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Colours and Moods

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

I have been noticing the last couple of months that wearing certain colours not only look better on me but make me FEEL better and affect my mood. And other colours make me feel "blah".

Today's outfit for example, consists of different tones of brown and cognac. There is nothing technically wrong with this outfit and I like the fit of everything and how it works together...BUT I don't feel happy in these colours.

Right now the colours I enjoy wearing are blues, red, purple, green, grey, black and white - stronger colours that work with my hair and skin tone. I'm no longer loving earth tones on me. I think this had a lot to do with my dislike of the pumpkin skirt this week - no longer loving that particular shade. Because I am relatively fair/pale, I feel like I have to WEAR colour to HAVE colour, if that makes any sense.

Therefore, I've decided to begin working on changing my wardrobe to consist of a few colours that work well together and make me feel good when wearing them - my neutrals (the bulk and basics of my wardrobe) will be black, navy, grey, and white and will include pops of red, purple, cobalt and bright green.

I currently have several pieces in my wardrobe I haven't reached for this fall/winter and they are all in these earthy tones. I will keep my espresso trousers, portobello mushroom skirt and possibly my brown lace skirt because I really like the fit of these and can pair them with coloured tops. Other than that, the rest is going off to charity.

I have also been feeling that my wardrobe is actually too big (did I just say that???) - there are items I'm not wearing and then feel guilty about not wearing, while at the same time there are favourite pieces I'm reaching for again and again. I need to sort through that and pare things down.

I'm excited about this discovery and am looking forwarding to putting together a more cohesive wardrobe.

What about you? Have you been noticing colours lately and how they affect your mood at all?

Dressing

25 replies

Latest reply was from Amy

Raisin

Veteran

That's an important thing to note Shannon, we all have colors we're drawn to and make us feel better and I think it's a great idea to try to work your wardrobe around them. It might make it easier like you said to get rid of those earth colors that you don't feel great in, and focus your wardrobe around your favorite and inspiring colors. I think you'll have fun creating your wardrobe!

rute

Veteran

It depends on my stage in life. Some years ago, I would feel more fab and confident in black, last year, I prefer lighter colors and some color. A very dark outfit makes me feel down!

kimlee

Veteran

Shannon - I firmly believe there is a link between colours and mood. I feel happier when I am wearing cobalt blues, deep purples, pinks, red, citron yellows, and bright greens. If I am wearing an outfit that is all neutral I find myself feeling a bit "blah". I am working towards only have those colors in my closet - that way everything plays well togethe and I feel happier.

Sara L.

Veteran

I think that's a interesting point. Paring down your closet to just favorite pieces sounds very freeing - no more guilt or stress about trying to wear under utilized items. I should probably purge all the brown out of my closet since it tends to make me feel frumpy but somehow I can't quite take the plunge.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

My mood/color choice changes quite a bit day to day. I find that it happenes in spurts though so I don't tend to purge colors completely but I may move them to the back of the closet for a while and then decide later. There are a few colors I only wear in summer -- for example, I don't wear pink most of the year but in summer I will reach for a few bright pink items.

Anonymous

I think that is a great realisation, Shannon! And your clothes should work for you -- you had them and enjoyed them, and are moving on to something new. If they are just sitting in your closet languishing because they don't mesh with the current you, then out they should go.

When I get some time, I am going through my closet. This past year I have bought lots of clothes to rebuild my wardrobe from scratch. I tried lots of different things, but it is only recently that I feel like I have dialed in to my style. So a lot of those "new" items are going out, worn maybe once, if that. Yes, I feel a bit bad because that was money I could have spent elsewhere, but you know what, I refuse to let it get to me. I tried some things, they don't really fit who I am, so I am moving on!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Shannon, this is all part and parcel of your style evolution, I think, and it makes perfect sense. When you have a few items that your truly love in your closet you really don't need quite as much variety. It's all in finding those beloved items.

As for narrowing a colour palette, I find that is also a huge advance and makes shopping a whole lot easier. I've pretty much done the same. It took me a while because I wasn't clear about which neutrals I wanted to keep. My taupe discovery was really helpful there. So my main neutrals are going to be navy/ ink (plus denim) and taupe, with grey and black as subsidiary neutrals that I'll also use (and perhaps rely on more whenever my hair finally has enough grey to be left natural - a day I am looking forward to, by the way.. My mother greyed naturally, and looked pretty darn awful between the ages of 40 and 60. But at 60 the hair started to whiten like our Joy's, and then, wowza -- it is so pretty on her. So I'm hoping for something similar.)

Anyway - back to the colour thing - I have also picked a few colours that are going to be my "key" signatures and I'll be looking for those mostly, though of course if I feel attracted by others for tops or accessories I'll try them out. My key colours are: fuchsia (of course), peacock blue, cranberry red, orchid.

Carole

Veteran

This is a great revelation, and it sounds like you are well on the way to building the wardrobe of your dreams. Narrowing down the colors seems key. I am trying to do this, as well, but have such a hard time limiting and hemming myself in even though I know that ultimately this is what must be done to have an organized and cohesive wardrobe. I think having a smaller wardrobe is also essential for making this work. Wishing you luck and looking forward to more.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

(When I'm feeling blue - I MUST wear bright colours. Or when the skies in Seattle stay grey).

More things that you learn about your style each day, Shannon. Brilliant! You look amazing in the chestnut moto and boots so don't pass those earthy items on just yet!

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Rute - I agree that colour preferences change at different stages in life and I wouldn't be a bit surprised if at some point in time, what I crave now will change.

Kimlee - that's it exactly! I want everything in my closet to play together and make me happy! Like Angie always says, "be the boss of my clothes", not the other way around.

Sara - maybe we can take the plunge together?

Ceit - good for you for moving on. There's just no point in keeping stuff that doesn't work for us, is there? I wish I could eliminate the odd purchasing mistake I still make but sometimes I think that's the only way we figure things out - by making that mistake. Onward we go!

Suz - you have been a HUGE inspiration in the colour palette/fewer items style lesson. Watching you figure out your taupe epiphany is really what got me thinking. And then seeing how well your beloved SW booties are working for you solidifies how finding the RIGHT item can really make an entire wardrobe, even when minimal, seem new somehow. So thank you for taking the road first and letting me learn along with you!

Carole - thanks for the good luck wishes.

Angie - I seem to be in a very reflective mood these days, don't I? The boots won't be going anywhere, not to worry. Waaaaaaay too comfortable to give up. Are you sure about the chestnut moto?

Thanks for your input Raisin and textstyle!

Inge

(website)

Shannon, I have to run but quickly wanted to log in to add a suggestion: I too really do love the chestnut moto on you > perhaps you could try it paired with your "happy colours", instead of doing an entire outfit in the "brown" family. So e.g. pair it with blues, teals, rich purples, reds... all those colours look great with chestnut and it could considerably change how you feel about the jacket.

OK, got to go:-)

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Ok - Angie and Inge have convinced me to stick with the chestnut moto. Will try it with other colours. Thank you ladies for your constant encouragement!

Lisa

Veteran

Great observations here. I find on our darker days I reach for my super yellow wool coat to perk me up. Colors can bring on a happy mood. For myself, I am also not an earthtone gal and purged those colors a while back. I don't even look at them in the stores anymore, the same for warm colors. I only look at eath tones or warm colors for footwear or accessories, pieces that will not be near my face.

milehighstyle (Linda)

Veteran

Oh yes - cobalt is my happy color, closely followed by teal, orange, and magenta. I really have to work to get an all neutral outfit that I am happy in. It has to have high contrast and interesting texture or I just feel blah.

Tina.b

Veteran

Shannon, I could have written your post exactly, it is crazy. I gravitate to the same colours exactly, and I especially love black. Brown in virtually any shade makes me feel so blah. I derive so much joy from the clothes I wear that the minute I put on something in the wrong colour it just drains me, literally and figuratively.

My friend recently passed off several items to me because she doesn't love brown either, lol. Some brands I really love, DVF, Smythe, Joie, Vince. I haven't worn any of them yet, they just don't speak to me. And it is such a shame because they are beautiful clothes and they fit perfectly. But they are brown, ugh.

moira

Veteran

I've been having a terrible few weeks. I am trying to push myself to look "cheerful" even though I want to pull the covers over my head and not deal with any of it.
Color is my friend in this endeavor.
Sometimes, you have to fake it til you make it.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Lisa, Linda and Tina - looks like we're colour loving triplets!!!

Linda - high contrast is definitely something I enjoy wearing too.

Deborah

Veteran

Shanon I am late to the party but I found this all really interesting. I wouldn't ordinarily have said this but given you have opened the conversation, I hope you dont mind;). Lately when you have posted outfits with earthen tones I haven't enjoyed them quite as much, in that I haven't felt they were totally "you". I had no cause to comment as such because the outfits themselves look fab and you did look great, it was more of a sense I had about the tones and you. And I wanted to be careful I wasn't just projecting my personal preferences. I agree re keeping the jacket and boots. I think you can use them as neutrals and build on them with your colours. I do think your skin tone and hair colour cries out for the colours that you are currently feeling drawn too.

Btw I took another look at your orange skirt post and I am wondering if the skirt is too big for you?

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

I can relate to this, too! I have been leaving all my muddy, earthy colored garments alone for some time, and I want to wear clearer, brighter or very dark colors instead. I need a small wardrobe that I wear, not a large one full of ho-hums. The suggestion of pairing your moto with blues etc is very interesting, and sound advice. Thank you for posting this, it is a very intereesting thread.

Molly L-R

Shannon, you and I seem to have made the same realisation but in exactly opposite directions! I've purged the black, grey and navy from my wardrobe in the past six months and it feels so good. My go to neutrals now are cognac, chestnut and sand. I've been experimenting with warm colours and have come to the realisation that I'm not crazy about yellow and red, don't mind burgundy and teal/turquoise/petrol/peacocks blues and love browns, earthy greens, purple and off white.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Deborah - mind? Absolutely not! Please always be honest with me Deb 'cause you have such great style and I know your comments come from a wonderful and considerate source I'm actually kind of relieved to hear you say this because it means I wasn't totally off base in feeling this way about the earth tones. I also agree that the fit of the pumpkin skirt now is a bit large (which is a good thing - which I will share in the Off Topic forum one of these days).

Thanks Ingunn and Molly for your comments. We should have swapped clothes Molly - lol!

Tina.b

Veteran

Shannon, I broke out the brown blazer today thanks to your post. I'm trying to decide how I feel in it right now. It is a lovely chocolate brown, but I fear it does nothing for me. At the very least it did give me the opportunity to wear a pair of boots that I love, that rarely see the light of day. So all is not lost. If I'm feeling particularly inspired I'll post a WIW.

Vix

Veteran

Hi Shannon --

Sounds like you are evaluating whether every thing *deserves* a place in your closet -- and on your body -- a little painful but as you noted the results are worth it!

I wear outfits that are all-neutrals, all color-color, and somewhere in between. I find when they are the RIGHT neutrals I feel great in them and don't need the color per se (though I too think color-color is a great mood brightener).

If we're talking near the face, I too prefer you in tones that are at the cooler end of the spectrum. The espresso and portobello shades you mention fall there so maybe that's why you've spared them for now...can't recall the lace skirt).

I'm a little sad to hear the pumpkin skirt is going because I do love that color with the cooler blues and purples you favor but I suppose I'll survive, especially as I'm sure you'll be cooking up some other great combinations.

Good luck with the project!

celia

Veteran

Shannon, I totally relate to this. Lately I feel that if I just dress a cobalt shirt or jacket there is more color on my face and my eyes get brighter, on the contrary if I dress earth tones(that supposedly would go with my coloring ) there is nothing that pops and I get camouflaged within my clothes.

Amy

(website)

Veteran

Shannon, I know what you mean! Do you remember that neutrals challenge we had awhile back? I was so depressed that week. Neutrals make me feel listless and sad. I need a pop of color. It's good to be aware of things like this, so we can make smart changes.