HOW TO USE THE COLOR WHEEL TO PLAN YOUR NEXT OUTFIT
Otto James, a native of St. Croix, showcases expert color mixing and matching in this monochromatic pink look. See the head-to-toe look in our Mini Lookbook below. Photo courtesy of Otto James.
Painters use it. Interior designers use it. Fashion designers use it. Home Depot customers use it. And you should, too!
We’re talking about the Color Wheel: a simple tool that helps you mix and match colors—including the clothes in your closet—effortlessly.
While there are very elaborate types of color wheels, we like keeping things fairly simple around here. A basic color wheel consists of the following:
Primary Colors: Red, Yellow & Blue. These are the bold building blocks of all other colors.
Secondary Colors: Orange, Green & Purple. These are made when two primary colors are mixed together, i.e., Red + Yellow = Orange.
Tertiary Colors: These are those in-between shades like red-orange, yellow-orange, and blue-green. They are made by mixing a primary color with a nearby secondary color. These colors add richness and dimension to a color palette.
Now, let’s get into the styling! Here’s how you can tap into the genius of this centuries-old tool to create new and exciting color combos with items you may already have in your closet:
Use the color wheel to style complementary colors—these are colors that sit directly opposite of each other on the color wheel. When paired together, they pop and are intended to make a statement. Using our color wheel example above, think about:
An orange blazer with a blue midi skirt
Purple strappy sandals with a yellow slip dress
2. Use the color wheel to style analogous colors—a fancy word for colors that sit right next to each other on the color wheel. As the kids say, ‘They go hard together!’ There is a certain harmony and flow to your outfit when you wear these colors together. Using our color wheel example above, think about:
Fushia (or pinkish-purple) top with red shoes
3. Use the color wheel to style monochromatic colors—one of my favorite ways to wear color—this uses color from one color family. Be sure to mix things up by incorporating light, medium and dark shades of the same color. Our color wheel example provides a limited color range, but think about:
Shades of green outfit: mint top, olive pants, and emerald heels
4. Use the color wheel to style triadic colors—these are three colors evenly spaced on the color wheel, in the form of a triangle. Using our color wheel example above, imagine a triangle connecting the following colors:
Red top, blue jeans, yellow crossbody bag (the primary colors!)
When it comes to mixing and matching colors and clothing, only one person comes to mind for me: Otto James. You’ve seen him expertly pair colors on colors on prints on patterns in photos on Facebook (@ottojames) and Instagram (@ottojames88), and everything he does just works…every time! His annual Easter style spread has become an online institution that many of us style watchers look forward to each year.
Otto was gracious enough to submit a few of his best color-combo looks that truly capture his brilliance when it comes to color mixing and matching.
Remember to start your color pairing journey slowly, especially if you haven’t played with much color in your wardrobe before. Maybe start by adding ‘pops of color’ in the form of a purse, shoes, fun sunglasses, or other accessory.
That said, may I present to some and introduce to others, the King of Color, Otto James:
