Color Blocking 101: How to Use Bold Colors & Neutrals with Intention

Takeaways:

• The most successful color block outfits feature two main colors that are typically opposites on the color wheel.
• Color block fashion has evolved over the years to complement the trends of the era.
• Use modern color blocking to update your wardrobe using bold, bright colors as a focal point for eye-catching combinations.
• Color blocking prioritizes contrast and solid colors to create striking outfits where every color shines without focusing on prints and patterns.

Color Block Outfit Ideas

Color block fashion is a great way to express your personal style through unique combinations that make a statement. While modern color blocking likes to combine two bold colors into one outfit, the team at June Adel loves to experiment with bold hues and neutral shades for more intentional outfits.

Wondering how to work color blocking into your wardrobe? Let’s go over the basic skills for color blocking and how to give your loud colors something to say.

Check out our guides for more inspiration and advice!

1. Know Your Color Theory

Before you start mixing and matching different color block outfits, you must understand how different colors work together. Basic color theory will teach you which colors are complementary, analogous, and triadic, so you can make better decisions in color block outfits.

• Analogous Colors: These are shades that sit next to each other on the color wheel. Think about the harmony between blue and teal or red and burgundy to discover color combinations that are easier on the eyes. Color block fashion uses these color relationships as a guide.

• Complementary Colors: These colors sit directly opposite each other on the color wheel. Examples of complementary hues include blue and orange, purple and yellow, or red and green. Choose complementary colors for dramatic visual contrast in your color block outfits.

• Triadic Colors: As the name implies, colors that form a triangle on the color wheel are triadic sets. Common combinations may include red, yellow, and blue or green, orange, and purple. Color trios are just as bold as complementary colors, but feel more balanced.

For intentional and harmonious color interactions, choose your focal color and build around it. An outfit built around red will have green as a complementary color, orange and purple as analogous colors, and yellow and blue as triadic colors.

2. Extrapolate Color Theory

If you want to incorporate neutrals, you’ll need to expand the color wheel with additional shades, extrapolating from the basic hues for a cohesive color block outfit. Most basic color wheels feature just twelve colors, none of them neutral.

A color wheel showing neutral shades will show how you get to brown from orange or grey from blue. Then, you’ll be able to see the corresponding complementary, analogous, and triadic shades from the expanded selection and use them in your color block fashion.

Complementary colors for most shades of brown range from purple to blue, while analogous hues here typically include yellow and orange. Complementary shades for grey are usually in the green and yellow range, while analogous hues may include purple and blue.

3. Start with a Neutral

If you want more subtle color block outfits, we recommend starting with a neutral base, like black or white. You can layer two bolder colors over this foundation, using the neutral shade as a canvas that gives the eye a break between the other hues.

Check out these outfits for simple starting points:

Since these pieces are typically simple styles that many people already own, it’s easy to experiment with color block outfits for the first time using this method.

4. Shop Color-Blocked Styles

You don’t have to start from scratch! You can shop sweaters, dresses, shirts, and more that already feature built-in color block fashion styles. If you choose a bold color block sweater or blouse, pair it with neutrals like white joggers, black slacks, or traditional blue denim. For color block skirts, you can balance bold looks with a neutral jacket and shoes.

Mistakes to Avoid

Color block outfits aren’t always easy, and there are some mistakes you’ll want to avoid. Here are some tips to help you skip out on the most common pitfalls.

• Mixing Different Saturation Levels: How vivid or muted the shade you choose for your clothing is a factor in determining whether two colors truly match. You want to stick with hues that have the same intensity, like emerald green with bright pink or pastel yellow with pale lavender.

• Using Too Many Colors: You don’t typically want to use more than three colors in any color block outfit. Build your outfit around a single focal color, with one accent and an optional pop of a third color. With just two or three colors, your outfit looks intentional instead of disorganized.

Forgetting About Shape & Texture: The cut and style of your clothing matters just as much as the colors you choose. Since the focus should be on the colors, bold textures, and flowy silhouettes take away from the overall effect. Prioritize clean lines and minimal embellishments in your color block outfits.

Embrace Color Block Fashion!

Color blocking is ideal for bold fashionistas who love to express their unique personalities. If you’ve never used color blocking before, start simple with a neutral hue as the buffer between two bold colors. Soon enough, you’ll feel more comfortable experimenting with unique styles that end up being your most memorable fits.

And if you’re missing anything to create the perfect ensemble, June Adel is here to help! Check out our neutral essentials for the base of any outfit, as well as bold blouses in a variety of bright colors.