https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pondering-achromatics-vs-neutrals Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sun, 19 Apr 2026 02:00:43 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pondering-achromatics-vs-neutrals/page/2#post-2199184 Mon, 31 May 2021 13:03:39 +0000 lyn67 2199184@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Very wise comments, thank y'all- I just&nbsp; came back to say 2 things:-).<br />1. -I love the washed black, too!. "I love how well a washed out black “grounds” my olive - in a much less preppy way than navy with olive; and a less boho way than brown with olive."--this is true for meeee, tooo.<br />2. -I feel&nbsp; solid navy is definetely a color on me-vs. black&nbsp; but neither of these two I consider them&nbsp; true omnipotent neutrals (for ex. I would rather not pair black&amp;red for me). The only one color I percieve it THAT way&nbsp; is perhaps....white (and&nbsp; perhaps my own tan?)<br />I guess we are splitting hairs here, oh well....:-). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pondering-achromatics-vs-neutrals/page/2#post-2199090 Sun, 30 May 2021 23:19:08 +0000 nemosmom 2199090@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>FI - yes; I’ve never met a green I didn’t like. I wear greens year-round, almost daily. But, for me, I consider my neutrals to be any color that appears in my eye and hair coloring - honey, toffee, rust, copper, mahogany, olives, and petrol blue. </p> <p>However - MY neutrals don’t always play nicely with each other in a way that isn’t too colorful (to Helena’s point about achromatics); in fact, they can and often do skew a little too earthy/boho for my taste. I will happily wear any of my neutrals with an achromatic color, and actually, might prefer it. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pondering-achromatics-vs-neutrals/page/2#post-2199087 Sun, 30 May 2021 23:12:13 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2199087@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Pursuant to my question to nemosmom, I’m starting to realize that the reason this question didn’t make sense to me at first is that the whole idea of something you can just toss together with any other color is pretty far from my closet. I think so anyway. Berry colors (including pinks) are the closest I come, and I don’t think anyone would call them neutral. But the reds, greens, blues, browns and any other colors I have all work easily with whatever berry I feel like that day—blueberry, blackberry, cranberry, raspberry, etc. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pondering-achromatics-vs-neutrals/page/2#post-2199085 Sun, 30 May 2021 22:59:26 +0000 Helena 2199085@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Angie most definitely! Like any other trait, we all express it differently ... And how boring if that wasn't so!</p> <p>Nemosmom, yes exactly!! Fwiw, I think red hair looks absolutely gorgeous against black. NM and LaPed, I'll be keeping an eye out for these softened blacks too. </p> <p>Suntiger, so interesting ... I was thinking denim is a neutral for me, but you're right ... There are many colours I don't love with denim that I would happily wear with an achromatic (many blues and brights come to mind). So interesting! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pondering-achromatics-vs-neutrals/page/2#post-2199083 Sun, 30 May 2021 22:38:46 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2199083@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Nemosmom, for the sake of argument, I hear you that navy isn’t your “neutral” because you feel the color of it too much. But what about green? Are there shades of it you use like a neutral? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pondering-achromatics-vs-neutrals/page/2#post-2199082 Sun, 30 May 2021 22:36:56 +0000 Anonymous 2199082@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>To me jeans aren't neutral either, though maybe more neutral than "regular" navy. I just only like them (on me) with black, brown, rust, or beige. Even olive with jeans is too much.<br /> Big yes to olive with black! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pondering-achromatics-vs-neutrals/page/2#post-2199080 Sun, 30 May 2021 22:27:40 +0000 LaPed 2199080@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>OMG nemosmom, I could have written that second paragraph about washed/faded black! Especially: "I love how well a washed out black “grounds” my olive - in a much less preppy way than navy with olive; and a less boho way than brown with olive."</p> <p>I'd never thought about it in terms of achromatics, but I've always felt denim behaves more like a colour and less like a neutral. I usually have a fair number of blue and blue-adjacent tops, and blue jeans definitely don't "go" with all of them in a way I find satisfactory.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pondering-achromatics-vs-neutrals/page/2#post-2199066 Sun, 30 May 2021 21:19:00 +0000 nemosmom 2199066@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What a great post, Helena! I never thought about it this way, but I find your points super-interesting. I thought (for years) that navy must be “my” black, simply because the color-gurus told me my coloring wouldn’t work with black. Trouble is, navy is not really right on me, either. :)</p> <p>Over time I’ve learned it takes the RIGHT black (a deep slate or washed black), but it is possible to find one that works, when I feel patient enough to hunt for it. And I love how well a washed out black “grounds” my olive - in a much less preppy way than navy with olive; and a less boho way than brown with olive. </p> <p>Navy feels like too much color... in fact, I am down to one navy blazer and a graphic tee - I’ve purged the rest. </p> <p>I get what you are saying!! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pondering-achromatics-vs-neutrals/page/2#post-2199042 Sun, 30 May 2021 19:52:07 +0000 Angie 2199042@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>FWIW, I have introverted clients who are loud, bright and maximal dressers! I have extroverted friends who stick to minimal and neutrally quiet looks. Horses for courses.....always </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pondering-achromatics-vs-neutrals/page/2#post-2198949 Sun, 30 May 2021 12:59:47 +0000 Helena 2198949@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>FI, agree 100% </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pondering-achromatics-vs-neutrals/page/2#post-2198947 Sun, 30 May 2021 12:58:14 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2198947@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Helena, yes, I nearly said the same thing in that comment, but was afraid any version of “we aren’t all the same”, “you aren’t speaking for me”, etc came off as argumentative, so I dropped it. But I very much agree with you that not all introverts are alike—that’s just one facet of personality. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pondering-achromatics-vs-neutrals/page/2#post-2198946 Sun, 30 May 2021 12:53:38 +0000 Helena 2198946@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>FI I suspect that like all things personal style, it's horses for courses (á la Angie). I think some introverts use bolder style to express themselves in a non verbal way, whereas others (Gryffin and I do this, not to speak for her but I only know because she helped me understand I do it!) often use style to create a bit of a buffer zone between us and the world.</p> <p>Similarly I can see the inverse for extraverts. To me what's very helpful is knowing our own personal "why's" so that we can live them with more confidence, even amid all the different approaches.</p> <p>It's ALL good and makes for such interesting discussion! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pondering-achromatics-vs-neutrals/page/2#post-2198924 Sun, 30 May 2021 07:38:43 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2198924@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><i> Do we as introverts choose our palettes and restrained minimalist outfits so we wear our bubble of quiet repose? </i></p> <p>I’m going to say no. Being an introvert means that instead of getting energy from being around people (as extroverts do), being around them wears me out. My energy comes from within, but I don’t feel a need to cover it up. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pondering-achromatics-vs-neutrals/page/2#post-2198876 Sun, 30 May 2021 03:21:05 +0000 Helena 2198876@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Shevia, I think that's why I'm so obsessed with colour as a topic ... It's so emotional and triggers what must be almost instinctual levels of response, and I have no idea why, but each clue sucks me in. It's an ever-receding mystery, as they say!</p> <p>Sal, you look fab in black!</p> <p>Gryffin, you are always so eloquent, and it always makes me smile when I see you've commented!! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pondering-achromatics-vs-neutrals/page/2#post-2198852 Sun, 30 May 2021 01:24:34 +0000 Jaime 2198852@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Very interesting. I do appreciate a precise definition, although I do think that the word neutral is used differently in different contexts. But the idea that navy, for example, feels like a color to you and a neutral to others is intriguing. Is it led by your own coloring or is it your resonance with the technical neutrality of black, white and greyscale? And really why do jeans seem to go with everything for so many people (including me)? Does clothing that match our own coloring work as neutrals for us? Lots of thoughts, no answers. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pondering-achromatics-vs-neutrals/page/2#post-2198850 Sun, 30 May 2021 01:18:14 +0000 Sal 2198850@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks for this Helena! It makes sense to me for you - and might help you embrace your love of black and white.</p> <p>I do wear black a fair bit, white mostly as an accent, and I like light grey. I rarely wear black and white together though- I used to be into monochrome patterns but don’t feel right in them any more. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pondering-achromatics-vs-neutrals/page/2#post-2198829 Sat, 29 May 2021 23:06:36 +0000 gryffin 2198829@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Helena that’s another exquisitely insightful observation. Do we as introverts choose our palettes and restrained minimalist outfits so we wear our bubble of quiet repose? What is more restful than the absence of stimulation than the quiet of black (the absence of color) or deepest navy or charcoal. Quiet colors and outfits so when life becomes too over stimulated and chaotic, at least the one area we can control, provides a visual grounding of quiet repose. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pondering-achromatics-vs-neutrals/page/2#post-2198739 Sat, 29 May 2021 17:46:59 +0000 Helena 2198739@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Gryffin, you are the queen of achromatics!! Your palette is perfect for you. I am sort of medium contrast leaning to the high side ... But the casualness of my style lends enough softness I think for the high contrast of black and white to work. Pearl gray is so chic, and navy mixes beautifully with the achromatics ... You are like me in that navy is a colour, but it's a beautiful one and it's quietness suits the introvert nature we share too! X </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pondering-achromatics-vs-neutrals/page/2#post-2198731 Sat, 29 May 2021 17:19:13 +0000 gryffin 2198731@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Helena I love this!!&nbsp; Well I must be one of the princesses of achromatics.&nbsp; My wardrobe primarily is through the cool gray scale.&nbsp; Small amount of white, pearl gray, charcoal gray, washed black to pure black all cool and true in color.&nbsp; My only neutral is usually denim.&nbsp; Although my son is at college at Penn state and they are navy&amp;white.&nbsp; So I did add in some navy because in the days when we could visit campus, no one wears black - it's all navy, some gray and spiritwear (I've never seen so much spirit wear).&nbsp; So I did add some navy and have a small navy work and smart casual capsule.&nbsp; So navy would be my only true neutral.&nbsp; It's interesting I prefer high contrast.&nbsp; My skin is pale and hair is dark so black, charcoal and navy are great.&nbsp; But I would never wear pearl gray head to to because it would wash me out.&nbsp; Not enough contrast.&nbsp; But I would wear it as pants or as a top under a black or navy jacket.&nbsp; I don't enjoy wear colors, or as you say the "experience" of colors.&nbsp; I have worn army green or camo pants in the past but anything bright and deeply saturated would feel totally inauthentic, not sure why, I'll have to ponder that.&nbsp; I have worn amethyst and midnight blue in the past but they are so close to black that they are more black light than actual colors.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pondering-achromatics-vs-neutrals#post-2198645 Sat, 29 May 2021 13:30:34 +0000 Helena 2198645@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>FI, interesting question (and I'll look for that other post). I think (again as a general rule, not saying I do this 100%) that I am pretty good mixing any colour with any achromatic for myself. So for example, I've never had an issue with navy and black together, or brown and gray, or cream and white, let's say. Now I might not wear these for every occasion (e.g. I tend to avoid lots of white in winter for practical purposes), but it's not because I don't like the combination. The red top - do you mean the striped one? If so, that's a perfect example where *my experience* of colour makes a difference - the stripe is navy and so to me it feels very "colourful". I would mix red with any achromatic though in principle.&nbsp; Sidebar: most of my jeans also work as "neutrals" for me - but that's a whole other topic Suffice it to say, without jeans I'd never wear that striped top as wearing it with navy pants would not work for me - too colourful! :D</p> <p>Staysfit, yes! The word neutral has so many uses - for practical purposes in fashion, it really means (I think), a colour which the wearer feels good about wearing with almost any other colour - hence Angie has red as a neutral, you have your soft and light tones as neutrals, I have my achromatics as neutrals.</p> <p>I've learned a lot from this discussion; thanks for indulging my pedantry everyone! xoxo </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pondering-achromatics-vs-neutrals#post-2198641 Sat, 29 May 2021 12:58:25 +0000 Staysfit 2198641@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have also struggled with neutrals vs. achromatics. &nbsp;I find &nbsp;Suntiger’s and Phoebe’s comments very helpful. &nbsp;The neutral in a wardrobe or in decorating is functional vs it’s strict color science definition, and therefore each individual may make use of colors or achromatics differently as neutrals. I do not favor either black or white. I agree with you that colors used as neutrals do not evoke the same feeling of dressiness, professionalism, coolness/edge, crispness, sophistication, etc. as black and white. &nbsp;For example, browns, Forest greens, greys, teals, blushes and olives evoke more relaxed, natural and earthy sensibilities. &nbsp;Navy, lavender, and dark eggplant to me seem almost like bridges between these two categories. &nbsp;I have tried to use grey as a neutral, but as mentioned there are so many shades….warm, cool, dark, light, greenish, purplish, bluish, pinkish, that they can be hard to mix and match….a neutral should go with everything else. &nbsp;Inky navy is another color I have tried as a neutral but it seems too harsh. &nbsp;I am veering towards mid to light shades of color as neutrals. &nbsp;This summer for example, I have purchased light teal. Slate blue, Pearl grey, and rose beige to use as neutrals. &nbsp;If I like wearing them, I will slowly shift towards using less charcoal, navy and espresso as neutrals.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pondering-achromatics-vs-neutrals#post-2198610 Sat, 29 May 2021 07:29:45 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2198610@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Helena, yes, that does make sense to me—thank you! One of the things I like about ylf is all the little lightbulb moments I get when someone explains why a thing works or doesn’t work. I didn’t recognize that was what this is for you, because our basic reactions to mixing colors are different. When I keep in mind that it makes you uncomfortable, the rest of the post falls into place for me. Thanks.</p> <p>ETA now I’m curious how you feel about mixing different achromatics with colors. Blue and white is a classic, crisp combination, one I’m always drawn to. When I see blue mixed with black, which is more unusual, it’s interesting to me and I like it. Does that work for you, or do you prefer it with white? Or your red top that looks so good on you; is there a particular achromatic you consistently return to for that particular red? In theory, it shouldn’t matter, because they are all the absence of color. I think of white and black as different “colors” so for me it makes a real difference. But if actual color is what you respond to, then maybe that doesn’t make much of a difference to you.</p> <p>I hope you don’t mind me asking. It just fascinates me to find a basic difference in people that hadnt registered with me yet after all these years on this earth. </p> <p>Now I’m off to check mirianna’s post on the black, white, and blue dress that Janet also tried on, to see if you commented. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pondering-achromatics-vs-neutrals#post-2198590 Sat, 29 May 2021 02:15:20 +0000 Jenni NZ 2198590@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Interesting thread! I think mainly of black and white as neutrals, so I suppose I’m with you? And I do have some charcoal pants I wear like that also. The brand called them “pewter”.<br /> I guess I like some fashion neutrals too though, especially olive, on me. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pondering-achromatics-vs-neutrals#post-2198587 Sat, 29 May 2021 01:57:39 +0000 Helena 2198587@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>It is so interesting to read about everyone's use of neutrals, and how to achromatics work so differently for some vs. others! A great testament to how style, and colour in particular, is SO personal, because we experience it so differently! Thanks so much everyone for sharing your perspectives :)</p> <p>FI &amp; Phoebe - yes, this is just me putting terminology and an explanation around something that I've noticed for myself, which is that despite my efforts I can't make anything work as a substitute for black in my wardrobe, because anything that is not an achromatic, I <i>experience</i> as colour, and usually like mixing multiple colours. So even though, say, navy is considered to go with just about anything, to me personally it doesn't - ergo, it's not very functional as a neutral for me. I wear it, but as a colour, and generally with achromatics This is not to say that anyone else should do this (or even that it's true for me 100% of the time) or that I care about the terminology distinction from day to day ... but <i>knowing</i> the distinction is useful to me. Does that make sense?</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pondering-achromatics-vs-neutrals#post-2198560 Fri, 28 May 2021 22:15:10 +0000 Anonymous 2198560@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I feel like this is kind of a terminology issue.</p> <p>The word "neutral' within the science of color may mean the achromatics but in fashion and home decor "neutral" describes a function. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pondering-achromatics-vs-neutrals#post-2198558 Fri, 28 May 2021 22:10:20 +0000 Anonymous 2198558@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Somewhat related - I think of certain items as neutrals due to their natural material. Brown or tan leather shoes, belts, and bags, tan straw hats and woven items, raw natural fabrics - I’d consider them neutral because they’re basically in their natural hues. But I wouldn’t consider brown dyed clothing to be neutral in the same way. This also applies to denim, which we’ve all universally agreed to treat as a neutral even though it’s blue. So I wear neutrals if you consider these accessories and jeans to be neutral, but I wouldn’t select the same colors in other clothing.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pondering-achromatics-vs-neutrals#post-2198551 Fri, 28 May 2021 21:53:23 +0000 Tanya 2198551@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What an interesting post, thank you for starting it.&nbsp; &nbsp;I agree with the scientific definition, and also see how "fashion neutral" definition works for most people. I am cool summer, so the coolest season that is not winter, and my approach is to mix both - I wear both white/grey/black and navy, which is my most flattering (fashion) neutral.&nbsp; I have been working on building a small capsule of items that combine both black and navy (perhaps with the addition of white) to bring the two halves together.&nbsp; &nbsp; I also find that my preferred neutrals change with seasons, but those are consistent year to year: in winter my wardrobe is based on black/grey, in spring on navy/white, in summer there is a lot of (soft) white with a touch of black ( and in the last few seasons some browns), and fall is navy/cream, a touch of grey, and also lately some browns.&nbsp; &nbsp;Browns are from recent fashion trends. and may go away in a couple of years from my wardrobe, but the rest is pretty consistent.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pondering-achromatics-vs-neutrals#post-2198544 Fri, 28 May 2021 21:28:36 +0000 Anonymous 2198544@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Here's a topical podcast about grey. It's an hour long, so I didn't listen to it. But-in case you have a long commute or patience or something, lol!<br /> <a href="https://www.chrysaliscolour.com/episode-26-grays/" rel="nofollow">https://www.chrysaliscolour.com/episode-26-grays/</a> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pondering-achromatics-vs-neutrals#post-2198531 Fri, 28 May 2021 20:45:07 +0000 Synne 2198531@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Learned a lot in this great thread! I have always struggled with navy. It is in no way a neutral on me. It is very... loud. Like black is. I feel like a walking exclamation mark. Never chic and subtly polished like you are supposed to feel in "neutrals". </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pondering-achromatics-vs-neutrals#post-2198527 Fri, 28 May 2021 20:39:00 +0000 LaPed 2198527@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Roxanna, I like "pop neutral"! Great term. White is definitely a pop neutral for me. I think of black as a grounding neutral. Great for shoes, as well as base layers that are only partially visible -- like tights or tank tops.&nbsp; &nbsp; </p>