Introduction

The styling exercise this week builds on the outfit featured in last week’s posting, Summer Chic: Vanilla Creme. The top is made from fabric featuring a pattern of roses against a black background. When the top of an outfit is a darker color than the bottom, consideration should be given about keeping all elements of the outfit in balance. I will share with you the decisions I made to keep the top as the focal point of this outfit.

Summer Chic: Antique Cream and Pink Roses

I wanted to draw the eye to the pretty floral print of the top and keep the focus there. The top has a necklace attached. It adds additional visual interest and focus. To draw the eye to the top it was important to use the tan colored sandals with the vanilla colored skirt. If black sandals were used to accessorize this outfit the eye would then move between the top and the sandals because of the strong difference to the lighter colors in the outfit.

I wanted the contrast between the top and the skirt to be effortless. The print fabric features roses in shades of antique cream and soft pink-red. The antique cream roses harmonize with the color of the skirt. Although this outfit looks like a set, it is not. The top was bought over 10 years ago! Since the top and skirt are basics and the colors classics the outfit works well for summer in any year. This is why I always encourage others to stay true to their style preferences and shop with timeless elegance and quality in mind.

Summary

To achieve balance between a dark colored top and a light colored bottom for an outfit:

–Keep the shoes and bottom garment the same or similar neutral hue.

–Select a color for the top that works in harmony with the netural hue. Make sure the color is not too strong. Otherwise the outfit will lack an element of balance.

–When the top is made of printed fabric find one color in the print that has is close to the neutral shade of the bottom.

I wanted the contrast between the top and the skirt to be effortless. The print fabric features roses in shades of antique cream and soft pink-red. The antique cream roses harmonize with the color of the skirt. Although this outfit looks like a set, it is not. The top was bought over 10 years ago! Since the top and skirt are basics and the colors classics the outfit works well for summer in any year. This is why I always encourage others to stay true to their style preferences and shop with timeless elegance and quality in mind.

Summary

To achieve balance between a dark colored top and a light colored bottom for an outfit:

–Keep the shoes and bottom garment the same or similar neutral hue.

–Select a color for the top that works in harmony with the netural hue. Make sure the color is not too strong. Otherwise the outfit will lack an element of balance.

–When the top is made of printed fabric find one color in the print that has is close to the neutral shade of the bottom.