I like torontogirls plan! Sensible with a degree of flexibility!

If you stick with a colour palette that suits you well, many of the pieces can be used together!

Alternatively, if you have a well rounded wardrobe of neutrals you could add your choice of colour- either your fave or 'the' colour of the season!

I'm going through an experimentation phase now, after having a pretty consistent and small closet and color range for awhile.

My main neutral is black, but gray (in a range of tones like mrs eccentric describes) is recently taking over.

The teal turquoise mint green range is my newer main accent.

There are a few shoes/jackets in earth tones: olive green, mushroom, and dark grayish brown. They generally work well with almost everything else.

I used to wear a lot of deep red, but have almost none of that now, but do have some deep coral/pinks. This is a big departure, but I'm really drawn to it and it seems to work with my coloring, have to see how much gets worn.

Trying navy/ink blue but having trouble getting the exact shades to match is making it a sideline rather than main neutral.

When I'm shopping now, I mainly shop for one attribute at a time, since I'm scanning thrift store and off-price retailer racks. So I'm either searching for color (I recently added some bright white and lilac), or another single attribute (pointy-toed flat, longer narrow neutral skirt).

I am not working on a color palette per say. I have always bought what I liked. But this time round I have chosen a few colors that I would like to add to my closet. More whites and navy. May be a few reds and citron. That's all :). I am a simple creature

Steph, I look at my colours as a range too! Pink=blush to Victorian to a dark rose (I'd love to add berry pinks to that range too but haven't found the right kinds yet). Blue-green= a pale greyed mint to robin's egg to teal. Blue=pastel to French to navy. Purple=mauve through violet (theoretically at least, if I could ever find the right shades). My red range is smaller, going from cranberry to burgundy. Grey=dove to medium to charcoal. Taupe=a light, cool sand colour to fawn/donkey to mushroom. I have light/medium/dark versions of almost every colour I wear (considering pink is really just light red by another name), and if I don't have something in the range, I'm looking for it when I go shopping. (What can I say? I love colours & having a variety at my disposal.)

E -- we are colour buddies!!

Only difference, I think, is that I also wear black. And I haven't really explored the minty greens at all...and some burgundies don't work (they can't be browned burgundies...more claret.)

You can wear brighter/stronger (purer?) colours than me Suz. I can't balance your cobalts or fuschia or brighter whites or even the shades of berries you wear (I can only wear heathered or very grey versions). And there's no way the orchid colour would work on me. But we've definitely got overlap too! I think we're more similar during the f/w since you said go brighter & lighter for s/s. And of course in our neutrals (taupe for the win, hehe)!

I bet the there are shades of mint (or light blue-green, perhaps it's not green enough to be real mint? I'm not sure) that would be stunning on you. I have to be fussy about them (most are too saturated or bright or green), but the right ones do marvelous things for my complexion.

Have any of you ever had a colour consultation? I used to do a ton of them in Hong Kong and I will say that it made my shopping life about 3000% easier when I got my colour palate. It's very liberating as it is more colours than you might think you can wear PLUS that way almost everything in your closet will work together. In addition, many stores are organized by colour so you can skip over everything that doesn't suit you.

I stick with Navy year round and white. I like different shades of red for different seasons. I use caramel and camel in fall and winter and khaki in spring/summer. Focusing on this mainly preppy palette helps keep shopping focused.

Of course I do like to add a trendy color in small doses and am looking at blush pink this spring and love a little turquoise and coral. Metallics are my neutrals and are year round.

But of course if I love it I don't think "this is not my color palette". It would be unusual if it would not blend with my mostly neutrals.

color palette? since the backbone of my wardrobe is black and navy, almost any color will work. i don't buy a lot of color, but when i do, its because the color/item appealed to me. no color master plan.

I have a color palette. I stick to it religiously because even subtle various result in wardrobe orphans for a variety of different reasons. My color palette was developed after years of testing and I continue to refine it.

For me, having a color palette really makes shopping easier.

My all time neutrals are blacks(but smaller dose for spring than in winter), navy, ivory/cream/whites(biggest dose), grey(more lighter greys for spring). olive(only 1 pants) and taupe(smaller dose than in fall). Then, my SPRINGY pops of color are coral, springy purple which is a deep radiant orchid (for only 1 jacket) and citron. Does this feell constricting to some? I dunno, as I still find it much to work with but still, my outfits come together much more easier than if using more colors, so am very pleased.

Hi Shanon, I started doing this last year. I am really liking it but I am not uber restrictive with mine. I decided my base colors would be black, navy, gray, olive. denim ( which really isn't a "color" per se ). The great thing about this for me is that my color combinations have expand greatly. I will wear cobalt with army green, teal with army green, green with navy, teal with navy. You get the picture. I used to ground everything in black.

My "accent" colors are greens, teal, and blues and deep purples. Though I do throw in a berry colors because I love them. In the winter I do more berrys with grays and navy. I am wearing metallic shoes more. I love gunmetal. You can do "mini" color capsules around base colors. So one berry capsule for example and a blue capsule, for example. That way you always have something that looks good with something else. And I have scarves and bracelets in every color imaginable.

It is working out really well for me. With that said, I do have an saffron colored tunic that I wear in the summer that I love. And I always have a pair of red pants - not tomato red, but cranberry or something like that.

In the end, it makes packing and dressing a breeze.

WOW! Such a fantastic bunch of replies ladies! There is a lot of wisdom here and much I need to sort through. I need to go back and read several of the responses again.

Obviously there is no "right" answer to the question - some of you very definitely work within a color palette and some of you don't.

I like torontogirl's suggestions and need to ponder that for a bit. And Steph (how great to hear from you ), what great information! I totally agree that a color palette does not mean limiting yourself to neutrals. It just means keeping the number of different colors in your wardrobe to only a few.

I do try to stick with colors that are flattering and that make me feel good. But I also like to experiment (yeah...I'm talking to you pastel blue suit!). I wonder if a color palette just develops intuitively and not with deliberate thought and planning? For example, I have noticed when I look in my closet that I have black and white (which will ALWAYS be the backbone of my wardrobe), grey (from charcoal to silver), blue (shades from dark navy to cobalt to denim to pastel). These color choices were not deliberate but rather ones that I just fell in love with and I felt good in. Hmmmm....gotta think about this more and come back.

I just can't stick to a pallet. I am one of those strange people who feel happy wearing yellow in winter.

I pulled out an old photo of my wardrobe and it looks like a rainbow/ mess( depending on how you see it ).

It may be wrong thing to do, but that's what I am.
Sad but true

I add pieces in colors that are trendy -- and that suit me -- for particular seasons.

I have an excessive fondness for grey. Grey cardigans in particular. I keep telling my favorite boutique owner not to sell me any more.

Other than some leopard print items, I eliminated brown, even though it can look good on me. This is because I always end up not having the right bag or shoes to go with brown clothing.

I don't even try to limit my color choices. I love color and have a very wide variety in my closet. When I go to the store I usually just shop for whatever jumps out at me. I very rarely shop with a certain item or color in mind.

So late to this, you probably have more than enough input, but I both limit my color choices and don't. I mean... I have my core colors (citron, emerald, blood red, orange) that I would snap up at any time. When the new Pantone colors come out, I don't redo my personal palette. BUT, I do always take a look. If there's a new shade that calls to me, I'll make a point to try it. Or if my core doesn't feel like it gives the right tone for the season, I'll feel an urge to add something - like this year, with the soft colors.

Oh, I do target colours... sadly, tho, I'm unsure as to whether it reigns me in at all. If I recall, I was looking to see if I could make pastels work for me. I really want a short-sleeved blue pants suit. I also wanted to try something Radiant Orchid and something blush.

AND I'm still on this pine green and circus stripe trip AND have added Big Bird Yellow...

AND I always do navy in springtime...

But perhaps I can claim to be staying away from fire engine red and teal... although now that I mention these colours to myself...

...*sigh.* Clearly a very sad situation here...

I used to feel like I couldn't buy in the same color palette. "Self, I know you love turquoise, look good in turquoise and always are drawn to turquoise but you already have 3 items in that color and need variety. Here, buy it in chartreuse which looks terrible on you." I'm not sure why I did that but YLF has taught me that it's ok, even better sometimes, to stick with a color palette. This summer I plan on sticking with my favorite colors; bright pink, turquoise, navy and white. Maybe a few others will sneak in but only if I really want them!

I tend to stick to similar colours for bottoms and sweaters/jackets... (gray/black) and get colour mostly from my tops.

Having said this, my wardrobe has far too much gray and black and has descended into plainness so I'm not one to give advice (but I must, or I cannot gain active membership status apparently. ☺)

Don't have much to add to the plethora of information you already have...
I was nodding along with what unfrumped said about not feeling restricted by my color palette (black, grey, blue, green, and purple with a smattering of dark brown, white, and red). I love the ease of pairing items in the morning.
I also thought there was something to Jules' comment about silhouettes although I know you weren't asking about that. I will be pondering limiting the silhouettes in my closet in the future.
And finally, I can relate to AviaMariah's comment about previously forcing myself to buy in another color. I have so been there. Now if it doesn't come in a flattering color, I don't buy it regardless of how much I like the style... and also if my closet happens to be oversaturated in a particular color despite it fllattering, it does not come home with me.

AviaMariah - you nailed it for me too!