Comfortable on the Dark side or Lighten up? - YouLookFab Forum

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Comfortable on the Dark side or Lighten up?

Ledonna N.

Veteran

So, one of the reasons I joined YLF was to seek help in how to improve my wadrobe. I lean toward darker colors even in the spring and summer months. I find the summer to be most challenging, ok down right difficult for myself because of my more gravitational pull to earthy colors. I want incorporate vibrant colors into my wardrobe.

My question is are you Comfortable on the Dark side or do you make a point of adding clothing or accessories that helps you to Lighten up? What is your struggle and how do you deal with this challenge?

Dressing

25 replies

Latest reply was from Beth Ann

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I gravitate towards dark colors too, but as the weather warms, I do feel compelled to lighten up my palette. I love white, so I find myself adding more white to my spring and summer outfits, but I still wear grey and black.

I'm not much of a pastel fan, so I tend to wear jewel tone year-round: turquoise, teal, cobalt blue, even some red and coral. I think combining those colors with white rather than black lightens up my look for the warmer months.

Ledonna N.

Veteran

Thank you Janet, this is a very challenging/stressful time as I transition to spring/summer.

Diana

Veteran

My true love is dark, saturated colors, but I do try to add some white pieces for summer. Plus summer outfits have more bare skin, which lightens up my look too.

I wear black year round though.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I meant to add that metallics really help too. I love metallic sandals, shoes, and bags, especially in shades of pewter, silver and rose gold for the warmer months. Moving away from heavy black footwear and bags really helps lighten a look.

kkards

Veteran

i also on the dark side. but since joining YLF i have worn a mostly all white outfit, white jeans in the winter, and i just bought a pair of white loafers.
i actually found white bottoms easier to wear than colors (colors being anything other than black or navy), becuase it was easy to do a column of color and build from there. looking foward to seeing you work thru this issue. as for me, i built on last spring/summers 1 pair of white pants, and i have 2 new pairs for this year.

Gennifyr

I am comfortable on the dark side. There was a couple of times over the years where I added more colour because I felt I had to and it never worked out. It always felt wrong and I've concluded that navy, black and grey make me happy. There's nothing with that.

rachylou

Veteran

My weakest colour spot is pastels. They're my special project this spring. So far... I've bought a navy coat. Lol.

Ok ok. I also got a blush pink hooded jacket, but after a few days of false spring, it had to go back in the closet. Rain rain rain! And I did get a blush
'fluid' sweater. I'd really love something in powder blue, but there is ZERO out there.

rabbit

Veteran

I have a split personality I think. I'm very comfortable on the dark side + cool greys rather than earthy tones, but I also like occasional brights/pastels.

I think the trick for me would be to identify specific brighter or pastel colors that work with your earthy neutrals. Maybe something in the same color family - so maybe oranges or peaches with reddish brown, or sand or buff (rather than bright white) with mid-range brown tones for example. I also include my skin tone/lip color into the mix as a third element that needs to work harmoniously (so every outfit usually has a trio of colors: skin, neutral, accent color).

Also, like Suz and others have pointed out, nature is a good guidepost to colors that go well together. So landscape photos that combine desert colors with blue skies or purple/orange sunsets might give inspiration ideas. It's also easier to start with small bits of light/bright like an accessory, shoe, or scarf to check out how the color plays with what you enjoy wearing. If that works out, then you can expand. That's how I ended up adding a fair amount of turquoise to my outfits. I got teal shoes on a whim/sale, and then discovered that they worked well with certain pants/skirts so felt comfortable buying turquoise tops.

ETA: It's interesting to scroll through this: http://www.pinterest.com/searc.....20clothing

Not that many brights, but some lighter colors that work well with the browns/buffs

rachylou

Veteran

Back to say summery colours are difficult for me, because I'm Spooky Quirky Waif. They were a little easier to do emotionally when I lived in Suburbia... because people beat you up for being a PIB. But now that I've returned to the Big City - well, you've heard Sunny came home - Spooky has come back too. My whole summer look, in style as well as colour, is in complete disregard for my personal style: Full-skirted gingham sundresses. The heat just sort of wins out. I pretend I'm Sophia Loren and it's the 50s.

...Hmm, I've never thought of it that way before. But colourful doesn't come that often in Spooky. At least, it doesn't to my knowledge. Hmm. I will be pondering this dilemma today I think...

abc

Veteran

I think climate has a lot to do with it. Now that I live in a year-round mild climate I wear white year round, whereas used to I wouldn't. I think being aware is the first thing, then deciding how you want to make a change is the next step. Even adding some jewel tones for fall/winter could help...before long you will be on Team Brights with me

rabbit

Veteran

rachylou - these are extreme examples and may not be your steez at all, but what do you think of the color palettes with black? http://www.pinterest.com/searc.....th%20color

I'm thinking along with cathode ray/x ray colors, Aurora borealis colors, very deep/very saturated cool tones, and pale candyfloss colors all pair well with quirky/spooky/waif black.

Also it's hard to go wrong with a full-skirted gingham sundress, I agree.

ETA: powder blue and pure pale lilac/lavender, where are they?! I've been looking too...

Ledonna N.

Veteran

Diana, kkards, I highly dislike showing alot of skin maybe once a year on New Years EVE. That is why I find it a challenge. I will take your advice and try the white.

Janet, I am going to take your advice and look for some metallic accent pieces.

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Gennifyr I affirm you there Is nothing bad with the colors we love

rabbit, thanks for the insight and the link

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rachylou, your humor kills me

abc, thank you maybe we could have a semi-bright team

milehighstyle (Linda)

Veteran

I'm on team light and bright. I live in Denver, where it's sunny year round (even when it's cold) so maybe that has something to do with it. Although I don't think I dressed much differently colorwise when I lived in a cloudy place. I rarely wear an all dark outfit, never put my white jeans and blazers away, and am more likely to wear black as an accent or in a pattern than as a base.

Ledonna N.

Veteran

Forgot to mention Rabbit I love the link for the outfits

gryffin

Veteran

Nope, Princess of Darkness all year long and happy with that!! I do wear sleeveless, cropped and sheerer fabrics with more movement and cut out booties. But no big change for me. But I enjoy watching everyone elses styles evolve with the seasons!!

rachylou

Veteran

Ladywone - The worst is when they turn the camera on me. I become a complete and total Valley Girl, *like you know.*

I do like colour, but I find most of the time I don't want loud colour. In the tropics, I'd wear it every day. However, the light is so different and it just doesn't mean anything to be a Spooky Waif there.

In any case, I have started studying your Pinterest search, rabbit! Some of my interest in pastels, actually, may have been prompted when I saw this goth girl on the street with the most perfect cotton candy blue hair. I have to think about it because I've a certain penchant for 'harcore punk' - i.e., plain, drab, and basic. My colour would have to be tired without being muddy, since I don't look good in muddy colours. Lol.

Ledonna N.

Veteran

Gryffin, I have an affinity for the darkness also. My sister sometimes says Carolann come back to the light

Milehighstyle, I am willing to try accents of bright.

Rachylou, I admire the goth, and cosplay, steampunk style.

Aida

Veteran

I'm uncomfortable in dark clothing, all year long regardless of season. My hair is dark and black is probably my "best" neutral, so while I have a fair amount of black in my wardrobe I try to moderate how much of it I wear. Bad weather also makes me gloomy and reach for darks, but I try to combat that and instead wear brights. So for me, the struggle is to wear LESS black and wear MORE white! Because of that I have been very happy with the presence of white and lighter winter-weight items the last couple of years, and just love having light alternatives for cooler weather! Needless to say, in warm weather black is just about non-existent for me. I do enjoy using black as an accent color in warm weather, though.

You said you gravitate to earthy colors, and I see nothing wrong with that! They work fabulously in warm weather, too. If you feel that it's too "dark" looking, a little touch of white or cream or pastel could be enough to do the trick for you. Earthy shades with a pop of cream looks lovely to my eye! My sis wears earthy shades and doesn't really change her colors seasonally; in the summer she just wears clothing that's lighter weight. She also adds crochet, open-weave, and cut-out items.

gryffin

Veteran

ladywone - it's good to have diversity!! Not everyone loves the dark side of the force!! So go play in the light and then come back and have fun with us who dwell in soot and shadow!! Honestly, you have the best of both worlds!!

rachylou

Veteran

ladywone - I occasionally rub elbows with the goth+ crowd, and have been known to sport an Edwardianism, now and again - but my question is, "What would Deborah Harry do?" Lol. Or maybe really, "What would Gee Vaucher do?" I will tell you that I once I saw this most sublime couple at the ballet in head-to-toe Mozart. White hair, white satin jacquard, white powder. Sometimes one has to just bow down and go away. That would be me. Lol.

ETA & p.s.: Angie says there's a place at Wear-White Bootcamp for me...

Marmee

Veteran

I love white tees and denim in the summer, and gravitate toward lights and white in the spring and summer, but with my new YLF knowledge, I feel like white and light tops make me look top-heavy, and have been looking for darker things recently.

Vix

Veteran

Hi Ladywone --

A: Both!

The short answer is that I look best in cool tones of medium to dark value. Not too bright, and not too light.

I do better with lighter shades when they're mixed into prints or patterns with black, espresso, charcoal, navy...you get the idea.

It took me forever to figure out that buying those types of prints/patterns made for a much easier transition from summer to fall and winter to spring. Emphasize the dark tones in 'em when it's colder out, and the lighter ones when it's warmer.

Maybe look for prints that mix your earthy loves with more tropical shades?

Oh -- I have no issue wearing my darker tones year round, but as Janet mentioned try to swap out dark shoes for light metallics if I'm bare-legged since I'm on the whiter shade of pale.

rachylou

Veteran

Hmm... that's smart Vix!

dashielle (Ann)

(website)

Veteran

Ladywone, I have the same tendencies for darkness, but then I live in Seattle and we love our black and grey! So you commented on my WIW, and I have to say that how I am leaning this Spring (as in my post), as someone who is both too old to do pastels and sticks to my few/best colors, is find pieces that mix in white. I don't look awesome in an all white blouse and white pants are, well, to0 sheer and unforgiving on me. I look for blouses that incorporate white and cobalts, purples, bluish pinks and turquoise etc. to signal Spring, and will try to bring in some lighter denim or skirts. On the subject of earth tones...I had a picture of Mary J. Blige in a fantastic off-white top and white slacks that I tried sooo hard to emulate. OMG, I didn't realize at the time that skin tone and hair color etc. have so much to do with how clothes look on you. Needless to say, I did dupe the outfit but it was a fail. I look like death warmed over in those tones, but on someone with her coloration...fab u lous. Pick what speaks to you and rock it!

Beth Ann

Veteran

Bring on the jewels......tones, that is! I was in a deep funk for the decade of pistachio, marigold and burnt orange.

Seriously, I'm much like Vix -- a high contrast brunette looking best in mid-tone brights and cool darks. deepest purple makes my eyes green and my heart sing, but it is a daring shade to wear. I love sapphire, and it's slightly lighter cousin, the popular cobalt. Raspberry and cool reds work, too!

Muddy colors are horrifying, and pastels lack the saturation that works best for me. I did discover the wonder of warm yellow accessories last year, and I adore my white jeans. For me, white can be a neutral, but I typically pair it with my favorite brights or deepest black. This year, I've decided chambray blue will be my "near pastel."

I'd encourage you to look into yellows, metallics, and some white to frame your favorite darks beautifully for warmer months. Yellow can be fab with earth tones -- brightening, but harmonizing it. Of course, it's a difficult pairing with black, unless it's a citron yellow. There is the looming buzz of the bumble bee!