How To Combine Colors In Outfits Over 40

I am not sure whether there’s actually a scientific study directly linking an extroverted personality to a love of color, but let’s just say there is. And I’m the subject of that study. To me, outgoing color is a natural extension of an outgoing personality.

It’s my theory and I’m sticking to it.

But you don’t have to love color or be an extrovert to benefit from a little color theory. An understanding of the potential combinations that are available to you and why some work better than others creates a whole new wardrobe full of possibilities.

I find that people fall into one of 3 categories when it comes to wear color:

1. All Neutral: These are people that dress primarily in head to toe neutrals, either because they are easy, or comfortable, or because they don’t know how to wear color.
2. Color + Neutral: These people enjoy color, but tend to combine a colorful item with neutrals every single time, because combining colors seems daunting.
3. Color + Color: These people are all in on color, and are comfortable pairing colorful shoes with a colorful outfit.

Wherever you stand, an understanding of how colors bring out the best in each other can help you dabble in some of the other categories, or go all in on color+color.

Here, a few ways to look at color in your wardrobe using color theory.

And it all starts with a color wheel. This one is my favorite. I think every woman needs a color wheel in her closet as a tool for combining colors. Let’s look at some of those combinations.

Monochromatic

A monochromatic color combination is the one most people are familiar with, and it simply involves creating an entire outfit with one color. Often when we think of monochromatic, we think of an all black outfit, but any color worn head to toe is going to be monochromatic, and by definition flattering, chic, and lengthening.

Tonal

A tonal outfit consists of several shades of the same color, and like a monochromatic outfit, it is elegant and flattering, especially when you include a variety of textures.

Analagous

Analogous colors are next to each other on the color wheel, and create a subtle yet unexpected way to combine colors in an outfit.

Complementary

Complementary colors offer the highest contrast in a color on color combination, as they sit opposite of each other on the color wheel. This is a bold look that creates a colorblocked effect when worn in solid separates.

Split Complementary

A split complementary color combination involves starting with one color, finding the complementary color, and then using the colors immediately to the right and left of that color in your outfit, creating a 3-color palette that is striking and unusual.

Triadic

A triadic color combination involves creating a triangle of evenly spaced colors to create multiple interesting combinations.

What do you think of these different color combinations for outfits in your own wardrobe? And which is your favorite? Let me know in the comments!