How to Wear Black and Orange Without Looking like a Halloween Decoration

Isn’t it funny how we often shy away from certain color combos because of holidays? Red and green, orange and purple, black and yellow (bumble bees, anyone?), and today’s topic of choice, black and orange. It’s kind of annoying because that knocks out a lot of fun color options. So I’ve been experimenting to find a way to still wear those colors together, and these are the tips I’ve come up with. Keep reading to check ’em out!

Add some denim. Adding a pair of jeans or a jean jacket is a great way to break up the “spooky” color combo and add a different, neutral color into the mix. My jacket takes up a lot of space in this look, so it prevents the orange and black from being overpowering and super “in-your-face” Halloween.

Add another color and consider the orange. Another way to break up the color combo is to add an additional color, such as pink like in my look (the belt and part of the shirt) or something bright like yellow. It’s also important to consider the shade of orange. The orange in my t-shirt is pretty subtle with hints of a darker hue; notice how the whole top isn’t a solid pumpkin shade–that would make it harder to style with black.

Add a neutral. I added a bit of a neutral in this look with the beige purse and bracelet. White would also be a great shade to add. Again, adding a neutral just helps to make the look more complex than just black and orange. It also helps ground the outfit with a more timeless/classic feel.

That’s it for the tips, hopefully you found them helpful! I wore this look to school, a basketball game (this would be perfect if your team color is orange), and then out to dinner. It was super comfy and a really cute casual look.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Miles of smiles,

Grace

T-Shirt: A.N.A. via JCPenney, $15, last seen here, similar here // Jacket: JCPenney, $19, last seen here, similar here // Pants: hand-me-down, last seen here // Belt: last seen here // Shoes: DSW, $13, buy here in other colors // Purse: Charming Charlie, $15, last seen here, similar here

Linking Up With: Elegance and Mommyhood, Doused in Pink