Colours collide

Go for bold, beautiful blocking to feel the warmth of summer

BY TALIA KAUR

If there’s one thing fashion lovers know, it’s that this season is all about experimenting with colour. Mixing and matching what we all thought would be impossible, is now summer’s hottest trend. From orange to aqua, there’s every shade under the sun in everything from shoes to jeans to bangles. It seems colour blocking has hit hard and is showing no signs of

A-list celebrities have been gracing it down red carpets for months. But now, colliding colours has made its way into people’s wardrobes and seems to be working for all.

If you’re a daring and confident fashionista, wearing bright colours won’t be a problem for you. But if you’re anything like me and don’t quite have the courage to wear an array of colours which pop, a few simple tips will ensure you strut this season’s look with comfort and confidence.

1Although there are no rules when it comes to colour blocking, there are definite limits to avoid walking out of the house looking like a packet of crayons. The first and most important tip to remember is to never wear more than three different colours at once. If you’re wearing a few pieces of bright clothing, try to keep your accessories to a minimum. However, if you’re going for black or white clothing, experimenting with colourful accessories and even nail polish can add a fun and playful mood, which screams summer.

When pulling off this trend, stick to outfits which have simple shapes and lines such as collar shirts, pencil skirts and even maxi dresses. Also, when choosing your outfit, aim for colours that are opposite to each other on the colour wheel, as this will create a successful blocking effect. Try pairing blue with red or green with purple. Be sure to choose shades that have the same level of intensity for a balanced look. And remember - don’t add patterns, florals or any form of prints when colliding colours, or you may look completely uncoordinated.

3If you love colour blocking but you’re not the daring type when it comes to fashion, there is an answer for you in colour toning. It’s a form of blocking where you wear shades next to each other on the colour wheel instead of opposite. Try pairing orange with yellow or blue with purple. You can even wear pastel colours if brights are not for you, giving your outfit a more conservative feel. Try pairing pastels together or with black or white to safely dip your toe into the trend. Use neutral or metallic pieces when accessorizing to give a smooth, elegant finish and allow greater focus on your colours.

4

The last and probably most important tip is to know your body type and make the trend work for it. If you have an hourglass figure, flaunt your waistline and use it to break the colours apart with a thin belt.

If you’re apple shaped, avoid horizontal shapes of colour around the abdomen. If you’re larger around the thighs or bust, use darker shades for a slimming