Blue and Green - When Should it be Seen?
You've likely heard the old fashion-related adage "blue and green should never be seen except in the washing machine." It's a great phrase for its rhyming scheme, but it offers little else by way of insight or truth. Blue and green should never be seen? Someone better go tell nature to quit offering us all those breathtaking vistas of pale blue skies and deep forest greens, of swirling navy blue rivers bracketed by moss-covered stones. Apparently people once believed this clashed.
At Sullivan Manor, we believe a blue and green colour scheme can make for a sophisticated and timeless wardrobe palette. We'd like to offer a few simple guidelines to help you harness this earthen contrast of stately colours.
Colour Psychology
There is a very basic psychology of how the majority of people perceive different colours, whether it's an association to a particular trait or to a mood or intention within a certain context. Whether we consciously do this or it has been suggested to us through clever marketing, it doesn't really matter. What you need to know is how to harness this human tendency to effortlessly make your wardrobe work for you in any situation, whether it's a date night, job interview, or boardroom meeting.
The psychology of the colour green has positive associations with comfort, sociability, nature, money and wealth, creativity, and generosity.
Now for the colour blue. It has positive associations with calm, peace, steadfastness, serenity, depth, and trustworthiness.
Blue and green together in complementary tones? We believe this is an unreservedly winning combination.
Go For Colour Contrast
As with all pleasing colour combinations, it's all about contrast. Particularly with greens and blues, you want to contrast the right tones to highlight and emphasize their complementary nature. In this instance, we don't mean they are complementary colours in the sense of being opposites on the traditional colour wheel. We mean that they combine in a way that enhances the qualities of the other.
Start with the colour you'd like to highlight in your wardrobe. Let's take green: you wouldn't want to pair a lime green shirt with periwinkle dress pants. But take that same lime green shirt and pair it with dark navy blue dress pants, and suddenly it's a vibrant and stately contrast of colour for effortless panache.
If you'd rather emphasize a bright sky blue colour, pair it with a dark forest green or a textured olive tweed. It's all about contrast. Start with the colour you'd like to emphasize, then pair it with a complementary base that subtly highlights and reveals the best qualities of each.
Accessory Pairing
Aim for the same contrast of colours with your accessories as well. Ties and pocket squares in various shades and tones of green and blue can add vibrant panache or subdued class to any suit and shirt combination. Here are just a few examples of this in action:
