Color choice by Theresa May, analyze pls - YouLookFab Forum

Category

General

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Color choice by Theresa May, analyze pls

MsMaven

Veteran

Today our local speaker series featured Theresa May, former PM and Home Secretary of the UK. (The series has been a Zoom session since March 2020.) As I watched her speak for 1 1/2 hours I became fascinated by her fashion choice. Later I Googled some of her fashion photos over time.

First, I thought she looked really good. What intrigued me was her color choices. I like that she has kept her hair natural--shades of light gray, and I like her short cut.

She was in a room with dark gray walls and off-white woodwork. She had on a white top with a bold herringbone jacket in white and shades of gray accessorized by a necklace of what looked like large silver beads. I didn't notice if she was wearing earrings.

In the midst of this shades of gray and white scheme her face stands out--pale skin, dark lips and eyeshadow and very dark eyelashes that look fake but okay. I thought she looked much better now than she has at different times in the past. Looking at past photos, this does seem like a dramatic look for her.

I grabbed a couple of screen shots that are kind of fuzzy, but work for my purpose.

What do you think of this color combination for a woman of 64? And the pattern?

How about the necklace? It kept catching my eye--a little bold for her? I noticed she has occasionally worn bold large link necklaces in the past. I tried to imagine this outfit with a double strand of classic pearls and thought it would be boring.

And what about her makeup? My friend and I in Skype sessions have decided that it's okay for us at our age to cut way back on makeup. However, if I were the featured speaker on a Zoom lecture--?

What do you think?

A couple of screen shots and her photo from the promotional email.

This post has 3 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

General

19 replies

Latest reply was from Stagiaire Fash

Sloper

Veteran

I don't think colors, jewelry or makeup need be driven or restricted by age.

It's a matter of personal style, coloring, body type, need (jobs, events, etc).

She looks great! The colors suit her complexion and hair color (and it is a very good cut too).

I looked at more pix of her online - always looks appropriate for the event.

Here she is in Parliament - all business with a strong statement necklace.

Do you feel she ISN'T dressed appropriately?

This post has 1 photo. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Runcarla

Veteran

She has what I think of as ‘Snow White’ colouring - pale skin, but dark eyes and lips. She naturally has some high contrast going on, and does her makeup to enhance it. Even her natural hair has depth, due in part to the dark under layer. I wouldn’t be surprised if her natural hair as a younger woman was dark brown or black. The out of focus screen shots are particularly telling - you can distinguish her eyes and lips, as well as the dark face framing under layer of her hair which brings the viewers eye to her face. She actually has three frames drawing the viewers attention to her face like a bulls eye - (1) the dark under layer of hair, (2) the light top layer of hair which contrasts with (3) the dark background wall. Her choice of a bold patterned top works with her high contrast features, and the chunky necklace brings the eye up. Brilliant styling, actually, for Zoom. I bet she is a Kibbe Dramatic/Classic mix.

I have no idea about her eyelashes, but DH always had stubby little lashes until he started drops to treat Glaucoma at 60 yo. Now his lashes are ridiculously long and dark, and they annoy him because they sometimes hit against the lens of his glasses and he thinks he looks liKe he wears mascara! Maybe Theresa May is being treated for Glaucoma?

cat2

Veteran

She has often played a bold accessory game, with massive necklaces, bright or bold cuffs, bright gloves, leopard print shoes and OTK boots. Somehow she carries it off; is she tall?

Runcarla

Veteran

Theresa May is a fashionista! I thought the part about bringing a fashion magazine if stranded on a desert island was great!

https://www.glamourmagazine.co.....ay-fashion

https://www.vogue.co.uk/galler.....e-analysis

The chunky necklaces and raspberry lippy appear to be part of her fashion signature.

slim cat

Veteran

Snow White seems the best description- thank you for that @runcarla! Her skin has nice pinkish color, perfect for bright lipstick.
She is playing it to her strength ( she and her team of assistants/stylist ).
I think it’s a great look if you can pull it off. Personally - not able to wear maskara at all.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I am impressed! I think those colored necklaces play off her formal attire beautifully, and as Carla pointed out so nicely, she plays to her strengths. Being in front of a camera and/or audience so much is unthinkably challenging. For me, I mean .

rachylou

Veteran

I like Theresa May! I like her big round bead necklaces. I think she has a sharpness in her features that let her wear big round beads. Unlike myself - I have a little round head and find it becomes too much roundness on me, lol! She looks nice for your lecture there. What I notice is that she has a hairstyle now that requires more coiffing. She probably has a little more time now!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I think she looks great! Contrast, colours that harmonize with her hair, signature piece of jewellery -- she knows what she's about!

Anonymous

She projects authority and capability, and I’m sure the content of her talk was fascinating.

Cardiff girl

Veteran

She was very well known in the UK for her leopard print shoes and gigantic bead necklaces.They are her signature style pieces.l am not a fan of her politics but can admire how ,as a woman,she negotiated the tricky tightrope that is looking professional whilst still retaining elements of feminity and personality.l can’t forget the fuss there was in the press when she showed a modicum of cleavage in parliament.You would have thought she’d run naked through the chamber!
Newsflash,women have breasts!

Irina

Veteran

I remember her wearing leather pants and a week long discussion on it in the media

MsMaven

Veteran

Thanks for all your insights. I idid not realize that her coloring was high contrast/winter. Looking at photos, when her hair was changing color she seemed more sedate. I hadn't paid that much attention to her fashion over the years.

Now I'm impressed--she has gotten bolder as she's gotten older. And as Cardiff girl points out, it is a tricky tightrope she walks.

Cat2, according to Google she's 5'8"--an advantage for her as she is dealing with so many men.

As I think about it, there was an article--I think NYT--about women becoming more invisible as they age. One of many articles I've seen. No way she is going to fade into invisibility.

Here's an article from 2016 that was more the image I had of her fashion, looking more blended in with her husband.
https://www.marieclaire.co.uk/.....-file-3581

I'm going to pay more attention to women leaders' fashion. Back when I graduated from law school the advice to women lawyers was to blend in, but not look too masculine.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I love how the chunky chain necklace seems in just the right proportion to her facial features. She seems to have a fantastic sense of what flatters her features and looks good for the occasion. She looks totally in charge, rather than just dressing the part of being in charge, if that makes sense.

Minaminu

Veteran

Theresa May always used a strong look, with bold jewellery and strong colours, I think it suits her personality and fits well with her political role. I remember she had some tough times when she became prime minister, as some journalists were more interested in her footwear than her actual work (wonder why such comments were not made on her male counterparts!).

I remember there was a big discussion on her leather trousers, one of the articles can be read in the below link from the bbc

Theresa May's leather trousers prompt political row - BBC News

cat2

Veteran

In your study of women leader’s style I would include Christine Lagarde. She nails it.

Chiara

She is also, I’d say, best described as a kibbe dramatic, certainly in her face. This means she can carry accessories and prints at bigger scale, and the clothing of authority (structured, tailored, “corporate”) very effectively. Combined with the ability to wear high contrast, it is compelling!

Sal

Veteran

I think she dresses well - sharp, dramatic and professional. A very hard balance to get right.

Helena

Veteran

Standing ovation for Cardiffgirl's comment!!

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Not knowing her purposes in this talk, I can’t speak to the appropriateness of her attire. I’m a big fan of backing up your message with your self-presentation, so wearing stark contrasts like this when presenting a world view based in very strong differences. But in general, I like the black/white on her. When she’s worn softer colors, I haven’t been a fan of the bright lips on pale face. They work perfectly with this ensemble (including, as runcarla pointed out, the room itself).