How to Accessorize a White and Black Outfit With Yellow

A yellow handbag may not go with everything, but it will compliment a black-and-white outfit.

Black and white are classic colors that never go out of style. A black-and-white outfit can be dressed up or down for almost any occasion. Black-and-white separates are invaluable additions to your wardrobe, as they can easily mix and match with one another or with colored pieces. Accessorizing a black-and-white outfit with a single bold color such as yellow can add variety to your ensemble and liven up an otherwise plain look.

Instructions

1. 

   Black-and-white outfits have always been in style.

   Find the right yellow for you. If you are using an accessory close to your face, be sure that the shade of yellow complements your coloring. Use care when choosing headbands, necklaces, earrings, or scarves. You have more freedom when choosing other accessories, such as purses, belts, tights, shoes, legwarmers, or bracelets. Choose any shade of yellow for such pieces, whether it's a bright sunny yellow, a deep marigold, or a neon yellow-green.

2. Use yellow sparingly. Choose one or two yellow accessories as focal points for your ensemble. Don't overwhelm with yellow, especially if you are wearing black-and-white prints such as stripes, polka dots, checks, zebra, or houndstooth. A yellow clutch purse, yellow pumps, yellow tights or sunglasses with yellow frames will be tasteful additions to a black-and-white printed dress or skirt.

3. Pay attention to proportion. If you use multiple yellow accessories, keep them small and not too close to one another. A yellow headband and a thin yellow patent leather belt can make an effective combination; however, yellow tights and yellow shoes will be too much of the color together. If you want to experiment with cosmetics, yellow eyeshadow or nail polish are good choices. Choose shades of yellow that flatter your skin tone and go well with your other accessories.

4. Accessorize with complementary colors. It is a safe choice to have yellow be the only color for your accessories, but if you want to make a bolder fashion statement, add one more color to your outfit. Use the color wheel to make your color decisions. A color close to yellow, such as orange, apricot, or lime green will go easily with yellow accessories. Colors located opposite of yellow on the color wheel such as royal purple, cobalt blue, or lipstick red will create a brighter contrast and be more noticeable.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear your black-and-white outfit when you shop for yellow accessories. You will be able to choose the right accessories without having to imagine if they will complement your black-and-white ensemble.

• If you are shopping for headbands, hats, or other accessories that will be near your face, wear the makeup you plan to wear with your black-and-white outfit to be sure the yellow you choose will complement your look.

References

• "The Complete Color Harmony Workbook: A Workbook and Guide to Creative Color Combinations"; Kiki Eldridge; 2007