyze your wardrobe, see all the currently existing colors, your favorite ones. Check out what the majority and then using the below mapping, start adding or stop shopping for the same. Unless you really need to rebuild your closet then start from scratch. And always keep in mind what you gravitate towards the most and simply makes you comfortable (this one has no rule).

1. BASE COLORS – The Foundation

The base color (base – basic) would be for the basics, the classics that will make up the core of your wardrobe pieces. It is the first color the dominant or the “center piece”.  Let us put it this way the ones you would always wear (i.e black, white, grey, navy, beige, ivory) – however, if you find yourself -after your wardrobe analysis- wearing green every day, then you should probably add that to your base color. Do consider one thing, there is a reason why base colors are said to be neutral, because they can always back up all colors, are never out of style, does not contend other colors and make up most of our wardrobes (staples).

2. ACCENT COLORS – The Statement

An accent color is like your wingman, it does more than just harmonize your outfit, it -in fact- brings it to life. It is capable of changing your outfit from being dressy to casual (right color and right piece). It is any color, fabric or accessory used in an outfit that is proportionally lesser compared to the base color and should not overwhelm what you are wearing, but rather highlights it. Best be 5 – 10 colors in total and then frequently updated. Use these to your advantage for this is where the eyes gravitate towards. It is what I like to call your advantage of “making a statement”.

3. SEASONALITY – The Compass

Finally, it should be very helpful to prepare your color palette in accordance with each season, yes essential clothing pieces should be seasonless, but colors are slightly different. Have yourself two categories per year (Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter). For instance, during winter you may want to consider wearing darker/deep tones and lesser light color; to have most of the colors available in your wardrobe year-round while just adding or taking away a few based on the season. This way you would be able to use most of your wardrobe pieces and accessories all year, and not have to struggle with two independent wardrobes.

# Tips

When you orchestrate an interconnected color palette for your wardrobe it should help you get the most harmony out of every piece in your closet. Experiment around, observe a little and how you feel towards colors, what you repel or feel drawn to, you will by then have increased your outfit permutations!

Remember should there be a color(s) that you absolutely adore but think matching it with other colors would make you feel (too busy too messy too much) less comfortable with the overall appearance, leave that color out of your main color palette. Nevertheless buy it as an individual piece that generally does not require matching with any other.

All things considered, check out our ‘shop by look’ category for more ideas of the pieces and their colors. Visit www.thesolidessentials.com and let us know what you think.