Welcome to the 12 Months of Thrifting Challenge! This month’s thrift and style prompt: a pop of color.

a blue and orange graphic with boxes for each month of the year. Each box lists a shopping prompt

Why a pop of color?

Introducing color to your wardrobe can bring your outfits to life. Colors set a mood!

Does the idea of wearing color scare you? Remember these tips:

It’s all about balance.
It takes practice to become more confident with color, so don’t give up on a certain color after a few tries.
You’ll find joy in color if you focus on how it makes you feel.

Easy ways to thrift colors:

This is a great way to get started with color. Keep an eye out for popular and seasonal colors because these will be the colors you’ll see a lot of in retail stores. Make note of these colors and then try find them at thrift stores. The 2020 color of the year is Classic Blue.

Get to know the names of hues

You’ve probably heard them before: warm, cool, neutral, jewel tone, pastel, neon, metallic. Understanding how these colors work on different skin tones, with other textures or colors could be helpful in your journey to add more color to your wardrobe.

Seek inspiration

This is so important! Our brains respond to color so you can seek inspiration anywhere. My favorite sources for color inspiration: nature, pantone, the runway.

Develop a color palette

Creating a color palette helps make your wardrobe more cohesive, in turn allowing you to quickly and easily put outfits together.

How to create a palette: Make note of the colors you already wear, colors you’re drawn to, and colors you incorporate in your every day life. Then jot down 1-3 neutrals you love and 1-3 bold colors you love. Focus on those when you’re thrifting.

Be open to trying new things

The thrift store is an amazing place to learn about and experiment with new colors. I’ve found colors combinations I never knew existed because of the thrill of the hunt!

How to wear it:

Mild dash: Easiest way to add a pop of color is by adding it to a monochromatic outfit. All black is always a great start.

Medium dash: add a pop of color to an outfit with two colors or more. For example: black and white + yellow. Black and camel + pink.

Spicy dash: a bright and bold look. For example:
1) a monochromatic outfit in one bold color (like a pink suit, all red, all yellow)
2) adding color to a print (like floral print with a pop of color)
3) color blocking.

How to color block: Mix two colors that are next to each other on the color wheel (red and pink, or yellow and orange, for example). Or mix two colors that are opposite on the color wheel (blue and yellow, for example).

I replicated Solange’s color blocking look using thrifted items. See it here.

I replicated this exact runway look with a thrifted look, featured here on New Day Cleveland here.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Download the 12 Months of Thrifting schedule
12 Months of Thrifting Pinterest Board
Pantone
2020 color of the year

Allow us to Rethriftrodeuce Ourselves is a podcast about secondhand shopping hosted by two treasure-hunting friends, Dina & Shannon. Subscribe today. For more about the podcast visit dinasdays.com/podcast.