What Every Stylish Women Should Know: Perfecting The “Pop of Color” Technique

I am a neutrals girl, through and through but after a year of wearing joggers and pj’s mostly in neutral colors, I’m definitely ready not just for a pop of color, but a full on splash so I decided not to play it safe with a pair of bright pair of shoes or hand bag, I am going with this glorious dress.

Mind you I love a good pop of color-it’s a lot of fun, but I’m up for more than fun, it’s a new season in a new year and I want to go all out. Not only have I chosen a dress, I’ve chosen a RED dress, with all sorts of ruffles and frills.  This dress is a stand out a wild card, gloriously unexpected.  So I say, it falls in the “pop of color” concept, however loosely.

But before we go too far afield about the dress, let’s chat a moment about the value and importance in the whole “pop of color” concept.  It is a hugely valuable tool, ladies.  It’s a strategy that always works and is extremely versatile and useful.

What is the pop of color strategy?

Adding a “pop of color” to an outfit means that the outfit is generally neutral, and you add an accessory, a “third piece” that is a contrasting, bright or unexpected color to add interest to the outfit.  One needn’t stick with just color, one can add an interesting print, texture, jewelry item, hat; anything that adds interest to an otherwise quiet outfit.

Here’s why I love using the pop of color strategy:

1. It allows me to showcase some of my quirkier accessories. Or an accessory that I paid way too much for and have nothing to wear with it.  Yes, I have done that ladies. I find something really interesting, and when I get home, and try to figure out what to wear with this interesting or overly expensive accessory item, I realize I can only wear it with something completely neutral. It’s great though, it makes a statement.  
2. It personalizes and outfit that would otherwise be a uniform.  Hear me out with this one.  We wear a pair of black trousers and a black top.  Perhaps a black, cream or camel sweater, and though elegant, and impeccable, we have to admit, we look like everyone else.  But with that pop of color or the unexpected accessory…now the outfit is ours.  We own it. No one else has the exact same look.
3. The pop of color technique allows a special item of clothing to really stand out.  So if you end up at point number one, above, and realize that you have this special item that you love, wearing it as a “pop” item allows it to be front and center which can be a good thing too.

Pop of color items I always look for when shopping:

1. A glorious pair of shoes.  They should be a work of art, something you absolutely can’t live without.
2. Jewelry that you love and feel amazing in.
3. Handbags are always fun; I once bought a small sequined Hello Kitty jewelry box and turned it into an evening bag.  I still love it, no one else on the planet has one, and who doesn’t love Hello Kitty?
4. A bright colored hat and gloves.  We don’t wear gloves much here in Florida but there is nothing like beautiful leather gloves in electric blue or bright red, or an interesting pair of knit mittens, depending on the outfit, of course.
5. Belts!  At the end of the season, I will often purchase belts on sale.  I have belts going back to when I was 8 and built a cute outfit around a belt I still own.  Throwing a belt on an outfit can create shape or interest 
6. Sunglasses or reading glasses. I am pretty conservative when it comes to glasses, but sunglasses are fun.  I know that many women collect all sorts of readers and such, which is always lots of fun.

Recently I styled a few “pop of color” outfits, this is one I wore this winter:

Here’s a very old photo with a special belt

And one with “interesting sunglasses”

The “pop of color” concept can be used in so many ways as you will be able to see from my Stylish Monday friends.  It’s Stylish Monday and the girls are back to inspire you to new heights.  I hope you will stop by their blogs and say “hi” and let me know who inspired you this month.

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Amy – Amy’s Creative Pursuits –  What’s better to wear for a color challenge than a “Colorblock Sweater”?  I added even more pop of color with a bright bag!

Suzanne – Ask Suzanne Bell – 

Adding a pop of color, shine, sparkle, feathers, faux fur, or an unexpected print is a simple way to breathe life to any outfit. Stop by the blog for simple tips on how to work with your existing wardrobe and break out of your Pandemic style rut.

Nina – Sharing a Journey – We rightly think a pop of color on a neutral background adds interest, drama and elevates an outfit.  Well today I’m the pop of color.  I just couldn’t resist a bright spring dress to blast us out of the doldrums!

Nancy –  Nancy’s Fashion Style – I love lilac! But the color doesn’t look good on when I today’s it in my face. This skirt was actually a bit to tight and I sold it. But the color and the fabric, it looked a bit like tweed, were fabulous. I like to wear lilac with purple, or with pink , or like here with orange. I am on the hunt for a new, or pre loved, lilac skirt! One that fits!

Andy – Pearls and Pantsuits – Like most of my Stylish Monday sisters, I LOVE color and am not ashamed to wear it, and just adding a pop of color to an otherwise neutral palette is a fun little trick to add to your repertoire if you’re not comfortable with wearing too much color. Pop on over to my blog for a peek at today’s outfit, and more style tip for adding pops of color to your wardrobe.

Nicole – High Latitude Style – Seven months of snow means white and black everywhere. Occasionally, a hint of yellow. The sky is either dark with white pin dots and green stripes, gray with white polka dots, pink or orange, or steel blue (my favorite). Not much color. Thus, in the cold season you have hunger for color. So even though red adds a lot of weight (not actually, but it gives the illusion of being heavy), it’s one of my weapons to fight the winter blues. 

Emma – The Style Splash – I adore bright colours, especially orange! Wearing bright orange always makes me feel happy, energetic and optimistic. I’m a big believer in colour therapy! 

Julie – Fashion Trends and Friends and Instagram FashionTandF – Color makes me happy, especially bold bright color!  However, today I’m sharing how you can easily add touches of color to pop an otherwise monochromatic look if color isn’t your thing!  What color would you pair with gray? Stop by my blog to see the colors I added to one outfit!

Shelbee – Shelbee on the Edge – Green is my forever favorite color and the month of March really makes me want to wear all of the green things as I impatiently await the arrival of Spring. This outfit has a few more layers to beat the Winter chill and another print to create extra interest. Won’t you stop by to see more of this outfit and how it came to be!

Ada – Elegance and Mommyhood – Green is one of my favorite bright colors, especially Kelly Green. It’s also one of the most popular Pantone Colors of 2021. I wore this cute outfit today on a 47° sunny day (it felt warmer than that) and my beautiful daughter took these photos. I decided to pair this Kelly Green Eyelet Blouse by J. Crew with these Olive Green Skinny Jeans by Old Navy. Even my net socks are green (and black). They look great under the peep-toe booties.

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Michele – On Instagram as Seechele_styles “My neon pink cardigan was thrifted, and are styled with Camo joggers. I  paired the outfit with a zebra print tote.”