Real-Life Style Challenge: Monochrome Dressing
For past Real-Life Style Challenges, I’ve experimented with mixing bright colors and neutrals. Both challenges gave me fresh new ideas about how to maximize my wardrobe. So this week, I decided to take it one step further…
The Challenge
For this week’s Style Challenge, I gave myself one simple rule: I had to base each outfit around just one color. Like rocking neutrals, this challenge is all about working with a limited palette.. but this time, I got to work with my favorite colors. Creating monochromatic outfits may seem challenging, but it really is easy! All it takes is a quick peek into your closet and confidence.
The Results
- Monday: Today I wore a chambray shirt with a navy blue pencil skirt, blue smoking shoes and a navy blue and white belt.
- Tuesday: Here I paired a light brown skirt with a khaki button-down top. To accessorize, I added a straw hat and beige flats.
- Wednesday: For a casual look, I paired olive green capris with an army green tee. I don’t own green shoes, I wore a pair of brown flats.
- Thursday: Today I paired a red graphic tee with a red cord skirt and burgundy shoes.
What I Learned
If you plan on trying this challenge for yourself, your first step should be looking at all the bottoms you have. While I had many different colored tops, when it came time to pairing them up, I found that many of my bottoms were neutral colors. Starting from my skirts and pants gave me a great starting point for creating monochromatic outfits. So peek around your own closet and see what sorts of colors you have.
A Few More Tips I Picked Up from This Challenge
- Be wary of neutrals. While all-black can be really hip, it can also look very dreary or like funeral attire. It’s more fun to play with brighter hues.
- Make sure your top and bottom contrast, or you might end up looking like a crayon. I really wanted to try a pink outfit, but my pink skirt was the exact same color as every pink shirt I owned.
- Play with textures! In a monochromatic look, texture is key to breaking up your pieces and keeping the look interesting.
What do you think?
Have you worn a monochromatic outfit before? How do you keep it looking chic? What colors would you try? Let me know in the comments!
 |
Posted on on June 23, 2012 / Filed Under: Fashion Tips / Tags: Colors, Monochromatic, Style Challenge
Like this post?
Comment Rules: CF is a positive place and our comments section is no different. Constructive criticism is fine, but if you're rude, we'll delete your comment. Please use your PERSONAL name or initials and not your business name and do not put your website in the comment text, as both come off like spam. For more info, see our 
Shaylee
Great post, this outfits have been put together really well. I think that is because of the way you balanced out the top and bottom parts to avoid the crayon look you mentioned (which reminds me of Sue’s Halloween costume in The Middle).
Thanks, this has inspired me to give it a go!
Leira Zetroc
Oh my gosh! This kind of styling has totally been on my mind lately! Whenever I do something like this, I find myself really drawing inspiration from 60s fashion, which had a lot of bright monochrome looks.
And even though you warned us about dressing like a “crayon”, I say go for it! Who cares if your top and bottom match? I’ve seen some outfits that pull off that one-tone look really well! I think the element you really have to watch for when wearing bright colours is to make sure that your clothes have strong and sophisticated cuts, rather than kiddie-ish tee shirts and shorts. Then you’ll be able to rock the one color trend without looking anything like a crayon ;)
Sara Strauss
Love it! I’m definitely going to give this a try! I like how you did lighter and darker hues of the same color together.
~Sara
Lenu
I love this challenge! However, I could never du it myself, not only because of the limited colour variety my bottoms offer, but my shoes are all black except for one pair of bright red Doc Martens. I definitly need to bring more different colours into my wardrobe :D
Asilia
This is a fantastic challenge. All of your looks are lovely. The blue outfit is so chic, and the pink one is adorable. Contrast is definitely important.
Erica Lynette
Wow! This Real- Life Style Challenge was fantastic and I think I’ll be incorporating the monochromatic trend into my wardrobe more often. :)
Lauren
All these outfits are great and thanks for all the tips.
Katie
Love this challenge! Well, I love all these challenges but never seem to put them into action. I think I’d like to try a monochrome pink outfit. I have these cute pink shorts that I’m dying to wear. Hopefully my tops don’t clash! I’ve worn all black and all grey before but neutrals aren’t that exciting compared to the outfits you created. Great post! :)
Cristina
Love it. You look great in all the photos.
cathy
awesome! you always have great ideas for these challenges.
adorable girl in cute outfits :)
Jenny
Fantastic post. You look great in these outfits :D
Just wondering where did you get your army top? I’ve been looking for something similar since the “moving in” post a while ago :)
Keep up the great work :)
Caroline
This is probably my favorite of all the challenges you’ve done. All the outfits look incredible, and it’s definitely given me some inspiration for my own wardrobe.
Ali
I love the skirt from Tuesdays outfit! Do you remember where you got it?
Erin
Where did you get your red skirt?
Alyssa Nicole
Wow your results are great, I want to try this for my blog now!
Amani
What fantastic outfits!! I especially love the blue, although I think you look great in all four. Definitely a challenge I plan on incorporating into my own life :)
Colette
I’ve always felt sort of lukewarm toward this blog segment, but I have to tell you, this edition completely won me over! Those outfits are capital-A Adorable and you’ve inspired me to try out this challenge for myself!
Holly
All very cute! I love wearing monochrome clothing! :)
Chelsea
I really like the idea and the approach you took to the challenge. However, I am disappointed because all the looks utilize the exact same approach! Lighter colored top with a slightly darker colored bottom, and flats. I really wanted to see significantly different takes on the concept for each day, with different trends, different types of clothing, and different ACCESSORIES!
Think: Light pink dress, magenta shoes and belt, dusty pink clutch. Something of that sort.
Yes, I know that since you are utilizing your own closet and not just finding ideas off the internet that this is a little more difficult. But it just seems like alot of these posts are similar things over and over again. I do love the tips you come up with, and enjoy reading this section of collegefashion =)
Merrihel Wednesday
Hey, even one-tone pink can work. If your pinks are all the same color, pick similar textures in sophisticated blouse-and-skirt shapes, wear a belt and rock it like a dress!
Sydney
I’ve always loved monochrome outfits..but never tried one until a few days ago thanks to this post! I found that accessories make this challenge a lot easier. A scarf or bangle makes a difference! :)
Catharine
I was just wondering where you get your skirts from…..too cute! I can never find skirts that arent either way too tight or way too short