How to incorporate a new item of clothing that is a different color from everything else you own?

[Anonymous]

So I'm trying to expand my clothing color palette and branch out a bit. My whole life I've gravitated toward black and the burgundy/purple/pink set of hues. I've acquired a pretty orange skirt, but have no idea what to do with it! Can't wear it with black--too Halloween-y, right? Doesn't match anything I own, but the whole point is that I'm trying to gain variety. Similarly, I bought a pretty navy patterned skirt, but since my neutral has always been black, I don't even own any navy shoes, for example. Would love suggestions about these things, but also guidance in general about how to bring in new items in general. TIA.

[Anonymous]

If you want a conservative look, do a beige outfit - your pop of color will be the orange skirt. Analogous ensemble.

If you want something more vibrant, you can go with the opposite color on the wheel and do blue. Complementary ensemble.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
If you want a conservative look, do a beige outfit - your pop of color will be the orange skirt. Analogous ensemble.

If you want something more vibrant, you can go with the opposite color on the wheel and do blue. Complementary ensemble.

OP here--thanks. So a general principle is one can always put together colors that are opposite on the color wheel?

[Anonymous]

You can do orange with pink (carefully), but probably not in January.

Is it a bright poppy orange, or more of an earth tone? The latter goes well with khaki greens, gold or brown hues. For a poppy bright orange, a dark charcoal instead of black for a neutral will avoid it being halloween -- or else a chocolate brown (very 70s) or a navy.

[Anonymous]

OP again. A bright poppy orange. Thanks, love the idea for gray!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
If you want a conservative look, do a beige outfit - your pop of color will be the orange skirt. Analogous ensemble.

If you want something more vibrant, you can go with the opposite color on the wheel and do blue. Complementary ensemble.

OP here--thanks. So a general principle is one can always put together colors that are opposite on the color wheel?

With great care, otherwise you get the clown look. The best way to make it more elegant is to have one color a much darker tone than the other. So you could have a muted dark blue/turquoise outfit, with a brighter orange.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can do orange with pink (carefully), but probably not in January.

Is it a bright poppy orange, or more of an earth tone? The latter goes well with khaki greens, gold or brown hues. For a poppy bright orange, a dark charcoal instead of black for a neutral will avoid it being halloween -- or else a chocolate brown (very 70s) or a navy.

If it's bright flame orange, try light chambray shirt/blouse + neutral color (white, cream, gray, navy) cardigan to pull it together.
Navy is a great color to play with. Add grey or other neutral tone for conservative look. Or play with jewel tone.

[Anonymous]

Orange looks great with gray, IMO (ditto lime green or yellow. The key is to keep the rest of the outfit neutral and have just the pop of color). Navy and gray are both neutrals, but can look very polished together. Try a navy skirt with burgundy/dark purple/fuschia shoes. If your outfit is relatively neutral, you can let your shoes be the pop of color.

And I agree with 19:40--think in terms of contrast, but one side of the contrast is dark/muted and the other is brighter. It's all about balance. You can also mix neutrals for a pretty, sophisticated look, especially if you add just one piece of color--a scarf, a necklace, or shoes.

[Anonymous]

OP again--thanks all! This is very helpful.