Help Needed - Changing Colors

Laurie

I need some help please. I'm 53, pretty fair skinned, green eyes, tend toward a rosy complexion. My natural hair color is a mix of an ashy brown (level 4) according to my hairdresser and a good bit of white mixed in along the temples. To make a long story short, I recently had my red/gold color treated hair toned down to get the red out. The red is gone, it's a light/brown beige, and I'll admit it suits my skin tone much better, and makes my eyes brighter. I tried on the colors I'm supposed to wear as a "cool" - raspberry, true blue, and true white, and I admit I look better in clear, somewhat bright colors. The problem is, I have a closet full of browns, camels, rusts, olive greens. I'm naturally attracted to these colors. My personality is really quite conservative and I'm an introvert - even though I'm a Human Resources Director - go figure!

Anyway, I just don't know how to wear these colors. Intellectually, I know they make me look better, but I feel really "out there" in them. I'm a classic dresser - a little on the feminine side - like dresses and pencil skirts and cardigans. Any ideas how I can successfully mix my browns, cognacs and beige in with cooler colors? Unfortunately, I'm not a scarf wearer. My climate is too hot (South Florida) and I have a pretty short neck and large bust which doesn't look too swell with a big wad of fabric plopped on top of it.

Any advice would be appreciated!! I think my new neutral is going to be navy, and at least I have some of that in my closet. I know that Angie says that color is all relative, but I'm just not too clever at mixing colors together. Thanks much!!

12 years ago

Dressing

11 replies

Latest reply was from Laurie

Gigi

Veteran

Hello! I'm not the greatest at mixing colors either, so I won't be much help. The only thing I can think of to recommend is to wear silver jewelry with your warm-colored outfits. I just read a book on style (The Triumph of Individual Style), and it said that if you are a mix of warm and cool in your natural coloring, you can bring that mix out in your dressing by wearing silver-toned jewelry with a warm-colored outfit, and gold-toned jewelry with a cool-colored outfit.

12 years ago

Sheila

Veteran

I recently went thru this process. I had loved olive green and the neutrals and in the summer had a color analysis done and found out that bright clear "winter " colors suited me. I had thought because I had light green eyes that these warmer colors were best but I have seen it myself.
Slowly, slowly... I am changing my closet over. I had many nice pieces that I thought fit well that just do not work... I see it now - more specifically now that my hair is back to it's natural state. I had always thought I was a Blonde ! No ! I have a dark beautiful ash shade - it shocks me !
I am terrible with colors but know that I have to look for full saturation, nothing faded or muted... full bring it on slightly warm color.
I understand now that faded blue jeans will do nothing for me.. I am better off with yoga pants or black or gray dress pants.
I don't particularly like black but it is a hard color to eliminate completely. it is EVERYWHERE !
I was not used to these colors but this is what you need to "look normal". Read some of the 12 blueprints blogs... she has some interesting thought as well on adapting to a very different way of seeing yourself.

12 years ago

Catnip

Veteran

This is a problem and, without a scarf, I don't know how to make the existing colors work with your newly discovered colors. I went through a similar experience with my colors some years ago. I finally threw out all the wrong colored items. Perhaps you could start slowly with one outfit in your new colors and see if you like it and can adjust.

12 years ago

Caro in Oz

Veteran

I think browns & cognacs look really good with navy so I would try mixing them up first. Can you buy a couple of patterned tops/tanks or blouses in the new colours & wear them under your current clothes?

12 years ago

Sheila

Veteran

When I first realized I had to go in this direction - I resisted it. I felt due to my age that these types of colors were not appropriate. I wanted to blend in... but what happened was that I blended in too much. She writes about it here..especially removing the hair color block.. it needs to be replaced by color AND the right color or you tend to blend in too much. http://12blueprints.com/index.php?s=silver

12 years ago

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I think there is no reason to step away from colors you like. Color is just one element of style. Proportion, fabric, textures, drape, fit and design also play a role. If you are looking to directly flatter your face and hair, how about finding necklaces, scarves, tops, bags and other accessories in your "best" colors. The currently popular statement necklace can pack a lot of color punch near your face and is a great alternative to the scarf.

12 years ago

Suzanne (ambergreen)

Veteran

You may just have to test things. But I think you have the right idea to start with your best neutral. Maybe from there, add one of your old *or* new colors to it and see what you think. You may be able to play both sides with the neutral as "moderator."

This is an intriguing question to me because I've actually gone the opposite direction. Back in the 80s, which was when my early 20s hit--often the time in a woman's life when fashion is most influential--I wore the black and jewel tones that were the style then. I'm sure the jewels and deep, blue-based colors were a reaction to all the earth tones of the 70s. Well...no wonder I didn't look very good back then. I am not cool-toned. As a slightly warm neutral, I've always found color quite tricky (gold jewelry rarely works, for instance). I've found that many browns (but not beiges!) and grays work well, so I've added them to the blacks and silvers I've always loved. But navy usually looks downright blah on me, so I'm a little envious!

Sorry for the ramble...I guess I just want to say that you have a lot of sisterhood in this area. Have fun with your style evolution!

12 years ago

Laurie

Active Member

Thank you all sooo much! These are great ideas.. the statement necklace, getting some tanks in more flattering colors the blog. And it's nice to know that I'm not the only one going through/gone through this process. I feel kind of dumb.. I wore all those saturated colors when I was young, but I also had my hair very dark and my skin was younger and lighter than it is now. I took to heart some of the "go lighter, go blonde" that you read in some of the How Not to Look Old books, but all it did for me was make my skin look ruddier and blotchier. I'm just going to have to figure out a way! I just ordered an olive green handbag yesterday from My Habit that was a bit expensive, and I love my cognac Dooney and Bourke satchel. On the upside, I have a tendency to tie my dollars up in accessories, and thrift my clothes. Have to look at the bright side! Pun intended

12 years ago

Helena

Veteran

What about gray? I think that looks very sophisticated mixed in with browns/cognacs, and also speaks to your more quiet, conservative characteristics. Mixes great with navy too. I find all the blues pretty easy to wear - I too am not very "out there" and they always feel quite classic and comfortable.

12 years ago

nancylee

Veteran

Laurie, I'm going through a very similar transition, so I really feel your pain! I am attracted to the same colors as you (cognac, olive green, rust) and have built a whole closet around them over the past couple of years, but I recently had a color analysis that pegged me as a Bright Spring. So, the same as you, I've just discovered that bright and clear colors look best on me rather than the muted soft colors I'm more naturally attracted to…..sigh. It has been a difficult transition for me, but I have to admit that the bright and clear colors really make my skin look brighter. I trend warm (compared to your cool) so some of my color discoveries might not apply, but I am in the same boat as you in trying to rethink my colors.

After my analysis, I did a quick purge and got rid of the "worst of the worst" colors in my closet: anything dusty, dark or dull had to go. But, like you, I kept cognac, chocolate brown, and army green because I really like them. Slowly, slowly, I'm changing my closet over to incorporating some new neutrals (like light dove grey and warm ivory/eggshell) that better suit me, but I do struggle with combining my old favorites with my new colors.

torontogirl's suggestion of grey is a really good one. I know Angie recommends cognac paired with grey, so you might want to try that. Like Cocolion said, the attitude toward color pairings here on YLF tends to be "you can wear any color as long as you find the right shade for you or pair it with other colors that work well for you." (Hope Angie forgives my very rough version of her color combining advice!) 12 blueprints is indeed a good source for learning about color.

Good luck! I am very slow to understand color and color combining, but I am learning every day with the help of YLF. You'll find lots of knowledgeable women her on the forum who can help guide you through this transition. Posting pics helps, so don't be shy!

12 years ago

Laurie

Active Member

Thank you nancylee! It is hard, especially since I had just discovered this color palette about a year ago. I think it made me feel safe somehow - not being too out there. For I while, I thought I might be a neutral - my green eyes seem to throw me off and make me think.. well, I might be a mix of both. But the ashier hair color was a real eye opener in more ways than one. I think of the earth toned colors as being sophisticated I guess. I'm just going to have to do some experimenting and playing around. Maybe some vibrant colors will be good for me! Thank you all for the support

12 years ago

Category