Revamping Raya colour combos
MANY designers ask what my family’s colour theme is for the year. I always fail to give them an answer because to be honest, none of us like the same colour! When you’re stumped on what to wear, it’s always easy to reach for the same colour but but I feel gone are the days when a family needs to wear the same hue.
Nowadays, it’s all about embracing individuality. What if my husband doesn’t want to wear that amazing vibrant watermelon sorbet I love from my own Raya collection?
Wearing an entire ensemble of drab colours is out of the question this festive season.
The best part about clothing for Raya is how enthusiastically it embraces vibrant hues.
And when I spot a family of four, all wearing red, I cringe. With so many colours at your fingertips, you may be wondering how best to mix and match seemingly opposite hues.
To help you get started, here are four colour combinations that are easy to incorporate into your own family wardrobe this Lebaran.
WARM HUE COMBO
For those new to embracing colour, test the waters by exploring shades of the same colour family. As I see it, three colours often dominate every year - deep maroon, brick and dusty pink. These are definitely in everyone’s wardrobe.
Start by first matching two colours but make sure they are in the same dark hue.
Then, introduce the third outfit, I suggest mixing it with the same hue but in a lighter shade (which works well with the kids or your outfit, let the husband’s outfit stay dark). But if you have something in a similar tone, it works well too. This way, your family will still get to embrace colours without looking like a walking rainbow.
TEAMING UP WITH THE KIDS
Lovers of colour, rejoice! A few years ago Mimpikita started the trend of mixing and matching different coloured tops and skirts. And it remains a hit until today. There are many ways to play with this colour combination.
Firstly, build an outfit by taking one bold piece, like a Mimpikita kurung, and add other solid pieces in the same colour family to your kids’ outfits. If your ensemble consists of colour-blocked solids, I suggest adding a pattern somewhere in the mix to make the outfit feel less piecemeal.
An easy way to achieve a balanced outfit is to pair bright hues, with pastel or muted colours, perfect for men who don’t like to be in complete pastels. Problem solved! Warm hues are always
winners. OR YOUR
SPOUSE
A little colour theory 101: Complementary colours are pairs of colours across from each other on the colour wheel that generally work well together. Grey and pastel are one of the duos. Sometimes you and your spouse want to wear “adult” colours that may not be suitable for your kids but there’s a solution.
All you need is one standout colour tone, paired with a neutral tone. Pastel shades jump in without overpowering it and add a little “lift” to this otherwise monochrome combo.
PASTEL BLOCKING
Stepping outside the neutral box can seem daunting, as I always apply pastel blocking formulas on hijab combos and you can also work the same with your family outfits. I’ve found that blue is one of the easiest colours to mix and match. It goes with pink, green, peach, yellow, and the list goes on.
If you’re stuck, try starting with a blue item, and build your outfit from there.
Whether it’s sky blue, butter yellow, or baby pink, these lovely shades are popping up everywhere, and on everything, from tailored Baju Melayu to kids’ dresses. The result is decidedly fresh, hence the reason this new colour scheme can be styled in equally memorable ways. Pastel accents are definitely an intriguing concept for Raya wear. Soft yellow is regal and
elegant. A beautiful pastel ensemble for a little girl; Cheerful baju Melayu.