TRENDS Combination of colors is key to success

Strong accent colors will be popping up this season.
SCRIPPS HOWARD
It's not always color alone that makes a statement. It's how you combine colors that dictates whether an outfit is a whisper or a shout.
"You're seeing colors together that you hadn't previously seen together," says personal shopper Tica Tallent. "I think the secret is staying in the same color family. For example, if you're in pastels you can put any pastels together. It's perfectly fine to combine two colors that are both the same degree of intensity."
Betsy Thompson, a spokeswoman for Talbots Fashion, says some interesting color combinations include pink and orange for a pop of color with flavor, graphic black and white punched up with touches of yellow and pistachio with black. Combine different shades of the same hue, such as soothing pale blue offset by both lighter and darker shades of blue, she says.
Yellow and white with an added hint of pink make a sweet combination, while pale buff with bronze accents creates an elegant statement.
"Bright, fun colors like pink, orange, yellow and green are definitely strong accent colors this spring-summer season," Thompson says. "While there will always be 'in' colors, this season's palette is really about mixing two or more shades for an artful and playful effect."
Look at tags
When shopping at department stores and trying to find complementary colors, Tallent suggests looking closely at the tags, and noting the group for each article.
"That will give ... the gamut of what came in that group. Imagine all the different colors that might go with that group. On the drawing board, those are the first questions the designer addresses. They determine the design and fabric and then complementary colors," Tallent says. "You could try something in peach or aqua or a striped print of either color. It'll give a novice a way to imagine more options that they might not think about on their own."
But what colors each person feels comfortable combining depends on personality, she adds. When in doubt, stick with the classics.
"Of course, you can never go wrong with classic white head-to-toe or popped with a singular dose of color, or navy and white or black and white," Thompson says. "And Americana mixes of red, white and blue are always a favorite as we approach the longer days ahead and look forward to Memorial Day barbecues and July 4th parades."