Color rules that can make or break your look, according to Ukrainian designer

In fashion, the combination of colors matters as much as the cut or brand. A well-chosen color palette makes an outfit cohesive, balanced, and trendy.

Regardless of season or style, there are universal rules that help you look stylish and confident.

Basic colors: Vertisile wardrobe foundation

The first step to a stylish look is basic colors that pair well with almost everything. They create a neutral background that is easy to combine with bright accents.

Basic shades:

• White freshens, adds lightness, and pairs with any color
• Black classic, adds depth and contrast
• Beige and sand are warm neutral colors, ideal for soft looks
• Gray is a cool alternative to beige. It looks good with bright colors
• Dark blue (navy) is an elegant alternative to black. It pairs easily with red, white, pink, or yellow.

These colors are like a blank canvas on which you can "paint" any style. They never go out of fashion and are perfect for creating a capsule wardrobe.

Basic colors are the foundation of a wardrobe (photo: instagram.com/andre_tan_official)

Three shade rule

One of the main style rules is to use no more than three colors in one outfit. This prevents visual overloading, maintains visual balance, and looks aesthetically pleasing.

Here's how it works:

• Main color (about 60% of the outfit) is usually a basic color, like gray or beige;
• Secondary color (30%) can be brighter or contrasting, making the look more interesting.
• Accent color (10%) is the brightest. It is used like highlights, such as bags, shoes, accessories, or nail design.

For example, combining a beige coat, blue jeans, and a red bag perfectly illustrates the rule of three colors. It works for everyday looks as well as business or evening styles.

Andre Tan advises styling an outfit with 3 colors (photo: instagram.com/andre_tan_official)

Contrast or monochrome

Another stylish solution is to decide what suits you more: contrast or monochrome.

Contrast combination is a game of opposites, such as purple and yellow, red and green, and blue and orange.

These looks appear bright, fresh, and are sure to be noticed. Contrast should be used carefully, ideally leaving one color as an accent.

Monochrome outfits include different shades of the same color. For example, an outfit is entirely in shades of olive, cream, caramel, or blue.

This style looks expensive, harmonious, and very modern. Monochrome is an ideal choice for the office or restrained events.

Andre Tan gave tips on how to look stylish (photo: instagram.com/andre_tan_official)