The impeccable Tom Ford, on color - YouLookFab Forum

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The impeccable Tom Ford, on color

April

Veteran

Tom Ford was recently interviewed on Fresh Air (here's the interview: http://www.npr.org/templates/s.....=121405891) and I found what he said about color to be very interesting and reassuring. Sometimes not being drawn to bold color in my own wardrobe can feel like a personal failing, so this quotation was comforting to me:

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I don't wear a lot of color. In fact, I don't actually like color on myself. I love color but it's very challenging, it's very powerful, it can overpower you. I think if my eyes were closed and someone put a red jacket on me, I would be able to feel that it was red. I don't feel great in color.
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15 replies

Latest reply was from RoseandJoan

April

Veteran

Sorry, I messed up the link with my parentheses: http://www.npr.org/templates/s.....=121405891

Kristine

Veteran

Thanks April, I enjoyed that!

In decorating people often use the term "afraid of color" and I always hated that! Just because you prefer neutrals or a careful use of color, it doesn't mean you're afraid of it. When we first bought our house I would pick out the brightest paint chip and it was always overpowering once it got up on the wall. Eventually I realized that more muted tones were more soothing to the eye. After every color in the rainbow, we now have most of the walls painted creamy white and I love the simplicity.

I made this revelation in my wardrobe only recently. I do like some color, but I try to keep it soft and build around neutrals. It's flattering, classic and easy to mix up.

Maya

Veteran

Hmm, I think neutrals can be overwhelming and powerful too, just in a different way. I don't think you need to be drawn to "bold color" though. Actually, I can see you being one of those people who wears muted tones very well, and there are certainly a lot of muted reds to choose from.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Honestly, I think that people who are afraid to wear colors have low self esteem and don't want to draw attention to themselves.

Ele

(website)

Kristine, I couldn't agree more! "Afraid of colour" is one of my least favourite phrases, whether it's used for interiors, fashion, or whatever. It's a well-documented fact on YLF that I shy away from bright, saturated colours and prefer muted shades, earth tones and LOTS of black. It's not like I'm scared of colour, and I can appreciate it in my home, art, accessories, etc. I just look and feel my best in other shades. It sometimes seems like these tones have less fashion "street cred", though.

Khris, I've got to very, very respectfully disagree with you on this one. It's all in how what you're wearing makes you feel, after all. Just like Angie can feel 100% alluring in a turtleneck (I think she's said that before?), I can feel like the most beautiful woman in the room in an all black outfit.

greenglove

(website)

Veteran

Oh boy this is a topic! April, I have not listened to the Tom Ford clip but plan to when I have a bit more time, however you are so right about feeling color. Neutrals are far from boring and honestly often take much more sophistication to understand and wear well. I learned from having silk velvet dyed for my wedding dress that neutrals are much harder to mix and get right on fabric. Many very high end prints and fabrics are based on nuanced neutrals. Colors that require no mixing are easier to manufacture. Certain bold colors are also harder to mix and get right as opposed to others. Think of the difference between a robins egg blue and a blue you would see on a sweatshirt at a cheap store.
Ele, I am with you and Khris I also very respectfully disagree strongly with your take on why people shy away from color. I think the opposite can be true- Not being talked into what others consider fun color is a courageous and self- assured way to dress, decorate, paint or whatever. Some people hide behind an outward appearance of edginess, standout color or very trendy outfits to cover up a very insecure psyche.
I am sure others hide behind bland, lifeless clothes (not well considered neutrals) for reasons of poor self image. Insecurity in fashion can go either way and I do not believe has anything to do with color choices.
This forum is an example of women trying to develop their own personal styles and that does indeed take courage.
April, I think Angie would never advise someone to wear any color that does not feel right. I think we all benefit from trying colors that we may not have considered and getting feedback but ultimately we need to feel right in our choices and wear them without apology.

Maya

Veteran

I get kind of peeved any time there is an association drawn between "fear" and a personal preference. Just because I prefer not to wear something doesn't mean I'm "afraid" of it. Everyone has to set SOME parameters on what we wear, otherwise how the heck would we even make it through a trip to the mall, trying on everything and anything in sight? While it's great to keep an open mind and be flexible, you need to start with SOME kind of structure, otherwise where would you even begin? When I make statements like "I don't wear brown," I simply mean that I don't wear brown NOW, but I'm not closed to it. If the right brown piece comes along, I won't be opposed to it. It just hasn't happened yet.

While I have picked up the phrase "belt phobia," I don't actually feel that is a fair statement. My concerns are real and based on lots of experience trying on belts, not rooted in some irrational fear. Again, I think I have proven that I'm not stubborn and closed to the idea of belts, but I have also proven that it is NOT easy for me and my frustration is justified.

Having seen April in person, I can totally see why she doesn't prefer bright colors and feels overwhelmed by them. April, I think you actually have a better intuition regarding color than you might think. I still don't think you need to stick to neutrals, just more muted colors. Saturated color would still look great on you, but it has to be the right kind. Cool and/or dark shades are best for you, I think. My color palette would not really work at all on you, neither would Angie's sour colors.

April

Veteran

Lots of thinking on this topic! Thank you all for sharing your views.

I would like to agree with the distinction being made between *fear* of color (which may well have to do with your point, Khris, of wanting to avoid attention by not being noticed) and not being drawn to bold color (which may have to do with understanding that wearing it doesn't suit you).

I don't dress exclusively in neutrals, but I feel fine when I do. That might be because my coloring is already "colorful": light green eyes, dark brown hair with an auburn tint, fair skin. I also know that no matter how visually drawn I may be to certain bright colors, clothing in those colors is likely to sit in my closet, unworn.

So for me, it was refreshing to hear Tom Ford say he loves color but doesn't feel great wearing it. Vive la difference!

Maya

Veteran

Indeed! Sometimes I get bored with the fact that EVERYONE wears bright, bold jewel tones (even if it doesn't suit them), and I feel like such a follower for doing the same, but they just genuinely work best with my olive coloring and my style.

I still find Jean's color palette very rich and beautiful even though those colors are not my preference. I think there are more people look good in muted colors than people who BELIEVE they look good in muted colors, but since rich jewel tones and brights have been in for so long, they have themselves convinced that those colors are best.

April, I think you should seek inspiration from Tanya. She looks great in pale, muted, cool colors.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I am going to take a quick short cut before I respond. By "colour" do we mean any non-neutral shade whether it's muted, pastel or bright, or a bright colour.

psssst Ele: Almost right! I feel 100% alluring in a black turtle neck. Almost as alluring as in a black sheath dress.

April

Veteran

Angie, I was thinking of brighter, bolder shades.

taylor

Veteran

Hmmm, I ALWAYS dress in neutrals. I don't even own brights unless they are bright neutrals. So I totally get what he was saying. I don't feel* comfortable * in bright clothes unless in an accessory. However I love and admire them on others.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

So the debate is about BRIGHT colours? Wow. I didn’t think this would ever be a point of concern! Here’s my 2 cents:

o It’s so fine to prefer bright colours!
o It’s so fine to prefer muted shades of colour!
o It’s so fine to prefer pastels!
o It’s so fine to prefer neutral colours!

There are no “style failures” with respect to colour. As long as you wear the palettes stylishly and they’re flattering against your skin tone, you can sport one or all of the above. Whatever tickles your fancy.

My concern is with those who wear harsh or insipid neutral tones in unflattering ways – like beige or black from head to toe. This can be done, but first of all, you have to look good in the colour, and second of all, you need to give a neutrally toned outfit visual depth. People often use black and beige as flop proof wardrobe choices when they are actually hard colours to wear.

More food for thought:

o Khris loves colours and looks great in them – better than when Khris wears neutrals.
o Ele and Taylor love black and happen to look really good in black too.
o Maya prefers saturated colours and looks great in them.
o Jean prefers muted earth tones and rocks them.

I get bored and like to sport A LOT of black and white/cream, or brights with a neutral . I say it’s a 50/50 split. To Ele’s point, these combinations make me feel good also because I know they are flattering.

agrace

Such an interesting topic. As Julie/ RoseandJoan once mentioned in a comment, I'm a cream/ navy/ grey/ beige/ taupe girl at heart. I'm just drawn to more neutral colors - in my choice of wall color, carpet, clothing, even car color. I do wear some jewel/ saturated tones but they are almost always of the cooler color family. I shy away from bright or sour colors but admire them endlessly on others. I can identify with what Tom Ford said about the red coat in particular - for some reason I am really averse to red. Not to say I won't use it as an accessory or be open minded to it but for some reason that color in particular really doesn't 'feel good' to me. I feel very calm, peaceful and at home in neutrals. I also happen to love the beach and the colors on the beach just after sunset - the muted, soft colors. So I guess I am just drawn to that type of coloring...interesting food for thought! sorry to write a novel

RoseandJoan

Veteran

I have noticed more and more that wearing colour very much depends on my mood, like Agrace mentioned I have a lot of neutrals in my wardrobe, they are it's back bone. Some days I will wear a whole neutral outfit and feel killer whilst on other days I desire colour.

I have to think harder about colours and colour combinations and as a MOTG sometimes it's just easier to stick with the tried and tested.

I am forming new habits, I'm loving pop of colour accessories, my coral jacket and coloured scarves but I fell most me in neutrals.

I also believe light to be an important factor, colours which look vibrant and saturated in the white light of the mediterranean look more dull and muted when brought home to the grey light of the UK.