Oooh, Anna, the booties are gorgeous - I usually end up with a 6 because of width. Wish they weren't final sale!

And I follow Aakasha although I haven't checked in lately. Thanks for the heads-up. Who was the Etsy designer that we both got harem pants from a while back?

OK, now I'm really getting confused because those red boots Anna posted look almost exactly like ones in my closet, but I'd thought of them as "polished". Maybe a bit edgy with my dark denim and grey peacoat for an senior, though....?

Gaylene, they're not RATE to my eye - just a bit edgy. I don't think RATE and edgy are tied together.

I think it is this one, wow that was a long time ago. I got rid of mine as they started to fade. But they were great

https://www.etsy.com/shop/Babo.....ss_profile

OK, I'm safe, then.

But, wow, that Aakasha site is a find! Call it "architectural" and I'd wear those pieces in a heartbeat!

I think it's fashion buyers who are playing it safe selecting designer items for retail stores mostly in black and grey because they think it will sell better in stores in those colours. Perhaps that's true, but I'm not that target market.

It would be interesting to see how much use of color in fashion fluctuates with the economy. I'm sure someone has studied it. Somber times, somber colors? It should be the opposite for our mental health!

How would you classify these? They are RATE to me (regardless of colour) by virtue of their studdliness, but I think the Rockstud has also become iconic. Even in pastel pink and nude, and flat - they scream 'I colour outside the lines!'

Hmm, I don't think of the Rockstuds as RATE - edgy, yes. Would be interested to know what others say. Love those colors! Edgy/RATE color can be found but it just requires more looking all the time.

I think the trend towards minimalist closets has encouraged people to limit their personal color palettes. I think a lot of bloggers and others get caught up in the "perfect black pants, perfect white shirt" sort of quests, and end up with a whole wardrobe full of black and white.

Also, it's become more acceptable for women to be "uniform" dressers, and I think for many this leads to a limited palette, regardless of where they fall on the classic/edgy spectrum.

Also, pattern mixing, which has become pretty big in pinterest-land etc, is a lot easier with fewer colors -- or maybe people are more excited about pattern mixing because they're wearing less color?

Also, I see a lot of looks that rely on a lower-investment piece for a color pop, such as scarf, belt, cami, etc. So maybe there is an economic element -- people don't want to invest in a color they may not love for long? or that may be "over" by next season?

I'd agree with Angie that any color can be polished or RATE depending on the wearer and the context, and same goes for prints and materials. We've reached an era where even denim is not inherently rough or casual anymore -- and it certainly isn't as edgy as it was 50 years ago!

I love those Rock stud shoes. I wish I could wear them. Maybe I will buy them and just bring them with me to events. And wear comfy footwear.

Not feeling very articulate, but I just googled Queen Elizabeth for the rainbow of colours that I don't wear. I am not polished.
Re rock studs, edgy perhaps, but very popular, designer edgy - once something is that popular I do expect to see it in many colours and patterns, similar to converse. Pretty mainstream at that point. Things that are truly outside the lines don't tend to get made in so many iterations.

Enjoying this thread particularly the examples. Una I have no trouble being RATE in any color - even in an argyle sweater, but agree that finding individual pieces in certain colors is less easy.

Una I was thinking specifically of Rick Owens when I made my comment about muddy/dirty colors being less polished. Sorry if those words are like nails on a blackboard to some of you

I am a fan and wearer of muddy colors. Check out these Rick Owens pieces in shades called "Dark Dust" or "DNA Dust" or "Blood" or "Petrol." Of course putting the dark side and grit into his color names is also part of his brand.

I think that's why I often tend to stay in the darker end of my color spectrum! Soft Summer colors are often used in garments that are not streamlined and simple enough for my taste. Generally lots of romantic vibes, ruffles, cutesy patterns... I look good in some of the lighter colors and even like them, but I never really find them in garments I love. I guess they are either too casual, too cute or even too polished. There isn't often that middle ground that I prefer.

I like that Rick Owens dress # 3. Nice colour. I just worry that it would draw a lot of attention to my hips. Like did you know I have HUGE hips? Also love #2. No issues there.

Question - do you think we are getting trapped in semantics on this. Imagine a theory suit (can you get more polished). Imagine a suit in every color (very joseph and the amazing technicolor dreamcoat) from white all the way to black. By definition each with have the same silhouette, tailoring and level of polish. But the value of the color of the neon green, tomato red would be completely different than black or white. The experience of seeing and wearing that color would be different because they have completely different energy levels. I got the feeling, and perhaps it's wrong, that you use polished like I would use understated and elegant. Dark colors, quiet colors have an understatement which lets them fade to background in a way those brights will not. I see where you are going with this, but I think we get trapped by language and hung up on the term rather than the experience of the same piece in a different color. Neutrals can be polished understated and timeless, more saturated can be polished high energy, pastels can polished but soft. Each color has a level of energy, associations, level or brightness that is different. The same piece different color totally different experience. Does that make any sense?

Personally, I find it hard to imagine too many neon colors as part of a polished look.

Willing to trust Angie that it's all about the wearer, but to me neons look juvenile.

Gryffin, you have a great point about black being an understated color. However, it's only understated on those who look great in it. It can overpower some people. Those people would look best in a color that better suits their personal coloring. I do agree with April that neons look juvenile; but again, it depends on who's wearing it and for what occasion. It's not businesslike, at least not according to the norms set forth by Corporate America. I still think that just about any color can look polished.

I have to agree with Angie here. The key is in the wearer because I absolutely can imagine someone looking polished wearing neon colors. I've seen it. My DD can manage it. Maybe it's a rare quality, and something that very few people do, but I'm certain it exists. She's an artist, but doesn't exactly have an arty boho look. If I were to give her a style moniker it would be Polished Rainbow, I might include the word neon, but she doesn't always wear neon.

I like that! Polished Rainbow! I can't wait to tell her!

Back on track now, sorry, thanks for this post Una. It's a very interesting read!

Just realised I didn't really answer the question. I think that every color can look polished if the garment is right and it fits the person wearing it. We associate certain colors with certain attributes, but I think that's more because for example most edgy clothes are made in black, less because black is edgy on its own.

April, I wear neon, and don't feel juvenile. I've attached a few pics so you can judge for yourself! *smiling*. (Thanks, Staysfit).

RunCarla, the Rockstuds are 100% Polished.

Una, that would be an interesting study.

Gryffin, you make a lot of sense as always. And so do you, Astrid and Staysfit. Your comments really resonated with me.

What a fascinating discussion! There are so many interesting thoughts here - and we haven't even talked about cultural associations with colors. For instance, in India, traditionally white is worn for funerals, and red is a bridal color.

I do agree that any color can be polished, RATE, edgy, classic, or made to suit any style - it's just a question of finding those items when you've limited your color palette already due to seeking flattery, minimalism, cohesiveness or other reasons. And what we bring to the table has to be considered as well. I don't think it's possible for Angie to look anything less than polished and glowing.

I love neons and find that a combination of neon and grey can look professional and polished. Aida and I both have a neon necklace from Ann Taylor that looks very modern and polished although it's not subtle at all!

You raised great points, Una. Good thread! And thanks for the kind words.

It seems to me that we cannot think of colors in clothing without also considering fabrication. Burlap will never be as polished/refined as polished cotton, after all. I, personally, like to see juxtapositions of unexpected (femme?) colors in a masculine style or cut. Unexpected fabric is probably harder to do for practical reasons.

So I would go for an orange moto jacket and a dark gray or olive fit'n'flare dress. . . .

I wonder how much of this has to do with our early associations with certain colors or patterns or styles, too. Someone who grew up watching her mum dress is '80's "power suits" might view a similar style today as polished, while someone else would see it as edgy (perhaps because the shoulder styles and colors of the '80's were different from today's). I definitely tend towards perceiving certain colors as more polished than others, but then I see outfits that smash my perceptions to smithereens. But our biases toward or against certain styles and colors come out loud and clear in MANY posts here, and how we view an item tends to depend very strongly on the wearer (we see something as edgier when one person wears it and polished when someone else wears the same piece) and deep-seated opinions we often didn't even realize we had.

Echo, I love being able to discuss these topics here with this incredible group of women, because they bring so much to the table - style discussions can be just as profound and philosophical as a SCOTUS opinion, and often are way more interesting!

Lol, Echo. My mom didn't wear the power suits. I did. All through the '80s. The strong colors were not my best, which is why I have a palette of more toned down colors now, but the clothing looked polished & professional.