Fashion and Style with Lahmeet!….

 Anita Lahmeet is in the house once again! Good to have you here again sweet heart. Last time it was Moths and Butter flies, this time around it's the COAT OF MANY COLOURS!

 Some people live and breathe for fashion trends… ever at its beck and call and its ever changing whims and demands. They are always at alert and ready to dance to the tune of any latest vogue- whether it suits them or not.  Many of such trends have come and gone…some prior ones have even been recycled. Maxi skirts, skinny jeans, bum shorts, jerry curls, Brazilian weavon, pashmina, wide belts… The list goes on and on… However, one that caught my attention in recent times (it would even catch a blind man’s attention) is the one they call “Colour Blocking”

Over the years, matching colours has been the trend for fashion conscious folks. However, for some time now there has been a paradigm shift as colour blocking formerly known as “colour riot” is what is in vogue. It combines the use of two or more blocks of colour in an ensemble. This could be for a top, bottom, tunic, a dress and even a handbag or shoes, make-up sef is being “colour blocked’ these days. Simply it means – creating an outfit by putting areas or blocks of solid colour next to each other. It can include monotone, bright colours, muted colours, contrasting and complimentary colours. Clothes, shoes, handbags and accessories can all feature colour block designs or can make up different blocks of colour to be put together for a colour block outfit.

This trend varies from campuses to social events most especially wedding ceremonies. Colours that are usually combined are purple, orange and red; purple, ivory and teal; bubble gum pink and purple; yellow and green, electric blue and tangerine orange, green with mustard yellow, orange and pink among others.

Hmmm… interesting  fad… but of course there are some over sabi sabi people that take the thing too far. I’m not particularly a fan of fashion trends. I believe people should know how to dress themselves by carving their own fashion niche. It is not compulsory for you to look like Beyonce or Rihnanna because well… you are not them! You are an original, a prototype created specially by God, so it’s OK for you to be different and have your own unique style. The first step to creating your own unique style to know your body intimately and what fits it. Now what looked great on your favorite celeb on E! Channel may end up making you look like a clown.

This colour blocking idea is not a bad one… well, I don’t think it is anyways because I happen to love bright colours, but it does have a tendency of making some people look crazy and ridiculous. In colour blocking there’s a very thin line between looking chic and looking like a 4 year old’s art project. A few tips on how to pull this fad off? OK, here we go…

 

DO be brave. Colour blocking isn’t about seeing how many different colours you can clash in one ensemble, it’s about finding the confidence to clash the colours that work for you. Certain colour combos work better for different skin tones. If you have a medium skin tone, try greens, oranges and reds. If your skin is darker, try yellows and pinks. If you’re very pale, opt for a bright blue colour.

 

DO choose what you want to colour block and keep the rest of your look simple. For example, if you opt for a colour blocked bag, go easy on the clothes and shoes. You don’t want to look like a kid’s water colour picture, do you??

DO wear this style with neutral accessories. Since you already have bold colors showing up in your dress or top and pants, you need to offset all of the color with neutral accessories. Showing up to an event with a hot pink necklace paired with a bold blue and purple dress just won’t do, so stick to the basics when it comes to accessories.

 

DON’T make your makeup too overwhelming. Since the focus will be on your outfit, the beauty products that you choose to use on your face should be minimal, but still dazzling. For example, wear nude lipstick and peach colored blush. If you do want a hint of some sparkle, put on some sparkling blue eyeliner and lightly colored beige or brown eye shadow to bring your entire makeup look together.

DO wear a lot of basic colours. If you decide to wear a color blocked dress, or guys, if you decide to wear a color blocked top and pants, be sure to wear black shoes. A black belt also works if the dress is designed larger and you need to tighten up the waist. Black breaks up color blocking and gives it added dimension, so don’t be afraid to incorporate black where it’s warranted. You can also incorporate other basic colours such as white, brown and gray. This way your colour block will pop out more and look more polished

DON’T combine more than 3 to 4 colours. It’s not that it doesn’t look nice, but it looks very ‘ramp’ish. Moreover more colours will keep cutting your body shape here and there making it a not so beautiful sight.

 

DON’T over do it with colour blocking. Any trend can be overdone if you don’t do it right. If you’re not sure if the top or dress goes with your accessories or vice versa, hop online and look at some pictures on Pinterest or Tumblr. Even your favorite blogger might have some style advice. Sometimes style and learning to make a trend look just right takes time, but once you get the hang of it your color blocking style will look fabulous and bold. Just be you and color block away!

  

 

I remain Lahmeet Andrew-Giwa!!!