https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/springsummer-neutrals-for-the-high-contrast---winters-and-dark-autumn Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Mon, 04 May 2026 15:47:21 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/springsummer-neutrals-for-the-high-contrast---winters-and-dark-autumn#post-531425 Sat, 04 Feb 2012 22:07:26 +0000 Mellllls 531425@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>also, what about an oatmeal color as a neutral? or bronze? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/springsummer-neutrals-for-the-high-contrast---winters-and-dark-autumn#post-531416 Sat, 04 Feb 2012 21:57:35 +0000 tarzy 531416@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I remember coming across this post when I was researching my article on PCA:</p> <p><a href="http://blog.prettyyourworld.com/blog/2011/06/by-request-warm-weather-looks-for-the-deep-autumn.html" rel="nofollow">http://blog.prettyyourworld.co.....utumn.html</a> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/springsummer-neutrals-for-the-high-contrast---winters-and-dark-autumn#post-531413 Sat, 04 Feb 2012 21:55:28 +0000 Mellllls 531413@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>i think you've got some ideas to start but i was also going to suggest using a medium blue as a neutral. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/springsummer-neutrals-for-the-high-contrast---winters-and-dark-autumn#post-531411 Sat, 04 Feb 2012 21:49:19 +0000 Mo 531411@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm going to give another plug for olive or army green. I wore my capris that I altered into bermuda shorts more than any other thing in my closet all summer long. And it was a long summer!<br /> As for the swinging temps, you are going to have to depend on layering for that one. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/springsummer-neutrals-for-the-high-contrast---winters-and-dark-autumn#post-531308 Sat, 04 Feb 2012 19:49:04 +0000 Elly 531308@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks for all of the insight ladies-- I think you've helped me better figure out what is going on with me, even if I'm not sure how to deal with it yet. </p> <p>A big part of it is that I don't wear muted colors, dusty colors, mid-tones, most pale colors. ect--- they aren't part of my "palette" and from experience they don't tend to look good on me. In the winter it is a non-issue to do a tone-on-tone look with dark neutrals (navy, chocolate, black, charcoal). It also isn't hard to incorporate brights and still avoid the "black and a pop of color" look by mixing with other dark neutrals. In the summer I find it harder to do-- the dark neutrals look too dark. </p> <p>I think a huge part of my issue is that I don't wear white or cream-- I look decent in both, but don't wear white to work because I get dirty at work, and often don't wear it in hot weather because of the issue of body chemistry and sweat staining. I have nothing to "lighten up" my dark neutrals or serve as a bridge between them and brights. </p> <p> I think part of my reaction is that there are very few pale or mid-tone colors that look good on me-- most of the colors are bright and rich or deep and dark. Claire does beautiful looks that incorporate a lot of lighter and mid greys with fabulous mid-tone and dusty blues (sometimes + turquoise (or red or another bright) or navy). Khris mixes her dark neutrals with muted dusty neutrals. Aida-- I'd agree that you wear a few more of the wintery shades better than I do (you look great in the light greys you were posting, which I look like death in)-- you have those light neutrals that help you bridge your darks and brights. Angie wears a ton of "my colors" and lots of black, but successfully bridges with white. </p> <p>You all made some excellent points about looking for olive, camel, and navy! </p> <p>I also think that part of my problem is that I just don't know how to dress in the heat, or especially to accommodate our harsh sun and widely swinging temperatures. In the past I was always working landscaping or construction -- and when I wasn't at work I was doing similar work at home, or headed to the mountains. I haven't worn anything sleeveless, shorts, ect. in years. Living somewhere hot it wasn't a problem, but figuring out what to wear so I don't freeze until 10 am and then bake until 6 pm is a little trying. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/springsummer-neutrals-for-the-high-contrast---winters-and-dark-autumn#post-531216 Sat, 04 Feb 2012 17:45:46 +0000 chewyspaghetti 531216@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don't like typical summer colors, or bright colors. In the summer, I wear a lot of olive green, browns, navy, white/cream, black and muted colors. I think that if you keep your eyes open, you can find the colors you like in summer appropriate garments even if they aren't typical summery colors. I also wear a lot of dresses. It's easier to coordinate with just one piece- and it's easy to add leggings and a jacket/sweater and change out footwear for the drastic changes in temps over a day. Maybe prints with your neutrals will feel more summery? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/springsummer-neutrals-for-the-high-contrast---winters-and-dark-autumn#post-531142 Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:17:40 +0000 Meredith1953 531142@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Mostly I wear my wardrobe year round except for turtlenecks (fall, winter). I do like black, offwhite, grays for winter, and lighter brighter colors for spring and summer as a rule but if I really like a color I do wear it year round. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/springsummer-neutrals-for-the-high-contrast---winters-and-dark-autumn#post-531134 Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:12:38 +0000 jayne 531134@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I go ahead and have two capsules, summer and winter. The winter is dark, grey, black, charcoal, with hits of bright (since I am winter colored)...and then summer is sand, pink, and lots and lots of white. Winter is the dominant season and it is the one with the most clothes so I can vary and have fun. But when summer FINALLY comes around (sometimes only a week)...I enjoy! It is like having vacationing clothes that get used only for that. Of course, the hard part is the transitional weather, fall and spring...So I try to use summer as long as possible in fall, and start as early as possible in spring. I have made the transition easier by having transition shoes and tights and lighter jackets, in both the summer and winter colors. The clothes are distinct seasons but the extras can fit into both. Did that help? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/springsummer-neutrals-for-the-high-contrast---winters-and-dark-autumn#post-530669 Sat, 04 Feb 2012 02:26:38 +0000 Aida 530669@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ooh ooh I know this one! Elly I had the same problem as you.... until last summer. I decided to experiment: I gave up black as my primary neutral and went with gray and white with MUCH success. I wrote a brief review of it and there was some good discussion you may find interesting: <a href="http://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lighten-up-thoughts-on-mostly-giving-up-black-for-the-season" rel="nofollow">http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....the-season</a></p> <p>I think your coloring is a bit more Autumnal than mine. If you don't wear white, light gray is a good option. And if you don't do light gray, even subbing in charcoal (or navy) for black is a good option; or swapping out chocolate browns for caramel browns. As for olives, how about a mossy green? The richer green plays really nicely with summer colors (like coral, turquoise, and the like). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/springsummer-neutrals-for-the-high-contrast---winters-and-dark-autumn#post-530549 Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:52:10 +0000 Diana 530549@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yeah, I just wear all my dark and saturated colors year round. I do have a couple of white/off-white skirts but I don't generally wear much white except in patterns. I guess my summer colors are a little brighter but still super-saturated. My light colored neutral for summer is bare skin. For example, the same skirt+booties combo looks totally lighter and fresher without the dark tights in between. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/springsummer-neutrals-for-the-high-contrast---winters-and-dark-autumn#post-530494 Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:03:25 +0000 Anonymous 530494@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Our winter days sound like your summer ones. The temperature changes are sometimes quite dramatic. The only suggestion I have for colors is to look for sleeveless blouses (or whatever it is that you want to wear in the summer) in the fall and winter. They do make them 4 seasons of the year --think women having hot flashes in the winter who never wear sleeves--and they would be more likely in "your" colors in the fall. Even if khaki and dusty olive aren't your best colors, they're usually availible in some shade during the summer. They'd be ok for bottoms, wouldn't they?<br /> I love layering with a scarf too. It can be a great color vehicle and it's easy to take off or loosen later in the day. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/springsummer-neutrals-for-the-high-contrast---winters-and-dark-autumn#post-530491 Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:02:42 +0000 rae 530491@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I just wear my colors year-round, regardless of season. Sometimes it's hard to find the right things, so I try to keep my eyes peeled for my favorite reds, citrons, and now oranges in the tank top, tee shirt, summer dress sections. Sometimes it doesn't work at all, and that's where fabric dye comes in. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/springsummer-neutrals-for-the-high-contrast---winters-and-dark-autumn#post-530489 Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:02:03 +0000 Jewell 530489@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm a deep autumn and in spring/summer I wear lots of blues and greens. Actually just about all shades of blue and green (except for pale ones) look good on deep autumns. Below are some of the color combinations I wear in warmer seasons:</p> <p>navy (looks killer paired with orange)<br /> purple and white<br /> bright green and yellow</p> <p>Tomato red is another option that is consistently recommended. I don't wear it often, but I get compliments every time I do. Check out the site below for more recommended colors:</p> <p><a href="http://www.thechicfashionista.com/autumn-color-analysis.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.thechicfashionista......lysis.html</a> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/springsummer-neutrals-for-the-high-contrast---winters-and-dark-autumn#post-530465 Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:34:17 +0000 Elly 530465@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Although I am still shopping for my dominant season (have a pair of wool slacks in my cart as we speak-- perfect for my next 3 months of winter), I've started to think about summer. </p> <p>I seem to struggle with my non-dominant season. We have hot days with very cool mornings and evenings (and sometimes AC) here. It isn't abnormal for it to go from 34 F to 95 in like 12 hours. That can be a challenge in itself, since you have to start off layered up and strip down to an ensemble that works fairly bare. </p> <p>However, I think one of the things I've figured out is that I never know what to wear in the summer. Being a deep or dark autumn, almost all of my neutrals are dark or fall-ish (black, charcoal grey, chocolate brown, ect). They seem too dark/contrasty with more summery brights, and the spring/summer versions of "my neutrals" and other colors are often too pale for me. I don't see a lot of bright or deep olive in summer appropriate clothing, and the paler, dustier versions look bad on me. I don't wear white. </p> <p>So, I end up wearing a lot of medium and dark denim paired with a bright shirt. </p> <p>What do you do? </p>