How to wear colour with Emma Paton

Suffolk-based lifestyle and fashion blogger Emma Paton loves colour just as much as we do. We caught up with Emma to get her tips for bringing new styles into your wardrobe and pulling together joyful colourful outfits.

I’m on a mission to set the tone for a bright new year by embracing more colour. Who’s with me?

If you’re scared of wearing colour or want to find ways to maybe introduce a bit more of it into your wardrobe, then 2022 is your year to go wild with it. I think we all want to feel more positive and adventurous right now and colour is a brilliant way to capture that mood!

The best thing is that colour is back in a big way this year – and there is plenty of it around to inspire us.

The colours I’m loving are tangerine, olive, merlot, periwinkle, bright greens and blues. Nothing has the power to change the tone of your look quite like the colours you choose, so whether it's a colour pop accessory, plain tee or a statement print, try and work some into your wardrobe.

Contrasting colours are a good formula for wearing colour too. Some of my current favourites together are pink and blue, green and purple, red and turquoise or pink and red. If all else fails, the power of a strong coloured lipstick can transform your mood and look. My go-to is a matte red.

I’ve styled the Pebble Drop Skirt and Stipple Shore Top here as an example of a great way to get into colour, whether they are worn together or as separates.

The textured seersucker cotton is in a beautiful yarn-dyed check in blues, greens and reds. A good styling tip is to pull out one of the colours to wear somewhere else in your outfit – socks, a bag or your top – to help pop the colours even more and elevate your outfit.

I love wearing the top and skirt together to create a ‘dress’ look – teamed back with tan knee-high boots it feels quite pulled together. But I like the versatility that they can be worn as separates – back with denim and knitwear and in a more casual way with trainers or high tops.

The check works with a bright red shoe worn with a neutral black or blue denim to help tone it down. A khaki utility trouser or dungarees would also work well with the top. I picked a pink knitted roll neck to wear with the skirt, and the indigo blue in the Reading Rocks Jacket is a relaxed and timeless style that works perfectly with it.

Another tip for wearing colour is to have a good neutral to pare it back with. Denim and khaki are your friends this season and the perfect way to ground bright colours. Denim jeans, denim jackets, army style, utility jackets and quilted or parka coats are my go-to pieces and work with everything. I also love the pear colour in the Roberts Coat – a really good way to call out an accent colour in the check or a print of an outfit.

You can also add colour to your wardrobe through accessories. Think belts, headbands, earrings and scarves or even a great bag for a colour pop. I’ve tied my Sailor Square scarf to my bag but it can also be worn in your hair or around your neck.

Have a play around and find the colours that make you happy and spark joy this year. Happy dopamine dressing!

You can see more from Emma on Instagram at @EmmaPaton_.

Show us how you’re bringing colour into your wardrobe this season by tagging us at @SeasaltCornwall and using #WearingSeasalt.