The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1876-06-17
Harmony in Dress.

than to see colors employed togethel
which are discordant; for instance, pur
pie and green. Now, be the dress Of
bonnet ever 80 we'll made, and the wear
er ever 50 beautiful, the efiest of sucl
ignorance will be unpleasant in the ex
treme. Every color has its perfect har'
mony, which is called its contrast, and
also all other colors which harmonic
with it in different degrees. When two
colors are associated which do not accord
the addition of q third may make q har-
monious group. The same rule holds
good with three or more colors. There
ARE two kinds of harmony acknowledged
in the grouping Of colors, namely, the
harmony of contrast and the harmony Of
analogy. When two colors which are
dissimilar are associated agreeably, such
as blue and orange, or lilac and cherry,
they form a harmony of contrast. And
when two distant tones of one color are
associated. such as very light and very
dark blue, they harmonic by contrast
OF course in the latter instance, the har-
mcny is neither SO striking nor 80 per-
feet.
When two colors are grouped which
are similar to each other in disposition,
such ss orange and scarlet, crimson and
crimson brown, or orange and orange.
brown, they form harmony of analogy.
And if two or more tones of one color be
associated, closely approximating in in
tensity, they harmonic by analogy.
The harmonies of contrast are more
effective, although not more important
than those of analogy; the former are
characterized by brittany and decision
while the latter are peculiar for their
quiet, retiring and undemonstrative ma
ture. In affairs of dress both hold equal
positions; and in arranging colors in
costume care must be taken to adopt the
proper species of harmony. The sim
plest rules to be observed are the follow
ing: First, when . color is selected
which is favorable to the complexion it
is advisable to associate tints which will
harmonic by analogy, because the adop-
ton of contrasting colors would dimin-
ish its favorable effect. Second, when
color is employed in dress which is in
furious to the complexion, contrasting
colors must be associated with it, as they
have the power to neautralize its objec-
tionable influences.
Twill take an example illustrative of
the first rule. Green suits the blonde,
and, when worn by her, its associated
colors should be tones of itself (slightly
lighter or darker), which will rather en-
nance than reduce its effect. As an ex-
ample of the second rule, I may take
violet, which, although unsuitable to
brunettes, may be rendered agreeable
by having tones of yellow or orange
grouped with it.
Colors of similar power which contrast
with each other mutually intensity each
others brilliancy, as blue and orange
scarlet and green. When dark and very
light colors are associated they do not
intensity each other in the same manner,
the dark color is made to appear deeper
and the light lighter, as dark blue or
straw color, or any dark color and the
light tints of complexion. Colors which
harmonic with each other by analogy
reduce each others brilliancy to great
er or less degree, as white and yellow,
blue and purple, black and brown.
In dress it is Objectionable to associate
together different hues of one color, for
instance, yellow-green and blue-green,
or orange-brown and purple-brown. Care
must therefore be taken in selecting diff
ferent tones of color to see that they be-
long to the same scale.
: There is another fact which I wish to
bring before your readers ere I close
these remarks on the harmony of color,
namely: That tints which accord by
daylight may appear inharmonious by
artificial light, and vice versa. Thus,
purple and orange harmonic by day,
but are disagreeable by gasiight; and
white and yellow, which are unsatisfac-
tory by daylight, are suitable for eve
ming dress
Is any Brother m Distress I?