A Minimalist's Guide to Styling Bright Colours
For the days when you don't want to just wear black
When I first thought about creating a Substack, I asked my followers on Instagram if there was anything they’d like me to cover. One of the responses was advice on colour combinations, so here we are. In this post, I’ll be focusing on bright colours because a) we’re in summer and b) as a self-confessed minimalist who leans towards dark tones and neutral shades, this is an area of style I don’t always gravitate towards so it’s a bit of a challenge for me too.
When I pulled these looks together, I realised the ‘bright colours’ in my wardrobe follow a similar theme. Notes of green, oranges and orangey-brown shades make up my most ‘out there’ tones. At first, I thought that made me less-than-experimental but on second thought, picking one or two colours you like is a good place to start if you’re beginning to dabble in bolder hues. It lets you play with different combinations in your wardrobe and ultimately, gives you more outfit options in the long run. Plus, it’s a way of easing you into bright colours without being overwhelming.
Below are a few outfits I’m wearing a lot at the moment. You’ll see the same pieces popping up throughout, for the reasons I mentioned above, and a few ‘formulas’ I normally stick to when styling brighter pieces.
Cawley Studio Vest with adidas x Wales Bonner Trainers
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See, orange and green.
I’ve had my eye on Cawley Studio for a while. It’s the eponymous label of Hannah Cawley, who hand cuts and makes each piece in London using natural fabrics. Her designs are timeless but unique, so if you’re looking for something that’s a bit more of a statement piece that you’ll keep for years to come, this is a good brand to turn to. Given the methods involved, it’s not cheap but it’s worth investing in (and keeping an eye on sales. Matches currently has a few Cawley Studio pieces in theirs).
This vest is my first piece from the brand. Its orange shade adds a nice lift to outfits and it’s proven to be a great layering piece for summer. I’ve mostly been wearing it with simple black pieces, like this outfit, and whites (which I go into below). It just so happens that the three stripes in my new adidas x Wales Bonner trainers are a very similar shade, so naturally they’re my shoe of choice when I’m feeling particularly colourful.
Toast Waxed Jacket with New Balance Trainers
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Looking at this outfit and the one above, you can probably see a bit of a theme forming: a simple base in my go-to colour (black), zhooshed up with a brighter jacket and trainers. I’ve had this jacket from Toast in my wardrobe for about five (ish) years and like any good waxed cotton jacket, it’s still going strong. Technically the colour is more brown but it pops against the black and complements the New Balance trainers, so it makes the cut when I talk about bright shades.
The pieces in this outfit are a few years old but I’ve linked to some similar items below.
LaneFortyfive Jacket with New Balance Trainers
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On first glance, this outfit is pretty similar to the one above. Same trainers, a pair of cropped trousers, a black top and a brown jacket. But if you feel good in an outfit, I say take the elements you like and make a few tweaks here and there to create a new one - it’s much easier than reinventing the wheel every time you get dressed.
This brown jacket is made from 100% linen, rather than the waxed cotton version in the outfit above, making it more summer-appropriate. It’s from LaneFortyfive, a gender-neutral, made-to-order brand based in London that uses eco-friendly processes - plus, they take your measurements so it fits to your liking. I’ve paired it with white Studio Nicholson trousers I bought in the sale a few months ago (I’ve found a similar pair here) for a fresh summer look that I’ll probably keep on wearing well into autumn.
Raey Jersey Slip Dress with adidas x Wales Bonner Trainers
I love a good long jersey dress for summer. I have a couple from Acne I picked up at sample sales and wore them at least once a week during humid Sydney summers when I lived over there a couple of years ago. They’re breathable and so easy to wear - I’d pair them with flip flops during the day and dress it up with slightly fancier sandals and jewellery for the evening.
This Raey dress is the latest addition to my jersey dress collection. I love the square neck and straight (but not clingy!) cut. I’m wearing a size 8, which is my usual size. The length works on me without any tailoring (I’m 5’4) but I did have to adjust the straps slightly to tighten them up - it was easily done with a quick stitch (plus a video call with a friend who’s much better at sewing than I). It’s a nice deep navy so to brighten it up, I’ve been wearing it with my green adidas x Wales Bonner trainers, which I also wore in the first look above. They add a twist to an otherwise simple dress, which I’m really enjoying for day dressing.
Cawley Studio Ella Vest with White Trousers
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Another look with the Cawley Studio vest. I’ve been wearing it buttoned up as an alternative to a tank top or tee, popping a light vest underneath when I don’t fancy flashing that bit of belly. Again, I’ve paired it with muted tones to let this colour really do its thing in the outfit (and to suit my normally-neutral colour palette). The trousers are a pair from Bassike I picked up in Sydney about five years ago and I still wear them all the time - I’ve found a similar pair from COS here (pictured below).
N.B. Any items marked with * have been kindly gifted by brands. All thoughts, picks and reviews are my own.
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The first outfit is *chef's kiss* :) Thank you for the introduction to the YBD website, I have items in my cart as we speak!!