https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/color-your-stylethe-color-of-style-by-david-zyla Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Thu, 09 Apr 2026 21:50:00 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/color-your-stylethe-color-of-style-by-david-zyla#post-1131841 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 21:00:09 +0000 Wendy45 1131841@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I had a color analysis done a couple of years ago. And like Deb, I also had most colours already hanging in my closet. No surprises there. A little disappointing really. A consultation of an hour cosy me € 100,00, and it didn't give me a better insight.<br /> I got a colorcard with all subdued colors, I didn't really like( but already owned). After a few weeks I realized I had the right colors in clothing, but what I really wanted was advice how to bring them to live. Since then I bought some brighter colors, mostly handbags and necklaces. Just a little brighter than the colors on my card.<br /> By the way..after the consultation I learned there were more than 4 pallettes. So I personallly analysed myself as a soft summer instead of a summer. I used Pinterest to compare myself to photo's of other women. </p> <p>The consultation helped to see I wasn't doing too bad...I just needed to refine it.</p> <p>So maybe you should try to experiment with different shades of colours, bright, light, subdued, warm, cool, dark and see what you feel most comfortable in.<br /> And perhaps take a look at all the Pinterest board and see what colour pallette you like best, and to which pallette you match best.<br /> Good luck! It is fun to do! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/color-your-stylethe-color-of-style-by-david-zyla#post-1124571 Mon, 30 Dec 2013 13:56:18 +0000 amiable 1124571@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I read the book a few years ago, but never bought it. &nbsp;I remember finding a gray wall to look at, then taking pictures of my eyes over and over to try to figure out what colors were in them.</p> <p>In the end, I think the concept of the colors is pretty good, but also maybe too limiting. &nbsp;For example, you mentioned the veins - I have lots of colors of blue and purple in my veins, and I look good in all of those colors - why should I even try to figure out which one is the most prominent? &nbsp;(This may be my love of options talking....). &nbsp;(Same with the shades of red in my blush or my lips - why not consider them all wonderful colors for me - because they are...)</p> <p>There's also some colors that I love that are no where in my coloring - green, for example. &nbsp;My eyes are brown, brown, brown. - the lightest color in them might be considered a golden caramel brown, and the darkest a deep chocolate color. &nbsp;And at the moment, I don't really wear brown (someday I will again, I'm just finding it a difficult color right now).</p> <p>I guess this novel is all to say that yes, I think there's some valuable info in the book, but, as with just about everything, you have to pick and choose what works for you and be discerning. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/color-your-stylethe-color-of-style-by-david-zyla#post-1124514 Mon, 30 Dec 2013 09:49:53 +0000 Anonymous 1124514@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Chiming in again to say that after looking at a lot of my décor, I realise that I have in fact chosen many shades that I would actually wear with one exception where I have some yellow in the hall. I never wear yellow, but of course DH loves yellow t shirts in the summer, so I blame him!</p> <p>I was thinking..how about going through your clothes and compare each piece really subjectively against your complexion with no make-up on and make notes about how the colours seem and how you feel about them? Also look at your reflection in a mirror just in underwear&nbsp;and make notes about body shape and how you feel about line and cut. Maybe this would help with weeding out for purging.</p> <p>(Oh, ps.. does your old&nbsp;e-mail address still work?)</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/color-your-stylethe-color-of-style-by-david-zyla#post-1124513 Mon, 30 Dec 2013 08:51:27 +0000 Gigi 1124513@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I haven't read this book, but I agree what some of the other posters have been saying about there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Your personal style is really a journey. I started on that journey with basically two pieces--what I thought my season was based on my coloring (I just figured this out from looking at online sites--I think I am pretty much a textbook Deep Autumn) and what kinds of cuts fit me best (tailored pieces). But I discovered that after wearing these colors and cuts for a while, I started getting bored. And it's because certain cuts of clothing and certain colors have their own built-in associations. For instance, pink has a very feminine vibe to it, and I am drawn to it for that reason. But I look terrible in pink when my natural coloring is considered.&nbsp;Similarly, black has a very "harder-edge" vibe by its very nature, which I like, but I have to be careful with how I wear it so that I don't look washed out. Angie is a great example here. She knows what colors look best on her, but she doesn't write anything off that she is drawn to (like black turtlenecks). She instead finds ways to incorporate the color into her outfit so that she still looks great.</p> <p>Even colors that seem to be very similar to each other&nbsp;can have different effects. After discovering I was a Deep Autumn, I started switching out my optical whites for cream off-whites. Again, I got bored after a while. Well, I think it's because I have very high-contrast coloring, and while cream and a dark color is high contrast, optical white and a dark color is even higher contrast. And I miss my optical white shirts. So I am starting to add that color back into my closet.</p> <p>I do think that knowing your natural coloring is important, but it's only one piece of the whole picture. I think it's especially helpful for pinpointing new colors that you might want to try. For instance, if I decide that I want to add some green to my wardrobe (I currently have none), I would probably start with hunter green or olive green because those are the shades of green that look best with my natural coloring.&nbsp;</p> <p>So unfortunately, there are really no easy answers as to how to look your best and how to feel great in your own body. I really think it is a slow process that involves learning about yourself.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/color-your-stylethe-color-of-style-by-david-zyla#post-1124222 Sun, 29 Dec 2013 22:55:53 +0000 spoff 1124222@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This idea has been around for awhile although I'm sure it has evolved since I gave it a try. 20+ years ago I went and had " my colors done" as it was called then. I was told that I had cool skin tones and should only wear- off white, peach, mint green yellow and a host of other colors that I was never drawn to. I tried to follow the rules and stick to "my colors". I guess in the end my heart wasn't in it as I found I was often feeling uncomfortable and even drab in this new pallet that had been chosen for me. I eventually went back to the crisp whites, reds and other colors that made me smile when I wore them. So on the one hand if this formula is something you have fun with and truly enjoy I say go for it, otherwise just trust your instinct and chose the colours that make you happy. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/color-your-stylethe-color-of-style-by-david-zyla#post-1124197 Sun, 29 Dec 2013 21:32:27 +0000 Alassë 1124197@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I read the book, and I agree that while fascinating I couldn't always make headway. 3 neutrals correlated with formality levels? Intriguing, but what if I can't differentiate the semi-formal and formal colors in my eye/hair? </p> <p>I spent an hour at Lowe's looking at paint chips vs. veins/pinched fingertip colors. That showed me that my "blush" is warm/salmon toned, even though it looks pink on me. But I can't say I agreed with his vein analysis (blue-green veins here), unless I haven't found the right "power color" of teal yet. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/color-your-stylethe-color-of-style-by-david-zyla#post-1124146 Sun, 29 Dec 2013 20:27:49 +0000 Anonymous 1124146@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>&nbsp;Hi Sarah, I hope you're managing to settle in to your new flat ok, I'm guessing it can't have been at all easy. It's good to hear you're trying to find a positive way of handling your wardrobe to make a more limited range of clothes work for you.</p> <p>&nbsp;I'm not familiar with David Zyla, so I've not read the book, but I popped onto the website and it does look very interesting. I actually had my 'colours' done by a Colour Me Beautiful consultant about 6 years ago and&nbsp;it was decided that I was a soft Autumn. I did like an awful lot of the colours in the SA range and they really do seem to suit me, so by and large I have worn a lot of those shades... but then I also agree with Angies ideas of how to wear other shades not from your range and to make them work. I've actually been adding touches of black to my wardrobe lately for instance. So, I really don't think things can be&nbsp; so absolutely cut and dried with relation to what colours to wear&nbsp;and the different&nbsp;systems mentioned here&nbsp;are probably best thought of as&nbsp;start point, but by no means the be-all and end-all. The idea of looking at eye colours and all the shades in your skin is a very valid one though and I remember when having my colours done the consultant used special lighting which made for few shadows and no yellow glows. I also had no make-up on what so ever. When the colours were draped they were all being compared in the same light. I found it fascinating. </p> <p>I noticed one of the snippets of info I gleaned from the David Zyla site was that by pinching a finger tip you can see what your tone of red would be. I bought some red coat material the other day and so I tried it and there does appear to be a good match of finger tip to fabric! I am rather fascinated by these sort of topics so could I be tempted to try the book. I like the sound of the Triumph Of Individual Style too. This is a good website too, btw : &nbsp;<a href="http://12blueprints.com/" rel="nofollow">http://12blueprints.com/</a>&nbsp;Lots of good info and colour ideas if you're interested. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/color-your-stylethe-color-of-style-by-david-zyla#post-1124122 Sun, 29 Dec 2013 19:47:27 +0000 Suz 1124122@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Vildy, I don't think I've nailed it yet -- I'm still in the process of refining this. And I also suspect that as we age and evolve, so might our "type" &nbsp;-- so it's never absolute in any case.&nbsp;</p> <p>I do think I've identified why I'm drawn to some kinds of design and colours, and not others. The outfit photos really, really help with making things clear over time. I can see a huge change in myself over the YLF years. Without taking regular photos I'd never have achieved this.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/color-your-stylethe-color-of-style-by-david-zyla#post-1124070 Sun, 29 Dec 2013 17:23:15 +0000 Helena 1124070@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am totally on board with Suz's approach and have also had to combine Zyla, seasonal color (shaded summer)&nbsp;and my DYT type (4)&nbsp;to work out a color and line combo that seems to work for me. I don't think there is a one size fits all approach as each individual's coloring is so unique!</p> <p>I really liked Zyla's approach, but the archetypes were no help to me, I must admit.</p> <p>Good luck, and great topic -&nbsp;love reading everyone's color stories! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/color-your-stylethe-color-of-style-by-david-zyla#post-1124022 Sun, 29 Dec 2013 15:02:55 +0000 Janet 1124022@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've not read any of the books mentioned, but all of them sound interesting, if perhaps potentially confusing. </p> <p>I think most of us have a pretty good instinct of what works on us, but that may be my bias as a visual artist. I have never really cared for yellow on me, and I'm pretty sure I'm correct in that it's not a flattering color on me and perhaps doesn't even suit my personality all that well. Pastels fall in that category -- too washed out for my coloring, and too muted for my personality unless they are in a print combined with a stronger darker color. </p> <p>Vildy's comments about the colors that artists are drawn to intrigues me. I have heard that before, and I think there is something to that. It also extends to home decor. Although we have a big orange leather sectional in our living room, and orange isn't my best color. However, the teal-blue accects in the same room are. </p> <p>Blue, teal, and green dominate much of my photography work, with a hefty dose of rust/orange/brown. Perhaps I should be exploring those orangey tones as accents in my wardrobe (like cognac boots). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/color-your-stylethe-color-of-style-by-david-zyla#post-1124018 Sun, 29 Dec 2013 14:51:34 +0000 Vildy 1124018@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Envious of you, Suz, in being able to figure out where you fall in all these systems! I've known about them and studied them for years and cannot. <br />Imogen Lamport is one who does color analysis and also mentions that your personality is an important factor in the strength of what you can wear. Lisa Pippus suggests collecting up some landscape photos that really appeal to you and you are likely to find that you can wear those colors. I think that concept is how all this started - with the art instructor noticing that students were drawn to a paint palette that they would also look good in. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/color-your-stylethe-color-of-style-by-david-zyla#post-1124010 Sun, 29 Dec 2013 14:13:41 +0000 Suz 1124010@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think the nugget of truth in all these systems is something like the following:&nbsp;</p> <p>1. &nbsp;Everyone looks objectively better in some colours and worse in others -- the trick is figuring out which ones, and either embracing those wholeheartedly while foregoing the less flattering colours,&nbsp;<b>OR</b>&nbsp;finding ways to make the less flattering ones work for you by following some of Angie's suggestions for combining colours and ways to wear less flattering colours.&nbsp;</p> <p>2. &nbsp;Different body types tend to look better or worse in different silhouettes and are flattered by different kinds of detailing on clothing.&nbsp;(David Kibbe is good on this if you can make sense of him.) Some bodies look best in elaborately detailed pieces; others look best in very simple, clean lines, straight edged. Some look great in draping, others not. Add this idea to the more common suggestions about figure flattery.&nbsp;</p> <p>Line and movement are also key -- here Kibbe and Dressing Your Truth have good insights.&nbsp;</p> <p>The book that seems to integrate most of this is <i><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.bodybeautiful.net/product_details.php?prod=764.17910447761">The Triumph of Individual Style,</a></i> which Alexandra and Vildy and some other members have talked about in earlier threads. I haven't read it yet but I do have a copy now to look at and am looking forward to it.&nbsp;</p> <p>I think what often gets left aside in these discussions is the way that&nbsp;personality and other body characteristics&nbsp;can&nbsp;play a role in <b>modifying</b> the colours and lines&nbsp;that objectively look best on one. </p> <p>For instance, according to most colour systems I fall into the "summer" category. Maybe it's true summer, maybe it's soft summer, maybe it's some other name, but whatever you choose to call it, for the most part,&nbsp;I look best in cool colours, and most would say I should aim for low contrast mid-toned outfits&nbsp;to harmonize with my "natural" beauty. (Har har.)&nbsp;</p> <p>Well...this is true. To a point. I <b>do</b> look best in mid-toned to slightly deep cool colours.&nbsp;</p> <p>But guess what? I'm also a "type 3" in Carol Tuttle's "Dressing Your Truth" system, meaning I have a lot of dynamism and strong yang type energy in my physical being. In Kibbe's categories, I am a Dramatic Classic. So I can successfully wear higher contrast than a simple colour analysis on its own would indicate.&nbsp;</p> <p>How about posting some photos to help get a sense of your colouring and what looks best on you? It's by no means perfect (the light can interfere with our judgement) but often times it's pretty straightforward.&nbsp;</p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/color-your-stylethe-color-of-style-by-david-zyla#post-1123992 Sun, 29 Dec 2013 11:54:08 +0000 deb 1123992@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I had a color analysis done a few months ago and surprisingly, the colors I like&nbsp;to wear happen to be&nbsp;my best colors. I did not have to purge a lot from my closet, but I think I was only lucky. There is another gal here on the forum that was wearing colors that did not enhance her skin and she had adjustments to make. I am glad I went through the process because I was able to see the various colors draped against me in proper light without other colors reflected back. I have hazel eyes and they change with light conditions and with the colors I wear, so I understand your confusion. There was a tremendous difference in the draped whites against my skin. Looking at the various drapes I was able to help the analyst choses the best colors. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/color-your-stylethe-color-of-style-by-david-zyla#post-1123986 Sun, 29 Dec 2013 09:44:25 +0000 Vildy 1123986@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I own the book and have read it a few times and quite recently, too.&nbsp; I can't ever figure out even my skin tone - warm or cool (or neutral in some systems) - so I never make any headway with these systems.&nbsp; </p> <p>It seems to me that Zyla is not always about looking good but is often about <br />commanding a situation. A lot of other books and authors do this, too, whether it's what colors are seen as romantic, irritating, friendly, etc. or what style of clothing is most likely to appeal to which set of people you're dealing with. <br />For an example, there's one book that calls wearing anything representational - a huge apple knit into your sweater, say - Docent style and suggests that most people find it friendly and that children, especially, will like you. </p> <p>I quite enjoy reading through his archetypes - even though, of course, I can't even pick out my general "season."&nbsp; He's not the only one who does this, relate appearance to personality or personal style of dealing with life. I think it might have been Caygill who had almost dozens of these categories. Taylor somebody currently uses sound or tone. Dressing Your Truth uses movement and also relates that to colors and styles you should wear - disconnected from your coloring. She seems to be one who advocates doing this to better relate to people vs manipulating them and the situation. While there is a great deal of popular psychology of what to wear to influence people, all of that kind of practice bothers me in that I feel it undermines people's sense of personal power and integrity.</p> <p>You can read enough about comparative systems to make your head spin here:<br /><a href="http://expressingyourtruth.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">http://expressingyourtruth.blogspot.com/</a></p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/color-your-stylethe-color-of-style-by-david-zyla#post-1123981 Sun, 29 Dec 2013 08:32:28 +0000 CocoLion 1123981@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I haven't read the book but now I am interested. &nbsp;The "Book Club" section of the forum was created when we actually had a book club going. &nbsp;We would read a style-related book then gather to discuss on-line. &nbsp;This book might be a good candidate for reviving the book club. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/color-your-stylethe-color-of-style-by-david-zyla#post-1123891 Sun, 29 Dec 2013 03:25:47 +0000 Meli 1123891@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have not read the book but I have to say- yes I agree with somewhat limiting your wardrobe by choosing main colors to focus on (with small doses of other colors). But I don't think that a formula for choosing them based on hair/eye/skin is right. You have to allow for the great variety that is human life and the modifier that is personal taste. I may look awesome in some shade of yellow but I cannot stand yellow. I personally adore blue and green, purple and wine colors and have picked the shades that I think I look good in (cobalt, kelley green, teal, royal purple, burgundy). Ialso have some cherry red, coral pink, magenta/raspberry, and tans to spice it up. I use black, grey, and white as my primary neutrals and navy and chocolate again to spice it up. This wasn't really intentional, just how my wardrobe developed into something more cohesive over time, thought, experimentation, and purging. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/color-your-stylethe-color-of-style-by-david-zyla#post-1123859 Sun, 29 Dec 2013 02:37:31 +0000 MovingFashionForward 1123859@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>(Forgive me if this is the wrong place to post this!)</p> <p>I was wondering if those of you who have read David Zyla's book, The Colour of Style (now called Colour Your Style, I think) have managed to establish your 'true colours' using the instructions he gives in the book?&nbsp;</p> <p>[For anyone who remembers my plaintive post a while back about how I absolutely must reduce the amount of stuff in my wardrobes (well, roomsful of clothes and shoes actually) following a traumatic move from a huge house to a tiny flat, reading this book wasn't just procrastination (no, really!): the idea was that if I were to become persuaded that only a small number of colours suit me (which at a stroke probably excludes a large proportion of my clothes, given my penchant for black and white) that would make it very easy to let go of lots of stuff. Genius! Actually, in a way it has worked in one sense, in that having read David Zyla's book, I am now so flummoxed that I don't feel like buying anything new at all until I get to grips with what David Zyla might deem my colours to be.&nbsp;Not buying anything new is a good start, right?!]</p> <p>Anyway, about the book...</p> <p>I find the idea of the 'true colours'&nbsp;fascinating and useful in principle, but in practice I have no idea what Zyla would say my three eye colours are, because they never seem to be the same colours twice, no matter how carefully I try to avoid reflections from other coloured things etc. Has anyone whose eyes seem to change colour quite considerably depending on light, what you're wearing, what you're looking at, etc, succeeded in coming up with their three eye colours as per David Zyla's book?</p> <p>Then there is the colour of my veins. I think it is predominantly blue, though I can see a reddish-purplish one, yet purple makes me look ill, and green (or at least some greens) definitely suits me, despite the lack of green veins. (Could it be that my skin is most definitely&nbsp;cool-toned, not warm,&nbsp;but my freckles and hair&nbsp;are warmish golden toned, and the green sort of harmonises the coolness and the warmness?)</p> <p>Another problem I have with the book --&nbsp;which I hasten to add I did find fascinating and am very glad to have read it, my issues notwithstanding -- is the he first appears to say that ones 'season' depends on the colour of one's blushing skin (though I could not tell which description fits&nbsp;mine despite having no trouble seeing the colour)... then later he links this to personality characteristics. For me, that seems a bit tendentious to put it mildly (for me it makes about as much sense as astrology or other cranky nonsense), but even if it did make sense, again, I have not the slightest idea which season or which archetype Zyla might deem me, and reading the descriptions in no way helps, since I could relate to many of them. Which reminds me of cold reading...&nbsp;(And I may be misremembering here, but I think Zyla said that he could tell a person's season and/or archetype&nbsp;just by talking to them on the phone for 5 minutes, never having seen them or a photo of them. So is it a personality thing or determined by the colour of the blushing skin? To me those are unrelated but perhaps I have misunderstood?!)</p> <p>If you have read the book, and better still if you have done the colour analyses Zyla suggests, I&nbsp;would love to hear how you have got on with the book.</p> <p>Apologies if I should have posted this somewhere else. Feel free to move this if appropriate/possible.</p> <p>Sarah </p>