YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Colour conundrum

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Colour conundrum https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/colour-conundrum Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Wed, 22 Apr 2026 22:26:35 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php Angie on "Colour conundrum" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/colour-conundrum#post-2345009 Mon, 20 Nov 2023 14:57:28 +0000 Angie 2345009@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Those sandals are SOOO Jenni!  Jenni NZ on "Colour conundrum" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/colour-conundrum#post-2344975 Mon, 20 Nov 2023 05:43:59 +0000 Jenni NZ 2344975@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thanks Janet, Jules, Angie, SarahD8 and Bijou! I’m grateful to those who like my red, and understand those who try to make things “go” rather than match. I did get quite obsessed with trying to find fuchsia shoes Bijou starting about a year ago when I found out about the Canadian wedding (which happened this past May 2023) and found my pretty floral dress that had some fuchsia flowers that matched my 1988 Thai silk blouse! So I totally get your wish to have the perfect pink but I agree that it’s not worth buying high heels that you won’t wear. My requirements were so specific (must be dainty, strappy, as flat as possible, no wedges, no slides) that I could not find them after extensive searching. Had to be the *exact* right shade of fuchsia too. I have a new possible solution with 2 other colours too but they are European imports at $369 so I think they won’t be happening! It would need to be a good sale I suspect and I already have lots of other sandals Bijou on "Colour conundrum" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/colour-conundrum#post-2344974 Mon, 20 Nov 2023 05:26:01 +0000 Bijou 2344974@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I do this and find often the hardest part is footwear. If I find coloured footwear that is comfy, I often buy it and use that as the starting point for a colour complement. Pink is one of my favourite colours and I would love to have some pink shoes to match but am yet to find some. I do like my blush boots, but would really like a brighter shoe to work with my other pink items. Unfortunately, most pink pumps have very high heels - I want low heeled pink pumps! SarahD8 on "Colour conundrum" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/colour-conundrum#post-2344962 Mon, 20 Nov 2023 03:43:01 +0000 SarahD8 2344962@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ This is an interesting discussion! JenniNZ that is a gorgeous red complement -- and I'm impressed by your keen eye for an exact match. I do collect items in the same color over a span of years, but I'm not too fussed about finding an exact match. In fact I think I prefer it when items don't match too precisely. And, I have a high affinity for color *mixing* -- so if a matching item were to wear out, I would probably just wear the remaining mate with a different color. So this doesn't become a conundrum for me. Where I do get distressed -- or feel anticipatory distress -- about something wearing out, it tends to be more related to silhouette, or some kind of specific function in my wardrobe, rather than color. Hmm, interesting to ponder... Angie on "Colour conundrum" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/colour-conundrum#post-2344883 Sun, 19 Nov 2023 15:21:57 +0000 Angie 2344883@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ A BIG FAT YES! I absolutely collect items in the same colours years apart...... and get a big kick out of it all when they match :) Replacements of worn out items eventually find us....with a bit of luck.  Fab red colour complement, JenniNZ! I bet you looked fantastic, and oozed with confidence and ease.  Jules on "Colour conundrum" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/colour-conundrum#post-2344875 Sun, 19 Nov 2023 14:54:33 +0000 Jules 2344875@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ That’s a truly lovely red I can see why you would collect it! My own colour complements/capsules are tonal and mix n match, maybe pulled together by a patterned scarf that combines the colours. They evolve organically over time, sometimes not by choice like when I lost my favourite plaid scarf, but overall I don’t think I would be happy without the evolution. I also decided long ago that shopping for very specific items can be an exercise in frustration and I would rather pick from the buffet of available items… I think your olive capsule would still be very wearable with a variety of pant colours, no need to throw the baby out with the bath water so to speak. Janet on "Colour conundrum" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/colour-conundrum#post-2344871 Sun, 19 Nov 2023 13:44:35 +0000 Janet 2344871@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Those are lovely reds! Like Suz, I tend to do this sort of organically as my color palette is fairly tight. I also am not aspiring so much for exact matches in complements these days, rather than colors that “go.” Jenni NZ on "Colour conundrum" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/colour-conundrum#post-2344822 Sat, 18 Nov 2023 21:24:31 +0000 Jenni NZ 2344822@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Oh thanks Phoebe and Lyn67! Glad to know you like my capsule and that’s excellent to know you do the same as me Lyn. Suppose I will keep going then and just keep looking for a replacement for my olive snakeskin pants. I put them on again today, transitional weather yet again despite almost time for our summer. lyn67 on "Colour conundrum" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/colour-conundrum#post-2344821 Sat, 18 Nov 2023 20:54:55 +0000 lyn67 2344821@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Love your red item shown here, a happy color and great thextures, no wonder you were so admired-very well done! To answer to your question:-of course and I continuously do that! My recent under construction color capsule is a mint/sage green one, Started discovering it firts in prints. I first had skirt, dress and a scarf all printed having this color several years ago, then started buying solo  items all plain in this color (a parka, a summer midi skirt, a knitted sleeveless midi tank dress, trecing shoe and tee etc.) anytime I could find them but till last year my collection grew only very slow (approx 1 item/year). But I diligently kept an open eye and this year was a feast -could find 1 ribbed tee and 1 long sleeve ribbed mockneck, 2 sweaters, a long cardi(which I turned in in a vest) a medium length cardi and even a puffer vest in that color.  I  also have a built up over the years capsule of blush, coral reds, browns  blues, and grass greens too. Then, I try to keep color match for my midtime neutrals like taupe/beige and grey/charcoal to never end- so all the time. Blacks and whites are core staples for me and have quite a capsule of  them too,  but not so worried to 100% match. phoebe on "Colour conundrum" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/colour-conundrum#post-2344819 Sat, 18 Nov 2023 20:09:56 +0000 phoebe 2344819@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Color alone would not be enough to prompt a pairing but your cardigan and shoes are so well matched in texture too and would be outfit foundation material for me! Jenni NZ on "Colour conundrum" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/colour-conundrum#post-2344817 Sat, 18 Nov 2023 19:38:06 +0000 Jenni NZ 2344817@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Oh it’s fun seeing everyone’s colour groupings! Happy for you Irina with your navy, and Carla with your red and beige, and Dee with that lovely blue! And yay Suntiger for your superpower. I think it might be a superpower of mine too! When I bought the small red shoes and later the 2022 top I didn’t have the earlier items with me but could just tell it was “my red” each time. Dee on "Colour conundrum" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/colour-conundrum#post-2344792 Sat, 18 Nov 2023 12:16:30 +0000 Dee 2344792@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Ouu.. such a nice red compliment to play with in your wardrobe. Love that particular shade of red. Most of my colour match items tend to be black, grey or navy but I do have a few accent colour match items too in light blues and plum/ berry but I'm not really fussy to have them match exactly either. Anonymous on "Colour conundrum" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/colour-conundrum#post-2344784 Sat, 18 Nov 2023 10:42:20 +0000 Anonymous 2344784@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I think I just discovered my style superpower - being able to exactly match colors across time and brands! Looking at different shades of the same color hung together at consignment shops helps. Retail shops, at least the little ones that I prefer, will often just have one or 2 shades- so it's much harder to judge. When you see a rainbow of say greens together though, it's obvious which are warmer, cooler, more muted, etc in comparison to the rest. I still make mistakes of course- because shop lighting can be very different from outside. And when I put the items in my closet, it's obvious which don't belong with the palette. Carla on "Colour conundrum" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/colour-conundrum#post-2344779 Sat, 18 Nov 2023 05:40:55 +0000 Carla 2344779@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I’ve got a couple of colour capsules on the go.  Some are easier to build (red, burgundy) whilst others are quite a challenge (lilac, forest green). Yes, pieces acquired over time - so the size of the capsules wax  and wane. I’m not a stickler for a perfect match - especially when items are not worn next to each other, but I do have some perfect matches.  The sweaters (see Finds below) perfectly match the skirts.  The red wool sweater is a replacement for a red cotton sweater (2019) that was also a perfect match for the skirt - until it faded. The red beret is also a perfect match.  I have other beige and red items.  They are close matches - but not perfect ones.    I can do this with a white button down/white jeans, black bottoms/black sweater, and navy tops/navy joggers - but it’s much easier to find good matches for neutrals than for colours.   Suz on "Colour conundrum" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/colour-conundrum#post-2344778 Sat, 18 Nov 2023 05:39:56 +0000 Suz 2344778@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Yes, I understand. That's why I don't really try to replace specific items (e.g. a pair of pants) in the colour...I just pick up any item I see in that colour that I am fairly confident I'll wear. (And can afford, and have room for in the closet.) Don't get me wrong -- if I can find a direct replacement for a specific, much-worn item in a beloved colour, I will purchase it. But  typically, I think more in terms of keeping the colour in my closet.   Anonymous on "Colour conundrum" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/colour-conundrum#post-2344768 Sat, 18 Nov 2023 04:42:56 +0000 Anonymous 2344768@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I am glad that you got a duplicate of your favorite pants.  They sound wonderful.  Olive goes well with greys and metallic gold.  It is really had to find accessories that go with olive.  I have looked for socks for years. Irina on "Colour conundrum" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/colour-conundrum#post-2344767 Sat, 18 Nov 2023 04:40:45 +0000 Irina 2344767@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ What a beautiful shade of red, Jenni NZ. <div>I’m able to do it with only one color - very dark navy. Fortunately for me, COS consistently use that color and I have tops from 2016 (the year they open a store here) to now. I have sweaters, tops, pants, a dress. I was able to buy even a few things second hand that I initially missed. </div><div>Surprisingly, I also bought a wool jacket from Uniqlo last year and it matches perfectly. And the loafers from Club Monaco. </div><div>I wish my few olive things were also matching. But only my wool coat and a wool scarf that are from the same brand,  are very similar. My other colors, aside from black and white, do not match. </div> Jenni NZ on "Colour conundrum" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/colour-conundrum#post-2344762 Sat, 18 Nov 2023 04:17:53 +0000 Jenni NZ 2344762@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ My worry is, I can’t always find a replacement for the oldest item. In the case of olive I have pants, tops, cardigan, boots and sandals. Oh, and my puffer. The pants are my totally favourite pants, olive snakeskin, and I even have a duplicate, but they have been worn 195 times and are tired! I have kept an eye out but nothing similar and my whole capsule could be ruined without them… Suz on "Colour conundrum" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/colour-conundrum#post-2344761 Sat, 18 Nov 2023 04:12:37 +0000 Suz 2344761@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I guess what I will add is that things in this colour do cycle in and out of my closet as they wear out, and then I add something new in the same colour. So I have had other boots in this colour, other tops, etc. Over time. And I always try to have at least a few pieces in my winter closet in this colour.  Jenni NZ on "Colour conundrum" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/colour-conundrum#post-2344760 Sat, 18 Nov 2023 04:11:59 +0000 Jenni NZ 2344760@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Oh yes Suz that’s exactly what I mean. Beautifully illustrated by your Finds. And thank you Joy also. I do very much want the items to be as close in colour as possible. I accept tonal but only if I can’t get exact. Suz on "Colour conundrum" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/colour-conundrum#post-2344756 Sat, 18 Nov 2023 04:05:12 +0000 Suz 2344756@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Oooh, I love your colour complements here, Jenni! Fabulous! On my screen this looks like a true fire engine red. Maybe a bit on the blue side of red but pretty neutral red, really -- could be worn by someone with a warm or cool complexion.  So is your question, do we collect items over a long period time in a favourite colour to wear together in outfits?  In my case, the answer is absolutely!  I don't necessarily do it on purpose. But because my favouite accent colours stay pretty constant and I sometimes have trouble finding items in those colours, I definitely consider, when making a new purchase, whether it will work with my others in the same colour.  A recent example. I bought a dark cranberry red sweater in... maybe 2016? Almost a decade ago. It's still going strong, despite being a knit. Very good quality and worth every penny.  Recently I added a pair of trousers and a vest in the exact same cranberry.  I also own a number of tonally related pieces that I can mix and match with these pieces. (See below). And would gladly add more. This is a colour that works very well for me. These are not all exact matches in real life, but awfully close, or containing at least small smatterings of a match (in the pattern).  Anonymous on "Colour conundrum" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/colour-conundrum#post-2344754 Sat, 18 Nov 2023 04:02:45 +0000 Anonymous 2344754@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I did not move a red cashmere sweater that I thought I needed but never wore.  Next month I will experiment with my red items but I have no red bottoms so it will have to be with what I can wear. Anonymous on "Colour conundrum" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/colour-conundrum#post-2344753 Sat, 18 Nov 2023 03:59:21 +0000 Anonymous 2344753@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Yes , I do this with colors I wear a lot but   not red.  My best red is heavy on orange...no blue, so it is hard to find.  I like your reds together. Jenni NZ on "Colour conundrum" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/colour-conundrum#post-2344752 Sat, 18 Nov 2023 03:43:46 +0000 Jenni NZ 2344752@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ One of my wardrobe issues cropped up this week, actually in a good way on this occasion, but it made me think. My colleague was very admiring of my outfit which was a red top, cropped white pants, and little red crochet shoes. She said she thought it was so hard to match reds and these were perfect together. I said I have a red crochet cardigan as well which is an exact match but they were all bought many years apart. No pic of the red top as it is in the wash, but same as cardigan/shoes in pic 1. I also have some vintage shoes shown in pic 2 for slightly more dressy looks, very similar colour too. So dates are: cardigan 2013, vintage shoes bought 2014 but probably from the 80s, red crochet shoes 2015, red top 2022. Does anyone else do this? I do it with other fave colours as well like olive (a fave since 2013) and cobalt (a fave for decades). And I guess fuchsia, where I can get it, a fave since the 80s. And bright yellow also since the 80s. But often the oldest item begins to really wear out and you can’t replace it?