Put simply, a '3 colour rule' outfit will consist of a dominant colour, that will make up the majority of an outfit, then will introduce a secondary colour that should take up roughly a third of your outfit, and finally, will offer an accent colour, all of which should be complementary to each other.
You choose three tops, three bottoms, and three shoes, and challenge yourself to create as many outfit combinations as possible with your selections. The concept began with TikTok creator Rachel Spencer, whose nine-item fall wardrobe went viral last year. What is this?
Sir Isaac Newton established color theory when he invented the color wheel in 1666. Newton understood colors as human perceptions—not absolute qualities—of wavelengths of light. By systematically categorizing colors, he defined three groups: Primary (red, blue, yellow).
Then, when putting together an outfit, the rule dictates that you should keep a 2:1 ratio, where two-thirds of a look is made up of one piece of clothing and the remaining third is made up of another.
In art and design and architecture, the rule of thirds can be applied horizontally as well as vertically but, for getting dressed, only the vertical concerns us. It boils down to this. Your outfit should “break” either one-third of the way from your head to your feet, or two-thirds of the way – but not halfway.
Put simply, a '3 colour rule' outfit will consist of a dominant colour, that will make up the majority of an outfit, then will introduce a secondary colour that should take up roughly a third of your outfit, and finally, will offer an accent colour, all of which should be complementary to each other.
The three primary colors are blue, red, and yellow. These hues cannot be created by blending or mixing any other colors.
In the mathematical field of graph theory, Grötzsch's theorem is the statement that every triangle-free planar graph can be colored with only three colors.
Colour theory is a system of understanding how colours interact with each other and how they can be used to elicit emotions and feelings. There are several colour theory models, but the most commonly used in fashion design is the colour wheel.
Colors Express Emotions
The many colors created through the combination of the three principal color elements known as the three chromatic properties, hue, value, and chroma, express the various color tones. Tone is described in terms of attribute pairs such as light-deep, bright-dark or strong-weak.
Enter: the '333' method. Coined by TikTok creator and self-proclaimed fashion girlie, Rachel Spencer (@rachspeed), the '333' method challenges you to select nine items from your wardrobe (specifically, three tops, three bottoms, and three pairs of shoes) and create as many outfits as you can, using only these items.
The 333 rule is a grounding technique that redirects attention from intense and uncomfortable anxiety symptoms (like worry, unwanted thoughts, or even panic) to the present by shifting focus to three bodily senses: sight, hearing and touch/movement.
The “5 Outfit” Rule is a game-changer for mindful wardrobe choices: before buying anything new, imagine it styled into five different outfits using pieces you already own. If you can make it work in five ways, it's a keeper! Here's why this rule is brilliant: it's all about versatility and longevity.
Black is a commonly used colour. Black colour can be made with equal parts of red, yellow and blue paint mixed together on a palette. Mixing blue and brown can also result in a rich black. We can mix equal parts of brown and blue to make the colour black.
Some classic examples of color combinations that don't go well together include: Yellow and green. Brown and orange. Red and green.
The "no color" dress code in South Korea is a real and widely observed trend, especially in professional and urban settings. Many people prefer wearing neutral tones like black, white, gray, and beige, as these colors are seen as stylish, sophisticated, and appropriate for work or social settings.
The 3-3-3 Method helps enhance workplace efficiency by dividing work into three tasks over three-hour periods for three days. This achieves a balance of focused effort and manageable workloads.
There are three primary colors: red, yellow, and blue. Secondary colors are colors that result from mixing two primary colors. There are three secondary colors. In the RGB color wheel, these are cyan, magenta and yellow.
The idea behind the third piece rule is that for an outfit to go from good to great, it needs three key elements. Your top and bottom (pants or skirt) are your first and second elements. The third piece is that extra something that finishes off the whole look.
It goes like this. First, you pick a subject to draw. Then you close your eyes and choose three markers from your collection. You must then create the most gorgeous work of art you possibly can using only those three colors.