An Ah-Ha Moment: Color and Seasonal Light - YouLookFab Forum

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An Ah-Ha Moment: Color and Seasonal Light

Joy

Veteran

An ah-ha moment today while trying to put together yet another cold spring outfit. I had collected some warm items in springish colors for this time of year, but it is dragging on and getting tiresome. I was considering my very small collection of peach...one of my best colors. I have hardly worn any of the pieces that I have had for at least 2 years, I thought because they are not warm enough. But then why do I not wear them when the weather gets hotter? The color! It looks too washed out in summer sun. It would be fine right now.
Summer is the time for brights and black, even chocolate brown. There are exceptions. Do not take lots of black to wear in the tropics. It looks all wrong. Don't ask me how I know this. No wonder pink and mint green houses look cute in Florida but not so much in Omaha.
Colors look different at night than at noon too. Maybe my solution for my existing peach pieces is to wear them on summer nights and find some in warmer fabrics for cold spring? Anybody see a peach sweater on sale?
Anyone else ever have trouble wearing certain colors because of light?

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32 replies

Latest reply was from Joy

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I hadn't thought about this, Joy. I, too, have bought "spring" colors in warmer fabrics to get me through the cold post-winter months, but it hadn't occurred to me that my spring palette might be different than my summer one. I have tended to think in terms of spring/summer and fall/winter. Here in Seattle, the light may be more similar in spring and summer, though. We are so far north (a little farther north than Maine), and the days are already getting quite long (which I love).
I haven't done a great job of having the spring colors in warm enough combinations this year, and I'm feeling a little out of sorts wearing my fall/winter things!
There should be a lot of peachy items out there right now, as it's on the blush spectrum that is so popular.

Joy

Veteran

You are right, Firecracker. I should be looking soon. I have been on a shopping fast and have not been shopping in over a month. I will also be looking for mid tones of peach rather than pastel shades. I suspect that what I have long considered spring would be more like a Seattle summer. I didn't realize that Seattle was farther north than Maine!

Joyce B

Veteran

I agree that natural daylight makes colors and their combinations look different depending on the season.
That is why all the dark colored outfits look great in Winter but not so great in Spring. It also depends on the brightness of the light of the particular place you are considering. I like to wear happier colors in the CA summer than in the East Coast.
Maybe just wear your peach colors now?

Joyce B

Veteran

I think you started a very useful topic.

Ledonna N.

Veteran

Spring feels so short to me I choose to kinda get through it. I see your color association with colors like peach on warmer weather.

We have 4 seasons in the Chi but the past few years it's like spring does not exist you could just call it summer or winter. I just go fir the rich tones of summer.

Joy

Veteran

Thank you, Joyce. My peach items are not warm enough now. I did add a cotton Prana peach hoodie last fall. We are supposed to have 5-8 inches of snow coming tomorrow and Saturday. They may be warm enough if highs get into the 70's F. ( about 20C)
Joyce, I hope it is useful to someone. I wish I'd figured this out before.
Ledonna, those non-existent springs are what I was used to in the Midwest. No transition time at all. It is kind of shocking to have a real Spring.

Scarlet

Veteran

Very interesting thought! I will be examining my own choices now.

Anonymous

Brilliant post. Ideas I hadn't considered until now.

Wearing your peach on summer nights sounds like a great solution.

Inge

(website)

Such an interesting realisation, Joy. Different light definitely affects how we see the same colour, but I'd never really given this much thought as far as my own clothes are concerned. Going to pay more attention to this.

I found some sweaters, but while looking around, I hadn't realized it's still snowing in your neck of the woods, so most of these are not going to be warm enough for right now (perhaps some fun options for when the weather warms up?). Wool or cashmere would be your best bet for your current weather, I guess? J.Crew is having a sale, but the cashmere remains quite expensive, of course.

I really like your idea of wearing your lightweight pieces in lighter shades of peach on Summer evenings, and trying to find warmer knits in the same shades for Spring. For daytime in the Summer the more saturated shades of peach and mid-tones could be wonderful.

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Bonnie

Veteran

This makes a lot of sense and I'll be trying to work out if it's true for where I live, too.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Coral is a fabulous bright for Spring & Summer. How about that?

anne

Veteran

What an interesting thought Joy. I hadn't thought about this before.

rachylou

Veteran

What a smart thought. Must ponder.

Joy

Veteran

Inge, you are amazing! I will keep an eye on those JCrew sweaters and plan to try some of the others. All these colors should look good on me.
If I were still in Kansas, the weather would be warmer, but at this higher elevation, cold spring seems long, although I keep hearing that this is much warmer than normal. March is supposed to be the snowiest month with possible snow and frost until at least mid May. I will need to add to my cold spring capsules, it seems. Thank you for all your hard work.

Joy

Veteran

Thank you, everyone, for your thoughts. I am glad that I'm not the only one who had not considered the effect of seasonal light.
Angie, coral is a wonderful color for spring and summer, I agree. I feel like I have a tan wearing it, whether I do or not. i am excited.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Oh definitely - the light in Israel is very different than the light in the Northeast which is very different than Florida (the three places I have spent the most time). The difference between Israel and the US is really stunning and everything looks much more harsh here, which may be why you generally see less very bright clothing. White is very popular though.

Joy

Veteran

Shevia, that is so interesting. i would love to know more of your thoughts on how the light affects people and their choices in these places.
I have never felt comfortable in bright colors in European cities although it is often cloudy.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Really interesting idea here. I only wear brighter colors in the dead of summer, so that makes sense.

unfrumped

Veteran

Great observations!

Is very interesting to separate temperature from light quality in understanding " mood dressing" with the seasons. The twain are not always in sync!

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I have never considered this! I love colour and yet obviously in winter I can feel very happy in much more black, grey and olive than I would in summer. Texture and details become important then. This will mess with my brain a bit Joy, might take some pondering.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I agree wholeheartedly. I tend to wear brights and black in the summer, and of course white and off white. If I wear black in the cooler months it's paired with darker colors like maroon or dark green most of the time. In recent years I've been doing a denim, navy or grey-based look in the winter most of the time instead of black.

Even though the temps aren't that different, I find the summer light in northern CA much 'brighter' than the summer light in the Midwest where I grew up. It washes less assertive colors out and kinda bleaches everything.

Anonymous

You are bang-on with your observations and I have similar responses to changes in light. I love peach too - and now that you mention it, realize that the pieces I do have are all for this time of year. Same goes with white and pale grey. It seems to work best right now, which I didn't click on until I typed it. Hmm. Off to check out my spring clothes against this new info

cjh

(website)

Veteran

This makes so much sense, - that we would want to wear colors that "coordinate" with the daylight. It must be the reason that for many years now, I have always had a soft and warm pink pullover sweater, which I wear almost non-stop in late March and April. I discovered this solution a long time ago when going out to dinner with friends on spring days - it might even be warm during the day, but in the evening it is often downright cold, especially in restaurants. The favorite black, navy, gray or dark teal of winter doesn't feel festive, dressed up or friendly, in some ways.

I've had a few different ones, each replacing a former version that lasted a few years. The first one was that soft Cashmink type knit, then a cotton blend crew-neck, now a substantial cotton with cable pattern, similar to the Volcom pictured, except a V-neck. They are perfect for this time of year with either a long- or short-sleeve t-shirt under, or a white, print or denim button blouse.

Thanks for the discussion topic, Joy. Very timely and interesting! I love the pink and peach options Inge added.

Joy

Veteran

Thank you, chewy spaghetti, unfrumped, Jenni, Laura, lisap, and cjh. It is good to know that I'm not alone. Lisa, I also slur my white and light grey at this time of year more than any other. White jeans are especially worked hard and I need pale grey bottoms that are heavy jeans.
Cjh, I will look for the fabrics that you mention.

Style Fan

Veteran

Great observations Joy. We have been in Florida since the end of January. I am always interested in the architecture and how it fits with the landscape. In Florida the houses are painted the colours you mention and they look lovely. I am not a fan of pastels but it must be the light and also surrounding area that makes it work.
Maybe that is why I loved the Southwestern States so much. I found the landscape in Arizona and Utah amazing. The earth and foliage were shades of terracotta and teal. I blended right in. The light was probably just perfect for me too.

LaPed

Veteran

When I lived in the Southwest, I found I was able to wear a more varied (and arguably more interesting) palette year-round. Mustard, lavender, aqua, blush... I've largely, though somewhat subconsciously, eliminated these from my New England wardrobe, except for a few high-summer pieces. Hard not to lean heavily on black and navy in the Northeast, while in the Southwest the same colors mostly look too dour and formal.

lyn67

Veteran

Completely agree. Spring is the only time of the year when I use to crave some (but not so much!) pastels, and brights are only for summer.Then, it is all about neutrals, deep and smokey colors, a lot of contrast.

Bijou

Veteran

I absolutely agree with you. Where I live the light is very bright and so all colours look more vibrant. Whilst I do wear colour, I am mindful of how I combine it and soften brights. This also applies to make-up which can look "over done" when in bright lighting.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I agree 100% about this, Joy. I seem to crave (and look better in) brighter versions of my best colours during the spring/ summer. Also, white. I have a pale blue cashmere sweater exactly for this time of year, and I also reach for my lilac coat. In winter the pale blue washes me out.

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