How To Incorporate Color Into Your Wardrobe
If you find yourself swimming in a sea of neutrals and are looking to add more pops of color to your wardrobe and not sure where to start this guide is for you.
You don’t have to overhaul your wardobe or buy new pieces in every color. If you are used to wearing only neutrals it can be uncomfortable at first to wear them. Start with colors you are drawn to that may already be in your environment. Colors that make you feel good.
I have a wardrobe full of color and prints. I have always been this way even when I was little C even my room decor was a rainbow of color. Not much has changed since then.
My style has evolved but, I am a moth to a flame when it comes to color and print. There is much energetic power to be gained from wearing color not only can it affect your mood, emotions, and feelings but, can also affect how other people respond to you.
In a study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology, researchers found that the color red negatively affected performance on a test. When participants were given a red participant number (rather than green or black), they performed 20% worse on tests than their peers.
In another study on performance and the color red in the study of athletic performance red uniforms appear to give an advantage. During the 2004 Olympics, athletes competing in four different sports taekwondo, Greco-roman wrestling, boxing, and freestyle wrestling were randomly given either blue or red uniforms or protective gear. The red-clad athletes won in 19 of the 29 weight classes. And similar studies among soccer matches showed a similar advantage to the teams wearing red uniforms.
So let’s jump in and start with what are cool and warm colors. Knowing what tones work well with your skin tone and hair is an easy place to start in choosing new colors to add to your wardrobe.
What Are Warm Tones?
Warm colors consist of orange, red, yellow, and combinations of these and similar colors. As the name indicates, they tend to make you think of warm things, such as sunlight and heat. In general, these colors are energetic and active, with relatively positive connotations. You can also think of warm colors as cozy, earthy tones.
Red is associated with passion, love, and lust. It can also be associated with warnings and danger, or even with anger (hence the term “seeing red”). Red can have a physiological impact on people, too, including raising respiration and heart rate
Orange is energetic and positive. It’s association with autumn leaves and seasonal transitions can also make people think of change when they see it. It is also associated with warnings, though less strongly than red.
Yellow is considered the happiest hue in the color spectrum and is closely associated with sunshine and with hope. It can also be linked with caution and cowardice, though.
Cool colors are shades of green, blue, and purple. The only primary color is blue, so any hue with a blue undertone is considered a cool color. They're called cool colors, as opposed to warm colors, because they are evocative of water.
Blue is associated with Intelligence, communication, trust, efficiency, serenity, duty, logic, coolness, reflection, calm. The color of our throat chakra.
Green is associated with Harmony, balance, refreshment, universal love, rest, restoration, reassurance, environmental awareness, equilibrium, peace. The color of the Heart chakra, love in all its forms.
Violet is associated with spiritual awareness, containment, vision, luxury, authenticity, truth, quality. The color of the Third Eye eye chakra, intuition and connection with the higher self.
Pink is associated with physical tranquillity, nurture, warmth, femininity, love, sexuality, the survival of the species.
Make A Statement With Your Accessories
If you are new to wearing color starting with your accessories are a great place to have some fun. You can add a pop of color or print to your wardrobe without feeling like you need to overhaul your entire closet.
Handbags
Colorful bags are a great addition to a neutral wardrobe because they will go with any outfit you already have in your closet. Play around with the style weather it is your daily work bag or a fun mini backpack for the weekend choose one that you will use and get comfortable with color.
If bringing a bright print tote to the office is too much try choosing a fun colored fanny for your weekend errands or concert.
Sunglasses
Sunglasses are one of my don’t leave the house without accessories. My eyes are very sensitive to light so they became a staple for me from a very young age. Even if you are not sensitive to light sunglasses not only are a stylish thing to wear but, they protect your eyes from the sun’s UV rays, and bonus no crow’s feet over here!
Find a pair that compliments your face shape and experiment with different colors. A great way to this is using a site like Zenni Optical.
I love this site I order super cute prescription glasses from them but, they also have a wide array of sunglasses to choose from in both prescription and nonprescription. You can upload your headshot and try as many pairs of sunnies on and see instantly what they look like on.
Shoes
Candy colored shoes can add an extra pep to your step! If your easing into color choose a pair that you would get the most wear out of. A cute pair of heels you can wear to work or evening events or a spunky pair of sneakers to pump up the jam at the gym. Maybe a cute comfortable pair of flats for brunch, casual weekend events or a busy day running around the office.
Images | DSW | Steve Madden | Shein | Kate Spade | Boden | Elf
Jewelry
Nothing like splashing on some statement jewelry to your neutral look. It doest’t have to be large chunky pieces to pop but, by all means if you want to go big do it. You can play around with layering pieces to add more texture and depth or keep it simple with bold color statement.
Images | Kendra Scott | Ross Simons | Kate Spade | Nordstrom Rack | J Crew | Talbots
Scarves
Scarves are a fun way to jazz up your black and whites. There are so many interesting ways to tie a scarf to add a layer of elegance to any look. You can also incorporate them into your hairstyle, wear them as belts, and use them in fun ways to create clothing hacks.
Images | Tory Burch | Echo | Madeleine | Fishers Finery | Chicos | Ted Baker
Clothing
You don’t need to buy a new piece in everything color to replace your existing wardrobe. Start out with just buying one piece and go from there. Find a color paired of pants or skirt that you can layer with your jackets and blazers or fun dress in a bold color or print for summer outdoor events.
Start with a piece that you will wear and can incorporate into your closet. I firmly believe in wearing and maximizing your wardrobe. Color or no color we don’t need a new outfit for every occassion it is amazing how many looks you can achieve with the smallest of closets. If going full neon is not your jam there are so many hues to choose from. Find a shade or print that speaks to you makes you feel powerful and gives you life!
Skirts
Images | Saks Fifth Avenue
Pants
Images | Saks Fifth Avenue | Gap | J Crew
Dresses
Add a touch of whimsy with a bold color or print dress. Try a darker hue of blue dress instead of the traditional LBD it is just as easy to wear to any cocktail or evening event and it still gives you that elegant look.
Take stock of your social calendar if you have a lot of work events that you need to attend look for a cocktail dress. If you are looking for something you can wear to brunch or a weekend bbq go with something more casual.
You always want to think about each piece you but and how you are going to realistically wear it so you can maximize your wardrobe.
Images | Saks Fifth Avenue
Suits
Suits are a smart investment, even if you don’t have to wear them everyday for work. They are versatile and can be worn to many different events. you can wear them as a whole look and separately mixing and matching with other pieces in your wardrobe.
Images | Saks Fifth Avenue
Outerwear
If you are shy about wearing bold color throughout the entire day, adding color through your outerwear is an excellent place to start. You take any color that strikes your fancy and layer it over a a mixed or monochromatic neutral look you will make that sidewalk your runway!
Images | Saks Fifth Avenue
Tops
Add a pop color to you neutral suit wit a solid color, print, or both!
Images | Saks Fifth Avenue
Fitness
Try spicing up your fitness wear. It is a really fun easy place to start experimenting with color and it will give your workout a boost. You can also think of these as layering pieces too. Add a pop color sports top under a navy blue blazer or with a cute pair of denim pants.
Images | Saks Fifth Avenue
Beauty
Play around with colored nail polish, lipsticks, or eyeshadows to zest up your look. It’s an inexpensive way to experiment with adding color to your look. It also allows you to ease into wearing color without feeling overwhelmed. When you have a bright-colored nail polish you are seeing it and getting used to it without thinking about it. Then you may find it easier to add on a bright accessory or piece of clothing. It is all about building on the layers pushing your boundaries and you build from there.
Images | Sephora