Wearing COLOUR

How-to Wear the Most Elegant Monochrome Looks

What does monochromatic mean in fashion? A superfast way to change up your look, whilst remaining in trend, is to mix different gradients of one colour. Monochromatic dressing isn’t a new trend, as such, it’s been something many have chosen to wear since fashion began. Current key trending looks include bright shades of yellow, blue and green – and we love them all! The choice of wearing one colour may make you feel like a walking faux pas, but when done right it can look amazing. A few of our favourite looks hit the catwalk recently showcasing their monochromatic pairings. Images by Max Mara 2022 Spring Runway. Images showcasing Alexandre Vauthier 2022. Choosing your monochromatic spring look Before you throw on a solid colour, it’s a good idea to find out what colour is for you and works best for you. We all have different undertones in that just because you may have the same skin tone as someone it doesn't mean you have the same undertone. Skin tone can change in various ways, including lotions, sunlight, scarring etc. but the undertone will always remain the same. Sourcing what our undertone is allows us to pick the best clothes that complement our skin and therefore can make us feel confident in what we’re wearing. What colours suit my undertone? There are typically three undertones that we talk about when labelling what ‘group’ we belong to. Cool Neutral Warm There is a shade for everyone. Where you might find that you can look washed out when wearing, for example, a solid black colour, you might find that choosing a lighter black, like charcoal or even a darker grey, will work better for you depending on the undertone. So, how do I know if I have cool or warm undertones? Masterclass recently shared how they suggest you find out what your undertone is. Our favourite way, which is really simple to try, is using a white sheet of paper against your face whilst in front of a mirror. They say that you should be '...In a place with bright, natural light, [and] hold up a piece of printer paper and look at how your skin reacts to it. If your skin looks pinkish against the paper, you probably have cooler undertones; if your skin looks yellow against the paper, you’re probably a warm tone. If you do not see an undertone at all, you likely have neutral undertones.' Cool Under Tones Cool skin tones are best paired with colours that are, coincidentally, on the cool end of the colour spectrum. Colours that suit this type of skin tone include darker greens, deep purples as well as bright blues and pinks. What're more, lighter shades of yellow and red can pair perfectly too when going into spring and summer. Celebrities with cool under tones include Mindy Kaling and Anne Hathaway. Warm Undertones Warm skin tones are, naturally, best paired with colours on the warmer part of the colour spectrum. Additionally, they work best with earth shades when looking for the right colour. The best colours a warm undertone could wear would include the likes of deep green and mustard yellows. Of course, there are other shades on this spectrum that would work just as well, and these include coral within the cooler palette and darker shades like moss and olive when looking for warmer colours as we head away from summer and into Autumn/Winter. Celebrities with warm under tones include Beyoncé and Jennifer Lopez. Neutral Undertones Having a neutral undertone is definitely the best of both worlds, it means your wardrobe can be flexible because any shade will suit you! You shouldn’t have to worry about looking washed out, as most colours will complement your tone. Just be sure to choose the right ones, especially when stepping away from clothing and choosing makeup – it’s essential that although you can choose any type, you want to make sure it is relative to the shade of your skin. Celebrities with neutral under tones include Kristen Stewart, Miranda Kerr, Kerry Washington, Selena Gomez and Julianne Moore. Another way to find out your undertone Another way to identify your under tones is by checking the inside of your wrist and the colours visible. Cool Undertone Monochromatic Looks Making the best looks using the cool undertone rulebook we took some items we loved. Here, we took our Branwell Pencil dress in Powder Blue, paired it with these Mango Audrey Asymmetric Stiletto Court shoes in blue (John Lewis). Adding to these two, we next chose our Weston Sleeved Bolero in the shade Cobalt Blue. And, finally, we got our eyes on this cute bright blue Ted Baker Bagira Leather Crossbody bag (£77 from John Lewis). Next up, is the prettiest colour of the season – purple. Combining our favourite looks, of different shades, can work perfectly when dressing formally or casually. Firstly, we chose this Rina Tank in shade Gentle Lavender from All Saints and paired it with these Hot Squash Purple Luxe-Lounge Wide Leg Crepe Trousers! Finishing the summer look with these Zara Lilac High-Heel Court Shoes (£29.99) complete the lilac look. For the perfect summer evening cover-up, we also loved the look of this lilac denim oversized shirt which is affordably cute at £25.99 from New Look. Warm Undertone Monochromatic Looks Following the suggestions above we’ve searched for some super cute, and chic, dark green and mustard wardrobe looks. To start, this Extro & Vert sweetheart bralette vest co-ord in dark green at ASOS for £15 and matching Extro & Vert oversize jersey blazer is on-trend right now. Pair these with the Extro & Vert wide leg jersey trouser co-ord to complete the look. Each image has the model pictured in various other garments, however, with these combined along with a relative shoe you're on your way to a stunning monochromatic combination. For footwear, we suggest these ASOS DESIGN Panda tie leg block heeled shoes in forest green for £32. We're loving the summer festival vibes with this strappy corset detail flippy mini dress in mustard yellow. You could pair it with sunflower yellow converse or go elegant in these high espadrille wedge sandals at £28 (Pre-sale: £50) Finally, pairing our Chesterton Swing dress with these dark olive wedge espadrilles (net-a-porter £85) is a cute way to make the dress work for you casually, whether it be as a wedding guest or out date night dinner. Both combined with this Whistles Bebe Leather (Selfridges, £59) purchase, you’re on to a winning green mixture. Neutral Undertone Monochromatic Looks If you have a neutral undertone then it should be the law that you must take full advantage of it! We adore the roaring trend of wearing bold red, and even more so when it is showcased in a winning statement suit. Here, we've found a leg-lengthening pair of super-high-waist wide-leg tailored trousers from Collusion (ASOS) that would pair perfectly with our Fulica Long Sleeve Jacket and these Simply Be Wedge Sandals. For our next neutral look, we decided to check out our favourite coral peach pieces. Here, we're going for the relaxed fit wardrobe that includes this Only Knitted Cardigan in a peachy shade. Under this, we felt this American Eagle Hi-Point Solid Vest top was pretty cute with these ASOS design straight leg peach trousers (note: we need everything in shade peach immediately!) Then, last but by no means least, we finish with these super cute ASOS Design France jelly flat sandals, also in peach. Have you enjoyed this article? Let us know on our social media feeds and we'll be sure to make more!

The Lady in Red - Our Favourite Red Looks Right Now.

The meaning behind the colour red There is more to the colour red than, quite literally, meets the eye. Whilst there are obvious signs like how red, orange and yellow are warm shades and compliment one another by sitting on either side of each other. There are other, emotional, terms than can involve how warm colours themselves can conjure up feelings of both happiness and energy. [1] Reasons You Should Wear Red Besides being a stunningly bright colour, there are other reasons why we reckon you should be wearing the colour red. Here’s why: It’s a classic fashion colour When you choose the colour red it is not something you shy away from. The power colour is a status shade, especially when it comes to statement dresses or bold lipstick. With celebrities such as the Hadid sisters, Taylor Swift and Rihanna, to name but a few, wearing red on the red carpet - it's not hard to see why the shade of red in clothing is a life-long love affair. Red is Power and Romance Yes, you read that right! Both power and romance go hand in hand here with our favourite red shade. If you were to instantaneously pick a shade when thinking of Valentine’s Day then we wouldn’t be surprised if you were thinking of red (roses, optional). Add to that the thought of how a feminine suit may look classy in black, but with colour, it adds extra oomph. And, last but by no means least, how the red lipstick played a vital role in the 20th century during the Suffragettes movement – with Asia Milia Ware citing for Teen Vogue how going by the early 20th century “…red lipstick was synonymous with power and strength, specifically during the Suffragettes movement. The movement, which campaigned for votes for middle-class, property-owning women and believed in peaceful protest, had quite the connection to beauty. As these women fought for their rights, red lipstick became a part of their uniform. The bold and dauntless red was feminine, yet daring and powerful. It became symbolic of strength during a time when men were trying to strip that away from women.” It looks great in all weather Where some colours, like yellow, suit happier, spring-y-er times, the colour red works all year round. Whether it be a red hat, scarf, glove, statement coat, trousers or perhaps envy-inducing heels – you cannot go wrong with a touch of rouge. Red is more than just a shade There is a lot more to it than it is a stunning colour. In fact, evidence even shows how the red shade roots down to how ‘…colouration is associated with higher levels of testosterone and dominance in many animal species.' [2] Additionally, colours like red, orange and yellow can evoke different emotions in individuals. Every single person is different, obviously, however, research has shown that such shades can conjure feelings of both warmth and anger. Furthermore, Forbes found that the shade is so intense that it has more psychological and emotional connections than any other colour on the spectrum. How to Wear Red The colour wheel is a visual representation of colours, with hues arranged according to wavelength. Colour wheels allow colour relationships to represent geometrically and show the relationship between primary colours, secondary colours and tertiary colours – Invision App Using the colour wheel for the shade red Using the colour theory wheel, you can use both complimentary and analogous schemes to combine into the perfect outfit. Complimentary colours of red include shades that are opposite it on the wheel, which would be green/blue. The shades on either side of the red on the wheel, the analogous colours, include those in pink/purple/orange tones. The outfit looks that we’ve found which follow the ‘colour theory wheel rules’ include these gorgeous looks: Complimentary Colour Looks Analogous Colour Looks Red with Denim With blue and green being complimentary colours to red, you can’t go wrong with pairing a pair of red boots or flats with a pair of your favourite denim. The Best Times to Wear Red (by our customers!) @julesstandishcolour oozes sophistication and confidence in our Daphne ¾ Sleeve Dress in Electric Red. Picture by @stv_sophie in our stunning short sleeved Donna Dress. This dress features a wide cinching waistband and cross-body pleating. Created using bi-stretch fabric and, additionally, featuring a round neckline, pleat detail and a zip at the centre back - you can't go wrong with adding this dress into your collection. With Susannah [left] pictured wearing our Rachael Pencil Dress we couldn't have been more excited to share it with you. At present we have this chic design available in two shades, hot coral and yellow. With a wide cinching waistband, side pockets and a concealed centre back zip, it's a must for those statement-wear days. Pictured by @leonorasmee is our Malvern Dress in our Scarlet Red shade. Available in 7 additional shades this bi-stretch fabric, tie shoulder and concealed zip dress is sure to make the right impression Like the pin implies, you could match this stunning Diva Catwalk Fenella dress with statement earrings and black stilettos. In a suit Our Fulica Long Sleeve Jacket in Scarlet Red, paired with our Diva Trousers of the same shade are set to make a power move you might not even be ready for! Buy here: Fulica Jacket, Diva Trousers & Faith Skirt all available in Scarlet Red. Does red suit my skin type? Red is the type of colour that can be incorporated into any outfit, and when it comes to finding the right shade/tone for your skin tone then all you need to do is find out your undertone. So, when it comes to choosing your shade we suggest using the undertone theory. This simply means picking out the undertone of your skin to choose which shade of red would look better on you. (The last thing you want is to invest in a statement piece only for you to look tired and washed out.) To identify your undertone all you need to do is check your wrist. Where you see your veins, make a note of how you see them. Are they a shade of purple? This means you have cool undertones. Whereas, if your veins look more green then you're considered to have warm undertones. If, however, you find your veins being neither or a mix of both then you might find you're in fact... neutral. It doesn't sound very exciting, does it? But wait... it is! Neutral tones are fortunate in that they can wear pretty much any red shade and suit it perfectly. Cool Undertones – often found in light, pale skin. Cool undertones may be best to try dresses with less POP red colour tone. A dress that features more hints of orange will help illuminate your complexion. Shades like coral red will work perfect. See our Lakewood Pencil Dress in Burnt Orange or our Tina Pencil in the same shade. Neural Tones Neural tones, as mentioned, are fortunate in that any kind of red clothing would suit you! Check out our Casares 3/4 Sleeve Swing Dress in Scarlet Red as well as our Thruxton Maxi Pencil dress in Electric Red. Warm Undertones, often found in darker skin. Those with warm undertones may find that the best types of red to wear include those that have hues of blue and plum. Try out our Liv Wrap Dress and Kubrick Asymmetric Neckline. Celebs in Red by Skin Tone Extremely Light Skin Tone Fair Skinned Tone Fair-Beige Skin Tone Olive or Light Brown Skin Tone Dark Brown Skin Tone Very Dark Skin Tone However, essentially, fashion is all about what you feel good in – so if it doesn’t match the desired skin tone but you love it? Wear it! Confidence looks AMAZING on you. Oh, and tag us in it too!

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Wearing COLOUR

How-to Wear the Most Elegant Monochrome Looks

The Lady in Red - Our Favourite Red Looks Right Now.