Whether you put your outfits together last minute or pre-plan them the night before, the concept of colour coordination is so innate in most of us that it's not something we actively think about. And while we all know that some colours look better together than others, very few of us understand why.
Unsurprisingly there's a science behind it, and it's all based around the colour wheel.
The colour wheel is a spherical spectrum of shades, created using the natural, linear order of colour (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet), with either end connected to create the loop.
Combinations of the varying colours work in different ways, but below are four of the most-frequently referenced and easy-to-understand fusions...
1. ANALOGOUS
When shades next to one another on the colour wheel are used in conjunction, they create an 'analogous' combination. These such pairings tend to create subtle, inoffensive, easy-on-the-eye looks as the sibling-like colours naturally blend into one another.
2. COMPLEMENTARY
In direct contrast, another flattering way to wear colour is by using complementary shades which, ironically, sit opposite one another on the colour wheel. Yellows and purples, blues and oranges, greens and reds... they are undoubtedly striking but never intimidating or garish. Kim Kardashian and Chrissy Teigen are both staunch fans of combining these exact hues.
3. MONOCHROMATIC
While the term 'monochrome' may regularly be used synonymously with 'black and white', it in fact references any solo colour. Incredibly relevant this season, single-colour dressing is proving more popular than ever with varying shades of the same hue offering depth. Try it.
4. GREYSCALE
A classic colourway - that is, in fact, entirely void of 'colour' - black and white is timeless and neutral without ever feeling dull. Mixing up patterns and textures is the best way to make these clinical hues feel modern and fun.
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