The Art of Color Blocking

One of the biggest trend for Spring/Summer 2011 is color blocking. We've seen that at Gucci womenswear when Frida Giannini sent off the models in some of the most luxurious and gorgeous color blocked ensembles, very Seventies feel and pair up with the golden tassel belt. It's amazing. In menswear, though colors is something lots of designers try to stay away (especially at Paris Fashion Week), Jil Sander though champion the look with very striking and bold colors of yellow, orange, pink, royal blue and mint paired together, which some might look so clashing yet very symbiotic with each other. At Calvin Klein and Prada, the look went a bit subtle where the color is a bit subdued though they are still playing around the color blocking scheme.

Jil Sander SS11

Calvin Klein SS11

Prada SS11

But how to inject a good color block into your ensemble? The people at Shortlist gives us some tips on how to pair the eye-popping colors with some other hues in the color wheel so that the end result won't be looking so tacky, but very trendy instead. Remember, you are not a cartoon character!

[from left to right]

1. When contrasting colours, stay within the same mood/richness of the palette (pastels, mid-tones, neons etc).

Baby-blue V-neck knitted jumper by TIM SOAR; pastel yellow long-sleeved shirt with white buttons by TOPMAN; light pink stretch chinos by POLO BY RALPH LAUREN.

2. Mix tones within the same colour spectrum.

Purple cotton crew-neck jumper with zebra badge by PAUL SMITH; dark purple shirt by JOHN VARVATOS; dark purple chinos by PAUL SMITH JEANS.

3. Use one block of accent colour as a highlight under neutral layers.

Camel double-breasted mac by TOPMAN; yellow crew-neck T-shirt by UNIQLO; light beige chinos by H&M.

4. Choose opposites on the colour spectrum (red/cyan, violet/lime, yellow/blue etc) to avoid contrasts that clash.

Orange cotton long-sleeve crew-neck jumper by TOPMAN; electric blue cotton chinos by ACNE.

5. Layer blocks of colour in multiples of two or three on top.

Red anorak with zip pocket by PETER JENSEN; electric blue cable-knitted jumper by LYLE & SCOTT VINTAGE; mustard yellow cotton long-sleeved shirt by TOPMAN; beige neutral chinos by FRENCH CONNECTION.

6. Use one statement block of colour over neutral foundations.

Teal blue raincoat by MACKINTOSH; long-sleeve chambray shirt by LEVI’S; grey cotton trousers by MARKS & SPENCER LUXURY COLLECTION.

[pix from shortlist and gq style]