Color coordination is one of the first lessons that a designer learns and he uses it to good effect in his collections, pushing the boundaries as far as possible without destroying the look. To put colors together without understanding the color wheel can result in an outfit that is offensive to the eye. A trendy man has to understand the color chart if he, too, wishes to be able to put together an ensemble that makes the best use of color. There are twelve hues in the color wheel: Red, Red-Violet, Violet, Blue-Violet, Blue, Blue-Green, Green, Yellow-Green, Yellow, Yellow-Orange, Orange, Red-Orange. Complementary colors are those that are placed opposite each other on the color wheel, such as red and green while contrasting colors are those three places along the wheel, for example red and blue. The real difficulty is that colors are not as simple as the basic color wheel. The hundreds of tints derived from these twelve hues make color coordination really challenging when you want to wear a blend of colors that add brightness to your appearance, without jarring the senses. Finding the right colors to create a coordinated look is child’s play. When children try out various shades of pencil crayon, they are looking for that elusive element that indicates that two colors complement each other or provide a stunning contrast. Use accessories to play with color. Begin with a smart dark suit or pair of trousers and add a pastel tie, a bright scarf, a loud belt or a perky shirt. If you wear only one color against a dark background, you cannot have a clash of colors. The achromatic colors of black, grey and white always look good together and can be combined in many ways. These colors will provide much scope for experimenting without the possibility of a fashion faux pas. Accessories in bold colors will also add chic to your informal clothes. When coordinating colors for casual wear, you can work with a lighter background as casual trousers are not generally grey or black. Most pairs of casual trousers are a solid color, such as beige or blue to which you can add virtually any of the shades, pastel or bright. Try to keep your colors in the same family, for example, Khaki and Olive Green. Wear a pair of trousers in Khaki with an olive green sweater or a red jacket. You can also wear a patterned top, which picks up the Khaki from the trousers. Take time to look at the colors on you, before finalizing your outfit. However, no matter how well the colors match, do not mix plaid and stripes or floral. It is not often that patterns work together and an inexperienced dresser may make some terrible mistakes. One last thing about coordinating colors is to look at a color against your own skin. What works for someone with an olive skin may not work for someone with a pinkish tinge to his face. Generally, the darker your skin, the brighter and bolder the colors you can wear. One way to learn about color coordination is to note the way in which designers put together colors on the catwalk. Perhaps the best tip that one can give in respect of this matter is to become highly observant of your better-dressed colleagues and friends and try similar combinations from your wardrobe at home to see which work for you and which do not. The best thing about color coordination is that you and your friends will immediately recognize when you have it right. Related reading – Jogging Bottoms Or Boxer Shorts