Two years ago when I sold all of my clothes and started rebuilding my wardrobe, I promised myself that I’d never buy overly-trendy pieces that wouldn’t last more than a season. A good rule in general, don’t you think?

For some reason, though, my mind linked “overly-trendy” with “colorful in any way”, so for a long time, practically everything I bought was black or gray. Black and gray are great—in fact, I think most great wardrobes are built on black and gray, but there’s a fine line between a healthy balance of black and gray and a drab amount of black and gray.

I was definitely getting close to the drab line. I knew all along that color was fun and beautiful, but I couldn’t help being a little bit afraid of it. It’s scary, after all, to remove something from your life altogether and start completely over, even if it’s something as minimal as colorful clothing.

But I’ve decided it’s time to get back in the color game. I’ve been following some people on IG who’ve really inspired me to push the envelope, and I finally took the plunge and learned that the easiest way to add color to your neutral wardrobe is to just get out there and buy something colorful.

Start by picking a color you like—for me, that’s pink. For you, it could be blue, green, orange, whatever—then do some color comparing to find a shade you like. There’s a huge difference between a hunter green sweater and a lime green sweater—both are great, but they definitely send different messages, so make sure you pick a shade that accurately depicts your overall vibe.

Once you’ve decided on a shade, it’s time to decide on an item. In my opinion, the easiest way to add color to your wardrobe without freaking yourself out is through pants. Pants are so easy to dress up or down, which makes them less shocking than a blouse or sweater but still funky and fresh.

As for the cut and the style, decide those factors based on the vibe you’re going for. Are you a chic minimalist? Then try a pair of trousers! Are you a boho queen? Try some flowy linen pants in a bright color!

At the end of the day, don’t be afraid to incorporate color in new and fun ways. If you’re still a little scared to jump into colored clothing, start small! Shoes and scarves are great ways to try it out on a micro-scale.

Emma