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To use the color wheel and the chart below we need to know
these definitions:
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Core Color:
The dominant color in
a color scheme. It’s the color of the principal item in your outfit
like your suit or a dress shirt.
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Accent Colors:
The second and
sometimes third colors used in a color scheme. The accent colors may be
complementary, triad, analogous or neutral. |
Complementary
colors:
Colors directly opposite each other in the color spectrum
or wheel. Blue is opposite of orange on the color wheel. That is why
gold, rust and brown compliment shades of blue. Here’s an example of an
outfit: navy trousers (blue) with a rust dress shirt (orange).
Triad colors:
Three hues equally spaced on the color wheel. When you want a combination
that is colorful and yet balanced, a triad color scheme might be the way
to go.
The first or primary triad colors in the color wheel are red, blue and
yellow. Here’s an example of an outfit: a navy suit (blue), pale yellow
shirt (yellow) and burgundy tie (red).
Analogous colors:
Colors, which are next to each other on the color wheel, go well together,
such as blue pants, a blue-green shirt and a green jacket.
Neutral colors:
Neutral colors include beige, ivory, taupe, black, gray, and white
and sometimes brown. Neutral usually means without color, and
these colors don't usually show up on the color wheel.
Some examples of
how to put this to use to coordinate your wardrobes:
|
CORE COLOR |
ACCENT COLORS |
|
Complementary |
Triad |
Analogous |
Neutral |
|
white (neutral) |
all colors |
(same for all colors)
white, black,
gray, tan |
|
black (neutral) |
all colors |
|
gray (neutral) |
darker or lighter
gray, red, blue, yellow, green |
|
tan (neutral) |
blue, violet,
orange, green |
|
brown (neutral) |
blue, green,
orange, yellow |
|
blue |
orange |
yellow, red
|
blue, green,
violet |
|
red |
green |
blue, yellow |
violet, orange |
|
yellow |
violet |
red, blue |
orange, green |
|
purple |
yellow |
orange, green |
blue, red |
|
orange
|
blue |
green, violet |
yellow, red |
|
green
|
red |
violet, orange |
blue, yellow |
Putting the Core
color and Accent color chart to specific practice:
Keep in mind the
colors are derived from either moving outward on the color wheel (shading)
or moving inward on the color wheel (tinting). These are colors that
traditionally go well together, but remember this is only a guide.
|
Coat Color |
Shirt
|
Tie
|
Trousers for
Sportcoats* |
Belt/Shoes
|
|
navy |
white, blue,
yellow, pink |
blue, gold,
yellow, burgundy, red, purple |
gray, tan
|
black, brown,
cordovan |
|
gray |
white, gray,
yellow, pink, lavender, blue |
black, white,
gray, green, blue-green, burgundy, navy, any primary or pastel
colors |
gray, black, navy |
black, brown,
cordovan |
|
brown |
white, ecru, blue,
yellow |
tan, black, brown,
rust, orange, red, gold, yellow, green, burgundy |
tan, gray,
a different shade of brown |
Brown, cordovan |
|
tan |
blue, ecru, white |
tan, brown, rust,
orange, red, navy |
black, navy, gray,
brown, darker tan |
black, brown,
cordovan |
|
olive |
white, ecru, gray,
pale yellow, pale blue |
burgundy, rust,
green, tan, yellow |
gray, tan, navy,
brown |
brown, cordovan |
|
black |
white, light gray,
yellow, blue |
black, white,
grey, blue, olive, burgundy, any primary
or pastel colors |
gray, tan |
black
|
*Tip
for matching trousers to sportcoats:
The bone buttons of a
sport jacket have a range of colors. You can choose trousers that match
any of the colors of the buttons and they will go perfectly.
Caution:
You must pay attention to tone (adding gray), tint (adding
white) and shade (adding black) of a hue (pure color). Green and
red are complementary colors, but if you match pure green and red you’ll
look very holiday like, which is fine for December. But burgundy and
hunter green are quite stunning together.
Some additional
considerations:
Seasonal Colors:
Some
colors are more appropriate at certain times of year than others. Like
the pastels of yellow, are usually associated with summer, while autumn
colors are rust, brown, green, and burgundy. Wearing rust in the summer,
or light yellow in the fall looks out of place.
Think Contrast: Try one light element with two dark, or one
dark with two lights, such as a charcoal suit, white shirt and red tie, or
tan suit with yellow shirt and green tie. Or khaki pants and a dark blue
shirt.
Color Value:
Dark
colors recede thus making you look thinner, and light colors project,
which tends to bulk you up. Dark colors are more formal than light
colors.
Warm and Cool
Colors: 
Families of analogous colors include warm colors (red, orange,
yellow) and cool colors (green, blue, violet). Designers often
build color schemes around two or three related colors.
Select two warm
colors with one cool or two cool with one warm to create dynamic harmony.
Examples: navy suit, light blue shirt and red tie, or a yellow shirt,
rust jacket and blue jeans.
Monochromatic:
all
one color, but different shades, tones or tints. All blue attire could
consist of a navy suit, light blue shirt, dark blue tie, blue pocket
square, etc. Add some contrast to this combination by using texture and
pattern. Some of your clothing items should be smooth; others rough in
texture. Some items could be patterned; others solid.
Neutral:
We talked about neutral colors, but you can dress in shades of white,
black, gray or beige. Khaki pants, a white shirt, and a gray dress shirt
are all neutrals. It may not be a dynamic look, but it is sophisticated.
Seasonal
Colors:
Some colors
are more appropriate at certain times of year than others. Like the
pastels of yellow, are usually associated with summer, while autumn
colors are rust, brown, green, and burgundy.
Wearing rust in the summer, or light yellow in the fall looks out of
place.
Color
Value:
Dark colors
recede thus making you look thinner, and light colors project, which
tends to bulk you up. Dark colors are more formal than light.
What colors
look best on you?
Here’s a
simplified way of deterring colors.
Remember,
however, there are certain colors that are acceptable for business
and many that are not. An ideal ensemble for a job interview would
be a navy suit, white shirt and a burgundy necktie.
If you, from the information below looks great in fuchsia, please
don’t wear a fuchsia suit!
Your skin tone is
the most important factor in determining the colors that look best
on you.
With the
help of the list below, decide which season most accurately
describes you complexion. Once you know your season, you
will have a personalized guideline of colors and shades that work
best for you!
WINTER
|
Best
Colors |
Worst
Colors |
|
"Winter"
is a cool tone. People with
winter complexions have blue or pink/rosy undertones.
Skin can be pale
white, yellowish-olive, or dark.
Those
with the Winter color profile have a lot of depth to their
coloring and a lot of contrast between their hair color, eye
color and skin tone.
Winter people have
brown hair, with deeply colored eyes. Many Asians and African
Americans fall into this category.
People
with white-blond hair may also be winters |
Winters should wear
colors that are sharp, stark and clear.
They look
best in intense, rich colors, like white, black, navy blue, red,
and hot pink.
For
lighter colors, wear bright white or icy pastels, such as cool
blues, pinks and yellows.
|
Winters
should avoid dressing in earth tones and subdued colors like
pastels, and beige, orange and gold.
|
SUMMER
|
Best
Colors |
Worst
Colors |
|
"Summer"
is also a cool tone and like
winter
complexions, have
blue or pink undertones.
Skin is pale and
pink.
Summers
have a low level of contrast between their hair, eye color and
skin tone.
Summers often have
blonds or brown hair with pale eyes.
If
you’re a trying to discriminate between winter and summer,
winters are usually have brown hair and summers are mostly
natural blonds.
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Summers should
choose
soft neutrals
and pastels, as well as muted colors with cool undertones.
Powder
blue, dusty pink, mauve,
rose-brown,
lavender, plum, and pale
yellow are all good color choices.
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Summers
should avoid intense, vivid hues because they will look harsh.
Nor should Summers wear earth tones, black or orange.
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AUTUMN
|
Best
Colors |
Worst
Colors |
|
Autumn
is a warm tone and people with this complexion have golden
undertones in their skin, like a pale peach, golden beige or
golden brown.
Many
have brown or red hair, and golden brown
However,
golden blond and black hair coloring can also fall into this
range.
Autumns
have a lot of depth to their coloring and skin tone. Rich
golden, spicy, and earthy colors will accent their complexion.
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Autumns should
select
both
muted and rich warm colors that are seen in autumn leaves and
spice colors, such as camel, beige, olive, orange, gold, warm
grays, and dark brown.
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Autumns should
avoid
clear, bright
colors and black and white, which will make them look tired and
faded.
They
should also avoid pastels and blue tones, which look cold
against Autumns complexion and give a pale appearance.
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SPRING
|
Best
Colors |
Worst
Colors |
|
Spring
is also a warm tone.
Spring complexions
have golden undertones and are usually creamy white or peach.
Springs
have extremely light, ivory skin color.
People
of this coloring are usually natural golden blonds, auburn, or
have strawberry blond red hair.
Springs
also have very clear, light blue and green colored eyes.
Freckles and rosy cheeks are also characteristics of this group.
If you can’t decide weather a client is an autumn or a spring,
remember springs tend to have pale eyes while autumns have dark
eyes. |
Springs
can wear very pale, soft colors, such as peach, camel, golden
yellow, golden brown, and aqua. They will also look good in
ivory, bright greens, true reds, clear blues and coral.
|
Springs
should avoid black and white, which are too contrasting.
They
should also stay away from dark, dull colors. |
Have a color's name or want to know what color a
product really is with a certain color name?
Click on
NAME THAT COLOR
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