The Application of Color in Fashion Design

Jun 15, 2011
James Gibson

Two Outfits: Monochromatic Color Scheme and Mix of Colors of Same Value - MC College

Browse the discussion on color. Then decide on colors that would be good choices for wintertime and summertime outfits in terms of neutrals and accents.

Color is the most obvious fashion factor and the impact should never be under estimated. As Catherine Houck puts it, “You can have the thinnest figure and closets of clothes, but if you opt for unappetizing color combinations, it will all be futile.” Everyone reacts to the colors someone is wearing, whether we realize it or not. If someone wears all white, they appear fresh, pure, summery and cool. If someone wears all red, they are considered racy and dynamic. If someone chooses all black, they are considered demure, quietly sexy, and slightly mysterious. The more subtle the color combinations are, the less aware people will be of the influence that the colors are having.

Correcting Figure Flaws with Color

Consider the following scenarios and decide the colors that would be good choices for wintertime and summertime outfits in terms of neutrals and accents. You can first browse the discussion of color or immediately check the suggested answers found at the end.

A woman is 5 feet 2 inches (155 cm) tall, and weighs 120 lb. (54 kg.). Her biggest part is the hip area, so she wants to draw the eye up and away from her hips. Her skin tone is blue-based.
A woman is 5 feet 6 inches (165 cm) tall, with honey blond hair and blue eyes. Her weight is 130 lb. (59 kg.). Her body frame is an ‘H’, meaning she has a high hip area with no definite waist area.
A woman is 5 feet 6 inches (165 cm) tall, and weighs 120 lb. (54 kg.). She has red hair and green eyes, a ruddy complexion and has a lanky ‘H’ shaped body frame.

The Influence of Color

Not only can a skillful use of colors help to create a desired image, it can also save money. One can design an outfit and blend the colors so expertly that the item looks much richer. For instance: one can take a pair of white cotton pleated pants, a softly draped cream silk blouse, a slightly over-sized white drop sleeve jacket, a string of pearls, classy beige shoes (medium heel), and a beige belt with a gold buckle. Next, one can turn up the collars on the jacket, and roll the silk cream sleeves of the blouse over the jacket sleeves and --- Voila! A Vision in White. The fresh, clean spirit of summer was created by the influence of color in a slightly more formal image.

In this vision, an example of a monochromatic color scheme, unity of color created a strong overall impression. If the slacks and jacket had been different colors, the look would have been lost.

Monochromatic outfits with slight variations in tone will look the most sophisticated in neutral tones such as white, black, and dark taupe or beige. Most other colors profit by a subtle blending with another color, especially with one of the same value.

Choosing the Right Colors

Key colors to dressing rich or elegant are the neutrals- beiges, tans, taupes, grays, black, whites and navy. These colors, with their wide variety of shades, are fashion perennials: they will never go out of fashion, and they will always appear elegant. They should be chosen first.

But what is the bottom line for choosing colors? Always choose colors suited to your particular skin tone. For example:

Greige: a combination of gray and beige: a rich neutral color; it looks exceptionally nice on light blonds.
Black: a very rich neutral color; it looks nice on a fair skinned, dark haired person.
Dark Chestnut: it looks good as a neutral on people with tan or auburn hair and ruddy complexions.

After we have made our neutral selection we must consider our accent colors. The best are colors like red, deep burgundy, plum, dusty-gray, slate blue, and soft, dusty, muted pastels. These colors are a bit more difficult to mix and match than neutrals.

Bright colors like purple, emerald green and turquoise can be very effective if done correctly with the right skin tone but when in doubt, be careful or avoid them.

Best Bet Combinations

Almost all shades blend well with the neutral colors and all these neutrals are complimentary with each other. However, the neutral should be the dominant color for an outfit when blending with an accent color. For example:

A beige wool skirt with a soft plum blouse in silk, and a beige cardigan; plum is the accent color
If the colors were reversed, then extra shoes in plum, and a hand bag would be required, since the basic beige shoes would not balance the outfit

In addition, when mixing neutral colors with accent colors such as plum, you should keep the predominant color on the bottom. For example:

a plum skirt and a taupe or gray blouse

Top designers have another device: they mix colors of the same value. For example:

mix gray slacks with a dusty blue shirt

But what do you do with plaids and prints? The advice is: use prints and plaids, and all patterns for that matter, sparingly in your wardrobe. They should be subtle and in the same color that you have chosen. For example:

good choices would be: pinstripe with fine blue or beige background; understated madras plaid; tiny, wine print on a black background

Remember, however, that plaids are harder to mix and match, and that they are remembered by the viewer and more dated; but if you keep to solid and safe colors, they will always be in style. It will also be cheaper because fewer clothes will be needed to put together a wardrobe, and fewer accessories will be needed.