Sophisticated Color Combinations You Can Wear to the Office
I found this beautiful blue suit from Argent, a women’s workwear brand that often releases seasonal colors. This blue looks good on nearly everyone because while blue is a cool color, this shade of blue has yellow in it which warms it up. Is it cool or is it warm? It's hard for the eye to tell.
That said, this color looks especially great on redheads, since red and blue are nearly opposite on the color wheel and both stand out in contrast to one another. You can see this play out on the model Argent chose for the suit.
However, it doesn't do any good to add a colorful suit to your wardrobe if you have nothing to wear it with. In my guide to Creating Your Signature Style, I outline three simple steps for creating a capsule wardrobe. In the guide, I used neutrals to illustrate the concepts. I want to show you what the process looks like using color so that you have a clear example of how to create head-to-toe outfits.
Turn color inspo into office-ready outfits
Step 1. Create Your Vision Board
The first step is to find inspiration. Blue is everywhere this season. To find out how people are styling this color I headed to Pinterest and found this beautiful terracotta red and blue combination. The terracotta red contrasts with the blue the same way red hair does, a look anyone can recreate. I also saw a lot of khaki and camels paired with blue when looking for inspiration. This felt like a practical combination, considering most of us have beige neutrals in our closet. I chose my favorite images and added them to the vision board in the template.
Step 2. Create Your Signature Look
The next step is to analyze the inspo images on your vision board to create an outfit formula. What are the dominant colors and styles? While many of the outfits on my vision board are quite casual, the bright colors and oversized proportions add a creative edge. The dominant styles are casual and creative. The statement colors are blue and terracotta red. The coordinating color is khaki and while not shown in the inspo images I decided to add yellow as well. Khaki is neutral, whereas yellow adds depth—serving as a bridge between blue and red on the color wheel. As I fill out the outfit formula in the template, I’m aiming to balance the colors and styles from the vision board.
Step 3. Create Your Capsule Wardrobe
The final step is to implement your vision. Use your outfit formula to easily select pieces for your capsule wardrobe. Taking time to create an outfit formula will help you cut out the noise when it’s time to shop. Whether you are shopping your closet or for something new, the outfit formula becomes a checklist. Find the items you think will work and try them on. Play dress up—roll up a sleeve, throw on some shoes, try different accessories to find what works not just in theory but real life. Take pictures to help you remember the combinations you created.
I was able to use the outfit formula to create a capsule wardrobe centered around the suit from Argent. While the suit is pretty on its own, without the pieces to go with it, it’ll never get worn. Creating monochromatic outfits can be tricky. It’s not always easy to find color matches. While brands like Joseph tend to release whole outfits in the same color range, many brands do not. A color wheel, my personal favorite is The Pocket Color Wheel, can help you identify different color combinations. Blue, red, and yellow are a triad meaning they are equally spaced on the color wheel. This creates a balanced color combination that feels sophisticated and office-ready.
Get this look
If you see something you like, you can access shopping links here. Or create your own signature look using my free workbook.
Prefer a done for you solution? I create lookbooks for my clients through my wardrobe makeover package. Learn more.
What would you like to see next?
What kind of capsule would you like to see next? Subscribers can send inspo images for a chance to be selected. Whether you love denim on denim, coastal grandmother, or quiet luxury, I will select one subscriber and turn their inspo images into a shoppable capsule wardrobe. Sign up now, you could be next!
