Value Contrast is a concept that most people have never thought about, heard about or considered, and this is because until recently it was only ever looked at in a way about what it communicated, rather than using it as one more tool to create harmony and balance with your own colouring.
In my 7 Steps to Style program community, there is always much talk about value contrast and getting it right in outfits so that you look your best, and recently I was asked about how to put outfits together for a medium high value contrast when you have overall light colouring and need to keep more of your outfit light rather than dark.
So I put together some tips.
What Does Medium High Value Contrast with a Light Ideal Value Look Like?
What does that look like on a person? It’s someone with light hair and light to medium skin with dark eyes. So this means more of them is light, with just a smaller dark element – their eyes. When you’re thinking about what works for you – it’s all about repeating what you see in you and your colouring – this creates the harmony.
Pops of Dark with Light Outfit
This is really the easiest way of thinking about it, just adding something that has a pop of dark rather than feeling you need to consider whole garments.
Pattern with a pop of dark
This is a super easy way to do it – find a pattern that’s mostly light but has pop’s of darker colours in it, like the middle outfit in the image below
Add a Dark Accessory
With your light outfits, just add a pop of dark using an accessory – statement earrings or a necklace like I’ve used in outfits 1, 2 and 4 and 5) above. The patterned scarf that includes pops of dark is enough to provide the amount of dark required.
A bright colour with a light colour provides some contrast, but not as much as bright with dark., which is why in outfit 2, I’ve added in the dark accessory for that pop of dark.
Bright with Dark
Using a bright medium value colour with a dark accessory will also give you the appearance of more value contrast. The black necklace collar on the hot pink tee is an example of this (above). Then I’ve tied the two together with a patterned skirt that includes both colours plus a light colour.
What’s Your Value Contrast and Ideal Value?
If you want to learn all about value contrast and find your own – there is a special training inside my Colour Masterclass to do this. Or if you want my professional opinion on it, you get this as part of my 7 Steps to Style program or in an Online Colour Analysis.
More Tips on Understanding Value Contrast
What Exactly is Medium-High Value Contrast?
3 Essentials You Need to Know About How The Size and Density of a Print Impacts on its Value Contrast
Spring and Summer Looks for High Value Contrast