This summer, apart from the temperature, wardrobes too get hotter with the latest sensation in the fashion world - Colour Block Trend.

Colour blocking combines two or more blocks of colour in an ensemble. High-voltage hues such as hot pink, emerald green, tangerine, lemon yellow and turquoise are the latest ‘colours on the block’. The ramps have been a riot of shades since the Arise Lagos Fashion Week with everyone from Grey to LaQuan Smith and Tiffany Amber to Gucci sending models down the runway in ravishing bold blocks of colour. Rich jewel tones and sharp patterns have burst from the fashion collections, sub-consciously permitting colour blocking to make its way to the high street.

Usually, trends get overused and go out of fashion in a matter of days. It is easy to get the colour block technique wrong by overstepping the boundaries and mingling the worst versions of colours, thus bringing the promising trend to a premature end.
Here are a few essential colour blocking rules; apparently, wearing one of the biggest fashion fads of 2011 is not as easy as it looks. So the next time you decide to go all out in rainbow colours please have a re-think.


Get your colours right
To flawlessly accomplish this trend, choose the right colour combinations. Some colour-block hues that work well together are pink and purple, yellow and green, red and pink, cobalt-blue and red.

The brighter, the better
Don’t be faint hearted in experimenting for when it comes to colour blocking, there is no point in investing in pale colours and pastel shades. Be bold, bright and beautiful!

Colour blocking sans colour clashing
Even if you don’t feel brave enough to clash your colours, you can still carry off the trend by wearing one vibrant shade from top to bottom. For instance, wear a long dress in sunshine yellow, bright red or eye-popping pink and team it with interesting accessories.

Mix up your fabric
To avoid looking like you are off to a rave, chose rich fabric such as silk or satin in bright colours. They will add a splash of luxury to your look and give the bright block colour an even more sumptuous feel. Team a fuchsia silk scarf with a pale coloured dress!

Do not abuse it
Unless you are walking on a ramp, do not combine more than three to four colours. Besides, more colours will keep cutting your body shape here and there, accomplishing the opposite of its intended effect.

Add vibrancy with accessories
The easiest way to wear the trend is to add an accessory or two in deliciously bright tints. A fluorescent orange clutch, neon green shoes, a vivid purple bangle is all you need to lift an understated outfit.

Balance it right
A simple way to tone the look down is to wear one brightly coloured piece and keep the rest of the outfit muted by wearing neutral shades. For example, a shift dress in red or bright orange will look fantastic with nude shoes.

Keep the look suitable for work


The best way to wear this trend for work is by choosing items in colours that are updated styles of usual work wear. For example, swap your navy suit with a more vivid blue. Or simply wear a neutral shade of dupatta over a vibrant pink-orange kurti!

Go bare on the make-up. Pick that electric pink lipstick only if you need to add colour to your neutral outfit. Get bold and wear it with the right confidence. And of course, be prepared to laugh it off when someone sees you in public causing a catastrophe with your colour-block outfit, walks up to you with a revolting face and says “Excuse me ma’am, you are colour-blocking my view.”