For this week’s #MarkdownMondays, I decided to play around with some bold color combinations to create a look that had elements of both monochromatic and contrasting colors in various shades. I also mixed in other elements like pattern and texture to take the look to the next level.

The look builds around this stunning pineapple maxi skirt from Ann Taylor – in bold yellow and black. To play off the black and yellow color combo of the skirt, I paired it with this fun and sparkly tortoise and pave crystal necklace from JCrew which also has elements of both colors.

As a supporting role, I chose this lighter-colored lemon yellow Rebecca Taylor leather jacket from Saks to pull the look together. The jacket has an amazing detail on the back in a criss-cross patched pattern that gives it a slightly bohemian vibe – balanced out nicely by the nehru collar and moto-style zippers in the front.

Finally, for the monochromatic portion of the outfit, I chose these suede flats from Banana Republic in a bold red, complementing them with this purple tank from Anthropologie by Maeve with a silky drape and front ruffle.

Styling Tips for mixing color stories in your look:

1. Choose colors that complement each other. When you pick shades that are opposite each other on the color wheel, they will make each other stand out. For example: the yellow and the purple happen to be color complements – and they create a bold statement when paired in this outfit.
2. Mix monochromatic with bold. In this outfit collage, I had 2 color stories going: one was that of the color complements (as described in #1) and the other was more tone on tone: red + purple being part of the same color family created a monochromatic feel.
3. Add intense contrast and continue the color story throughout the outfit. To add cohesiveness to the look, I tied both color stories together with a black and yellow thread – including it in the main pieces and repeating it via the pattern of both the skirt and the necklace. This way it looks like the pieces were put together on purpose – adding both interest and intentionality.

To get more personalized styling tips, please don’t hesitate to reach to schedule your 1-on-1 Style Development Session with me at my studio!

xo,