https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patterns-and-color-change-for-the-cat Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Fri, 15 May 2026 21:45:20 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patterns-and-color-change-for-the-cat/page/2#post-2019455 Sat, 13 Apr 2019 13:03:48 +0000 Anonymous 2019455@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Maybe cause you're tall? Not sure, but I'd notice the blue hair and compliment it Not enough people have blue hair where I live! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patterns-and-color-change-for-the-cat/page/2#post-2019438 Sat, 13 Apr 2019 11:40:13 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2019438@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>ST, I can’t imagine you not being fully present with life! The woman from the other post I mentioned either. She is partner in a law firm, has started CrossFit in the last few years and made astounding progress, is vibrant and funny and awesome She has dyed her hair blue, which ups the contrast—yet people literally run into her and excuse themselves by saying they didn’t see her. Just interesting to me to puzzle out what effects that. I’ve always had “stage presence” even though I’m not an actress—people notice when I walk in a room. I don’t know quite how that happens. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patterns-and-color-change-for-the-cat/page/2#post-2019423 Sat, 13 Apr 2019 10:18:43 +0000 Anonymous 2019423@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thing is FashIntern, I've been so visible in life that I'd rather let other people take the spotlight now. I did music professionally through my 20s and 30s, plus theatre, dance, writing etc-its only been in the last 7 years (and late teens) I've had a 9-5. Even now, my job is out in the community half the year. No matter my appearance, I don't foresee being able to be invisible while being fully present with life. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patterns-and-color-change-for-the-cat/page/2#post-2019419 Sat, 13 Apr 2019 07:32:59 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2019419@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Just before this thread started, someone in a different forum I’m in wrote about feeling invisible as a person after a certain age, and being ignored. Lots of women jumped in to agree with her. She wasn’t talking about physicality, but it makes complete sense to me for appearance to go along with that feeling.<br /> Suntiger, I’d like to hear your thought more. My guess is that as you age, you may become more high contrast, with grey or white hair. So physically you might have more punch than this fading away to all grey/white. The woman who wrote the post in the other forum is vibrant and funny and witty. We’ve gotten together a couple times irl—she does not have a striking presence the way I expect you do. But dammit, those of us who know her primarily through writing know what a powerhouse she is. You are very different people, but share that vibrancy and power. I’m just musing here, wondering if you will experience that same “invisibility” in ten years. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patterns-and-color-change-for-the-cat/page/2#post-2019383 Fri, 12 Apr 2019 21:12:28 +0000 Anonymous 2019383@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Interesting that the idea of dressing to retain visibility comes up so often with greying- especially when people start with high contrast. My coloring has always been low value contrast-but have noticed in the last few years I need to darken my brows, and need mascara even if no other makeup. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patterns-and-color-change-for-the-cat/page/2#post-2019226 Thu, 11 Apr 2019 17:03:09 +0000 Barbara Diane 2019226@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I miss my very dark brown, almost black hair. I used to have high contrast coloring, and pale skin.&nbsp;</p> <p>My skin is both a bit darker and has some redness in the center section of my face, and my eyes are not the very dark brown they used to be.<br />I miss the contrast. I miss having my black pants and often shoes bookend my hair. I do feel less visible, although I was not someone who felt that visible.&nbsp;</p> <p>My gray has a bit of yellow in it, so the clear grays I like often make my hair look muddy, so they haven't become my new neutral.</p> <p>I wear mostly the same colors-saturated cool blues, reds, purples, etc. I no longer look good in a certain shades of red that I used to wear, and I do look good in a somewhat dark pink berry tone that I only bought something in because it was on deep sale and online I mistook the color.</p> <p>I look good in navy but do not feel as much like me in it. I had a few pastels that I could wear but now I feel washed out in them.</p> <p>I think feeling washed out is the hardest change for me.&nbsp;</p> <p>I might color my hair if I felt that I could get the color I want, dark brown with no red, I wouldn't have to go ever 3 weeks, and the time and money weren't a consideration. But probably not, as there is something about having my natural coloring, and also a fear that it wouldn't look right.&nbsp;</p> <p>I guess I haven't adapted psychologically, even if I have wardrobe-wise. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patterns-and-color-change-for-the-cat/page/2#post-2019120 Thu, 11 Apr 2019 02:58:09 +0000 Jaime 2019120@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Very interesting thread! I have noticed that I have been drawn to more makeup as I get older - is it to combat invisibility?&nbsp; I hadn't thought about it precisely that way.</p> <p>My color story: My hair started out in life as very dark brown, nearly black and stayed somewhere around there through hair dye until my mid-40s. My salt and pepper hair gets a lot more attention than my dye jobs ever did. (I recently realized that I actually still have a fair amount of dark hair especially in the back and sides and am a true salt and pepper rather than a grey for now.)<br />Anyway, my colors have definitely shifted because also in my late 30s and early 40s I started taking skincare seriously and try very hard to not tan. I have the kind of skin that tans very easily and when I was younger became very dark in the summer and most of the year. I am still olive but a much lighter olive than I used to be.&nbsp;<br />Also, and this is just a feeling, but I think my eyes are more green than they were in the past. Thus, a somewhat new palette. I prefer more muted colors, but still like cobalt and black and white. Very pale colors are not as good as they used to be. Purple/burgundy/wine is better than I remember. Bright pink is better than pale pink usually. I sort of play it by ear though! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patterns-and-color-change-for-the-cat/page/2#post-2019108 Thu, 11 Apr 2019 01:17:14 +0000 DonnaF 2019108@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My hair color started as black (but not jet black) and is now salt'n'pepper in front and pepper'n'salt in back -- which is a different type of transition than those who started with brown or blonde hair.</p> <p>Charcoal now looks amazing on me; I don't think I ever wore it when I was young. Same with black'n'white and black'n'cream. Bookending laziness, I must admit.&nbsp;</p> <p>I steer far, far away from prints, especially in drapey, flowy fabrics that I associate with old ladies. The time has long passed for that to be an ironic look!!!</p> <p>I don't notice much of a change in skin color, although I suppose I have brown spots where none existed in the past. I haven't developed roseacea or anything like that.</p> <p>Last fall, I started to use Revitalash on my eyelashes, and having thicker eyelashes makes me feel like I can wear stronger colors. . .</p> <p>I look forward to when I am substantially silver white. Then, I envision myself wearing lots of cream, white, and pearl gray. White footwear will then feel right -- and by then will probably have disappeared from the market! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patterns-and-color-change-for-the-cat/page/2#post-2019088 Wed, 10 Apr 2019 22:32:38 +0000 The Cat 2019088@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Don't worry, be happy. :-)</p> <p>Learning to adjust to changed colouring is an interesting part of life's journey.</p> <p>These are some of the things I have gradually realized as my hair has turned from dark to salt &amp; pepper to silver:<br /> ● Clear cool colours definitely suit my present colouring better than beige, brown, blush, olive, rust, etc. Muted colours might still look nice as (minor) part of patterns I wear. But generally, I no longer want to wear them as solids. Taupe works if it looks harmonious with the clear greys (light, medium and dark) that are my primary neutrals now.<br /> ● Clear strong red makes me look pale. Slightly softer blue-reds are much better.<br /> ● All purples, including lilac, look even better with my present colouring than they did when I was darker.<br /> ● Teal, which I never wore when I was younger, looks interesting with my present colouring and is an easy match with lots of colours in my wardrobe.<br /> ● I want to add deep blue to my neutrals. (My other neutrals are white, silver, greys and black.) For many years, I found deep blue a bit boring and prefered black. Now I find that deep blue looks perfect with my colouring, is softer than black and emphasizes the blue colours in my eyes.<br /> ● White footwear and white bottoms (jeans, pants, skirts, etc.) kind of bookend my hair. I no longer feel the need to repeat the white colour somewhere on my upper body or near my face, as I did when my hair was dark. But of course, I still wear white blouses, white pearls etc.--when I want to.<br /> ● While most black&amp;white prints/patterns used to serve me well, this is not automatically the case now, so I feel the need to be more careful when selecting prints and patterns. For instance, some black patterns on white background now look either uninteresting or harsh or distracting. (I want ME to wear my colours and patterns--not THEM to wear me. ) Interestingly, if just a little amount of grey is included in such patterns, they work much better. Generally, medium-contrast patterns now seem to be more flattering than high-contrast patterns in black &amp; white. However, small and medium-scale patterns with equal amounts of black and white (e.g. tweeds and checks) still work.<br /> ● Charcoal often looks surprisingly better than black. Charcoal items with white pinstripes are versatile and look amazing teamed with non-neutrals in clear cool colours like pink, blue and turquoise.<br /> ● White or silver/grey patterns on black background soften the black and look harmonious on me, provided they are not too large or busy.<br /> ● Though I still like to wear solid black, I don't want it in large amounts near my face. So no more black turtlenecks, scarves, hats, etc.<br /> ● I look and feel best when I wear a non-neutral somewhere near my face. It has become natural to me to include at least one non-neutral in every outfit.</p> <p>By the way, I can't say I feel invisible, as I almost daily get compliments from younger colleagues and sometimes from complete strangers too. A few days ago, when I was seated in a bus, a woman around 40 years younger than me rose from her seat and came up to me to tell me how much she liked my outfit, while other passengers smilingly agreed. (In case you are wondering, I was wearing a silver lurex skirt, black riding boots, icy white puffer jacket and a patterned scarf in purple, blue, white, grey and black.) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patterns-and-color-change-for-the-cat#post-2019025 Wed, 10 Apr 2019 15:06:37 +0000 Anonymous 2019025@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You all are starting to worry me! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patterns-and-color-change-for-the-cat#post-2018949 Wed, 10 Apr 2019 04:42:42 +0000 Anonymous 2018949@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Through the years my coloring , including skin, have changed. I have had times when brights looked best, then heathered or grayed tones, then brights again, especially neons, then jewel tones. Now, for the first time ever I can wear black and pastels. Hair color is important but skin (and make up) changes too. As a young woman I was definitely an Auburn-haired autumn. Those colors do little for me now. To not be invisible, I have embraced bling and bold pattern mixing, if I can find them, orange or coral neon, maybe neon citron too.<br /> Patterns...definitely a change. My SIL still thinks of me as clad in plaid. I still wear it but like patterns large and bold now. Water color patterns or big simple florals with lots of open space are now a favorite. Patterns with some curves or swishes are better than straight geometrics. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patterns-and-color-change-for-the-cat#post-2018899 Tue, 09 Apr 2019 22:40:59 +0000 Anonymous 2018899@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Let me start by saying I definitely do not have an artist's eye. &nbsp;Is it normal to be able to judge colors/patterns on <u>other</u> people and be <u>blind</u> to them on myself? &nbsp; I have a decent mirror, yet it is useless to me.&nbsp;</p> <p>I used to be a Strong Winter. &nbsp;I <i>only</i> wore high contrast. &nbsp;I could easily carry off strong, vibrant colors. &nbsp;Fuchsia, black, and white were my signature colors. &nbsp;</p> <p>Then something happened eighteen months ago. &nbsp;Due to time and scheduling constraints, I allowed my grey to naturally blend with my dark brown hair. &nbsp;The blending of the grey into my dark brown color resulted in a "softening" of my overall hair color. &nbsp;It would be fascinating to know how my hair would "read" to a stylist. &nbsp;I guess a dishwater brown? &nbsp;</p> <p>My skin color changed too. &nbsp;I can't say how exactly. &nbsp;I just know something is different. &nbsp;</p> <p>I stopped wanting to wear my signature reds and fuchsias near my face. I can't put into words why this is though. &nbsp;Lower contrast? &nbsp;I started wearing lots of navy (LOTS of navy) and off white. &nbsp;</p> <p>I'll be studying this thread for weeks to come. &nbsp;Thank you, <b>Suntiger</b> for starting such thought-provoking threads. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patterns-and-color-change-for-the-cat#post-2018892 Tue, 09 Apr 2019 22:06:44 +0000 Anonymous 2018892@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is such <u><i><b>a fascinating thread</b></i></u>. &nbsp;There is so much to read and think about. &nbsp;</p> <p>Thank you, <b>RunCarla</b> for doing so much of the heavy lifting for me. Thank you, <b>Janet</b> for drawing the information out further. &nbsp;</p> <p><b>JenniNZ</b> -- I loved your "musing out aloud." &nbsp; </p> <p></p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patterns-and-color-change-for-the-cat#post-2018883 Tue, 09 Apr 2019 20:44:37 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2018883@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks Carla! I will check them out. I hope wasn’t being not nice—was not my intent. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patterns-and-color-change-for-the-cat#post-2018881 Tue, 09 Apr 2019 20:40:41 +0000 Carla 2018881@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Pardon me, FashIntern...</p> <p>Lyn Slater - Accidental Icon - <a href="https://www.accidentalicon.com/" rel="nofollow">https://www.accidentalicon.com/</a></p> <p>Mel Kobayashi - Bag and a Beret - <a href="http://bagandaberet.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">http://bagandaberet.blogspot.com/</a></p> <p>Be nice </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patterns-and-color-change-for-the-cat#post-2018875 Tue, 09 Apr 2019 20:27:33 +0000 Sal 2018875@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Interesting - great insights here. I agree colouring can change - both skin and hair. </p> <p>My hair has had some form of colour since my early 20s - I used to get away with being platinum or dark but need to stay in a warm dirty blonde range now to look good. My skin is pinker ( capillaries) and my worst colours look worse. I have patterns I like and those I don’t - not sure if that has changed or not.</p> <p>In the past there were more rules or protocols - don’t wear pink if red haired, black for evening or at a certain age, etc. My grandmother who was very stylish dressed for her generation in tweed skirts and small muted patterns. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patterns-and-color-change-for-the-cat#post-2018874 Tue, 09 Apr 2019 20:23:58 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2018874@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Jenni, arguably, men who don’t have high levels of accomplishment feeling ignored/invisible is a major driver of political opinion these days, at least in the US. (Then there are high income earners who are paying lower taxes and so will continue to vote their wallets). </p> <p>On topic, I used to wear much bigger pattern than I’m generally comfortable with these days. I wore orange and yellow too, but can’t really say if that’s because they were good colors for me or if I just didn’t notice. I haven’t drawn any direct lines, but this recent drive towards berry colors coincides with, shall we say, “softening” of my hair as more and more of it is turning grey. </p> <p>ST, thanks for filling me in! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patterns-and-color-change-for-the-cat#post-2018872 Tue, 09 Apr 2019 20:18:35 +0000 Anonymous 2018872@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>AI has an edgy style-sunnies, black leather, motorcycle....kinda looks like Arnold...<br /> B&amp;B is much more laid back. PJs, florals, sometimes nautical </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patterns-and-color-change-for-the-cat#post-2018871 Tue, 09 Apr 2019 20:18:09 +0000 Jenni NZ 2018871@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>FI, I had never heard of those bloggers either. The only bloggers I have read are Debbie Roes of Recovering Shopaholic, Sally of Already Pretty, Angie of course and occasionally Imogen Lamport from Australia. Essentially all those have linked to each other I think. I spend enough time on YLF to not want to spend more time on others! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patterns-and-color-change-for-the-cat#post-2018869 Tue, 09 Apr 2019 20:12:42 +0000 Jenni NZ 2018869@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hmmm, the invisible woman. In my experience that happened about 50 years old, give or take a bit. I have got used to it but it is annoying. I wonder if men feel it at all or does the prevailing culture of women being valued by appearance and men by achievements mean they don’t feel it? What if the men are not particularly “successful”, I wonder if they feel it then?<br /> Just musing out aloud. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patterns-and-color-change-for-the-cat#post-2018868 Tue, 09 Apr 2019 20:11:48 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2018868@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>ST, that’s what came to my mind first!<br /> So I guess these are fashion bloggers and those are the handles they go by on line? Oops—I obviously didn’t know that, and probably should on this forum. Thanks for setting me straight.<br /> Janet, at least I’m not *that* out of it. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patterns-and-color-change-for-the-cat#post-2018864 Tue, 09 Apr 2019 20:00:55 +0000 Janet 2018864@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>ST, LOL (see what I did there?) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patterns-and-color-change-for-the-cat#post-2018854 Tue, 09 Apr 2019 19:43:30 +0000 Anonymous 2018854@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>It could be Artificial Intelligence and Bed &amp;Breakfast </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patterns-and-color-change-for-the-cat#post-2018850 Tue, 09 Apr 2019 19:34:14 +0000 Anonymous 2018850@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Haha FaahIntern-it's Accidental Icon and Bag &amp; Beret, had to scroll up to figure it out!<br /> So, yep then, I guess our coloring can change! There's a good chart with yellow, neutral, pink tones light to dark- but wasn't able to find. Other ones include olive too, so big tonal variations, even within similar darkness ranges.<br /> And yes our hair texture, and skin texture, too changes what's best over time!<br /> Just realized I probably prefer curvy prints due to my wavy (ahem-uncooperative) hair, not just my shape! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patterns-and-color-change-for-the-cat#post-2018848 Tue, 09 Apr 2019 19:25:42 +0000 Janet 2018848@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>FashIntern, what??? Carla referenced Accidental Icon and Bag &amp; Beret, and I just abbreviated them because I was hurrying.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patterns-and-color-change-for-the-cat#post-2018846 Tue, 09 Apr 2019 19:11:59 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2018846@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Carla and Janet, why the secrecy and code names? Why not message each other? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patterns-and-color-change-for-the-cat#post-2018841 Tue, 09 Apr 2019 18:28:44 +0000 JAileen 2018841@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don’t know why that top is showing up - I can’t seem to remove it. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patterns-and-color-change-for-the-cat#post-2018840 Tue, 09 Apr 2019 18:26:49 +0000 JAileen 2018840@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My color palette definitely changed when I went grey. And by grey I mean virtually white!</p> <p>I never thought about contrast before I went grey, but now I like low contrast outfits. I think I felt that before, but didn’t know why I liked some outfits better than others. </p> <p>As for pattern, I prefer non florals. So stripes, polka dots, plaid. I’ve always liked and worn those patterns. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patterns-and-color-change-for-the-cat#post-2018839 Tue, 09 Apr 2019 18:20:46 +0000 Janet 2018839@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Carla, re: AI and B&amp;B: I think their style holds the stage, regardless of color palette. I notice some of their outfits are high contrast, but sometimes the colors are not overtly noticeable but the cuts and combination of items are. But I'm sure that using contrast in their outfits is a technique that contributes to their super-high visibility. (They&nbsp;both dress WAY more dramatically than I ever envision myself dressing --&nbsp;I wouldn't be comfortable being THAT visible, LOL.) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patterns-and-color-change-for-the-cat#post-2018838 Tue, 09 Apr 2019 18:12:56 +0000 Carla 2018838@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Suntiger - hmmm, I don't think my skin colour has stayed the same at all. My younger self had ivory skin with golden freckles. In my late 40's I experienced the onset of Rosecea that progressed so badly that I was constantly asked about my 'sunburn'! December 2018 I started using a prescription topical cream and within a month my complexion changed significantly. My skin is pale, with a smidge of pink, and I no longer have any visible freckles. </p> <p>Janet - I wonder if stylish women 'of a certain age' who are considered fashion icons use formulas of either contrast (dark/light - black/white) or vibrant colour for visibility? I'm thinking of Lyn -'Accidental Icon' and Mel - 'Bag and Beret.' Both with short grey/white hair and pale skin (low contrast) but definitely standout style. </p>