What is Monochromatic?
You know you've probably worn a monochromatic outfit on lazy days. You pull out a pair of black pants, a black turtleneck, throw on your black leather bomber jacket and black boots and head out the door. Yes, it's that easy but black is also the simplest color to start with.
While you may think that monochromatic outfits take less energy and though they can be pretty tricky to get right, especially if you venture into bright colors or light neutrals. Monochromatic style takes some testing to find out what you like and what you will feel confident in.
A monochromatic outfit is a very simple and clean style and I do love wearing this trend when I have the right pieces to pull together. If done correctly, a monochromatic look can be just as show-stopping as a patterned dress or statement jacket.
Understanding Monochromatic Colors
The word "monochromatic" breaks down into two pieces: "mono" meaning single and "chromatic" meaning color. So a monochromatic outfit would consist of pieces of one color.
This doesn't mean that you would only wear solid black or solid red from head to toe. No, the joy of the monochromatic fashion trend is wearing different shades and tints of the same color, these are monochromatic colors.
If you take blue paint and add white to it in increments, the color of blue would progressively get lighter resulting in a variety of lighter blue tints. If you were to add black to blue, it would get progressively darker, resulting in a variety of darker shades. The light tints and dark shades of a single color are what is best used to create a monochromatic outfit.
The joy of going with a monochromatic color combination is that it will work with virtually any color you choose: purple, red, blue, green, brown, pink...you name it.
How to Create a Monochromatic Outfit
Step 1: Select Your Color
Your first step is maybe the simplest, start by selecting the color you want to wear. Make sure the color is one that looks great against your skin tone and hair, and that you feel comfortable in. The worst thing you can do is wear a color that doesn't make your skin glow or dampens your mood in any way.
Step 2: Pull Items from Your Closet
As an exercise in learning how to master the monochromatic style, let's go into your closet and pull out all of the items you have in the color you want to wear. Make sure to get all the pants, skirts, dresses, cardigans, etc. Once you have the items laid out, start experimenting by combining your pieces into outfits.
Step 3: Mix Textures
Make sure you mix textures within your monochromatic outfit! You want to add visual interest, depth, and dimension to your look so it's not one-dimensional or boring. With my first gray monochromatic outfit, the gray skirt was the point of interest. The shiny texture brought this gray outfit to a whole new level.
Step 4: Remember Balance
Remember balance when combining pieces. This is a rule for every outfit, not just monochromatic ones. You don't want the one color to overwhelm you. Quite the contrary, you want it to make you look tall and lean. To achieve this, play with proportions.
Step 5: Accentuate with Color Placement
Accentuate the right areas of your body using the right color. When wearing the same color in different tints and shades, you want to pay attention to how dark or light each piece is.
For example: If you have very wide hips and want to deemphasize them, you wouldn't wear light-colored pants or a skirt. More flattering would be the dark shade of the color on the bottom half and the lighter tint on top. Like dark navy pants and a lighter blue shirt.
Monochromatic Outfit Combinations
Photographed at the gorgeous Bardessono Resort in Yountville during a winter trip to the Napa Valley, this outfit was perfect for the temperate climate of this area. This skirt-and-sweater combination created the perfect mix of dressy and casual.
For this monochromatic outfit, I was going for a moody and slightly sophisticated look. The one color of emphasis in this outfit is, of course, gray. Every article of clothing you see in this image is gray, with the exception of the blue tint of the sunglasses.
I like the contrast of the shiny silvery-gray skirt and subdued gray turtleneck. The sheen of the sequined skirt brought another dimension to this monochromatic style, while the sequins themselves added a different texture.
Tips for Success
- Start with dark neutrals like black, navy, gray, and brown
- Mix textures to add visual interest
- Consider your skin tone when selecting colors
- Use lighter shades on areas you want to emphasize
- Use darker shades on areas you want to minimize
- Add a belt to accentuate your waist
- Don't be afraid to incorporate patterns in the same color family
Monochromatic outfits are great for petite women. Dressing monochromatically can make you appear taller and slimmer because a monochromatic outfit creates one seamless line from head to toe. Try it and see!
