50(7) Shades of Gray - Contrast without color - YouLookFab Forum

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50(7) Shades of Gray - Contrast without color

Staysfit

Veteran

In my last post I played with contrast using color, but I realized that I have some gray tops, and with these, I can create contrast using a "neutral" backdrop. I know there are variations of gray, from warm to cool, green-grey's, blue-greys and yellow-gray's. It's hard to find warm toned gray. I believe there is only one pictured below ( I will let you be the judge). I don't know if I can wear gray as a soft autumn? What do you think"? Most people thought I looked best in low to medium contrast. Now what do you think with the gray?

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25 replies

Latest reply was from unfrumped

catgirl

Veteran

I think 4 is the best - both the dark and the lights seem to wash you out more, especially at the extreme ends. 4 looks like a mid-tone.

Anonymous

I agree with Una on 4, and to some extent I think 7 too is pretty good on you.

E

Veteran

I can't judge re: contrast, because the gray is all I can see, so there's no outfit contrast, if that makes sense.

In terms of whether dark, mid, or light *tones* work better on you, I like 4 best.

I don't think sweatshirt grey (3, 5-7) is the best colour on you, since you asked. I also strongly prefer the heathered dark grey in 2 to the solid in 1.

rabbit

Veteran

Another voice for #4. How does a warmer taupe work on you? The olive was my favorite of the earlier photos, mid tone, worked with the gold/red in your hair, and I think a mid-range slightly warmer taupe or muted brown could work too? Also how does chambray, or that smoky soft mid-range blue look on you?

Staysfit

Veteran

I don't have any chambray. Maybe I can borrow something to test it out. Pic 4 is the warm gray! I knew that would be everyone's favorite. Now I wonder if it's because it's warm or if it's mid range? Pic 7 has some gold. Could that be what makes it more acceptable?

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

Yea, 4, because it's a taupy grey, I think. You have such an AMAZING autumn coloring, why bother with grey? Agree that 7 with the gold bits makes it work better, but still not as good as, say, a completely gold-color top.

Staysfit

Veteran

Jenava, you have a good point. I have a hard time finding things in warm tones where I live and also online.. I don't know why its such a struggle? I wonder if other people with soft autumn coloring find this to be the case also?

Anonymous

Oh absolutely, very difficult. I make some of my clothes too, but finding just the perfect warm and slightly muted, i.e greyed tones of any colour, even in fabrics is so hard. Speaking of grey itself. I wear it sometimes, but again, it's really difficult not to end up with what I describe as a cool dead grey. The lady who did my colours told me that any time one of my better shade became on trend to snap up items in it. For instance a few years ago when I had been analysed there was no teal anywhere in the shops, but it has had a resurgence lately and I have a couple of items in it. Teal, however is not one of my absolute best shades as it is in the cool group of the SA colours and I definitely do better in warm shades.

Golden

Veteran

Could you possibly be a light spring? I am no expert but those colors might be worth checking out? And I agree with 4

Staysfit

Veteran

That's a good question? I don't know? How would I tell if I am a light spring vs. a soft autumn?

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I like 4 best, but really, I thought all except the gray and white stripe looked fine on you. They seem to pick up some of the colors in your eyes. I could see you layering over the t-shirts with autumn colors, as you say, using the gray as a backdrop.

Staysfit

Veteran

Firecracker, that's pretty much what I do. I use one of my warm scarves or toppers and it seems to work ok.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

#4 and #2 seem the best out of these to me. I do find lighter and even many medium grays hard to wear as well and I have some red tones in my hair as well. Deep charcoal is my first pick. I have a bunch of old heather lighter gray tees that I used to think I liked, then realized they were really all wrong. Now, the only gray I try to purchase is in at least a mid to deep charcoal tone.

Chambray and other dusty blues are typically very good as a replacement to the gray.

karymk

Veteran

Wow. Number 7 jumped out at me right away Staysfit. The gold foil on the grey is the perfect way for you to tie into your soft autumn coloring. Like much better than the grey stripe.

In general, I would say to stick to more camel tones or warmer neutrals with a little yellow in them, like ivory, or khaki. instead of grey, which just looks too cool on you and doesn't harmonize well with your hair and eyes imo.

Staysfit

Veteran

Thanks Karymk, its funny how there is just a small amount of gold print on the sweatshirt but it makes a big difference! I really learned something from that photograph! You are so correct that I need to stick with the warm tones and make sure they are present in what I am wearing.

karymk

Veteran

Okay, I did a little research for you over at Nordstrom.com. here's a link of scarf colors, click on the warmer toned ones and see if there is anything you like. You can order the warm neutral scarves, drape yourself in them, and then send them back, or hopefully keep a great one to have up by your face. You could even order some of the cooler neutrals for comparison sake.

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/no.....sonalizeds

Can you see the difference between Brown Bison and Brown Pepper? The Brown Bison has yellow in it, the Brown Pepper doesn't. On cooler skin types like me, the BP looks good, on people with warm tones, the BB does.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I am very bad at judging colors on the screen but I also thought #7 stood out.

Staysfit

Veteran

Oh I adore these scarves Karymk! Yes I definitely see the warmth in the brown bison and the cool tones in the brown pepper. I like that shade of brown. It's much better than the current brown scarf I have. I may do a trade! There are some other nice colors as well, and I prefer solid color scarves. Thanks!

tulle

Veteran

As I looked at each picture, I couldn't help thinking that the color doing the most for you was the muted green of the door frame! Sorry, but gray is definitely not your friend. Your coloring is beautiful, warm and delicate: soft Autumn or possibly Spring. If you'd like to have more neutrals, why not try warm creams, tans and cognacs, a whole range of greens from sage to army green and bronze? For more warmth, you could add soft peach, rich brick and rusty reds. Light true violet and periwinkle blue accents may surprise you. Metallic gold, as others have mentioned, really lights you up, so gold jewelry can be your secret weapon. Have fun!

T.

Staysfit

Veteran

Tulle, I love your color suggestions! It's funny because when I was done with my closet cleanout I was left with mostly Ivory/tan/beige, camel/cognac, warm brown, some reds/corals/rusts, multiple shades of green and teal, and a few purples and periwinkle blues. I also have some yellows. It's like you can see my closet! Very funny! The foreigners which I want to slowly replace are the navy blues except for denim, the greys, and a few black and overly dark or cool brown items!

TraceyLiz65

(website)

Veteran

What about using grey for bottoms and pairing that with some of the colors you mentioned in your wardrobe like, reds, greens,purples and blues..?

Deb

Veteran

Frankly, I don't think grey suits you at all. I sense you need warmer, earthier colours. Grays are really only truly suited to the winters amongst us and summers can look good in a silvery gray. Tulle has given some great colour suggestions to put you on the right track. I fully agree with her suggestions for your colouring.

Golden

Veteran

The colors Tulle suggests sound like they would be perfect! You should put up pictures wearing those colors.

Staysfit

Veteran

Deb, I appreciate your feedback. The more opinions the better, and it seems the consensus is that gray is not my color. I know that if I wear it, I need to mix it with my better colors, and it may be best not to have it in my wardrobe at all! TracyLiz65 offers a good idea of how to use a less flattering color. I will keep this in mind until I can replace my current items with better colors.

I guess it has been hard to pick out contrast with grey because it is not a good color for my skin tone. If anyone wants to repeat this for themselves, I think using colorful scarves worked better. Lesson learned is to use a color that suits if you are looking at contrast.

If you are looking for good colors regardless of contrast, then it doesn't matter, use whatever you want and evaluate it carefully using your best critical eye and judgment of how you want to look.

unfrumped

Veteran

I would also "move away" from gray, overall and especially in tops, at least.
Sometimes it's useful to have something classic like gray trousers, if it's not a good year for other colors or if you just find some whose style you love, and then it's usually easy to find a type of autumny colored top or print that blends gray with warmer tones--sometimes combined with soft corals, for example. Or if you have a fabulous gray sweater that you love in terms of fit or fabric, you could keep it and wear it with a scarf in your flattering colors. So again, you can think of "your" colors as being most important near face, and then secondarily important in bottoms and footwear just because you want versatility and and you want things to go together in general, so you don't end up with a split-personality wardrobe. So probably you won't be looking to add things in the gray zone as you hone in on your color palette.