How to Wear a Monochromatic Outfit [Colors, Definition & Style Tips]

You know you’ve probably worn a monochromatic outfit on lazy days. You pull out a pair of black pants, a black turtleneck, throw on your black leather bomber jacket and black boots and head out the door. Yes, it’s that easy but black is also the simplest color to start with.

While you may think that monochromatic outfits take less energy and though they can be pretty tricky to get right, especially if you venture into bright colors or light neutrals. Monochromatic style takes some testing to find out what you like and what you will feel confident in. A monochromatic outfit is a very simple and clean style and I do love wearing this trend when I have the right pieces to pull together. If done correctly, a monochromatic look can be just as show-stopping as a patterned dress or statement jacket.

Let’s take a look at what is monochromatic, monochromatic colors, what makes up a monochromatic outfit, and how to style existing pieces of your wardrobe into a stylish monochromatic outfit.

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What is Monochromatic?

The word “monochromatic” breaks down into two pieces: “mono” meaning single and “chromatic” meaning color. So a monochromatic outfit would consist of pieces of one color.

This doesn’t mean that you would only wear solid black or solid red from head to toe. No, the joy of the monochromatic fashion trend is wearing different shades and tints of the same color, these are monochromatic colors.

If you take blue paint and add white to it in increments, the color of blue would progressively get lighter resulting in a variety of lighter blue tints. If you were to add black to blue, it would get progressively darker, resulting in a variety of darker shades. The light tints and dark shades of a single color are what is best used to create a monochromatic outfit.

For instance, you might start with a pair of charcoal gray wool pants, top it off with a dove gray blouse, and add a pair of dark gray slingbacks to complete the monochromatic outfit. Pop on some silver jewelry (a variation on gray), and you’re ready to take on the world.

The joy of going with a monochromatic color combination is that it will work with virtually any color you choose: purple, red, blue, green, brown, pink…you name it. So there is no reason for you not to delve into this style because there are bound to be certain colors that look marvelous with your skin tone, eyes, and hair, which will only be enhanced where pairing multiples of the same color together in one outfit. To that point, I would caution against selecting monochromatic colors that clash against your skin tone or hair color. That would only amplify the bad choice and could wash out your face if you’re pale or make you look very pasty if you’re tan.

Monochromatic Outfit Style tips

So, you now know what is monochromatic and you want to put together a monochromatic outfit. Where do you begin?

Your first step is maybe the simplest, start by selecting the color you want to wear. Like I mentioned above, make sure the color is one that looks great against your skin tone and hair, and that you feel comfortable in. The worst thing you can do is wear a color that doesn’t make your skin glow or dampens your mood in any way.

As an exercise in learning how to master the monochromatic style, let’s go into your closet and pull out all of the items you have in the color you want to wear. Make sure to get all the pants, skirts, dresses, cardigans, etc. Once you have the items laid out, start experimenting by combining your pieces into outfits. See what looks good together, what doesn’t work, and come up with several outfits that will be your go-to items.

Here are some style tips to keep in mind when putting together a monochromatic outfit.

Mix Textures In Your monochrome outfit

Make sure you mix textures within your monochromatic outfit! You want to add visual interest, depth, and dimension to your look so it’s not one-dimensional or boring. With my first gray monochromatic outfit, the gray skirt was the point of interest. The shiny texture brought this gray outfit to a whole new level. In the second outfit, the bulky sweater with the cable knit offset the sleekness of the turtleneck and fedora.

Some texture combinations you can try pairing together are denim and chiffon, leather and cotton, suede and silk, wool and sequins.

And don’t forget your shoes or boots when it comes to texture. They play a role in adding interest to your outfit. Consider how leather, patent, suede, or satin shoes will work with the outfit you’re trying to create. Or sequined heels! Yes, I am in love with these silver metallic heels!

Achieve Balance

Remember balance when combining pieces. This is a rule for every outfit, not just monochromatic ones. You don’t want the one color to overwhelm you. Quite the contrary, you want it to make you look tall and lean. To achieve this, play with proportions. If you want more information about putting together a balanced outfit read this post: How to Look Stylish Everyday – Your 5 Step Checklist.

For example, if you’re wearing a billowy top, make sure to pair it with fitted bottoms. With a full A-line skirt wear a form-fitting top. The same holds true with the bulkier sweater I am wearing above; I paired it with skinny jeans and the fitted turtleneck.

Accentuate the right areas

Accentuate the right areas of your body using the right color. When wearing the same color in different tints and shades, you want to pay attention to how dark or light each piece is.

For example: If you have very wide hips and want to deemphasize them, you wouldn’t wear light-colored pants or a skirt. More flattering would be the dark shade of the color on the bottom half and the lighter tint on top. Like dark navy pants and a lighter blue shirt.

You could also add a belt to accentuate your waist in the monochromatic colors you’ve selected. A belt is a great option if your outfit is flowier and you need to add some structure or definition. I added a belt to the large knit sweater and the sequin skirt has a band that acts as a pseudo belt.

Select the Right Monochromatic Colors

It’s important to select a color that looks great against your skin tone and hair. For example: If your complexion is very fair and you have blonde hair, opt to wear navy instead of harsh black. Women with tanned skin and dark hair could opt for a deeper color like burgundy or eggplant.

If you’re new to monochromatic outfits and not sure what color, to begin with, start with dark neutrals, like black, navy, gray, and brown. If you are feeling brave, you can also try darker richer monochromatic colors, like burgundy, eggplant, and hunter green. These are the best colors to play with and most likely you already own clothing in these neutral colors.

Add in a Touch of Pattern

Monochromatic outfits don’t just have to be made up of solid pieces; you can incorporate patterns or prints but be warned it would be a little more difficult to find a pattern that matches your color scheme.

To add visual interest and to break up the solid blocks of color, add a print piece made up of the same color you’re working with. You can also try adding a patterned shawl or scarf for fun.

For example; here is a professional outfit I wore that added stripes to the mix. I love how sleek this outfit turned out! Make sure to check out: 20 Work Outfits – Decoding Women Business Casual, for more work outfit ideas.

A Petite Advantage

Monochromatic outfits are great for petite women. Dressing monochromatically can make you appear taller and slimmer because a monochromatic outfit creates one seamless line from head to toe. Try it and see!

At times petite women stay away from trends that might be difficult to wear but I say go for it. Find the pieces that work for your figure and make sure to keep it classy!

Monochromatic Outfit Combinations

Photographed at the gorgeous Bardessono Resort in Yountville during a winter trip to the Napa Valley, this outfit was perfect for the temperate climate of this area. This skirt-and-sweater combination created the perfect mix of dressy and casual. For this monochromatic outfit, I was going for a moody and slightly sophisticated look.

The one color of emphasis in this outfit is, of course, gray. Every article of clothing you see in this image is gray, with the exception of the blue tint of the sunglasses. I like the contrast of the shiny silvery-gray skirt and subdued gray turtleneck. The sheen of the sequined skirt brought another dimension to this monochromatic style, while the sequins themselves added a different texture.

The texture is an important element when putting together monochromatic looks like these. If your monochromatic outfit were comprised of the same fabric throughout, it would likely come off looking dull, as you learned above.

In the second image, taken on the same trip, I’ve revisited the gray theme, pairing the turtleneck with a light gray cable knit sweater and a dark gray felt fedora. While the fedora and turtleneck are similar in color, they are broken up by the V-neck cardigan, which also adds texture to the mix.

Since these were winter outfits, I went with a moody color. If I were to wear a monochromatic outfit in the summer I would choose a brighter color, while the spring calls for pastels, and the fall calls for rich royal jewel tones.

Monochromatic Style

I hope this post has helped you understand what is monochromatic and how monochromatic colors can be applied to an outfit. Next time you’re putting together your stylish outfit remember the style tips from this post!

Stay Stylish,
-V