Basic rules for combining colors in clothes

“Colors are deceptive: they pretend to be different, but in every possible case they mix.”
Alisher Faiz, psychologist, writer

Each of us has our own favorite color to wear. Or even two or three. They suit us, we feel comfortable in them. And we don’t even think that these colors, for example, emphasize the freshness of the face, beautifully highlight the eyes and hair, and even hide the imperfections of our figure. We just love them and change them depending on our mood. But there are also those who categorically do not suit us, they “kill”. What do psychologists say about this? What do we associate primary colors with and what do our color preferences mean?

All the colors of the rainbow

“Every Hunter Wants to Know Where the Pheasant Sits” - who doesn’t remember this little rhyme from childhood, in which important information is hidden? After all, it is in it that the names of the primary colors - the colors of the rainbow - are encrypted.

Red. Associations arise with bright flame, danger, heart and blood, passion and ardor. Therefore, if you want to wear a red blouse or dress, know that the reason for this is the desire to waste accumulated energy. You crave success and are determined to win.

Yellow. Bright sunny dandelion, chicken, honey candies and ripe melon. Psychologists believe that anyone who prefers this color wants to be free from difficulties, have fun and dream. Yellow is sensual, piquant, filled with hope.

Green. Do you like green? This means you are logical, persistent, emotional and active! You also like to lead, you are proud of yourself and prone to analysis.

Blue. Do you want peace and freedom? Perhaps you would like peace and carelessness? Wear blue, and fate will be favorable to you. Shades of blue are preferred by faithful people.

Violet. The desire to charm and delight others guides those who strive to wear purple, violet clothes. Magic, mystery and creativity go hand in hand with you, so your wishes often come true.

Brown is the color chosen by people who feel some danger or discomfort, are emotional and are very sensitive to their family and friends.

Gray, predominant in clothing, speaks of a desire to hide and isolate oneself from the outside world, perhaps even mind one’s personal affairs, relegating the public and commitment to everything that is happening around to the background.

The color black symbolizes the end of a certain stage of life, the desire to immerse yourself in your inner world, to go against fate. Black is the unknown and the mystery that gives way to everything new. In Japanese culture, it is a symbol of nobility; it is no coincidence that in martial arts a black belt is a recognition of superiority.

White is its opposite. The color of justice, faith, innocence and beginnings. This is a blank slate from which history is written. By giving him preference in clothing, you are entering a new time for yourself.

Achromatic? No, it's complimentary!

When choosing our color, we, consciously or not, take into account our type of appearance. As you know, there are four types - Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn. Stylists recommend using a maximum of three colors. One of them will dominate the image, the second will emphasize and shade it, and the third will place accents, depending on what we want to emphasize. However, other color combinations are also very useful.

1. Monochromatic

Only one color is used, but with all the variety of tones, from the lightest to the darkest.

The so-called consonance of shades is very important. They must be in the same color range. For example, if you really like the color blue, then experiment with it. It is associated with violet, green and blue. Shades may be closer to the first, second or third. Change its brightness, saturation, i.e. the presence of dark and light tones in different parts of clothing. It can be neon or sea green, as well as cornflower blue, sky blue, azure. The names of shades of purple are conveyed through the names of flowers: lilac, violet, lavender and lilac. Turquoise, light green, aquamarine, emerald and olive are shades of green.

And if your soul is drawn to the color orange, then you have the following palette of colors: honey, red, carrot, orange, amber (includes a group of shades from yellow to brown), brown, which is obtained by merging gray and orange. And red has scarlet, pink, carmine, burgundy, crimson, crimson and cardinal.

2. Achromatic. We use black, gray and white. And we place bright color accents with the help of accessories - brooches, bracelets, scarves. The best part is that these colors go with absolutely any color. For the classic version, white and black are enough. What you prefer in this case - a dark top and a light bottom or vice versa - is up to you. Based on the characteristics of your figure (remember: white makes you look fat, black makes you look slimmer).

3. Complimentary. Creative people especially like this combination, because it allows you to combine contrasting colors.

Creative people, as practice and surveys show, prefer three main pairs of colors in clothes: orange and blue, purple and yellow, red and green. By combining such contrasting colors, you add dynamics to the image and attract attention to yourself. However, many people think that the combination of red and green in clothes looks too tasteless. But in this case it is important to choose the right shades. For example, scarlet and emerald. If your courage or type of appearance does not allow you to wear contrasting colors - ultramarine with orange, for example - try combining sky blue, lilac with light brown.

4. Harmonious. This combination of colors is always strictly consistent and pleasing to the eye. The colors complement each other appropriately, creating balance and harmony in the image.

A little more psychology

* The combination of purple and gray in your clothes indicates that you have a developed sense of beauty and high ideals of beauty.
* Anyone who has tried on yellow and purple at the same time has a very developed imagination; he is a born traveler.
* Purple and brown speak of your attachment to pleasures in food, luxury, thirst for buying clothes and, in general, new acquisitions. And in combination with black, purple speaks of the need for imitation.
* Red and purple - the charm of aesthetics and eroticism, everything that can excite. Blue and purple talk about the desire for tenderness and sensuality.
* Green and purple - the desire to enlist the support of others, to win their favor, however, and the reluctance to take responsibility.
* And blue and yellow are chosen by those who want to be understood and understand themselves, who lack a little love.
* Blue with black - peace, and blue with gray - some detachment.
* The contrast of blue and red speaks of harmony and emotionality. Brown and blue - for those in need of care and comfort.
* Characters who prefer a combination of gray and green are self-confident and cautious. Blue with green - this speaks of logic, excessive accuracy and control.
* The owner of an outfit where green and red dominate increases his authority, however, green and yellow - recognition of others and himself.
* The fatal combination of red and black speaks of excessive desires, and red and gray - of impulsiveness.
* Green and black are pathological stubbornness, and yellow and black are self-will.
* Red and yellow - thirst for knowledge and research, red and brown - self-satisfaction.
* Gray and yellow - uncertainty. And yellow and brown represent freedom without end and edge, limitless.
* Green and brown - the need for peace; together with black, the latter means the renunciation of everything except physical pleasure.
* Gray and black - self-isolation and closedness from the outside world. Gray and brown, on the contrary, require attention from the outside.

Comment by Nadezhda Ivleva, image stylist at Style Guide:

Nadezhda Ivleva - In fact, all colors are combined with each other: blue, red, green, yellow, etc. But each color has many shades and nuances, and in their combination you can easily get confused and make mistakes.

Surely you know that colors can be warm and cold. Warm colors contain a yellow pigment, while cool colors have a blue undertone. But at the same time, each color can have both warm and cold shades. The rule for combining tones is very simple: cold shades go well with cold ones, and warm shades with warm ones. For example, pink harmonizes with burgundy and neutral gray, and peach looks good with brick and turquoise.

It is also important to consider the color saturation - whether it is light or dark. It is absolutely unacceptable to mix light warm colors and dark cold colors in clothes and vice versa. It is difficult to imagine a harmonious duet of khaki with transparent pink or dark blue with light green. Cold shades of different colors, as well as warm ones, can be safely combined with each other in different saturations and different combinations. Of course, don't forget about the situation you're dressing for. For a formal business meeting, choose several shades (warm or cool) of the same color, such as blue, and for a party, feel free to combine shades of different colors, even purple and yellow, green and red.

It's all in the nuances!