Fifty years may have passed since that famous summer in San Francisco that started a revolutionary movement when psychedelic colors exploded onto the fashion scene and inspired a new generation, but the free spirit of those hip hippies and their colorful era is still vibrating today.

Take a cue from Alessandro Michele, Creative Director at Gucci, whose summer and fall collections reflect a riotous mixture of saturated color and prints. "You create every time a new story — repetition doesn't mean it's not new, repetition means there is something refined and different, upside down. It's like love."

So, if you want to rock your own wardrobe this summer, try experimenting with bold color combinations, and put some fun (and love) back into your life. Don't let your summer be a blackout. Get creative, mix and match with abandon. It's not too early to plan for fall either. Start with these basic colors. Chances are they are already in your closet.

Think pink. This pale rosy color always seems to make the top 10 colors of the year. In all its dozens of shades, from the palest of pastels to the most passionate of hot pinks, pink is probably one of the most flattering colors to a variety of skin tones. This summer, try wearing a combination of pink shades from bubblegum to berry head to toe for a sophisticated surprise. Or mix shimmering pastel pinks with a light denim blue or a cooler blue green aqua. The effect is refreshing, especially in warm weather. For fall, consider giving pale pink an unusual twist with a rusty burnt orange.

Fire up with red. Red, of course, is always a fashion favorite. There's a reason songs are written about ladies in red! This summer, designers are all about the flaming orange reds. It gets a real punch when paired with lilac or purple. Come fall, red eases on into the deeper burgundy shades. And when you want to put red into neutral, instead of always teaming it up with black, try toasting it with a cognac brown. Find true love in true red coats and dresses in ultra-rich fabrics like velvet and satin. Ditto for leather and suede. If you only add one thing to your wardrobe this year, make it red.

Go green. Mother Nature's favorite color, green is the chameleon goddess of fashion's color wheel. The yellowish greens have been in the spotlight for the last few years, and this summer, these greens look new when mixed with sky blue or turquoise separates and accessories. Watch for the yellowish greens of summer to morph into tastier leafy kale greens for fall. The bluer evergreens also top the fashion color charts for fall with oceanic marine hues not far behind. All the many shades of red are the perfect complement to green this fall.

Get mellow with yellow. In the summer of 1967, yellow was anything but mellow. The neon taxi-cab yellow was the go-to pop of sunshine that radiated out love and peace to all. And then it quickly faded into the '70s as "harvest gold." Yellow is once again, however, getting the mellow treatment tinged with more curry-colored golds for a spicier feeling. The lighter denim blues are summer's go-to partner for this new yellow; for fall, the darker marine blues.

Be true to blue. From sky to sea, blue is probably one of the most universally liked colors there is. And if you don't like the calm, tranquil lighter blues of summer, then you may like the more intense sapphire blues and navies of the upcoming season. These blues can easily become the backbone of your wardrobe. Instead of black, rely on navy for a change. Mix up your blues, teaming that cobalt jacket with a turquoise sweater or scarf. And you can never go wrong with pairing your blues with red. Navy and autumn's burnt rusty red may become your new favorite color combo.

To find out more about Sharon Mosley, and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.