Great thread. I read somewhere that the contrast level of your outfit is one if not THE most important aspect of dressing. There's so many things to think about it's a wonder I can get dressed in the morning!
Here's a great series of articles and videos from insideoutstyleblog on dressing for your personal contrast.
http://www.insideoutstyleblog......trast.html
and
http://www.insideoutstyleblog......right.html
Several years ago I had my colors done and it was deteremined I am a "Soft Autumn" so have medium to low contrast. I also don't have an "out there" personality so prefer the lower contrast colthing. For me, I feel taller, thinner, more elegant and the clothes look more expensive - I hope anyway!

I'm late to this thread but still wanted to respond to your very interesting question.
Somewhat surprisingly to me, because I'm quite introverted, I tend to be a high-contrast dresser. I'm a winter and often pair a jewel tone with black or white. Today I wore a navy tunic shirt with white linen pants and navy shoes. I just looked over the outfit lists I've been keeping, and I almost always combine a darker color with a lighter one. Or I wear no-contrast, column of color outfits. But in keeping with my personality, I choose classic pieces which do not call attention to themselves.

I think we are confusing two different things:

1. High or low contrast between clothing items close to your face. Like wearing black over white.

2. High or low contrast against your skin tone.

Image consultants usually say that people with my complexion and hair colour – low contrast – should not wear high contrast next to their faces. So I shouldn't wear black and white on top. But I do, and enjoy the combination. I also wear black on its own - high contrast on me. I wear shades of white on their own - low contrast on me.

Of course, high contrast can look overly harsh - and low contrast can look overly blah - which is why it's a point of discussion in the first place. You have to find those high and low contrast sweet spots. And on top of that - it's all subjective anyway. So go with what YOU think looks fab. I can think something looks overly harsh - whereas the wearer thinks otherwise. An image consultant will probably say I look awful in black and white - but I think otherwise. The wearer has to wear the outfit and feel fabulous. End of story.

I am totally on board with Angie's answer. It can be so complicated sometimes as to why I pick what I like, but the bottom line is that it works for me somehow. In general I do prefer the clothing items to be low contrast to each other (like Suz said, otherwise it feels like the clothes are wearing me) but I often like to wear solid colors such as navy and black that are high contrast against my skin and hair. My most common "uniform" tends to be mid range colors (dark enough not to wash me out, but light enough not to contrast sharply against my skin) with low contrast amongst the colors in the outfit, and almost always footwear that blends with my feet. But... Molds are made to be broken and I sometime so like to mix it up!

I like the looks of both - but for me personally, I am a low-contrast girl when it comes to my own outfits. I believe that a lot of that has to do with my hair, eye, and skin color all being low contrast - as well as the fact that my facial features are soft and round. Low contrast looks best on me.

For me, it does not have anything to do with my mood or personality. I can be decked out in pastel pink and white and still be assertive, outgoing, loud, and/or dramatic!

I like both, depending on my mood. High-contrast outfits, like bold black-and-white stripes, feel more dramatic. I love that. I go for high-contrast lipstick a lot, too. But I also appreciate the beauty of a neutral, low-contrast outfit -- all soft greys, for example -- and many days, that's what I feel like wearing.

I'm with Angie in that I don't necessarily think low-contrast people need to wear low-contrast outfits. I've seen plenty of pale, fair-haired women who look great in contrasty looks. My own colouring is somewhere in between -- I have medium brown hair and fair skin, which is fairly high-contrast, but ALL of my body hair -- including lashes and eyebrows -- is blond. I'm not sure why my brows and lashes are significantly lighter than my natural hair colour, as this doesn't seem to be the norm, but oh well. These things are easily fixed with a swipe of mascara and a brow pencil. My eyes are ice green, and the second you put black mascara around them, my natural colouring looks more dramatic. Dark lipstick adds to the effect. So with a small amount of makeup, I feel I have a lot of influence over my own level of contrast before I even consider the contrast level of an outfit.

Angie, I think you look great in black and white high contrast. It works for you in part because of your verve and energy, and also because you define your brows, add specs, etc. -- in short, what Aziriphale said. We can adjust our own personal level of contrast to some degree. And our personality and body type and energy play a huge role.

Thought I also agree with Marley that just because a woman is wearing pastels doesn't mean she is unassertive or non dramatic. Marley, in your case, your body type, energy, and modern hair style contribute to an energetic effect even if you are wearing low contrast.