How to Combine Colors Like a Pro! + Free Guide

To combine colors in an outfit, use one of six methods stylists rely on: monochrome (one color in several shades), analogous (neighbours on the color wheel), complementary (opposites), split complementary, same saturation, or achromatic (white, grey and black). Keep the same color temperature and saturation throughout, and use up to three colors plus neutrals.

I studied fine arts before I became a stylist, and the color theory painters use works beautifully in a wardrobe. If you've always felt safe in black, white and beige, this guide is for you. You'll find all six methods below, with real outfits for each, and a free 34-page guide with palettes you can copy.

1. Match the saturation: pastel with pastel, bright with bright, deep with deep.
2. Match the temperature: warm colors (yellow-based) with warm, cool colors (blue-based) with cool.
3. Match your whites: ivory with ivory, pure white with pure white.
4. Repeat a color: echo one color twice, in a bag and a scarf for example, to tie the look together.

And wear the colors that suit you. Your skin's undertone and your color type decide which version of each color makes you glow.

A monochrome outfit uses one color in different shades: lighter, darker, brighter or softer. It soothes the eye and usually looks sophisticated and expensive.

1. Mix light and dark shades of the color, so the look has depth
2. Mix textures: a chunky knit, silk and leather in the same color
3. Monochrome lengthens the figure. If you're petite, add a little contrast between top and bottom

Analogous colors sit next to each other on the color wheel: blue, violet and purple, or red, orange and yellow. They're easy to pair because most of us already own them, and the gentle contrast makes the outfit feel harmonious rather than loud.

• Stay within about a quarter of the wheel
• Keep the fabrics the same saturation
• Warm neighbours feel energetic; cool neighbours feel calm

Complementary colors sit opposite each other on the wheel: red and green, yellow and purple, blue and orange. Together they create the strongest contrast, so they draw attention and feel bold. Red and green, for example, say "passion" and "harmony" at the same time.

• Let one color dominate and use the other as an accent
• Soften one or both: burgundy and olive, navy and rust, lilac and butter yellow
• New to color? Wear the second color only in a bag, shoes or earrings

Take a main color, find its opposite on the wheel, then use the two colors on either side of that opposite. You get the same strong contrast as complementary colors, with less tension. This method takes practice, and it tells people you're creative and confident.

• Give the main color the biggest area: a coat, a dress or a suit
• Use the two accents in smaller pieces
• Choose accents of the same saturation, so they look intended

Many great outfits don't fit any method on the wheel. They work because every color has the same intensity: all bright, all deep, or all pastel. Forget the wheel, match the saturation, and you're good to go.

• Bright: clear, saturated colors together. Joyful and confident
• Deep: dark, rich colors together. Elegant, perfect for autumn and evenings
• Pastel: soft, light colors together. Fresh and gentle

Achromatic colors have no hue: white, grey and black. They're the easiest to combine and don't call for attention, so the outfit looks calm and balanced.

• Choose the shades of white and black that suit your complexion
• Keep the same shade of white in an all-white outfit
• Add one accent color, like red, cobalt or emerald, and the whole look comes alive

If you'd rather start with proven pairs, these work for almost everyone:

• Camel and navy: classic and polished
• Burgundy and olive: a soft complementary pair for autumn
• Blush pink and grey: gentle and modern
• Cobalt blue and orange: bold and summery
• Emerald and fuchsia: a confident evening pair
• Rust, mustard and chocolate: an analogous warm trio
• Lilac and butter yellow: a pastel complementary pair

With black: camel, white, red, cobalt, emerald, blush pink and gold. Black makes bright colors look sharper and more graphic.

With white: navy, red, beige, any pastel and every bright color. Match the white to the temperature of the other color: ivory with warm colors, pure white with cool ones.

With navy: camel, white, burgundy, blush, mustard and rust. Navy is a softer alternative to black that works with warm and cool colors.

With beige and camel: white, navy, chocolate, olive, rust and black.

1. How many colors should I wear in one outfit? Up to three colors plus neutrals is an easy rule. Use the 60-30-10 split: one main color, one supporting color and one accent.
2. How do I use the color wheel for clothes? Find your main color on the wheel. Its neighbours give a harmonious look, its opposite gives the strongest contrast, and the two colors beside its opposite give a creative split complementary look.
3. Can I mix warm and cool colors? It's safest not to, especially near the face. If you do, keep both colors the same saturation, so they look intended.
4. What is the most flattering color combination? The one built from your own color type. A personal color analysis finds which of the 16 color types you are, and which shades make you look fresh rather than tired.

Color tells people how you feel; your personality tells them who you are. Find your style archetypes with my free archetype test, or start from the beginning with my free workbook How to Find Your Authentic Style.

If you'd like to know exactly which colors are yours, I offer personal color and body type analysis as part of my archetype styling packages. You can start with a free 20-minute call.

Thank you for reading, and have fun with color!