10 Color Combinations That'll Always Look Chic and Effortless

Growing up, were you told never to mix navy and black? Now’s the right time to get that rule out of your head for good. Whitney Port is proof.

Shown by her light and springy full skirt, Katie Holmes demonstrates one easy way to combine bright colors like the fail-safe pink and green is to mix them through punchy prints.

While a print is one pathway to color combo success, sometimes it’s bolder to make a statement by creating color blocks. Solange Knowles shows how blue and orange do the trick.

Red and black could easily look a little Nightmare Before Christmas, so follow Alexa Chung’s lead and opt for shades of red with a bluer base to break up all-black outfits.

Pink and black? Pink and white? Pink and purple? Whatever color you combine it with, pale pink is always complementary. The color of endless possibilities can be made edgier with darker colors and even more Parisian-pretty with lighter ones. Kelly Osbourne, opting for white leather, has perfected rocker-goes-to-Fashion-Week glam.

Navy and dark green are great options for a colorful look that doesn’t clash, but instead appears crisp and cozy. (And, you know, if you have a matching fascinator to don, too, go to town with your royal self.)

Cousin to the ever-stylish black on black, gray on gray is a combo to consider. It looks anything but gloomy on SJP, who chose a top with blue hues and a bottom with blacks to get maximum contrast out of the look.

Black and white always looks good, but navy and tan turns the style sophistication up to 11. Leave it up to Blake Lively at Fashion Week to lead the way.

Here’s how to do loud colors like a grownup: Byrdie Bell’s combination of black leather and neon is a confident approach to colorful style. Through mixing trendy and classic pieces, she’s created a perfectly put-together look.