ASK A STYLIST

ASK A STYLIST: HOW TO WEAR COLOUR

DEAR BRONWYN,

I’m what you might call a black-o-holic - my entire wardrobe is black. It’s been this way for years and I’d really like to start wearing colour but going from the simplicity of black it seems so hard. Can you give me some tips on how to wear colour without it being too scary for me? I’d eventually like to wear it head to toe but for now I need to take baby steps. Melissa

HI MELISSA, 

Good on you for breaking out. As elegant as black is, playing about with colour can be a lot of fun. I agree with you that it can be scary moving out of your comfort zone, so I’ll break it down for you. Baby steps in colour can be done in two different ways. Tonal, and accents.

Tonal. This is a simple way to ease away from your old habit. Select garments in shades that are still deep, but not black. Rich browns, greys, plums and deep blue tones will pull you out of your rut without feeling like you’ve taken too much of a leap. Subtle patterns on dark colours add a bit of interest to an otherwise potentially garment. Try Storm’s Snake in the Grass shirt, Max’s Bel Air top, or the Reptile Capris also from Max.

Accents. A painless way to introduce colour is through your accessories. A red bead necklace and a deep blue heel will look stunning against a black outfit. And if you’re feeling brave then work one coloured garment into a sea of black. Try a navy blouse with black pants, or a shirtdress in a complimentary hue.

A good way to work out what colours suit you is to pop into a store changing room with a pile of block coloured clothing and hold them up to your face one at a time. Steer away from the colours that make you look ill, and gravitate towards colours that bring out or compliment your eyes, hair and skin.

Got a style dilemna? Ask our resident Stylist Bronwyn a question on twitter @shopwhatsnew with hashtag #askbronwyn