How to Wear a Monochrome Outfit?

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Last Updated on April 29, 2022 by Sagarika Kapoor

The fashion runways globally have spoken. The most popular trend all around the world is going monochrome. Especially for the summer. The energetic burst of colours that are the spring/summer 2022 colour trends are highlighted everywhere. From influencers to the fashion gurus, each person has taken the monochrome trend to heart. They are living their best lives in it, strutting around like the streets are their ramp. So, we are sure that looking at these monochrome outfits, you are wondering if a monochrome dress is for you. We say that the answer to that question is a resounding yes. The next question is then, how to wear a monochrome outfit? 

What is a Monochrome Outfit?

Before getting down to how to wear a monochromatic outfit, let us explore what they are. The word monochromatic is an amalgamation of two words. Mono means single and chromatic meaning colour. So a monochromatic outfit literally means a single colour outfit. But that does not mean that you wear head to toe black or pink. You can wear different tints and shades of the same colour family. This is technically referred to as a tone on tone outfit. But the two are interchangeable. 

Things to Keep in Mind While Wearing a Monochrome Outfit

Monochrome outfits are notorious for having a tendency to look one dimensional. They look flat and sloppy instead of chic ad sophisticated if not done right. You have probably worn a monochrome outfit at least once in your life. If you are not sure, let us take you down memory lane. Remember those black pants you wore with a black top, added a pair of black footwear and finished with a black jacket? That was your first monochromatic look! Of course, black is the simplest monochromatic fit to do. When you get to other colours, things get a little more tricky. 

Even though tone on tone looks are considered the easiest and most comfortable to do, it can take a while to find your style in them. You have to be open to experimenting to figure out what you feel confident in and love wearing. Remember, trends are only good if they serve your fashion purpose. 

Select Your Colour

When looking for a monochrome look, the primary decision you need to make is the colour you are going to wear. There are two things you need to keep in mind for this. One, which colour suits your skin tone. And two, which colour do you have the most of in your closet. 

Choose a colour that matches your skin tone and does not wash you out. In a monochrome fit, colour is everything. If you select something wrong then your entire outfit will look odd and unpolished. To find out which colours suit your skin tone, read our skin undertone guide.

To pull off any tone on tone outfit, you need a full set of it in your wardrobe. But if you do not have all the parts for a specific monochromatic look, then do not worry. You can pair a neutral with it. For instance, when going for an all orange look, you might not have orange footwear or jewellery. So just wear some white heels and white or silver jewellery to create your look. 

Styl Tip: When just starting out, we suggest playing with navy, grey or black outfits before progressing to other neutrals and colours. 

Think About Texture

Keep texture om mind when creating a monochrome outfit for yourself. When you have clothes that are of the same colour, the texture is what adds depth and interest to your outfit. This is what stops a look from being one dimensional. It is especially true if you are wearing night neutrals. You need different textures to guide the eyes in a specific way. 

Create Balance

Balance is the most essential rule of life. This translates to outfits too. Along with texture, shapes, silhouettes and sizes help in creating a balanced look. A rule of thumb for this is that if you are wearing something super fitted on top, wear something looser on the bottom and vice versa. Play with proportions keeping your body structure in mind to accentuate the areas you want. 

Styl Tip: A fun way to add dimension to your monochrome outfit is to use layers. A t-shirt underneath a slip dress in the same colour family uses both texture and layering to keep the look interesting. 

Monochrome Outfit Inspirations

The joy of a monochromatic look is in the details. Colour is all you have so the details are what you can experiment with. Below, we have a few suggestions on how you can play with a monochrome fit to look as bold as possible. 

Accessorize The Monochrome Outfit

If you are wearing an already matched top and bottoms, just add a bag, hat or sunglasses in the same colour to add more fun to your monochrome look. This way of accessorizing is ideal if you do not have jewellery in the same colour. On a different note, you can skip the hat and add a pair of earrings in a similar shade for the same effect.

Layer it Up

We love layering up different pieces together when making a monochromatic fit. The different textures and depts make for a more interesting outfit where the eyes flow from top to bottom in a cohesive way. Our favourite way to do so is to add a jacket on top. 

Play with Prints

Prints are not the first thing your mind goes to when thinking of a monochromatic outfit. But we have to tell you, prints are super fun and easy to style for a tone on tone fit. Additionally, they add a lot of depth to any outfit, taking your style factor up a notch. You can wear one print with one solid. But you can also go for a more daring print on print look. Since the colours match, you just need to keep proportions in mind while mixing prints. 

Suit Up

We think that the easiest way to go monochrome is to get a coloured suit. All your work is done already with the co-ord set quite literally. The only thing left to do is find the matching footwear and accessories. 

Think About Fabrics

When wearing a tone on tone look, it is fun to play with different fabrics. You go experiment with sequins, leather, satin, velvet and other high shine textiles. This will help keep your look interesting while helping you find your monochrome aesthetic. 

We hope you liked this article on how to wear a monochrome outfit. For any queries about wedding or personal styling, contact us at Styl Inc and our expert stylists will get in touch with you. Stay tuned to the Styl Inc blogs for more fashion tips and tricks. Until next time. 

Keepin’ it Styl’ish

Signing off, 

Shravani Priya