Don't Hate Your Closet

I had never heard of a color wheel until I started working with art teachers and artists. It is a fascinating way of looking at colors and a great way to put outfits together. Red, blue and yellow are the primary colors and everything spins off of these three. Hard to believe, I know. Most children’s toys use these colors because they are easy to learn and recognize. Secondary colors are purple, orange, and green. Then we move into tertiary colors. As more colors get added to the wheel, the wheel automatically divides into warm and cool colors. There are several ways to use the color wheel when you get dressed:

1. Complimentary Colors. (Also called Opposing Colors) Pick a color on the color wheel and then select the color on the opposite end of the wheel (yep, this is where we get red and green for Christmas OR the colors for your favorite sports team). Have this color combination in mind when you walk into your closet or go shopping.

2. Analogous Colors. Think of a color strip from your local paint store. These are colors that continue out from the center of the wheel like a wedge. We use the term “matchy matchy” when we match the exactly same color. We say something “goes” when we talk about a color on the wedge.

3. Triadic Colors. When you make a triangle with the color wheel, typically those colors look good together. You get use exact geometry but a free handed triangle drawn over the wheel will work just fine.

4. Split Complimentary Colors. If using the complimentary colors technique is too bold for you, try using the split complimentary colors. Pick a color. Find the Complimentary Color (see #1) and then select the color to the right or the left of the complimentary color. Those colors will be a more subtle variation of the complimentary color.

I can hear you through the internet … WHERE IS BLACK? Black and white are not on the spectrum of the color wheel. They are their own wheel (and wedge) and give us all those great shades of gray.

Try some combinations. Have fun and above all, trust yourself.