No More Color Clashing!

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Color Clashing ruins outfits and it’s a struggle for so many guys because of how hard it is to pinpoint. But after this tutorial, it’ll be a problem of the past.

​Color Clashing ruins outfits and it’s a struggle for so many guys because of how hard it is to pinpoint. But after this tutorial, it’ll be a problem of the past.
Color clashing comes down to contrast and saturation. Too much contrast between colors makes them clash and look incompatible. More saturation from either color creates more contrast between both — as seen below.

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The difference between compatibility and clashing is not in the colors themselves, but in their saturation and the level of contrast that creates. Notice how the more muted trousers depicted below play nicely with other colors, while the overly-bright ones clash.

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Below is an even better example! The less saturated pink from his shirt is harmonious with his blazer, but the pants are overly saturated, which creates too much contrast and hence a clash.

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This fix for this is simple: the brighter a color is, the smaller it must be to offset its saturation. The brightest colors belong on small accessories or pattern accents. Larger pieces ought to be more muted and toned down. An inverse proportion between size and saturation prevents clashing in your outfit.

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On that note, be EXTRA mindful of saturation when pairing complementary colors: they are already high contrast by definition, hence at high risk of clashing. When combining these colors, its best to dial down the saturation so they can bring out the best in each other.

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You’ll find that seasons dictate the overall level of saturation in an outfit. The stylish man reflects the palette of the world around him. Warm weather tones are lighter and brighter, while cold weather tones are comparatively dark and muted.

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The trickiest and most elusive cause of clashing is mismatched seasonal tones. On the left you’ll find a very light and bright summery blue shirt paired with muted autumnal grays and indigo. On the right, that dark gray jacket is thrown over a bright red check shirt and warm beige chinos. These incongruent tones make both outfits look really off, though most would struggle to put their finger on why.

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The fix for this problem is to keep the seasonal tones congruent and consistent. If you want a bright summery blue shirt, then choose a lighter gray jacket that shares warm weather vibes. Or, you could stick to the charcoal and indigo if the shirt is a more muted iteration of light blue, in keeping with the rest of the colors.

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Let’s do the same for the other outfit. Swap the somber charcoal for a summery light gray and it looks great with a bright-ish red shirt. Or keep the charcoal and introduce a darker, more muted red to create a cohesive cold weather palette.

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Understanding these principles will make color clashing a problem of the past! Manage the saturation to maintain a pleasing — rather than abrasive — level of contrast. Keep your bright colors small and your large garments tastefully muted. And finally, keep a congruent seasonal palette in your outfits — and voila! No more color clashing!

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Watch the video version below.