Consider the Color Wheel

Much of my wardrobe is subdued.  Most of my shirts are blue, and I prefer Earth tones for my trousers, jackets and shoes.  That said, one can’t go without a pop of color every now and then to punch up the refined yet muted color scheme that many stylish folk rely on.  Some think too much color is gauche, but when done right simply dazzles.

After reading two articles about color theory this week, I found myself in a risk-taking mood.  One benefit of working in fashion is that I’m surrounded by others with a similar mindset, so experimentation (even when misbegotten) is celebrated and honestly critiqued.  With autumn’s colors in full splendor, I took my outfit’s cues from them yesterday, opting for a square color scheme.

For those who don’t know about color wheels, I’ll keep this simple: square color schemes rely on four tones that are evenly spaced across the wheel.  Since a color wheel has 12 colors, there are three degrees of separation between each color.  Though my forest green J. Crew chinos are a shade darker than the darkest green on the color wheel, it still falls within that shade group and pairs with the other colors in the square.

The key to making a square color scheme work is letting one color pop.  Even with a red bandana and dark green pants, the ensemble’s piece de resistance was my vintage squash-colored Brooks Brothers lambswool cable-knit sweater.  Based on its fit and “Made in the U.S.A. label,” I’d date its heritage to the late 1950s.  It’s something Miles Davis would have worn, which is why I picked it up for a steal last year.  I’m not an orange guy, but the muted hue of squash goes well with my various browns and blues and clashes just enough with the red bandana to make the combination intriguing enough to work.  The anchoring my favorite Levi’s jacket and Red Wing Beckmans (which I wear every day because of the break-in process) provide keeps the outfit from veering into peacock territory.

Considering color theory every time you get dressed isn’t practical and is a little too considered for my liking.  Learning the color wheel, however, is a great way to pick up a few ideas about color combinations you might not have thought of before and will help turn bright pops of color from risk into reward.

Sweater: Brooks Brothers (vintage), Chinos: J. Crew, Jacket: Levi's Made & Crafted, Boots: Red Wing Heritage, Bandana: Vintage, Sunglasses: Warby Parker