From Uniform to Street Style—One Color Change

One color change takes the look from on duty to off duty.

Black and white is a classic combination, but it is also associated with European dress codes for:

• Restaurant servers

• Box-office and ticket attendants

• Museum tour guides and security staff

  
  

Because of that association, familiar pieces such as a white blouse with a black skirt—or a black shirt with black shorts—can sometimes look more like a uniform than casual street clothing.

Look at the comparison.

The woman’s black skirt and sandals have been changed to chocolate brown. The man’s black shirt has been changed to chocolate brown, while his black shorts remain.

The garments and silhouettes are essentially the same. Only the color combination has changed.

Chocolate brown makes both outfits feel warmer and more relaxed. The people now look as though they are meeting friends or spending time in the city rather than reporting for a customer-facing job.

This is the power of one intentional color change.

Same clothes. Switch the color. Lose the uniform.

Would you interpret the black-and-white combination as street style—or as a uniform?

To explore how your color choices influence your visual message, book a 1:1 consultation with me.