What to Wear for Color Blocking

Color blocking fashions hit the runway in Spring 2012 and could not be more popular. If you want to start wearing this bold look, keep reading! This article will share some basic color blocking techniques as well as give tips on how to wear it for your body-shape.

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Some Defining Features

Color blocking makes use of bold swaths of color, often in geometric designs. As the name implies, big "blocks" of color are typical, and with little to no blending between colors. Any printed designs can be symmetrical or asymmetrical, and do not necessarily have to be stripes. As a matter of fact, any polygon, regular or irregular, is likely to be seen. What you will rarely see are curved designs: color blocking fashion prefers straight lines. Any curves will generally come from cinching of the material or, of course, the figure underneath it.

Generally speaking, color blocking does not blend colors into each other, and if a color appears it will often be localized in its single block. Accentuating and tying in these colors is usually done with shoes and accessories, and not by incorporating them into several areas of the same garment. Deciding how these colors are laid out follows many well established artistic guidelines; often you will see color arrangements divided by thirds, which has long been a composition standard.

Don't think, however, that your garments must be specifically made for color blocking. Any solid colored clothes in bright hues can be mixed and matched to make fantastic color blocked outfits. The key is playing bright colors against each other for bold new looks.

This trendy Gabriella Colorblock dress makes color blocking a breeze, as it takes care of choosing the proportions of the colors in the main outfit. Don't let the black overpower the outfit though: color blocking is about color! The hot red accent at the shoulders can be set off with your choice of accessories, play it up and let it sizzle!

What is Typical

The great thing about color blocking is that it makes bright colors so fashionable to wear. You can finally "get away" with your favorite hot pinks, tangerines, or bold purples. Aquas and peacock-greens are also popular. Black and white are seen only occasionally, but can create a stunning look when paired with such eye-popping vivid colors.

Natural colors such and cremes and browns can help to tone down wild colors and create a more natural every-day look. This is good news for those who like to be fashionable without drawing a great deal of attention.

Red and turquoise make a vivid combination that is sure to turn heads. This bold combination works well because turquoise and red are complementary colors: they are found roughly on opposite sides of the color wheel.

Color Theory in Action

When it comes to deciding on the colors that should go into a color blocking ensemble, it is wise to consider general color theory. Generally, when excluding neutral colors like brown, black, white, etcetera... the colors that look best together when color blocking will have at least one of the following characteristics:

They will be part of the same color-family. I.E. Warm or cool colors. Hot pink, oranges, yellows, and reds fall into the warm category, with the occasional red-based purple or yellow-based green. Cool colors consist of aquas, indigo, as well as most greens and purples.

They will be complementary colors. That is, they will exhibit some form of recognized complement, such as the typical triad complement which would be the colors that an equilateral triangle positioned in the middle of a color wheel would point to. Other complements include colors directly opposite each other on the color wheel, and the quad complement, which is similar to the triad, but with a square inside the color wheel and each corner pointing to a color.

Color blocking designers will often combine many of these options as well as others. For other ideas about how color complements are obtained, this color scheme generator is a fantastic tool for visualization. It is a tool for determining generally pleasing color arrangements, and is very appropriate for designing color blocking schemes.

How to Wear it For Your Unique Figure

We all are shaped a little differently, and very few of us like the models in the latest fashions! But that shouldn't stop anyone from taking advantage of this hot 2012 trend. The key is to know and work with your body, not against it! No matter your shape or size, there are methods to make color blocking work for you. Color blocked garments come in a wide variety of cuts and styles, from tight to ultra-baggy, and chic sheath-dress to t-shirt, and everything in between. Therefor, you will likely be able to find a style that suits you. The key is to choose clothes which have the colors arranged in a flattering way for your body-type.

Apple body-shapes generally carry most of their weight in their midsection. If your tummy is a trouble-zone for you, balance it out by wearing darker or cooler colors around the middle. Cool colors, when placed against warm ones, recede into space. Cobalt, indigo, and royal purple are excellent examples of colors to wear around the midsection, especially when paired with orange or warm greens around the shoulders or hips. If you find your legs are your best feature, play them up by taking advantage of trendy above-the-knee hemlines. At any point, you may substitute a subdued neutral instead of color for midsection choices.

Those with a pear body-shape may find that they carry much of their weight in their hips and legs. To create balance between the upper and lower body, wear bright, vivid colors up top and either darker or cool colors on the lower body. Take advantage of bold bands of contrasting colors in tops and solid colored pants or skirts. Again, neutrals may be used instead of more adventurous color choices. Avoid pale nude tones, however, and stay in the darker neutral range.

Take the advice for pears, and flip it! Wear your boldest colors on the lower body to balance out wide shoulders or a busty figure. Flowing skirts and looser pants are a good bet,as they can help the illusion of a more even proportion. Aim for more v-cut necklines to avoid large expanses of unbroken color up top.

Hourglass shapes have the advantage of a natural balance between upper and lower body, but should be careful not to overemphasize one section or another. Darker midsection choices can help to show off a waistline with the aid of bright metallic belts and tailored fashions. Alternatively, having the boldest color statement at the waist can also create a fashionable outfit: a stripe of aqua between orange and hot pink, for example. In either case, the aim is to create the most contrast and visual interest at the waistline with sharp color changes. The other option is to go with vertical stripes to ensure that colors are evenly distributed over the body.

Rectangle body-shapes, like hourglasses, are naturally evenly proportioned. The only difference is the that the waistline for a rectangle shape is less pronounced. This does not pose a problem in color blocked fashions, as there are so many shapes and styles of garments that can be used, one need not fit a particular silhouette to enjoy this trend. Like an hourglass, avoid putting too much emphasis on either the top or the bottom. Again, vertical stripes work well, particularly in shift-dress styles. If you do wish to create more curves, trying flowing skirts and a belted waist to cinch the fabric.

These are a few great pieces that are perfect for mix-and-matching to create a trendy color blocking outfit. Check them out and vote for your favorite!

How do you wear it? If you've never worn the style before, are you more interested in it now? Have any more tips for readers, or any other feedback? Go ahead and leave a comment!