Confidence in Colours: How to Wear Bold Hues with Sophistication

Wearing bold colours with confidence involves finding shades that complement your skin tone, experimenting with different combinations, and gradually incorporating bold pieces into your wardrobe. Wearing bold colours is nothing new as a means to a way of standing out. Back in the 90s Neil Strauss released a book called The Game, which demonstrated how peacocking could be used as an effective way of chatting up girls. Beau Brummell was considered the first English Gentleman for the way he dressed back in the mid 19th century. He achieved this by spending 5 hours a day dressing and spending a considerable amount of wealth on clothes. According to Wiki: 

Brummell put into practice the principles of harmony of shape and contrast of colours with such a pleasing result that men of superior rank sought his opinion on their own dress.

Starting out dressing in Bold Colours!

Start with small accessories like ties or pocket squares before moving to bolder clothing items. Confidence comes from feeling comfortable in what you're wearing, so choose colours that resonate with you and your personal style. 

Bold colours that often look good on men include deep shades of blue, rich greens, vibrant reds, and bold purples. However, the best colours for you will depend on your skin tone and personal preferences. It's a good idea to try on different bold colours and observe how they complement your complexion. As previously mentioned Colour for Men (the book) by Carole Jackson should be your bible for this area. Experimenting with various combinations and finding the ones that make you feel confident is key. Always ask for feedback, don't be shy. When someone says they think you look hideous refrain from saying, 'oh yeah? well who asked you?'

Photo by Tyler Nix on Unsplash

What Bold colours are trending in 2023? 

You can't go wrong with red or turquoise. Trending in recent years include variations of vibrant yellows, bold oranges, intense pinks (think Daniel Craig red carpet No Time to Die), and electric blues. Remember, the most important thing is to choose colours that you personally feel confident and comfortable wearing.

To wear bold colours in a classy way, consider the following tips:

1. Balance: YES BALANCE ANNAKIN. Pair bold colours with neutral tones like black, white, grey, or navy to create a sophisticated contrast. Start with light layers and work outwards to dark. 

2. Quality: Opt for well-made clothing in bold colours to maintain a polished look. High-quality fabrics and tailoring can elevate the overall appearance. Pink and powder blue may be bold, but when it screams polyester it can have a rather dimming effect. Especially in person. 

3. One Statement Piece: Or the punisher as I used to refer to when putting on my Bolongoro Trevor asymmetrical leather jacket. Choose one bold item as the focal point of your outfit, such as a blazer, shirt, or pants. Keep the rest of the ensemble more subdued.

4. Monochromatic Look: Experiment with wearing various shades of the same bold colour for a sleek and coordinated appearance. If you want to see this done well check out everything Jeremy Strong wears in the Guy Ritchie movie The Gentlemen. 

5. Accessorise: Incorporate bold colours through accessories like ties, pocket squares, socks, or belts for a pop of colour without overwhelming the outfit. I actually have bold coloured ties in silk that I have bought in Venice because I'd seen Christopher Plummer wear something in flamboyance in the movie Knives Out. Pay a close attention to how bold colours are working in films and if you see something you like, stop the film, take a photo on your phone, and then apologise to the cinema audience and kindly ask the projectionist to continue rolling.

6. Patterns and Prints: Mix bold colours with classic patterns like stripes, checks, or houndstooth to maintain an elegant vibe. For more check out every Tommy Nutter suit from the 70's, especially the ones he did for The Beatles for the album cover Abbey Road. 

7. Fit Matters: Ensure your clothing fits well and is tailored to your body. Proper fit adds to the overall classiness of the outfit. This is key especially with bold colours, as the over or under sized fit will stand out all the more. 

8. Confidence: The key to looking classy in bold colours is to wear them with confidence. If you feel good in what you're wearing, it will show. But feeling good in them is not always enough. Be sure to get some feedback or brutal truth from someone who's style and taste you respect and admire. 

9. Occasion and Setting: Consider the context in which you're dressing. While bold colours can work for many occasions, some settings might call for more understated attire. You might not want to go strong with bold colours every day to the office. People will start knowing what day of the week it is when according to the colour of your shirt or tie. 'Oh it must be Wednesday, he's wearing his lime kipper tie'. 

Remember, classiness is often about how you carry yourself and how well you put together an outfit, rather than just the colours themselves.