The Color Blocking TrendColor Blocking
The 'Color Blocking' trend has yet to have the mass appeal in South Africa as it does overseas. Essentially, color blocking refers to wearing 'blocks' or a combination of different solid colors together in one outfit. Colors can be mixed, matched or clashed for maximum effect. It starts with effective color blocking, which means wearing a single bold color from head to toe.
You can pair two or three contrasting colors, anything more than four is excessive. These are some inspiring color blocking looks off the runway :
Bright colors, glossy makeup - inspiring picture
Neon MAKEUP For Spring/Summer 2012
Neon Everything For Spring/Summer 2012
I first noticed the neon trend when I was attending the SS12 press days in London late last year. Pretty much every brand that I saw had something neon or fluoro in their collection and I knew it was going to be big! Since then, I have been watching on-line as all of the stores are slowly releasing the trend. So many items are now in neon and I think it's amazing! I'm a big fan of the trend!
Color blocking at DIOR
Neon DRESSES For Spring/Summer 2012 :
1. Color blocking dress
2. Color blocking dress
4. Color blocking dress
ASOS Frosted Bowler Bag, buy it for $53.72Frosted bowling bag by ASOS Collection. Featuring a color block main with a frosted effect, zip through fastening and twin grab handles to the top, a patch pocket to the front, and a shoulder strap with an adjustable length.
Color blocking bags
Color blocking furniture
Brights
3. Color blocking dress
5. Color blocking dress
6. Color blocking dress
7. Color blocking dress
8. Color blocking dress
9. Color blocking dress
10. Color blocking dress
11. Color blocking dress
12. Color blocking dress
13. Color blocking dress
Neon SKIRTS For Spring/Summer 2012 :
Color blocking SKIRT
Color blocking SKIRT
Color blocking SKIRT
Color blocking SKIRT
Color blocking SKIRT
Color blocking SKIRT
Color blocking SKIRT
Emma Stone wearing Giambattista Valli - Foto: Getty Images
Color blocking SKIRT
Color blocking SKIRT
Color blocking SKIRT
Neon JEANS For Spring/Summer 2012 :
Color blocking JEANS
Color blocking JEANS
Color blocking JEANS
Color blocking pants
Color blocking JEANS
Color blocking JEANS
Neon BAGS For Spring/Summer 2012 :
Neon TOPS For Spring/Summer 2012 :
Color blocking TOP
Color blocking TOP
Color blocking TOP
Color blocking TOP
Color blocking TOP
Color blocking TOP
Color blocking TOP
Neon SHOES For Spring/Summer 2012 :
Color blocking pumps
Color blocking SHOES
Color blocking SHOES
Color blocking SHOES
Color blocking SHOES
Color blocking SHOES
Color blocking SHOES
Color blocking SHOES
Color blocking SHOES
Color blocking ZARA Sandals
Neon ACCESORIES For Spring/Summer 2012 :
Color blocking
Neon SHORTS For Spring/Summer 2012 :
Color blocking shorts
Color blocking shorts
Neon JACKETS For Spring/Summer 2012 :
Color blocking jacket
Color blocking jacket
Color blocking jacket
Color blocking jacket
Color blocking jacket
Color blocking jacket
Color blocking jacket
Color blocking jacket
Neon FURNITURE For Spring/Summer 2012 :
Color blocking furniture
Color blocking is everywhere! Whether it is a sheer orange and navy tunic or a bold body-con dress, color blocking is becoming more and more popular everyday. From Marc Jacobs to Forever 21, designers from all ends of the fashion world are incorporating this flashy trend into their collections and stores.
As a result, color blocking is spreading like wildfire. Whether it's working it on a runway, strutting down the red carpet, or walking through High Street, this trend is taking over. So embrace your creative side and try it out!
Rocking the trend can be as easy as finding a few key starting pieces, and then branching out from there. Color block is not only for tops, but also pants, jackets, dresses, accessories, and even shoes.
The secret to successfully pulling off the trend is to have balance in your outfit. Keep in mind that, although going bold is the way to go, to not go overboard with the colors. Try a multicolored sweater with jeans, or some awesome color blocked pants with a plain shirt. Attempting to match everything perfectly can get pretty overwhelming, so how about hiding all your “safe” colors and adding some fun to your closet? Instead of blending in this fall, try standing out!
To wear this trend, look no further than the stores on campus: Urban Outfitters, Pitaya, American Apparel etc. or try looking online. Being a bold, colorful collegiette™ is just a few blocks away!
As a result, color blocking is spreading like wildfire. Whether it's working it on a runway, strutting down the red carpet, or walking through High Street, this trend is taking over. So embrace your creative side and try it out!
Rocking the trend can be as easy as finding a few key starting pieces, and then branching out from there. Color block is not only for tops, but also pants, jackets, dresses, accessories, and even shoes.
The secret to successfully pulling off the trend is to have balance in your outfit. Keep in mind that, although going bold is the way to go, to not go overboard with the colors. Try a multicolored sweater with jeans, or some awesome color blocked pants with a plain shirt. Attempting to match everything perfectly can get pretty overwhelming, so how about hiding all your “safe” colors and adding some fun to your closet? Instead of blending in this fall, try standing out!
To wear this trend, look no further than the stores on campus: Urban Outfitters, Pitaya, American Apparel etc. or try looking online. Being a bold, colorful collegiette™ is just a few blocks away!
1. An Issa outfit in cerise and purple.
2. Nina Ricci pairs fluorescent pink with canary yellow.
3. At Giambattista Valli, orange and beige were put together.
4. Orange and turquoise are a vibrant combination at Prabal Gurung.
5. Richard Nicoll merges salmon, tangerine and hot pink.
6. At Etro, a bright shade of blue was mixed with rust.
7. Orange, pink and black was shown together on the Jil Sander runway.
8. Diane von Furstenberg united purple and orange and added an orange clutch.
9. Avocado green, neon yellow and black is eye catching at Burberry Prorsum.
10. Louis Vuitton merged ruby red with deep violet and black.
How to Color Block
To get the color block trend right, you have to know which colors complement each other best. As fun as it sounds, you can't just pile on every color you find in your wardrobe, you will end up looking like the human rainbow. It's good to anchor your outfit with a neutral color like black, white, gray or beige. To find out which colors are complementary, the use of this color wheel will help.
How to use the Color Wheel
When color blocking your outfits, try out these combinations:
*Analogous colors, which are any three colors lined up next to each other on the color wheel. Example: blue, blue-violet and violet.
*Complementary colors. These are colors placed directly opposite each other on the wheel. Like red and green or yellow and violet.
*90 degree angles. Combine colors that are at a right angle with each other. Example: Orange-yellow and green or red and violet.
*T colors. These are colors that form a 'T' shape. Like yellow, purple and orange-red.
*Jewel Co lours are equally rich and flatter each other, such as emerald green and ruby red.
*Keep colors in the same saturation. Pastels with pastels, neons with neons.
*Pink trick. You can substitute 'pink' for 'red' and use all the same combinations.
*Complementary colors. These are colors placed directly opposite each other on the wheel. Like red and green or yellow and violet.
*90 degree angles. Combine colors that are at a right angle with each other. Example: Orange-yellow and green or red and violet.
*T colors. These are colors that form a 'T' shape. Like yellow, purple and orange-red.
*Jewel Co lours are equally rich and flatter each other, such as emerald green and ruby red.
*Keep colors in the same saturation. Pastels with pastels, neons with neons.
*Pink trick. You can substitute 'pink' for 'red' and use all the same combinations.
Now that you know how to efficiently use color, it's time to put that eye-catching outfit together. There are two ways you can do this - the right way and the bright one. For me, the combination of too many bright colors in the wrong proportions look loud and garish. You will see the difference between the 'animated' and 'understated' below.
Brights
Camilla Belle wears a tri-color ensemble by Gucci. Her tangerine blazer is worn over a purple top and emerald green pants. She also wears green Gucci heels. A fourth color is introduced with the neutral gold belt.
Cheryl Cole is highly pigmented in an orange ruffle top, aqua belt and violet high waisted flare pants that are far too long.
Teresa Palmer wears a multi-colored Versus dress, with handkerchief neckline, vertical and horizontal stripes.
Leona Lewis pairs a neon yellow bustier with a hot pink pencil skirt. I like these two colors together but this outfit is too tight and midriff baring.
Rihanna wears a cropped purple jersey with prison orange pants and gold pumps. Her red hair counts as a fourth color, right?
Colour Do's
Demi Moore chooses an age appropriate color block outfit. She wears red satin pants from H&M with a simple white top and long black jacket by Elize Overland.
Olivia Palermo looks so chic in a bright pink blazer, gray shirt and black leather Tibi shorts. Her olive green satin Charlotte Olympia pumps work with this look.
Nina Dobrev looks cute in a light grey and neon yellow color block dress by Jay Godfrey.
Nicole Scherzinger stylishly clashes green and orange, with an addition of black accessories.
Cheryl Cole gets it right this time in a cream blazer, baby pink t-shirt and royal blue pants. I adore the electric blue and nude heels she wears, which are by Christian Louboutin.
If you're still a little color shy, you can start off with a bright handbag, necklace, head band or belt. This trend is such a fun and exciting way to experiment with different color combinations. It's up to you to interpret it according to your personal style.
photo credits: http://weheartit.com/