Colour Wheel: In Compliments

No, I don't mean flattering phrases and nice words when I say "compliments". For my second part of the Colour Wheel series, I'm going to explain the art of using complimentary colours.

If you read my previous post, you'll know that there are various different shapes and styles of colour wheels. But the basic principal remains the same. Last time, I talked about how some colours are always opposite each other, but this time, it's all about the ones right next to each other.

When combining complimentary colours, you should typically be using three - a left, a right, and a central colour.

Where contrasting colours are designed to make a bold, clashing outfit, complimentary colours are good for making a softer, calmer outfit.

Examples:

I took the colours from this colour wheel below and created a small pallette to show you what they look like when together, outside of the wheel.They're all similar, but undeniably different colours.

I chose to use colours directly next to each other in a row - but you can also go vertically, using different hues and shades within the same base colour, to create a monochromatic colour set.

These are considered to be complimentary combinations.

Outfits:

Of course, I can't make a stardoll post without including some outfits!

Green through Turquoise:

Blues:

Yellow & Green:

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Personal Do's & Dont's

I often talk in my reviews and judging about my pet peeves when it comes to colour - badly matched, slightly off ones bug me so bad, and so does unintentional, un-styled combinations of silver and gold (see my gold and silver styling tips here).

But that's not my only pet peeve. So, I've written up a couple of my own stardoll's fashion & makeup "Don'ts", as well as the alternative suggestion "Dos".

I'm hoping some of you can relate to this, or learn from these if facing me on a judging panel, or just get inspired to try something a little bit new.

Please excuse the tiny pictures, I wrote this up while away from home and I'm not quite sure why they ended up so small.

Don't : Put boob designs over shirts.

First of all, this is all kind of anatomically wrong. Secondly, (most) stardoll shirts already have boob shadings. And thirdly, they just completely take away from anything that could possibly be good for your outfit - they're an ugly, intrusive distraction. 

Thick grey lines, white balls and weird sideboob is only going to make it look worse.

Do: Use boob shadings on skin

Low necklines, bikinis, tube tops and v necks give you plenty of space below the neck to carve out some cleavage. Keep it classy and look for something that's a shade or two darker than your doll. A little highlight is never a bad idea, but again, one or two shade lighter is ideal. 

Don't : Overdo your lashes

It's not 2007 anymore. We have so many nicer looking options on stardoll these days! Eye like these end up looking like the stare of death, in in suite look terribly blurred and overdone. Your eyes will end up looking smaller than they actually are.

Do: Experiment with colour

A little light shade of colour shadow goes a long way to making a look a little more unique. A simple subtle lash is never a bad idea, either - there's now tones to choose from, and you're not limited to the plaza, either- try a stardesign version!

Do: Use eyemasks

Again, there's no limit to the options with these- with both stardoll versions and stardesigns, there's no reason you can't personalize your doll's face! I love these because they highlight the eye and look much more natural when in-suite.

Don't : Put eyebrows over hair

Couldn't find a decent exemplar for this, but the biggest issue is with BP and Tress Up hairs. It looks tacky very rushed. Detail is always important!

Do: Move it

With eyebrows and hair alike, you can move it - up or down, either way, that's all it takes. While you can't layer stardesign under BP hairs, there's no such excuse with stardesign wigs. Use the little slider to your advantage!

Don't : Put everything on crooked

I could find way too many exemplars for this. Some BP items just look crooked, that's fine - but again, with stardesigns, clothes, and jewelry there's just no excuse for not putting it on straight (unless Stardoll is being glitchy again, anyway.)

Do: Check check & Re-check

Zoom in real close, zoom out, refresh, take a photo. Some things are trickier to place than others, so you might not need to do it all the time. But if unsure, check again!

Always:

If you aren't sure of something, you can always ask a friend! Stardoll is a social environment, and a good friend want you to look good, and feel good, too. So why not ask them? Pay it back by doing the same if they ask you! The same goes for anything else you're unsure about  - ask, ask, and ask!

Hope this helps you out and gives you a little insight!

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Blocking: Lead In Lines

Last time, I showed the Rule Of Thirds, which is a really simple way that you can make sure your outfit looks balanced.


This time, I'm tackling the concept of lead in lines. There's many names for it, but the basic principle is the same.

I also tried to keep the outfits pretty well the same - other than the items I was trying to highlight - so hopefully the effect is more obvious.

What Are Lead In Lines:

Lead In Lines are lines of focus - they're designed to draw your eye to or from specific areas within any image or art piece. In real life, this is used with everything from architectural designs to paintings, sculptures and photography. Even real life stylists and clothing designers use this trick! So it's perfect for you dolls outfit or suite.

Vickylicious10

LoveGina13

Munieki

How You Wore It:

Knowingly or not, I found a bunch of dolls who are using lead in lines to make the best of their doll's figures.

How To Do It:

Draw It In:

To create the illusion of a smaller waist, use lines that look like an hourglass. It's most effective when using a dark item.

Vertical = Tall & Horizontal = Wide

Stripes - especially when placed over wider parts of the body, like the chest and hips  - can make you look bigger or smaller than you really are.

Long Lines, Long Legs

Vertical lines make legs look longer, and if the dark line is on the outside with the light in the middle, it can also make your legs look skinnier. This is because the eye is pulled down the body, making the legs seem longer, plus it makes the center of the leg look closer to you, with the outsides farther away, hence seeming skinnier. The same effect can be said for using contours or highlighters.

Most good quality jean washes are designed like that, while other pants may be printed, have a feature - such as these ones have a zip - or have different coloured stitching.

This tip isn't just about pants, either - shoes, especially lace up ones, will often be lighter in the middle where skin shows. and darker on the outside where the leather or other fabric is.

Pleated skirts can also have the same effect, as seen on the "draw it in" outfit, because again, you have a long, straight line running down the body.

Grow Tall Like A Tree

The same idea can also be used for coats - using long, straight lines - especially when layered - make you look taller by drawing the eyed down the body.

What Goes Across, Comes Across

All vertical lines widen when placed across the body. This is because the eye looks straight at them, and has got nowhere else to go but across, making everything seem larger.

Contradictory to this, often high waistlines and belts are used to make you look skinnier - this is because, in the real world, it will create the hourglass shape out of clothing that otherwise wouldn't pinch in around the waist. On stardoll, items won't change shape because of what you wear with them, so a waist belt may not affect how the outfit looks at all.

So to create a bigger hip line, make sure there are stripes in the middle of the hip going across. 

You don't even need to use stripes - a low waistline, boxcut shirt, peplum skirts,  or wearing a bandeau bra will widen the areas they're worn on. 

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