How to Start Adding Colour to Your Summer Capsule Wardrobe

I also know that adding colour scares some people, and they want to maybe dip their toes in it or be subtle in gradual ways to slowly build up the amount of colour they have in their wardrobes.

Last week I talked about how pastels can be neutrals depending on what you pair them with. If you look at them with those eyes, it is a subtle way of adding colour that is technically working as a neutral.

In this summer wardrobe any of the pastels can be paired with any of the colours, so they are working as neutrals and colours.

I like neutrals.

Some days I just feel like wearing head to toe tonal because it is both easy, and generally always looks good.

But for some visual interest, I will often add something of colour in order to give it a little extra oomph if that makes sense.

Monochromatic is a good place to start with adding colour. It is very easy to put together an outfit that is one hue, then add something of colour to it.

An example from this summer capsule wardrobe would be the white trousers, white tank top, white blazer, white sneakers, and a coloured purse and earrings (outfit 1).

That way you don’t have to worry about colours clashing, or getting out of your comfort zone, but the addition of the bright earrings and handbag will draw people’s attention, and it will feel like a chic, intentional outfit.

Dressing with intention is always a goal of mine.

I like to look as if there was a thought process, but in a relaxed kind of way.

Not overthinking, because overthinking your outfit tends to make it look like you are trying too hard, or too matchy-matchy.

We want a look of reaching in your closet, pulling out a few things, and making them work together because you just don’t want to have to think about it.

A very important thing to note is that if you shop with intention then this process will be really easy because intentional purchases are those that you know will work with your current wardrobe.

If you are buying something that you know works with what you already have, then you will never have issues making outfits even if you get dressed with your eyes closed.

Once you are getting more comfortable to branch from the monochromatic looks, you can try tonal dressing next.

Tonal dressing involves pieces that are within the same tints, shades, and tones of the segment of colour wheel. You can even take it one step further and look at the wedge beside it and pick tones from there as well to give you more variation.

An example outfit from the pieces in this capsule would be the green-blue blazer, T-shirt with the blue in it, the light blue trousers, blue purse and light green slides (outfit 3).

These examples are head to toe looks, while the next examples will be a mixture of pieces with the colour added in, in a variety of ways.

Colour combination should never be allotted evenly.

It should focus on a 60-30-10 kind of combination depending on the amount of colours being used and if you are pairing it with neutral pieces.

The neutrals would not be included in the number breakdown. The 60-30-10 would only be counting the coloured pieces that you are incorporating.

So the 60 would be the biggest pieces, and the 30, a mid-size, then 10 would be the small details.

The easiest colour scheme to see on the colour wheel is the Complementary, which is two colours that are directly across from one another.

This example would be the green-blue blazer and the orange sleeveless top, which you could pair with the grey trousers, and red shoe (outfit 16).

The colour of the blazer and the red shoe are what are called split complementary colours. This is when you use the colours that are directly on either side of a hues complementary colour.

In this instance, red is beside the orange (which is complementary of the green-blue hues), so adding a touch of red will work.

In the 60-30-10 breakdown, the blazer would be the 60, the tank top is 30, and the shoes would be 10.

The nice thing about the shoes is that it isn’t solid red. It is paired with a neutral which makes it more subtle. If you want a bolder choice then these sandals may fit the bill.

You can see me wearing the blazer here. I have paired it with the split complementary of red, and then added something dark, and the neutral of denim to round it out.

If I had orange accessories I would have added orange earrings, or a bracelet, or even an orange watchband because I really like this one for my iWatch.

My husband has them in a few colours, and they are really fun in a retro 80s kind of way.

A fun colour mix for when you start to get better at it is the Analogous which is a combination of 3-5 colours that are located adjacent on the colour wheel.

This is the kind of combinations that you see in nature. So If I was to be super brave and choose the grouping of five colours this may look like a variation of green, blue greens, mid-blues, dark-blues, and purples.

On the opposite side of the colour wheel on the warm colour side, this grouping would include all the hues of fall leaves. With the red, oranges, and yellows.

With each wardrobe guide that I put out, I will try to give examples and reasoning behind colour pairings, so you get accustomed to seeing how they look and are being used.

I hope this gives a little more clarity.

I suggest finding a colour wheel that gives you better versions of the colours than the vibrant ones that you often see depicted on basic colour wheels.

You can find a lot of free ones for your own personal use if you search onlline, but if you would like a physical one then this has a nice variety of colours.

It is meant for paint mixing, so it has more realistic hues than many you see online.

The easiest way to do it if you are still uncomfortable or unsure is to just focus on accessories, shoes, or handbags which I focused on in this post.

These are such an easy way to bring colour without committing to an entire look.

Stay safe.

You might also like:
How to use a Colour Wheel to Help You Build a Summer Capsule Wardrobe
The Ultimate Summer Capsule Wardrobe 2022
How to Build a Colourful Summer Capsule Wardrobe
The Ultimate Spring Capsule Wardrobe
How to Build a Neutral Spring Capsule Wardrobe on a Budget
How to Build a Minimalist Capsule Wardrobe for Spring 2022
How to Build a Colourful Spring Capsule Wardrobe 2022
Spring Capsule Wardrobe Essentials 2022
How to Build a Spring Capsule Wardrobe 2022

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