Color Theory

Originally posted 01-31-06 as a response to a question on the SCA_India list.

> I wear a Nivi wrap normally, but I may start fishtail wrapping once I

> get better at it. I would like suggestions on colors to use for a skirt,

> choli, and dupatta. So far all I have is white in mind, and I do hate > wearing white. I am not familiar with what colors are actually period,

> perhaps purple is not really suppose to be used.

>

> Any suggestions welcomed.

Oh goody, a chance to use my geeky color-theory stuff from fashion school!

One of my favorite standbys for deciding what to match with what is using Triadic color sets.

If you look at a decent color wheel (try: http://www.sanford-artedventures.com/study/g_color_wheel.html) you can see a few basic color sets. You've got your primaries (red, yellow, blue), your secondaries (purple, orange, green) and yer tertiaries (too many names for me to type.) They're defined as being equidistant from eachother on the color wheel. They tend to look good when you put them together. I don't know why. It has something to do with Science! that I don't understand.

So using triadic color sets, I'd say go for something green or orange.Or both. Scary? Maybe. I've made at least one outfit using this color theory that you can see here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/baital/2605451361/in/set-72157605778824346/

Using that as an example, you can see that the colors can be fudged a little, as long as they have a similar tonal quality. If my shawl were a pastel orange instead of a vibrant jewel tone it would look really weird. Although the choli is more burgundy than "true purple" it is still a deep jewel tone like the green veshti.

I'm a big fan of triads, as they usually have two darker colors and one lighter. For contrast!

Too daring? Too weird? There's also Complementary color schemes. Basically you take your color and find the color opposite it on the color wheel. Viola. Instant compliment.

There's SO many more color schemes that I couldn't possibly describe them all. And why bother when nice people have written a very good website on the subject?:

http://www.color-wheel-pro.com/color-schemes.html

"But medieval Indians didn't have color wheel theory..."

Maybe. But a lot of what we find pleasing about the schemes described by color theory are instinctual.

Let's look at a period example:

http://india.generalism.net/main.php?g2_itemId=207

At first glance there seems to be a lot of the Analogous color scheme in effect; Saris and cholis in shades of red -> orange -> yellow. A couple of examples of a Monochromatic scheme; red choli -> pink sari. 2/3rds of a Triadic Primary scheme (red, blue). So all this color scheme stuff isn't modern mumbo-jumbo. It's what looks good. Indians loved (and still love) the more contrasty color schemes so Triadics and Complimentaries are good ways to go in my mind.

The main thing to remember is to match your tonal quality. Unless you're going for a monochromatic scheme (and boy, do I have the PERFECT piece of lavender china silk for that sari...) you'll be wanting to look at other jewel tones.

Sorry if you were looking for a simpler answer. My suggestions are to read the color theory website and get some ideas and then take your sari and you newfound knowledge shopping with you!

I really hope this helps anyway. ;)

Vairavi the Reformed Fashion Design Wannabe