Roman Originals Blog

Colour blocking is the name that is used to describe an outfit created by putting areas or blocks of solid colour next to each other. It can include monotone, bright colours, muted colours, contrasting and complimentary colours. Clothes, shoes, handbags and accessories can all feature colour block designs or can make up different blocks of colour to be put together for  a colour block outfit.

Colour blocked outfits are great as they combine colours in a really simple way but are really bold and eye catching. The colours that are used in colour blocking can be varied according to the seasons trends. This year neutrals are a great option for colour blocking so why not try combining cream, beige and pale blue? Navy and beige are also a good option for a really on trend take on colour blocking. When done correctly colour blocking can also be very flattering and slimming.

If you would like to have a go at colour blocking, it is really simple, you can try wearing a piece of clothing or accessory with a colour blocked design or you can create your own blocks of colour. Decide whether you want a really bold statement which can be created using a combination of bright and contrasting colours or a more subtle look with more muted colours and similar variations of colours. The short sleeved contrast black and white shift dress (pictured above left) is a great example of a bold colour blocked outfit. The mocha stripe contrast moleskin skirt (pictured above right) shows how good colour blocked neutrals can look. 

You should then decide how many colours you would like to use. Obviously combining two colours is the simplest to do and will give you a really simple and clean look. As you get better at creating colour blocked outfits, you can start to use more than two colours for a really fun look. A really simple way to colour block is to wear a dress in one colour and accessorise with a handbag in another colour.

The way that the colours are blocked is really important in creating a flattering outfit that looks great on you. Designers will often use colour blocking to create curves or have a slimming effect for example patches of a darker colour like black on either side of the waist will make the waist look slimmer. You can also apply the same principles when creating your own colour blocked outfits. A darker column  of colour down the torso will have a slimming effect and can easily be created by wearing a coloured cardigan, jacket or blouse worn open. Generally  a colour blocked outfit will work best if you stick to the usual rules for your body shape. If you are pear shaped, opt for darker colours on the bottom half. If you are apple shaped avoid horizontal blocks of colour around the stomach area but highlight legs with colour blocks created by brightly coloured tights. If you are hourglass, a colour block around the waist is a great way of highlighting it and drawing attention to you womanly figure.

If you want some good examples of colour blocking look at dresses from the sixties which often featured colour blocking particularly in bold colours like black and white.