Forgot to answer your other questions! My palette was pre-planned, obviously.

I do wear different colours in different seasons, as I enjoy 'matching' the changing light or, in the case of fall/winter, celebrating the seasonal changes via colour even if it's too hot to wear traditional autumnal fabrics. I've noticed I wear a lot of blue in the summer (both navy and other blues), more white, and less taupe. Also some stronger pinks.

I only wear russet in fall/winter, and seem to gravitate more towards taupes during those seasons. But I'm very much a mood dresser too, so I don't have any strict rules (other than the russet). I'm a bit fussier about fabrics: I never wear corduroy or velvet in the summer and won't wear eyelet in the winter, for instance. Everything else is fair game year round, depending on what the weather & my whims demand!

JenW, so interesting that each season includes a blue based color and a red based color! That's a very thought=provoking approach.

GC, you would have freaked with my Spring/Summer work pants collection...this is where much of my color came from.

Denise, I agree that coral and teal are spectacular on you! Didn't an old thread of yours resurface recently in which you were searching for yellow bottoms?

Joy, I totally agree that I want totally different colors in Spring and Fall! I was thinking awhile back that I could do 3 "seasons"...hot, mild and cold...since Spring and Fall are short here. I couldn't make it work because of the color issue.

I'm not much of a planner when it comes to color. I also like to see everything that I have together (all seasons) and since Florida doesn't have much seasonal difference, I don't need additional bulky item storage. I took photos of my entire wardrobe (there are no additional folded clothes beyond what is in the one drawer and wire drawers under the one closet). There are some shoes hiding behind others, and boots in the bottom of one closet.

It was kind of fun to look at the colors all together! I can certainly see a pattern....

Hi Carter --

• I limit my neutral and color-color ranges to the specific cool-toned shades I think flatter me

• Within those ranges, some colors tend to drop in/out with seasonal shifts...but keeping to the ranges helps boost my ability to be cross-seasonal

• I'm now intentional about making sure NEW purchases stay within a pretty tight range that work with each other -- aka creating mini-capsules out of the new stuff so I can wear new with new as well as new with old

That last has been the biggest change for me. So for, say, spring I don't just randomly buy a rose/taupe/black blouse, a powder blue cardigan, and and a deep teal skirt for a season -- even those are all technically in my palette and look good on me.

Instead, I'll try to build up outfits. So the print blouse needs a sweater/blazer + skirt/pants/shorts that works with it, and so on. Then those new items need to work with older ones (or I accept that they don't).

Even if I were limiting myself to just neutrals, I'd try this. Too many years of finding myself with combinations that looked ok in terms of color, but were a bit off in terms of proportions, fabric types, vibe etc!

[It all seems kind of bloodless, but for better or worse allows for spontaneous purchases to be worn right away.]

Palette photos to illustrate

#1 My Spring 2010 picks (I'm sure black, black, and black were my neutrals)
# 2-5: Pantone Fall 2010 and my picks
# 6: Pantone Spring 2013 and 2014 and my picks (same colors this year as last)

Related posts on my spring/summer seasonal capsules

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....sule-color

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....utopilot-y

Great post! I don't really have a planned colour palette in my wardrobe. I'm more of an emotional buyer, but there is definitely a pattern to the colours I tend to purchase. I wear denim 80% of the year, so tops usually coordinate easily with that. This past year I've made more of a focused effort to add colour. In the past it's been a lot of black, grey, and in the summer more tan/oatmeals. This summer I've got oranges, citrons, and whites. In the winter I added more burgundies and teals. I am adding more blue tops this year. For some reason I've had a long standing aversion to blues on top. Not sure why, I think I mentally assumed they didn't work with black, or didn't look too great on me. I think some shades are pretty good, so am adding a few pieces here and there. The only noticeable absence is red. I tend to veer to oranges/corals more easily than reds.

Carter I have really culled much of my color out of my wardrobe. I think when I turned 50 I really started thinking about how I want to dress going forward. I still love pink. And red. But now I am making an effort to have the perfect French Wardrobe and stick to the neutrals like Emmanuelle Alt does. When I do, getting dressed is so much easier! Shopping is more challenging because I want all these neutral pieces to have "interesting" details or fabrics. Otherwise I just know I'm going to get bored.

I have decided that I would like to be the color in my wardrobe. Therefore, I am focusing on hair and skin and makeup. That's where I putting my money too!

I like you in neutrals but like to see you pop color in. It just looks more "southern" and for where you live I think color is expected. Am I right?

I'll be back to respond as soon as this nutty puppy settles down for the night, She seems to find great joy by jumping on my keyboard and shutting down my browser while I'm typing.

For now, I'm so interested to see that there are as many different answers to this as there are to the wardrobe size questions. There is no right and no wrong, but fascinating to see how each of you as solved (or continues to struggle) with finding what's "right" for you.

Thanks for your responses. I've learned a lot!

I have kind of gravitated toward seasonal variations on pink-berry tones --darker muted ones like burgundy and oxblood in fall/winter and brighter fruitier ones in summer; orchid/lilac says late winter/cold spring. Of course, if I find the perfect item in color that may be a different season, that's okay, it's more of a partial shift of tone and mood. Similar for some teals and blues, though I wear less of them--more clear for summer. That's so I can wear many of the same skirts and pants for 3 or more seasons, just shifting the tones of the other colors a bit.
I do find that for work wear I can't always mix in my favorite summery colors that I wear for summer casual wear unless maybe is in a conservative style or especially good fabrication. I was finding that a
more casual or trendy style (ankle pants) or fabric (linen knit top) can seem too "relaxed" for my comfort zone when in brighter colors, but okay if in neutrals.

Great thread, Carter! I found myself nodding along with many others. Laura's comments that she changes her colours to meet the seasonal light really resonated with me.

My core colour AND core neutral is blue. This make sense, because I've been categorized as a "true or cool summer." Denim blue (s), navy blue, ink blue, French blue, faded chambray blue are for all seasons -- but I can go brighter (cobalt) or lighter (baby blue) in summer and ONLY in summer.

My other neutrals are grey (from charcoal to cool dove grey); taupe (from dark to light); some black (especially in summer, when I can handle that intensity better); white (esp. winter white), and ivory. Can do cream on the bottom if I like.

My colours are cranberry red, all the berries, from cranberry to fuchsia, orchid to plum, teals, and some pinks, plus a bit of blush. An occasional green.

I don't wear orange, yellow or gold, tan, beige, yellowish greens or browns, or corals or peaches. Nothing with a hint of warmth.

(But like Kate, I decorate in the opposite of my personal colours -- our home includes a lot of yellow and gold and sagey to olivey greens and warm reds as well as intense blues and a hit of orange! I love those colours and get to indulge my love in my environment!)

In summer, I tend to lighten and brighten up (with our light) -- and also intensify. So cobalt and black and true white become favourites (in the winter they are too strong for me).

In fall and winter I turn to my softer neutrals -- denim blues, bright navy, taupe. I love teal, orchid, and all the berry tones then. I also wear more grey in winter.

As others have said, I find it freeing and helpful to focus on a specific palette. It's pretty much what I like best on me and it just makes it easier to shop.

I love Vix's idea of looking for items that work specifically together -- this has been an issue for me as proportions change. Very clever strategy -- thanks, Vix!

Hi Carter. In the past, it has been accidental but not as cohesive as it is now. I was very cognizant over the last couple of years to have a "palette" of sorts. And it does change by season. I love greens, teals, blues, deep purple in the spring/summer. I use navy, olive and gray as my anchor colors. Have two black things and a little reddish pink and some white in there too. I have scarves, however, in just about every color. I kept this color scheme to my beachwear and most of my gear wear too.

In the fall/winter, I do more charcoal, black, navy, denim and a dark colored pant in plum. I do herringbone and tweed. I have one lovely raspberry wool blazer. And a pretty deep red pair of ponte pants. I tend to wear more deep red or cranberry in the winter. I don't do blues and greens so much. I also don't do prints often in the winter...oddly enough.

It has worked out sooooo well for me, you cannot imagine. Especially when I travel ( which is not often ).

Great responses!

Fathenry--glad to know that limiting colors is Angie-approved!

kkards--I think it's instinct rather than lack of imagination that drives you.

Dianthus--you have a great grasp on your colors!

Deb--I so end up with orphans when I try a color that's not so well thought out!

E--you certainly understand what looks best on you. Haven't seen an outfit yet that I thought was off in the slightest bit.

Janet--it does help with shopping doesn't it? It put the brakes on me for NAS, although it still left me plenty to buy;-)

Gigi--I love your color choices! Also love that there can never be enough lepard...I totally agree!

STW, what a beautiful closet! Clearly, you know what you're doing.

Vix, you're exactly right. I've learned the hard way that just because the colors work, it doesn't mean the outfit will!

jackiec, it seems your closet is totally under control.

Karen, I love the idea of being the color in the outfit. That's brilliant. Yes, color is quite southern:-)

Unfrumped...another who sticks with seasonal variations on a theme. I'm going to have to consider that...there must be something to it!

Suz, another one with variations on a theme for the seasonal changes. You are the queen of blue, for sure. Looking forward to seeing the cranberries on you this Fall.

Isabel, your post makes me really excited to master this. I can envision that sticking with a color scheme and maybe 2 silhouettes per season will make my life so much easier too!

Colour is ALWAYS limited in my closet - BY CHOICE! I know which colours flatter AND which make me happy. This coming fall, I thought about going pure neutral (black, white, charcoal, taupe, silver), but I just love colour too much so I'm adding in splashes of cobalt and hot pink here and there.

Suz, I love that we're opposites! I have thought how odd it is that my colors (which are also my boyfriend's, and to some extent even our brown tabby cats' colors!) clash with our home's colors, but I've decided that I like how they kinda balance out. My taste in decor and clothing is consistent, so I think that makes the different color schemes less problematic.

Carter - great question. I could never develop a small really cohesive wardrobe until I decided to limit my color palate 3 yr ago. Mine is probably the tightest colorwise - black primarily with gray (charcoal/medium cool gray), denim, and a small amount of white. Much happier and it's much easier to get dressed. Sometimes I think about adding a small amount of blue but right now happy where I am. Glad you were successful with this to!

As as aside - Sarah!! Gorgeous closet!! Can I come live in your closet?!! So pretty!!

Great post...I buy the colors relating to the season and hang them in my closet...However, when I reach for something to go out...it is the neutrals, whites, cremes, greys...I guess I have done a style/color shift and prefer these colors rather than the seasonal colors...

My only limits on colour are -
It must suit me, this applies more to tops.
I must like it- I'm not really a fan of chocolate brown so don't have anything in that colour other than that I pretty much like any other colour x

Hmmm...I am not that organized a shopper but I guess I gravitate to colors that look good on me. Since hanging here I have taken a good hard look at my closet and determined which things do not work for me or that I do not reach for, and frequently an item gets purged because its color no longer appeals to me. So I guess I am slowly working towards a limit of some colors in my closet but not in a deliberate way....interesting discussion.

Kate, that is so cool! My hubby, my daughter, and our cat are all COOL coloured folk living in a warm environment! I agree that the overall lines can make it all feel consistent, regardless. And if you love colour, it's nice to enjoy a full range.

I think another reason we like our warm colours is that we live in a wintery place (with about 5 to 6 months of winter a year) and a very grey city. Warmth is very comforting for most of the year.

ETA: also wanted to add -- Sarah, your closet is absolutely beautiful! So well organized and cohesive.

I tried to limit my colors for years, doing things like eliminating black, or trying to buy spicy colors. It never felt cohesive.
Then I was completely blown away by Emma Watson's wardrobe in the last 3 Harry Potter movies. It wasn't all one color or another, but there was a cohesiveness, and still the opportunity for a show stopper color here or there. I started using that as inspiration and an idea of the palette I was looking for. Several years later and I notice that I still have that cohesiveness to my closet. In the winter, more charcoal, dark denim and black come in. In the summer I bring more whites, creams and pastels. The underlying color scheme is always there and I almost never have a moment when two items in my closet can't be worn together. That had been my goal, to not have items that didn't mesh with the rest of my wardrobe. I even get a kick out of taking a picture of my wardrobe at the beginning of a new season because it just all looks so darned cohesive and unified.

Yes, I limit my colour palette to black, white, grey, navy/ink with accents of red, and cobalt. My colur palette remains consistent regardless of the season. I feel that this actually provides me with almost endless mixing and matching options. My decision to limit my colour palette to these colurs is very intentional but was born out of a natural love and leaning towards these colours in the first place.

I love what karmyk said:

"I have decided that I would like to be the color in my wardrobe. Therefore, I am focusing on hair and skin and makeup. That's where I putting my money too!"

Need to start a journal of all these quotes of style wisdom!

BTW Carter - you do wear color so well - it always looks classic and classy, never overdone. Whether neutral or colorful, I have yet to see you misstep here!

Should I? Probably. Do I? No, not consciously, at least. Not for the most part.

I have banished almost all brown from my closet t simplify it. As for the colors in my closet, those tend to stick to a certain spectrum because those are colors I am drawn to and that look good on me. So, you won't find warm colors in there at all for just about any season. No oranges, yellows, and only the odd red top because I love it even if it doesn't love me.

Otherwise, I have a lot of blues, greens, blacks, etc.,just in lighter or deeper tones depending on the season.

I certainly gravitate to similar colors over and over, but I don't systematically limit colors. A lot of my wardrobe is black, all kinds of deep purples/reds, cognac/bronze, teal/turquoise, charcoal or navy. But I have a bunch of random things in other colors too. Although certain colors just look so awful on me that I avoid them. (Most oranges and yellows are kind of OY on me too, and neons, sugary pastels, and very cool grays just make me look radioactive.)

I go back and forth on how limited I should be with colors. On one hand, knowing what my "main" colors are obviously helps with shopping and with having the kind of wardrobe where I can combine the same things in more different ways. On the other, I don't want to get bored and want to get myself into a rut (and actually sometimes worry that I'm already in one). What's interesting is that I feel like one of the most common comments I get on my WIWs is telling me I look great when I'm wearing something lighter or brighter, or suggesting that I tweak an outfit to add some light/bright, so maybe I should take note!

I don't change the colors I wear much with the seasons. I do maybe go a little brighter in summer because more bright colors are out there and it's easier to not just default to combining things with black when there's less skin I need to cover. Spring is the hardest for me because the most obvious colors to wear aren't ones that I'm drawn to and it's still cool enough that I'm not really differentiating from fall/winter clothes on shape or fabric.

The living/dining area in my house matches my clothes pretty well. Lots of deep reds, dark wood, and black, with walls in a toasted wheat color. The bedroom is Mediterranean blue with white accents, which I love together but don't really wear for whatever reason, and the spare bedroom is sunshine yellow. Which my husband actually picked out. I do like it, although it's not a color I could remotely wear. (See OY.)

I do tend to choose colors based on the season and weather in general. And yes, I have planned it this way. My color palette is limited - lots of blue denims, navy, ink, a little cobalt, a good amount of neutrals, black, charcoal, white, taupe, deep chocolate, flax, khaki (shorts) and then for true color I love jewel tones (I'd most prefer to add more of these but have a hard time finding them). I have a few warm toned things like russet, camel, olive, and even bright coral pink, but I wear those less and mostly in fall/winter.

I also do not have any yellow or orange and don't plan to add any as it doesn't work for me. I don't wear true bright green or pale colors either.

Carter, that’s so kind of you to say! Thank you! I only really figured out my ideal colours 3 years ago: before that, I had a much wider range in my closet. It’s so difficult to tell in fitting rooms, with those evil fluorescent lights. Well, at least in thrifting fitting rooms. The Nordstrom ones are much more gentle!

MKK. sounds like you know your sartorial self well! Great plan for Fall.

Gryffin, your wardrobe sounds beautiful!

LOL, crutcher! I do the same thing...buy the pretty color, and then it just decorates my closet.

Good for you, Louise!

AM, it's been a bit of a haphazard process for me as well. I think my 8 week Early Spring experiment was really eye-opening, but then my complete about-face for Summer was a bit perplexing. We'll see how Fall goes.

Suz, I love the home colors discussion as well! My wall colors are mostly cool neutrals...sand, light taupe, dark taupe, dark chocolate. And then there's the avocado green. I love the green, but I'm itching to take those rooms more neutral.

Love that, Traci! I didn't see the movies, so I'm going to have to do a google/pinterest search.

Deborah, your palette suits you so well that I'm not even sure I could picture you in green or orange!

Thanks, TG! And yes, Karen's pearl of wisdom is brilliant!

Thistle, I see no reason to limit colors when they're working so brilliantly for you!

Aubergine, you do look great in light and bright colors, but honestly, the deep plums and teals are extraordinary on you.

Tex, your colors work fabulously for you!

E, I'm not surprised that your home generally reflects your color choices. When you find something that works so well for you, stick with it!

I've just learned that I get distracted when women have on too much color or jewelry. When you pare down these things, you enable the focus to be on your essence: your eyes, your smile, what you say. I'm going to try that for a year and see how I feel about less color. I'm using Emmanuelle Alt as my muse. I already have all the pieces that she is most photographed in--Black pants, white pants, jeans, chambray, black belt with gold accents, black leather, structured jackets, grey, camel, denim jacket, biker jacket, black heels.

I think knowing I already HAVE the essential pieces to emulate my muse for the year, I will spend much less on clothes. Think of all the opps for free designer clothing Alt must have being the editrice of French Vogue! But you always see her in the same simple combos. SHE ends up being what you see first. The body, the face, the hair. I love that idea.

I am really scared to commit to the Alt experiment, but I think it might change my life. And my Nordstrom bill.