Spice up your summer wardrobe with color blocking

Stacy London shows how a bold color against a neutral shade can flatter your figure

Video: Flatter your figure with color blocking

Closed captioning of: Flatter your figure with color blocking

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>>> this morning on "today's style" color blocking is one of spring's hottest trends but what is it?

>> we have stacy london here to explain. what the heck are we talking about?

>> color blocking. this is the brightest season we have had for a long time. color blocking is the print where it looked like a painting, the squares. or using more than one bright color in an outfit. ile'm wearing only one bright color but look at my bracelet. they have timpbt colors on them. that's a way to do it. let me show you other ways.

>> evening wear worn by jessica.

>> we all love back for evening. this is in honor of the pink and black gala for the american cancer society . i'm hosting it. i wanted to keet an outfit. i will rock a look like this. but you choose one bright color against an evening knewle tral.

>> thank you so much.

>> if you have a straight figure this gives you curves.

>> shay is wearing color block for work.

>> this is a print. a lot of people say you can want wear this if you have weight in the mid section. but look where the lines hit. we have done something here to accent her curves. give her a higher-looking waistline. if you do it in neutral with color in the shoe it's work appropriate.

>> that bracelet is fantastic.

>> isn't it great? alexis bitar, shut up.

>> we have sandy showing us what we can do for the weekend.

>> i love that we have done two solid colors. the way to do it isle equal saturation. if you carry your weight in the lower half keep it neutral there. we have done a very thin gold pinstripe that creates verticality in the leg and we have orange in the shoe and the bag just as the soft accent color almost acts as a third color . the bag almost looks like color blocking.

>> it's nicely coordinated. thank you so much. we have the day to evening look we can use in transition. it's being worn by jennifer .

>> jennifer is wearing a look that'sle all color . you could wear it for a casual barbecue, that sort of thing. but when you're this small -- because jennifer is pe pete. make sure you equally define your colors visually so one doesn't take over the body. we have a shirt with two distinct colors and a little bit of yellow in the sandals. we paired it with a jean jacket so she opportunity look overwhelm bid color , but color creates emphasis. when somebody is that small give it presence. this is a great way to do it.

>> let's bring out all of the models. a lot of people watching , the colors in the season are thrilling. the issue is how do we not have the divide us up? we have been taught to create a clean line. this is different.

>> the interesting thing is, again, it's where the lines hit you. on the dress as we have seen, you can create a waistline.

>> thanks to our modelsmodels. meredith is joining us from cannes, hey, meredith.

Show transcript

TODAY

updated 5/12/2011 10:29:01 AM ET

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This season is all about color. Not just ANY color, but all colors. And lots of them worn together. One of the season's biggest trends is “color blocking,” which isn't just limited to a Mondrian-style print, but it's also about wearing more than one bright color at a time. Most women are afraid of bright colors, either because they are worried that they won't be figure flattering or that they won't be age appropriate. Some women do wear one bright color that complements their eye color or skin tone, but many are afraid to wear more than one. Style expert and host of TLC's “What Not to Wear” Stacy London shows us how to conquer our fear of color and use it to flatter our figures, regardless of shape!

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Work: The “color block” print
This is the print most associated with "color blocking" that looks like a Mondrian painting — literally, the look of graphic lines that create boxes on a garment. This does not need to be unflattering at all, and while it may seem like a tricky print to wear, it can actually work to flatter your figure. The cut of a style always dictates how flattering the item will be when worn. Try a sheath dress where the waistline hits slightly higher than your natural waist, if you carry your weight in your midsection. This print can create the appearance of a smaller waistline and a longer leg. In a relatively neutral color palette, this is an absolutely appropriate trend for the workplace. Try a bright-colored shoe to add some fun, yet still be professional in this look.

Navy/cream color block sheath dress, Alfani, $89, Macys.com; Orange suede heel, Mango, $149.90, Shop.mango.com; Blue ribbon cuff bracelet, Alexis Bittar, $295, Alexisbittar.com; Navy shoulder bag, Merona, Target.com; Sunglasses, H&M, $6.95, Hm.com/us

Weekend: Two solid colors and a neutral
Use color to your advantage. Color draws the eye in first, so wear it on your body where you want the eye to go. If you carry your weight in your lower half, wear color on the top half of your body for the most flattering silhouette. Try two colored tops: a layering piece like a T-shirt and a button-down shirt/jacket as a completer piece, of equal brightness and with the same undertone. They become the focus of the outfit and you can define a waistline with a neutral belt for added emphasis. Try a neutral-colored pant in a universally flattering cut, a mid-rise straight-leg trouser. We've chosen one with a light gold pinstripe. The pinstripe, while subtle, draws the eye vertically rather than horizontally, which creates the appearance of a longer, leaner leg line. Try adding a third, softer color in as an accent that is in contrast to the two main colors in your accessories. Think sprinkles on a sundae: They stand out but complement the outfit as a whole.

Blue linen jacket, Jones New York, $74, Jny.com; Raspberry jersey top, T. Tahari, $48, Shop.nordstrom.com; Beige vertical striped trouser, Alfani, $69, Macys.com; Coral T-strap Wedge sandal, Indigo by Clarks, $99.99, Clarksusa.com; Purple snake skin/Orange ostrich wrap bracelets, Sasha Rhett, $75 each, Sasharhett.com; Gold link bracelet, Ben Amun, $155, Ben-amun.com; Gold necklace with rhinestone beads, Topshop, $20, Us.topshop.com; Gold ring with red stone, Allison Daniel, $68, Allisondanieldesigns.com; Gold bangle bracelets, Adrienne Vittadini, $38 for set of 3, Adriennevittadini.com; Multicolor woven clutch, Aldo, $45, Aldoshoes.com

Day to evening: All solid color

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You can be adventurous and wear color all over. You just want to be careful in what proportion! When you are petite, make sure to wear your colors in relatively equal visual measure so that you don't look completely overwhelmed by one color. Also note, these are SOLID colors, not prints. While mixing prints is another big trend of the season, it isn't one to mix WITH color blocking. Solid colors still look clean and geometric on petites. Throwing in prints on top of multiple colors can look overwhelming on a petite frame. Try a top with two contrasting colors and a bottom, like a pair of shorts or a casual skirt, in one solid color. When you cut up a small frame with color, you can help to define the shape of the body and call attention to it. Make sure the clothes aren't too drapey and that they are tailored to your body or we lose your shape entirely! Try adding a denim or neutral-colored jacket to keep the outfit from looking overly childlike. Pair shorts with wedge sandals this season for a look that can take you from Saturday afternoon to Saturday night!

Motorcycle Denim Jacket, Topshop, $80, Us.topshop.com ; Color block top, Urban Outfitters, $49, Urbanoutfitters.com; Yellow shorts, J. Crew, $42.50, Jcrew.com; Dyle Brown Wedge Platform Shoes, $100, Aldoshoes.com; Pink Across Body Handbag, $138, Radley London, Radleylondon.com; Turquoise Multi Bangle Bracelets, $14.50, LOFT, Loftonline.com; Circular rhinestone on leather cord bracelet, $26, FOSSIL, Fossil.com; Silver heart beads on pink leather bracelet, $135, Martine Wester, Martinewester.com, Black and white bead and leather bracelets, $34, Chico's, Chicos.com

Evening: One bright color as an accent
We all love black for evening, but this season look for pieces with accents of bright color! Try a black bustier with a colored strap (like PINK) and pair with a black miniskirt or tuxedo pant. If you have a relatively straight frame, a bustier is a great way to visually add curves to the body, accenting the chest and creating a waistline. Try a ruffled or tiered miniskirt to emphasize the curve on a straight hip. Try matching your accessories to the color in your top for a bold graphic look. Pink and Black is one of my favorite combinations because it is also the name of the American Cancer Society Gala I'm hosting tomorrow night in Brooklyn, so it's a color combo with a great cause. I'll be rocking the look myself.

Pink T-strap heels, Zara, $109, Zara Stores and Zara.com; Black twisted cuff, Swarovski crystallized, $70, Swarovski-crystallized.com; Black bracelet w/large rhinestones, Otazu made with Swarovski elements, $220, Swarovski-crystallized.com; Black heart clutch handbag, Felix Rey, $150, Felixrey.com, Pink Lucite fan earrings, Alexis Bittar, $185, Alexisbittar.com; Pink & black bustier top, Bebe, $69, Bebe.com; Black ruffle skirt, Banana Republic, $79.50, Bananarepublic.com