Monochromatic Looks Are Outdated - Here's What We're Replacing Them With

Though they often seem timeless, even the most perfect monochromatic outfit doesn't always stand the test of time when it comes to the quick cycle of trends. Paradoxical, we know, but let us explain: While monochromatic looks always come back into style eventually, they need some time to regain traction as the trends rapidly change. In other words, they're timeless when given time. As such, we're not implying that you should toss out all of your neutral, easily combinable wardrobe staples but rather that you should inject some funk and color into all that monochromatic blandness.

So, if not monochrome, then what? The next big thing is to replace the neutral monochromatic hues of your wardrobe with pops or even large smears of color. Instead of uniform hues that don't leave the comfort zone of black, gray, and beige, we'll be seeing lots of color — both matchy-matchy and totally mismatched — as well as neutrals spiced up with unexpected color combos. If you're ready to move on from the monotone life, here's what you can do instead.

There's absolutely no need to throw out any of your beloved and familiar neutrals. Instead, aim to build your new and improved style around these comfortable neutral staples. The thing about shades of black and gray is that they go with absolutely everything. Take advantage of this by adding pops of color with cleverly stacked layers. The collar of a blue dress shirt peeking from underneath with a bright yellow jacket on top will do the trick. This will keep the look neutral and understated but also playfully colorful. 

Sometimes, injecting life into your outfits can be as easy as accessorizing with the right (or even the wrong) colors. Shoes, bags, tights, and statement jewelry are great pieces to start playing around with while you work on expanding your color palette.

One failproof way to introduce color into your outfits is to pick a brightly colored and unexpected handbag. It will look intentionally quirky and ooze personality. Think neutral outfits with vivid handbags or color-coordinated ensembles paired with complementary and opposing colors. And don't worry about matching — mismatched fashion has never been cooler.

If you're intent on jumping on the colorful fashion bandwagon but can't bear to part ways with your trusty neutrals, start slow and build up to bright colors. Shades of electric blue and forest green are perfect to start this journey. Build the base of your outfit with your favorite neutrals and enhance it with layers and accessories of a different color. For instance, black or navy blue pairs perfectly with any shade of blue — neutral bottoms with colorful sneakers and a comfy sweater can be just as cool as any bright outfit.

Colored tights and leggings have taken over the feeds of every "it" girl we love. And since it's such an easy thing to implement into our stubbornly monochromatic and neutral closets, we're happy to see it. The nice thing about colorful tights is that they allow you to keep the rest of your outfit simple and muted — and let them do all the heavy lifting to insert that lacking vibrancy and color. For instance, we adore seeing oversized tops and loose dresses in neutral colors spiced up with red tights and colorful handbags.

Another trick for those who aren't willing to part with the matchy-matchy monochromatic lifestyle is to pair sister colors together. Bright and muted shades alike, sister colors are so in tune with each other that you can hardly go wrong with them. Red and pink, green and yellow, and blue and purple are perfect examples of this. Just like you would build your monochromatic look, choose only pieces in sister shades to create a visually interesting outfit that no one can say looks mismatched.