Monochromatic Dressing

Monochromatic dressing is chic, elegant and streamlines your silhouette! 

I hesitated between the words 'monotone' which strictly means one-color-dressing or 'monochromatic'. But, actually, the latter gives us some leeway in the fact that we can use 'tones' of one color! 

So whether you want to make a statement or just like to throw together a few unfussy separates, relax because every element of an outfit doesn't have to match perfectly!

A Royal event! 

The result of monochromatic dressing is obtaining maximum effect for minimal effort! 

No-one knew this better than our late beloved Rainbow Queen who recognized the importance of being visible to the people who had made an effort to see her. One of her delightful vibrant red outfits seen below.  

We were delighted that Catherine, Princess of Wales, made an appearance at Wimbledon last week wearing a striking purple dress. She chose to complement the colors of the club and everyone was able to see her at all times! 

If you know your skin tone you can choose a color that flatters your complexion and monochromatic dress

The Princess of Wales obviously inherited her mother's style and Carole Middleton looks amazing in cobalt blue! 

And you're certainly not limited to bright colors! Sky blue and blush pink made an appearance at the King's Coronation last year, both colors look fresh and young on light coloring; worn by Zara Tindall and Lord Spencer's daughter. 

Fellow Style Bloggers

These are the images that jump out at me. Not always the most expensive or special occasion outfits but elegantly laid back looks that instantly catch the eye! 

These ladies love color and know what suits them. 

Ladies in red shows Jess of Elegantly Dressed and Stylish and Nancy of Nancy's Fashion Style. Kellyann from This Blonde's Shopping Bag has Cool coloring and looks fabulous in all shades of blue.  

In fact Cobalt Blue is a winner for most of us.

In vacation mode we find Susan of Susan After 60 looking refreshingly cool in a simple black cotton dress with raffia accessories. 

And no it doesn't have to be a one piece dress to make an impact!

Gail of Is this Mutton matched the brilliant Greek sunshine in one of her WOW colors! Sequins when the sun's out? Well why not???

Mother of the Bride

Monochromatic dressing has to be the perfect choice for Mother of the Bride.

A bride wearing white takes center stage and no guest should ever emulate that. But YOU are the second most important person on this special day. It's your time to shine so don't hold back! 

A top to toe color scheme very simply streamlines the silhouette, slims and makes you look taller. 

I am 5ft 1 and a bit, so when my daughter was married in Las Vegas I wanted to make sure that I didn't disappear into the crowd and wore my favorite geranium pink! Now I look back the fascinator may have been overkill but it added another few inches, haha! 

Traditionally and until recently, Mother of the Bride outfits were in soft shades such as taupe, gray or mauve. If they flatter your coloring they are classy, elegant and sophisticated. If not, you will completely disappear and look more like the grandmother! 

So identify your best colors with Color Analysis and get ready to elevate your style on this special day!

Check out the subtle green dress and note how it tones with the bride's flowers. It is important to harmonise with the wedding colors. When the fuss is over, it's the photographs that re-create the memories! 

Tone on tone 

In days gone by we would faithfully try to match colors perfectly, frequently to no avail. If we couldn't find a match then the word was to 'co-ordinate' and find a different color to complement! 

The new rules allow an approximation of color matching that takes away the headaches and adds to the style!  

The always creative Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge is the pattern mixing Queen! Combining patterns and similar color tones in such a natural way is an 'art' and the epitome of her style personality!

Tone on tone creates a luxurious effect top to toe!

The secret is in the introduction of different textures alongside similar shades of one color. This produces a cohesive effect with ease, similar color tones and yet nothing actually matches!

Wear two different shades of green together and you may miss the mark but three or even better four different shades, and the 'whole' comes together - sublime!