How you can Marie Kondo all your black work outfits and replace them with SS19's bright, bold colours instead

One of the main themes for Spring/Summer 2019 is bright, bold hues. Emporio Armani showcased zesty lime and cerulean blue. Demna Gvasalia of Balenciaga went bejewelled with ruby, sapphire and emerald on his luxurious and feminine day-to-night dresses, which were nothing like his typical “ugly chic” Russian streetwear designs. And Boss’ Ingo Wilts gave power-suiting a cheery outlook with marigold yellow.

You may think these happy, energetic hues have no place in an office environment but all it takes is a little smart styling to go from loudly garish to understated glam.  

1. Keep accessories in the same shade

Gabriela Hearst pairs a mulberry pant suit with a crimson clutch, giving the ensemble visual appeal and pulling it together without it looking gaudy.

You don’t have to match the colour perfectly. Purple, for example, has reddish undertones, so you’re free to pair a violet ensemble with accouterments in vermillion or maroon. Same goes with blue – periwinkle blue, navy and cerulean all work cohesively.

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2. Just a touch of bright does it

See this highlighter-green wrap-over top (actually a leotard) from the Balenciaga runway? Creative director Demna Gvasalia tames its loudness with a pair of black flowy pants. To make it even more work-worthy, throw on a black blazer and there you have it – gravitas.

3. Colour-block smartly

Designers are still using colour-blocking in a big way. And the way to do it with bright colours is to limit it to just two shades. Nothing more.

Roksanda contrasted a mandarin-orange suit with an icy blue silk scarf. Wear yours similarly, or wear a sunshine yellow skirt-suit with a carmine-red silk blouse.

4. Go for monochrome

You can’t go wrong pairing something bright with black and white. At Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld lets a girlish, pink tweed blazer shine by matching it with a black bustier and three-quarter-length cycling shorts. If you love this look, check out our guide on how to wear tweed here.

For an easy look that would work for the office, we recommend wearing a bold blazer over a neatly pressed white shirt and black wide-leg pants.  

5. Say no to prints and texture

Since the trend is all about flashy colours, do not create more drama by adding prints and texture to your 9-to-5 ensemble.

Hermès creative director Nadège Vanhee-Cybulski kept it safe for the French maison with this outfit – no patterns or complicated layering in sight.  

Photos: Showbit

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