https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ask-angie-and-others-help-me-build-a-contrast-toolkit Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Thu, 23 Apr 2026 13:16:55 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ask-angie-and-others-help-me-build-a-contrast-toolkit#post-2248339 Mon, 17 Jan 2022 04:38:58 +0000 MsMaven 2248339@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Good topic. Contrast is something I haven’t paid much attention to until recently. I did take a color photo and turn it into black and white, confirming what I already knew, I am a medium contrast person. So I’m thinking about this topic and looking at my daily outfits and asking, how come I feel so much better in this today than the one I wore yesterday.</p> <p>I realize the importance of scarves and jewelry as ways to give a blah outfit some contrast and make it more interesting and why some outfits feel boring. I’m also looking at texture as well, which is part of the contrast issue. I tend to like very textured items as opposed to all smooth textures.&nbsp;<div><br /></div><div>I’ll be following your journey. Hope I can add some useful comments as I think more about contrast.</div> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ask-angie-and-others-help-me-build-a-contrast-toolkit#post-2248324 Mon, 17 Jan 2022 02:03:17 +0000 Jaime 2248324@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You ask the most interesting questions! I am a contrast person myself but I have never thought about it quite this way. And I love Carla's trick of looking at a photo with a b&amp;w lens!&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ask-angie-and-others-help-me-build-a-contrast-toolkit#post-2248295 Sun, 16 Jan 2022 21:43:09 +0000 Helena 2248295@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Angie, thank you so much for the list!!! Going to write it down and play with all of these through the rest of January per Sal's suggestion! I loved a good dark lippie in the 90s ... not sure now, but I've got lots of colours from a Christmas gift to play with.&nbsp;</p> <p>Thank you everyone for the input and your tips - I'll be adding these to the list as well. xx </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ask-angie-and-others-help-me-build-a-contrast-toolkit#post-2248294 Sun, 16 Jan 2022 21:42:17 +0000 rachylou 2248294@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>It occurs to me that contrast maybe requires the elimination of gradation. Like if you wore black, white and a few shades of grey - the outfit wouldn’t be one of contrast any longer. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ask-angie-and-others-help-me-build-a-contrast-toolkit#post-2248291 Sun, 16 Jan 2022 21:30:45 +0000 Angie 2248291@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Helena,</b> there are all sorts of ways to create high contrast - subtle or bold - and you've listed most of them. You can create a contrast with your hair, skin, or components in an outfit.</p> <p>No, the contrast needn't be against the skin of your face. Look at the SUM of the parts, instead of just one part.</p> <p>No need to wear brights. The saturation of a colour will create enough of a contrast!</p> <p>White tops will contrast with your still quite dark hair and a deeper shade of lipstick.&nbsp;</p> <p>I'll add: </p> <ul> <li>white bottoms and dark top</li> <li>dark nail polish</li> <li>not sure you're a very dark lipstick gal??? Very '90s!&nbsp;</li> <li>dark outfit with light bag and shoes</li> <li>dark and light layering on top</li> <li>high contrast pattern worn with solids</li> </ul> <p>Add sparkly necklaces for contrast too. Like wearing a silver necklace over a dark top.&nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ask-angie-and-others-help-me-build-a-contrast-toolkit#post-2248277 Sun, 16 Jan 2022 20:23:55 +0000 Anonymous 2248277@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>With jeans and a white top look for cheap cotton bandannas to use as scarves. &nbsp;I like to roll mine tightly on the diagonal and tie a small double knot in back. &nbsp;If you want to shorten it, tie a big center square knot and you can add more at the sides. &nbsp;I like a black with white print bandana or yellow with black and white in the print. &nbsp;You can also tie them around your neck fifties style or wear as a hair band. &nbsp;<div>&nbsp; &nbsp;There are many shades of white. &nbsp;Find your best one. &nbsp;Same with black and other dark neutrals.&nbsp;</div> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ask-angie-and-others-help-me-build-a-contrast-toolkit#post-2248273 Sun, 16 Jan 2022 19:11:39 +0000 Sal 2248273@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think red and burgundy would both contrast with your skin to form a high contrast outfit. I think in terms of where the contrast is a few things come into play including Proportions and shapes. A black turtle neck might be better then a white one- but both black and white may work in a camisole for example.</p> <p>I think a bright lipstick can help as well. </p> <p>I am moving away from high contrast as it is suiting me less - I used to wear a lot of black and white together and I do personally love the look. My glasses help in winter - they can make me look less washed out. </p> <p>I think it sound be fun to experiment with pieces you own, take some pics, wear different contrast options and see how you feel about it. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ask-angie-and-others-help-me-build-a-contrast-toolkit#post-2248268 Sun, 16 Jan 2022 18:07:42 +0000 slim cat 2248268@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I often wear cardigan with tee shirt - like light grey tee+navy printed cardigan and either dark jeans or medium blue jeans ( some contrast ). Or grey cardigan with navy tee and dark jeans/pants. <br />When I'm at work - stronger contrast feels right ( lots of black and white, black and pale blue, etc. ).<br />My usual trick is colorful earrings - turquoise, mother of pearl, yellow, or shiny silver. I use the choker with black leather strap to add more contrast with neutral tops.&nbsp;<br />Colorful eyeliner versus typical black that too harsh on me.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ask-angie-and-others-help-me-build-a-contrast-toolkit#post-2248266 Sun, 16 Jan 2022 17:52:11 +0000 Helena 2248266@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Carla, that's a great question, and I am definitely talking about value contrast, as well as curious about colour contrast, to the extent that it might 'stand in' for value contrast in some instances ...?</p> <p>Cool idea about the b&amp;w selfie! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ask-angie-and-others-help-me-build-a-contrast-toolkit#post-2248263 Sun, 16 Jan 2022 17:35:38 +0000 Carla 2248263@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Interesting question. &nbsp;I assume you are asking about light/dark contrast and not other types of contrast like smooth/raised (texture) or soft/sharp (like tailoring), or colour contrast (like red/green or orange/blue)?</p> <p> <div><br /></div><div>I have a red filter from my quilting days that I sometimes use when creating a colourful outfit. &nbsp;It is a revelation that some colours that seem saturated with colour don’t read as dark and vice versa. &nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.nationalquilterscircle.com/article/seeing-red-with-sew-red-glasses/">https://www.nationalquiltersci.....d-glasses/</a>&nbsp;(of course the red filter wouldn’t work with a red sweater!) </p> <p>You can also take a selfie and convert it over to black and white.</p> <p> </div> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ask-angie-and-others-help-me-build-a-contrast-toolkit#post-2248260 Sun, 16 Jan 2022 17:27:25 +0000 Star (Lise) 2248260@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Although the scarf would not have to be colourful, a black scarf against a white T will also provide contrast.&nbsp; Interesting ETA question!&nbsp; I think both. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ask-angie-and-others-help-me-build-a-contrast-toolkit#post-2248259 Sun, 16 Jan 2022 17:13:22 +0000 Helena 2248259@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Super super helpful Star; thank you so much! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ask-angie-and-others-help-me-build-a-contrast-toolkit#post-2248258 Sun, 16 Jan 2022 17:11:11 +0000 Star (Lise) 2248258@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Well definitely not as knowledgeable as Angie but I have preferred constrasts my entire life.&nbsp; So here goes what I can comment on FWIW:</p> <p>I don't think a colour needs to be saturated to provide contrast.&nbsp; Your example of burgundy would definitely do it.<br />I think a dark neutral top will be more contrast-y.&nbsp;<br />A colourful lipstick definitely helps with contrast.<br />Jeans &amp; a white T-shirt will need a colourful scarf to supply the contrast. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ask-angie-and-others-help-me-build-a-contrast-toolkit#post-2248248 Sun, 16 Jan 2022 16:32:13 +0000 Helena 2248248@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hi Angie and others as I know there are plenty of color and contrast experts on here!</p> <p>One theme I'm working with this year is contrast.</p> <p>The slam-dunkiest type of contrast for me is a dark and a light (e.g. black/ink and white) paired, either in the outfit, or even easier, in a print such as a stripe. As long as the pattern is not too bold, it tends to work well on me and make me happy. </p> <p>But I won't feel like wearing this every day and many days I'm not wearing an 'outfit' so much as just a simple top and joggers, and I'm wondering about other ways contrast works that might apply to some different circumstances (I've tried with Imogen's articles but somehow I can never place myself and get confused). A few examples, and I'd love you to let me know if I'm on the right track or way off, or if I'm missing anything - thank you! <ul> <li>If I'm wearing a solid colour such as a plain sweater - I presume a saturated colour would be better from a contrast perspective? Does it matter much whether it's bright, or is it just depth that makes it contrasting? E.g. would true red be contrasting vs. deep burgundy, let's say?</li> <li>If I'm wearing a solid neutral - a dark neutral would work better because it would contrast with my skin tone and now my hair? A light neutral used to contrast with my dark hair, but now that I've lightened it around my face, I guess this doesn't really work from a contrast standpoint? (mind you there's still a good bit of depth in the base colour)</li> <li>In the light neutral example, would e.g. a brighter or deeper lipstick add at least a bit of contrast or not really enough to matter?</li> <li>And again with the light neutral example - let's say a white tshirt and dark wash jeans, this is contrasting, but since there is no contrast near my face in this example - does that actually do anything? (again, esp now that my hair doesn't bookend the dark quite as effectively).</li> </ul> Anyways, feel free to take this in any direction; a bit of a brain dump; thanks so much!<br /> ETA - at the most basic level - when we talk about wearing contrast, is it within the outfit, or the outfit against the wearer ... If that makes sense? Tx.</p> <p>(finds just showing some of the pieces I've got in mind - slamdunk contrast print; brighter vs. deeper colour; light and dark neutral) </p>