I think fashion should be fun, bold, expressive and personal. Having said that, this sentiment might well be the reason I favor the trend of color-blocking. Although born of subjectivity, such sartorial exuberance is rarely achieved without the subject looking as though he or she is trying too hard. Which completely defeats the purpose of color-blocking: celebration. An unabashed, unapologetic, in-your-face saturation of colors that scream “I AM ALIVE, I AM FUN, and I don’t give a FLYIN’ FLIP what you think about my outfit!”
But, if you’re not feeling that confrontational, either because you just realized that black, white, brown and beige do not a wardrobe make, or that there’s life beyond matching your belt to your shoes, it’s understandable that color-blocking my seem a bit bizarre to you, and therefore, off-limits. I get it. Baby steps. But I promise you that all articles of clothing don’t have to match. In fact, “match” is a f-o-u-r letter word in fashion. I’d like you to instead focus on this concept: coordination.
Great. Now that that’s out of the way, I want to share with you another amazing trend: monochromatic looks. That’s right. An entire ensemble- in one color. “But Nik,” you chime, “I thought you just said matching is a f-o-u-r letter word.” Aha! Monochromatic looks are not about matching, but coordinating different hues from the same color family. Plus, if color-blocking seems a little schizophrenic to you, why not first test the fashion waters in a singularity of color?
Let me assure you monochromatic looks are not boring. If anything, it’s sartorial irony. One color, but in a litany of eye-catching shades. Done right, monochromatic dressing is youthful, without being juvenile, and fashion-forward without causing you stumble on your style journey. For inspiration, look no further than Glee character Emma Pillsbury. (Who do you think you’re kidding? I know you watch the show.) Emma has inspired an entire blog, devoted to her fashion! If you decide to take up this trend, may I suggest you start with blue? I imagine every fashionista has jeans, so blue should be a good jumping off point to test this trend. Ready to take the plunge?
Fashionably Yours,
Nik