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Colour Palettes - without Black!

Writer's picture: Style with WisdomStyle with Wisdom

If you believe Black is the base colour for all outfits then I am hoping this blog may help you think outside that box. When we talk about wardrobe staples such as a Winter coats, Trousers, Boots and Skirts it can be a natural instinct to reach for Black as the thought process is, "well Black goes with everything!".


Whilst this is true and Black does in fact go with everything, it's also worth opening your mind to the fact that Black is not the only base core colour to start building your outfit from. In this blog I am sharing 5 alternative base core colours to Black that may offer an exciting new alternative to add to your wardrobe and I am also sharing all the highlight colours that go with these alternative options to Black!


The colour palette theory I describe below is really where it all starts. When you begin to build a range at the start of a season as a Designer and Buyer, it is very similar to how you should think as you build your outfits and wardrobe.



I just want to use this blog to share some colour palette combinations that you may have not thought about utilising another family of base colours. So in general when you build an outfit, or a Buyer builds a range you will think about 2 colour palettes, one will be your base colour palette with all your core colours, these colours are likely to form the bulk of your range...or wardrobe and then we layer in complimentary highlight or statement colours. These lift that base colour palette and are used as highlights or prints within the range you develop or the layering on pieces you buy for your wardrobe. You tend to find from one season to the other the core palette tends to remain fairly consistent but its your highlight/statement palette that really changes. When the highlight palette changes season to season it is this along with perhaps styles as to why your Winter wardrobe will look very different to your summer wardrobe.


This is why it's key to nail those core staples within the core palette as they will have longevity and work hard as part of your capsule wardrobe then the highlight palette pieces become that second layer that extend that capsule wardrobe to create even more outfit combos with a bit of fun and a bit of your style personality!


Working with clients many of them find it difficult to know how to combine those base colours with highlight colours hence why the default is also black with a favourite colour in mind but its good fun to play with colours beyond your comfort zone and maximise that wardrobe!


So here is a little guide to some base colours, other than Black, and what the highlight colours are that you could consider going with them!


Chocolate Brown

This continues to be big for the Autumn Winter season and will live through into Spring Summer. Vogue are quoting the colour of SS25 being "Mocha Mousse", sounds scrumptious! Brown quite literally goes with all highlight colours! Generally I wouldn't suggest mixing the core base colours together, either make it tonal to the core base colour or a highlight. It can be varying shades of brown so colours like Tan and Camel will work too as it is part of Browns colour family! Brown may be a base colour you don't have much of in your wardrobe as it's not necessarily a colour we are naturally drawn to but it is so versatile! I particularly love it with pistachio green, a colour that has been coming through as a new refreshing highlight colour since S/S 24!


Here are some Pinterest images of those colour combos together taking Chocolate brown as your base and playing into some of those statement colours from the palette above. I suggest with these images in mind you go back and look in your wardrobe for items you have that you may have never thought of putting together that you could now consider! Equally it may highlight a great colour you are missing which will give you a lovely focus for any future shopping!

Images all taken from Pinterest
Images all taken from Pinterest

Military Green

Another fabulous alternative to black that will go with so much! I think some steer away from this as it is a popular secondary school uniform colour, or perhaps that was just Kent, being the Garden of England, but its very in keeping with the Scottish Highland theme we are loving right now on Claudia, IYKYK! As with most of these core colours they are so much warmer and softer to wear than black and these images below should share just how versatile that colour can be as a base in your wardrobe over Black! You can go a contrast highlight colour but again, that pistachio green colour I am loving right now would work perfectly as tonal colour dressing! Vogue are referring to it as Chartreuse Green and this season its going to be big!

Images all taken from Pintrest
Images all taken from Pintrest

Shades of Grey

This may be a more obvious base core colour that you have and wear as Grey and Navy are probably the next most obvious and popular core colours after Black! Are you just wearing your grey with Black and White though? If so this will hopefully open up that base colour as whether its a Charcoal Grey or Pale Grey it will go with so many highlight colours! I particular love shades of Grey with Pink. Grey can be quite a cold colour and teamed with Pink this will be so much more warming to the overall look of the outfit! Less formal too as we tend to associate greys with work suiting! Here are some more combinations to shop from your wardrobe or add to your shopping list, whether it be new or preloved!

Images all taken from Pinterest
Images all taken from Pinterest

Burgundy Base

If you don't have Burgundy in your wardrobe already you must have been hiding under a rock last season as it exploded across the high street and social media!! Despite it being my secondary school uniform colour it hasn't put me off and I absolutely love this as a base core colour! Hugely underestimated and such a versatile base colour! If you have followed me for a while on Insta you will know I have a pair of Burgundy knee high boots that are older than my mini blue and I insist are a must in every girls wardrobe! Such a better decision than buying Black. Burgundy boots will go with a skirt or dress in all of the base core colours I share in the palette image at the top of this blog! Here are some colour combos to consider with Burgundy and even with my school uniform being Burgundy and Pale Blue I still think this is one of my fave combinations! Maybe my memories of school aren't so bad...so long ago I can't even remember!

Images all taken from Pinterest
Images all taken from Pinterest

Nautical Navy

Last and certainly not least is Navy! This is actually a colour I do not have in my wardrobe that much! I can't even tell you why but I do have Navy trousers and a Navy skirt so I guess that is enough! We know Navy is the next step away from Black...we know the guys have lots of Black, Navy and Grey in their wardrobes...correct? If they aren't buying Black its Navy and Grey next and we are very similar but hopefully this will make both yourself or your other half venture into some new core base colours! Navy is such a sharp and smart base colour and is the perfectly alternative to Black if the other base colours are feeling a little too daring or out of your comfort zone! Navy really does go with everything...even Black, I know we say it shouldn't be seen together and although that combo wouldn't be my first choice, it does work! However, if you are after some more exciting combinations then here are some ideas for you.

Images all taken from Pinterest
Images all taken from Pinterest

Hopefully this colour combination chat has been insightful! Sometimes we get stuck in a rut of putting the same top and bottoms together as well as the same colours! We make up rules in our head and stick to them as it feels safe and quite frankly we do not have time in the morning to think beyond that but there is so much more to play with! Even if you were to stick these images up on the inside of your wardrobe door, it'll just be a quick colour reference reminder of trying a new combination that day! Play with it and have fun! It's time to make that wardrobe work hard and make getting ready in the morning exciting. Different combinations will feel fresh and new without spending money on new things you really don't need!


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