Accessorizing a purple dress can be accomplished by considering the colors on the color wheel that complement purple. Designers divide colors into warm and cool colors to assist in color matching. Purple is a cool color. According to Ask Andy About Clothes, two cool colors should be matched with one warm color, or one cool color should be matched with two warm colors for a great look. Accessories such as scarves, belts, necklaces, purses, shoes and hats should be chosen within these color fields for optimal visual appeal.
Complimentary Color Accessorizing
Build your outfit around the purple dress, which represents the core color in your ensemble’s color scheme. According to Ask Andy About Clothes, when placed next to the core color, a complementary color appears brighter. For example, if you're wearing a sleeveless purple dress, accessorize with a sage shrug.
Use a color wheel (see Reference section) to determine complementary colors for your purple dress. According to Unique Home Decor Ideas, complementary colors are positioned opposite of your core color on the color wheel. Complementary colors for purple are greens, yellows and oranges. For example, a necklace of green, orange and purple beads would be a good choice to complement your purple dress.
Choose accessories such as shoes, a belt, purse, hat, shrug, sweater or necklace in complementary colors. According to Ask Andy About Clothes, designers construct ensembles around two or three contrasting warm and cool colors. For example, orange and yellow are warm colors. Choose purple and another cool color, such as green, contrasted with yellow, a warm color. In this case, a purple dress could be worn with a floral print scarf in greens and yellows, with a solid yellow belt.
Monochromatic Accessorizing
Another option is to choose accessories in violet, magenta, plum and other variations of purple. According to Ask Andy About Clothes, monochromatic accessorizing involves utilizing accessories within the same color family, but in different tones, hues and shades of the core color. For example, choose a lavender chiffon scarf to wrap around the neck of a purple dress.
Contrast your lighter purple dress with darker purple shoes and a purse. According to Ask Andy About Clothes, mix one light shade with two darker shades, or vice versa.
Wear your purple dress with plum earrings and a hat and matching plum shoes. Belts and sashes in shades matching the shoes and hat pull the accessories together.