By Rita Okoye
Have you ever stood before your mirror wondering why your outfit feels off? Most times, the reason for this is the wrong colour combination.

Even the best of us make common colour mistakes, and we get that.
Learning about colour theory and combination as a fashion lover will help you make every outfit pop and feel balanced. Imagine pairing neon green with burnt orange, hot pink with mustard yellow, and then adding electric blue into the mix.

These colours are loud, so picture if they are paired together. What do you think will be the result?
We understand the part of a brand using exciting fabrics that create vibrant energy for its pieces but don’t get to the point where the colour combination leaves your customers, especially potential ones, feeling overwhelmed.
To buttress, let’s talk about three known brands that have mastered combining colours and how they have used them to create a memorable image for themselves and even changed our perception towards fashion.

GUCCI:
The Gucci brand is known for its audacious and electric use of colours. When Alessandro Michele took the reins as a creative director, a ‘more-is-more’ attitude was used, mixing rich jewel tones with neon pinks and forest greens and layering these with luxurious prints. It is a look only Gucci could pull off. Michele, the creative director, was on a mission to turn high fashion into something quirky and unforgettable, making every piece a wearable art. They do their best to match colours in a way that just works. And guess what? Fashion lovers love it because it screams ‘I’m confident, bold, daring and never boring’. Gucci’s colour story shows us that you can break all the rules as long as you are intentional about it.

J. CREW:
Have you ever thought, ‘I could never have pulled off that colour’ when you saw a dress? J. Crew has changed minds on that. Back then, they were known for their classic American styles. Soon, they became the go-to brand for people who wanted to look polished but with a little twist. Jenna Lyons gave us custard yellow paired with combat blue, mint green with bright orange, and coral pink with army green. It sounds impossible, but it looked chic. What J. Crew did was take colours that seemed unwearable and made them feel totally wearable. They turned colours into tools for building confidence, encouraging customers to play around with looks that still felt sophisticated.

Can you remember the sudden transition of wearing a bright green sweater with your favourite jeans? J. Crew’s colour choices are all about self-expression, showing us that fashion is meant to be personal and fun every day of the week.

So, for Fashion designers, combining the right colours makes unexpected colours feel approachable and adventurous. Most importantly, you should create what your audience wishes to see in your collections.

The common thread between these brands is that while Gucci shows us that breaking the rules and being daring can pay off, J. Crew makes colour approachable, proving everyone can wear the bold palette.

So, when next you pick an outfit, think about the message that you want to communicate. Are you channelling Gucci’s effortless vibe or playing with J. Crew’s approachable combos? The ball is in your court to find the colour that brings out the best in your styling.

This deliberate combination of colours is what makes the Heritage collection exceptional.
The Heritage collection is colourful and distinct. It is a recent offering from Spring Stiches. In 2016, Augustina Temitope Abisuga established her clothing brand, Spring Stitches. The brand is a sustainable premium clothing line that creates stylish and statement pieces, celebrating cultural heritage and empowering self-expression.

The brand is out to inspire women to dress confidently and beautifully when they embrace bold colours that are told by the indigenous diversity of sustainable fabrics. They create striking designs that evoke our cultural identity and resonate with women around the globe.

The collection encapsulates traditional with modern materials and techniques. It takes you on a thrilling colour adventure that combines modern trends and vibrant African aesthetics. You’ll experience how the designer takes us on a journey to how she perfectly mixed colours together, arriving at the perfect combo. From choice of fabric to styling, the collection designs came out well. Hence, embracing the pulse of African fashion through every piece.

For this piece, the right colour mixtures look amazing. The fabric gives a popping feel and seems like it was crafted for some specific set of ladies—ladies who love bright and bold colours. The material is 100% quality and is highly durable. For this dress, the designer did a good job. One would think that the fabric can only be used to sew casual wear, but what we see here is creativity.

Augustina certainly pushed herself to come up with a versatile wear with colourful and daring fabric.

This is a long-sleeved shirt with a collar, sewn with full-length trousers that fit the model.

What’s so unique about the cloth is the options it gives to pair different colours of shoes and earrings to fit the occasion. The only downside to this kind of wear is that minimalist people wouldn’t go for this style due to the bright colours of the fabric.

Here is another thrilling design crafted with a 100% quality Ankara fabric. Ankara lovers will love this one because of how it fits every body type that wears it. From the neckline of this design to the long length of the design, every detail of the styling gives a perfectly look.

Talking about the neckline. The neckline V shape is structured in a way that it isn’t too glaring.

The sleeve is one most people would refer to as a stylish, chic sleeve, which looks good on any woman who values a bossy look and can express herself fashionably. Another striking creative feature of the dress is the demarcated lines sewn to the upper part of the bust, stopping at the waistline.

First, the colour chosen for that specific part suits the overall material. The choice of yellow showcases brings a pop to the design. The drop-down material sewn at the gown’s edge is one we consider captivating. Red heels were chosen to complement the dress which is one recommendation that should be considered for anyone who desires to rock the outfit. You could also wear black heels to match the attire.

The blend of this last attire is top-notch and exciting. It looks casual, but in the real sense, it combines modern-day boss lady. What the designer did with this style is both imaginative and creative.

However, what stands out is the X-shape she tried to achieve using the Ankara fabric. The cut made it pop so well that you would think the fabric was produced in that shape. The designer attached a few pieces of material here and there, and boom, she came up with a masterpiece. This design can be worn for casual and formal events. Pair with heels or chic flat shoes for comfort and you are good to go.
Conclusively, the heritage collection pulled it off with its colour choices. These designs are worth exploring if you’re a fan of elegance and twists. After all, isn’t that what great fashion is all about – feeling good while looking good?