Update: limiting colors - YouLookFab Forum

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Update: limiting colors

ironkurtin

Veteran

A while back I posted about strictly limiting my palette: black, white, gray, navy (includes denim), with very minor hints of other colors. And a little bit of metallic silver.

So far this has been great, to the point where even if I order an amazing item - recently I ordered a beautiful cashmere cardigan in a vibrant blue - if it's not the right color, it goes back. I know I just won't wear it. The idea of layering a color under my black and gray and navy sounds pretty in the abstract, but feels too calculated to me in practice. (Besides, where I live now, it's mostly too warm to layer.)

Very happy with my wardrobe. I do not miss other colors at ALL. This is probably due to the inherent texture of the knits I wear, to be honest. Someone else might feel drab but I love it.

Dressing

42 replies

Latest reply was from gryffin

Debbie

Veteran

I think for you this works great. I love this look on you!

Gaylene

Veteran

Sounds like my favorite palette. I sometimes think I ought to buy a color, but usually end up regretting the impulse because said item spends a lot of time in the closet.

Susie

Veteran

Very interesting...and it sounds like it is working well for you.

Sometimes I think I could do that. Very often, if I see something I like and it comes in black and other colors, I almost always gravitate to the black. I am currently away, visiting my in laws, and everything I wore and packed to wear is black, denim, white or gray, with the exception of 1 burgundy tee for layering and a burgundy bag. I do know I would like to further limit the number of colors I have in my closet.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

That's great! Glad the experiment is working. I love those neutrals and find them sophisticated in combination.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

That sounds so sophisticated!!

I know a lovely lady (aside from you) who wears only those colours! And she looks delicious all the time!

rachylou

Veteran

It's a universal palette. Nice!

anne

Veteran

Very interesting! I think this palette can make for a very sophisticated look.

E

Veteran

I love mixing textures, and your clothing is always the most delicious fabrics, so I can see why that works for you. I limit my palette semi-strictly (only muted, cool colours allowed, but anything that falls in that category is fair game...although navy blue and grey dominate) and it makes getting dressed so easy, because pretty much everything coordinates. So awesome that your decision worked out for the best!

Joy

Veteran

How great that you have found a plan that works for you. Knowing what you like is so important when making shopping decisions. I have found Angie's are you team A or team B helpful in distilling preferences but still have a long way to go.

peacechick

Veteran

Have thought of limiting my colors... Not to neutrals because I love colors but to a set that works well together. Having too many colors means too much work trying to match them up...

qfbrenda

Veteran

That sounds like a great system to me. Those are my favorite neutrals and I've considered doing the exact same thing.

rae

(website)

Veteran

I feel the same. Had to sit out today's Picture Perfect challenge in part because the inspiration pic was too busy, but mostly because I've nixed most of the colors used.

On the down side, when MY colors do come in style (like citron!) I have a hard time not buying up everything, thinking the color will never come back again.

ManidipaM

Veteran

Interesting and I found I never notice your palette restrictions evwn knowing about it. Which means you look that awesome too!

For myself, I still crave some colourful prints but am finding I don't much enjoy flat vivid colours in winter at least. Wonder why... maybe because the need to layer leads to too many colours and textures or just boundary lines where fabrics meet...

Sharon

Veteran

This is really interesting to hear, as I have been toying with limiting my colour palette but worry about missing out on all the fun new colours. However, I realised this week that I actually feel more comfortable in neutrals and muted tones, so it's really good to hear such positive feed-back from someone who has exercised more self-disipline than me!
Did you just pick favourite colours or choose colours based on what you already had in your wardrobe?

Alexandra

(website)

Veteran

I can see why the limited color palette works for you. Your color choices are sophisticated and neutral, and you work with various textures. A limited color palette makes life much easier. At least, it does mine.

Deborah

Veteran

Dana, I relate strongly to this thinking. In my recent purge, I have moved on patterned garments, keeping only animal print and stripes (I don't have much in the way of stripes) and also moved on most coloured items, though I really don't have many. My wardrobe is mostly grey, black and white. Blues are starting to figure in there as well and I am loving them as part of my colour palette. In terms of colour I do have a deep coral/orange top, a bright cobalt blue top and a green top for those rare days when I do crave colour... Each of these colours work well within my colour palette. The interesting thing is when I came to YLF I wore only black. Over time I have explored colour, incorporated some into my wardrobe and then purged it. But introducing the white, grey and blue has been revolutionary and I feel I have really got in touch with what works best for me:)

Anonymous

Ironkurtin: Do what works for you! You need to feel good about the way you look.

I find that limiting my colors keeps me looking my best (I know what flatters me and what doesn't) and keeps me from overspending. Same goes with patterns. I love, love, love color so it's never easy; but I'm happier with my wardrobe now than I've ever been in my entire life. I enjoy everything I wear. In the end, that's what it's all about.

gryffin

Veteran

IK - you are preaching to the choior on this one. I did this 3 yrs ago. I only own items that are black, gray, white, silver and denim in blue/black/gray. Scarves are usually in this palate but I have a couple at include an additional accent color. Footwear is black or gray. So much easier and my wardrobe is so much more functional. I do not feel limited. I feel empowered and authentic. Sometimes I do have to resist the lure of an item in a color but in my heart I know it will make me less happy. Hope this works out for you, it's been a really good decision for me!!

amiable

Veteran

You inspired me to limit my color palette as well, and so far yesterday was my first departure from the reds, blues and black/gray/white with only plaids and stripes for patterns that I'd chosen. (Yesterday I wore a hectic paisley with my reds and blues for the Santana challenge, and I did really like it).

Like you said, having the narrower field is really nice. I wonder if I'll like it all winter long, since that's the season where I crave the most variety.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Hey, if it works, I say keep doing it! I think it sounds like a marvelous plan for keeping things simple and true to your style.

I enjoy color, but I will find that for days on end at a stretch I will wear neutral outfits in greys, blacks, white, and denim. Although I'll often add something like turquoise boots or a scarf that pulls in a color. I enjoy that kind of dressing, whereas head-to-toe color often makes me feel too conspicuous. I find it fascinating how each of us has such different approaches to and tolerances for color in our style.

Sara L.

Veteran

Great to hear that you've found a system that works for you. I like the idea of limiting my colors in theory but have found it very difficult to do in practice.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

You have adopted Greg's happy colour palette.

ironkurtin

Veteran

Added a bonus shot of some of my closet, plus a really blurry shot of me taken in low light because it is dim and gray today. Today I am breaking my own rule and wearing deep forest green AG stilts, because they are so velvety soft and comfortable. But they are so very dark deep green they play well with the grays IMO.

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Jenava

(website)

Veteran

I do this as well, although not so narrowly as you. I have a couple of color "capsules" that I fit things into. For example, I will wear red with black or as a pop of color where I otherwise have no color in the outfit. The only red I own is two pair of red booties. I have a list of colors that are "in", and I tread carefully with other colors because they'll be orphaned.

Alassë

Veteran

Thanks for the update, Ironkurtin! I'm glad your limited palette is working so splendidly for you.

catgirl

Veteran

This is my recent practice as well - black, grey, navy, metallic and some colors I love like citron, emerald and deep maroon, along with metallic. It is freeing the way classical poetry is - the structured format forcing you to be creative within a disciplined aesthetic, if that makes sense.

Anonymous

I'm not surprised this is working for you and I'm happy for you. From your WIW post before you started it looked as if you leaned this way already. I wouldn't mind the simplicity of dressing but being firmly on team color and pattern I would be bored fairly quickly.

Lisa

Veteran

It looks like you have a lovely neutral based wardrobe. I find when one limits colors, shopping is a LOT easier.

thinkingfish

I've done the complete opposite. I love colors and combining/changing them make me so happy. So what I do is I limit the cut/material/pattern and focus on solid colors. I don't look good in most prints anyway- I have relatively bold features and a small frame.

My only pants/jeans are straight leg or skinnies. I only wear above-knee A-line skirts (from almost straight to almost swingy) in stretchy, substantial fabrics, I'm very strict about the length of my sweaters/cardigan/coats- hitting either high hip or upper thigh. And the list goes on for all types of garments. This way, I can focus on mix and matching colors and stick to the very basic designs, which I prefer anyway.

But this idea of having some limitation on constructing a wardrobe is very interesting and helpful. I totally agree with the concept of it.

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