Combine colours with confidence using the 60-30-10 rule

Laura Scholz

3.2.2026

Translation: Megan Cornish

Although creativity should know no bounds, it helps to have a tried-and-tested rule to guide you from time to time. Especially when the likes of Wes Anderson swear by it.

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The French Dispatch – the films of writer, director and producer Wes Anderson are known for their strong, distinctive visual language. Besides a pronounced love of symmetry, this language is based on two very simple rules: three core colours (the Rule of Three) are used per frame or scene, in the ratio 60:30:10.

This concept has proved successful – not only for Anderson and various fellow filmmakers including Stanley Kubrick and Quentin Tarantino. The 60:30:10 ratio also creates aesthetically pleasing looks in interior design and fashion.

And here’s how you can apply it to your outfits.

The rules

Whether you’re composing an image, arranging objects or communicating information, dividing things into three components seems particularly pleasing and tangible to us as humans. At least, that’s what the Rule of Three suggests. If you then arrange these three components in a visual scenario – for example, when putting together your outfit – using the ratio 60:30:10, you should achieve a harmonious result. Just like Wes Anderson.

Here’s what this could look like using three successful examples.

**Example 1: 60 per cent dark blue, 30 per cent grey, 10 per cent burgundy

The coat, hat and hoodie all share dark blue as their base colour, making up the dominant 60 per cent of the look. The grey of the trousers and bag, on the other hand, plays a much smaller role. Finally, the shoes and stripes in burgundy provide small but subtle 10 per cent accents.

Example 2: 60 per cent blue, 30 per cent dark grey, 10 per cent olive

Let’s agree that the cap and jeans create a predominantly blue look. The dark grey knit makes up about 30 per cent of the overall outfit, while the olive details of the checked scarf complete the look.

Example 3: 60 per cent camel, 30 per cent brown, 10 per cent red

The concept works here too: the camel of the jacket and shoes frames the other two components as the core colour.

Will you try this trick? Do you already use it?

Laura Scholz

Senior Editor

Laura.Scholz@digitecgalaxus.ch

Always in the mood for good hits, great trips and clinking drinks.

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