The key to mixing primary and secondary colors is to use either darker or lighter shades. The typical bright blue, red, yellow, green, purple, and orange usually only mix well when two colors are involved. More colors than that and the brightness of it all creates an outfit the stands out for the wrong reasons. The goal is to look like you could own a circus, not look like the circus clown. Below I create an outfit using dark primary and secondary colors suitable for the winter months. Once spring comes around again I will update this post with another look using lighter shades. The reasoning I provide for the use of each piece will allow you take this same concept and apply it to clothes you already own and pieces you purchase at a later date.
Complementary Colors
While discussing the use of primary and secondary colors, a word or two should be said about complementary colors. Complementary colors are those colors that sit opposite each other on the color wheel. Here I will briefly discuss the traditional color wheel. In an upcoming post I will delve more deeply into using color theory to enhance your wardrobe. Complementary colors provide high contrast, which makes them stand out. They also look quite well together.
Alright, let’s get to the clothes…
Charles Tyrwhitt Burgundy Epsom Coat
Price: $400
Burgundy is an unusual color for an overcoat. This will be the main focal point of the outfit. Choosing an unusual, yet not too bright, color for a piece of clothing always draws attention (another example would be a pair of blue loafers). When you incorporate a piece such as one of these into an outfit be sure that nothing else overpowers it. You do not want multiple pieces of clothing vying for the first impression. Let the other pieces of your outfit act as secondary statements. You can find out more about this coat here.
Ted Baker Navy Dogstooth Dress Shirt
Price: $100
I chose a standard color for the shirt and opted for one with a dogstooth pattern. The small pattern adds the right amount texture and visual interest to this outfit without being overbearing. This shirt can be purchased from the Ted Baker website.
Charles Tyrwhitt Purple Microdot Tie
Price: $50
I chose purple for the tie because it the color sits in between navy and burgundy on the color wheel. This allows it to perform well next to both the overcoat and the navy shirt, while not drawing too much attention. Get this tie here.
Ted Baker Green Geo Print Pocket Square
Price: $27
The smallest piece in this outfit sports the largest pattern. A large pattern on the shirt or tie would have been too much given the multiple colors the ensemble uses, yet here on the pocket square we can get away with it. The green of this square and the burgundy of the overcoat are complementary colors and as such will go well together and the contrast between the two colors helps to set each apart from the other.
Reiss Blue Flannel Check Trousers
Price: $120
The pattern on these blue flannel trousers is barely noticeable. If it were otherwise I would have chosen a pair of plain flannels instead. The blue of the pants matches well with the shirt. This gives a consistent blue background for the burgundy of the coat. We do this because we want the coat to be the star here.
Florsheim Burgandy Dress Shoes
Price: $180
We end this outfit with a pair of burgundy dress shoes in the same hue as the coat. Black or brown shoes just wouldn’t work as well here as a nice pair of burgundy wingtips. However, if you don’t have a pair of burgundy leather shoes you can substitute these with a pair in a medium to dark brown.
Stay true to yourself. Be kind to others. Define your own style.