High vs. low contrast - please help.

Mellllls

I don't know if I think of high-low contrast in the same way as you but I do like to wear high contrast looks. For my mostly conservative look, it gives me some edge I think.

11 years ago

Suz

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Veteran

Contrast refers to the balance of tones in your complexion, hair, eyes. It can also refer to the same in clothing.

Someone with very dark hair, light skin, dark eyes is naturally high contrast. She will be able to wear high contrast clothing (eg black and white) easily. Bright true colours will typically also work well without overpowering her or washing her out.

Someone with light hair, light eyes, and fair skin is more low contrast. Wearing all black or ink is a high contrast look on her. Black and white is also high contrast. This may or may not work. Depending on many factors. How she balaces the outfit. Whether her eyebrows are pale or strongly marked. Whether she wears specs.

A medium toned or light toned outfit will be more harmonious with her natural colouring but less dramatic. So the success of high contrast is related to the need for drama. A low contrast dramatic classic can carry more contrast in her outfits than a low contrast soft natural.

11 years ago

AM

Veteran

Thanks guys. And I probably posted this prematurely without searching the archives. I just did a search on the word "contrast" and there was a lot written on the subject. Sorry for covering old ground.

Suz: I see you have written some great posts on the subject already, thank you for continuing to educate us newbies!

11 years ago

psychedelicate

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Active Member

I would not say that blonde and fair automatically equals low contrast. I am blonde and extremely fair. However, I am not low contrast. Lower contrast than someone with my skin color and black hair? Yes. But in a black and white picture, for instance, you see how much contrast my eyes alone have (I have a very dark limbal ring), and the range of values in my hair is very high. So it is not as simple as light=low contrast. This plays out in my need for very saturated colors, which I wear with dark ones.

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11 years ago

Anonymous

Imogen on 'Inside out Style' has a couple of posts about it : http://www.insideoutstyleblog......ep-process

http://www.insideoutstyleblog......trast.html

Hope these help too

11 years ago

E

Veteran

I'm naturally around a medium contrast, but I've found I'm pretty happy wearing outfits with all kinds of contrast levels, as long as the colours/neutrals I'm mixing are flattering to me. So I'm not going to wear optic white & saturated black, because those colours overpower me, but in my last outfit, for instance, I combined a deep navy (softened a bit because it was velvet) with a soft white/light grey striped tee, which is high contrast for me. Here's my outfit pic in grayscale, although of course cameras don't capture tones in the same way as our eyes, and the b&w processing changes it even more, so my trousers & scarf look a bit darker/more saturated here than in real life.

To my taste, low contrast combinations feel most soft and romantic, particularly if they're also low contrast with my own colouring (vs just with each other...so a dark purple top & navy bottoms would be low contrast with themselves but high contrast with my skin), medium contrast are probably my most used option, because I like to have a break in the outfit at my waist, and high contrast (to each other) gives me a bit of extra drama. They all work, if I make sure the colours I'm combining flatter me (in my case, that means sticking with muted shades, as I'm easily overpowered by stronger colours).

I do think this is also related to bookending/repeating colours. Since my hair is a medium tone, it's *easiest* for me to wear medium values on bottom, as I'm automatically echoing them. When I opt for very dark or light values instead, I try to echo that colour somewhere up top. With light values, I can echo it with my skin if I'm showing any (not in the depths of winter, LOL). With dark values, I don't have any natural options. Hence my eternal hunt for medium value, cool toned, non-suede shoes. Sigh.

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11 years ago

AM

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psychedelicate: Thank you for opening my eyes to using a black and white photo. This is definitely a new tool. You've made me consider all my facial elements including my black glasses. And these concepts are getting more refined for me with your smarts! Thanks for adding another level of depth to these concepts.

You have a wonderfully striking face. I unfortunately look like the girl next door.

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11 years ago

AM

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Diane G: Great videos. Helps make the points very well.

E: I definitely start with what I think looks flattering to me (as you mentioned) and what feels great. I enjoyed reading your post for additional shopping smarts -- and simply a richer understanding of tools (and just for the fun of it).

Again, thanks for showing me a black and white image as a tool. And your description of this image was fabulous in making some key points. And the last two paragraphs -- going farther about romance, book-ending, your waist, etc. -- very helpful in terms of providing examples. Makes it all very practical. Many thanks!

11 years ago

Helena

Veteran

AM, for what it's worth, I thought you nailed the contrast in your black and tan outfit from a short while ago - the dark glasses with your softer coloring was a great balance to the tones and contrast in the outfit

11 years ago

E

Veteran

I'm glad it helped! I was trying to be specific for just that reason. In my experience a lot of the 'art' of personal style can be broken down into practical decisions, if that's how your brain works. And my brain finds that to be great fun! hehe

Looking at your photo in grayscale, it looks like you're naturally lower in contrast, for what it's worth.

11 years ago

AM

Veteran

All: Yes, I'm lower in contrast but the black glasses can change things up.

torontogirl: Thanks for referencing that outfit. I actually have been thinking that in all my darkness -- I like that bit of lightness. This is a new insight. Glad to get some validation. It was actually an accident that yielded learning. Love when that happens.

E: I like the theory for a richer understanding and but think it is so important to make it practical. You get entertainment, cerebral activity, and greater ease with dressing/shopping. And I like when things get easier...

11 years ago

Suz

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Veteran

I agree with psychedelicate -- my example was really painting with a very broad brush. Of course there are blondes who are (relatively) higher contrast, and she is definitely one of them. I'm like E., more medium contrast, but even so, when I had my colours "done" it turned out I could go a lot darker than the analyst expected. I actually look really good in charcoal and although black probably isn't ideal, I wear it and like it as long as there is a bit of skin to break it up. And I don't tend to wear all black.

By the way, I wasn't saying blondes don't look good in black. Au contraire. Lots of them do!

B&W photos are great for helping us to see ourselves a little differently and for highlighting the tones. It's a nifty trick!

Imogen Lamport has a whole series on contrast that might be helpful, too! This is an area I am still working out for myself for sure.

11 years ago

Echo

Veteran

I am naturally high contrast, with very pale skin and fairly dark hair (and VERY dark eyes). I find that highly saturated colours work best on me, and I very much favour extremes. For example, I wear a lot of black and cobalt, and for contrast I prefer white or the palest pink. In between colours or low-contrast outfits in general do not look very good on me. I have to be very careful with neutrals, as "soul sucking" applies to all sorts of colours for me and not only beige!

11 years ago

psychedelicate

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Active Member

Yup, black isn't bad on summers, really, especially True Summers. I think I am Bright Spring, and a dark-leaning one at that.

11 years ago

AM

Veteran

FYI I wore a white (with black stripes) scarf next to my face and I wasn't sure it was too much white. That is where my question originated. This scarf struck me as potentially too much. See below. (This was my ink out)

Suz: You describe yourself as medium contrast. Then when you had your colours "done" it turned out I could go a lot darker than the analyst expected.

3 questions:
Who did your colors?
And when you say the analyst was surprised that you could go darker -- did that make you more spring, summer, or was the analyst using a season concept?

AND thanks for sharing the Imogen Lamport series. I'll need to check this out!

Echo: When you say: "I wear a lot of black and cobalt, and for contrast I prefer white or the palest pink." How much white/palest pink do you add to these outfits?

psychedelicate: What is bright spring? Is this a version of Color me Beautiful?

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11 years ago

psychedelicate

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It is sci/art. The most well-known version of sci/art now is 12blueprints. http://12blueprints.com

11 years ago

AM

Veteran

psychedelicate: Thanks. I just went to the website. I was hoping for "quickie" guide -- maybe groupings of colors for each type. Haven't found that yet but I'm just getting started. Thank you. And if you know of any quick references, let me know. And thanks again!

Just found this.

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11 years ago

psychedelicate

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There's nothing quick about sci/art, unfortunately. I've been at it nearly a year. I think I'm bright spring, but I won't know until I get professionally draped. Sci/art doesn't define season by hair or eye color, so there's no, "if you are x and y, you are z." It looks at skin reactions to colors. Like in Light Spring, I turn pink and flat.

11 years ago

E

Veteran

I don't think your contrast levels are correlated to whether you can wear light/medium/dark colours: after all, the point of contrast is how you combine the colours. Like Suz, I can go quite dark in my colours, as long as I keep them muted. I can wear a dark heathered charcoal grey for instance, and really like how it defines my features.

The sci-art seasonal colour system argues that some people are going to look best in either darker or lighter colours, but for others it's more important that the colours be bright or muted and for others the key is whether the colours are cool or warm. This idea worked well for me, because it was terribly obvious just from looking in the mirror that I'm overwhelmed by anything saturated. And mustard yellows and olive greens make me sallow, while blues and pinks make me glow, so it was pretty easy to decide between summer and autumn. lol I couldn't afford a professional draping, but I'm comfortable with my self-diagnosis. So now I mainly wear muted colours from the neutral to cooler end of the spectrum, although not always. What I like most about following a defined palette is that it's very easy to mix & match: almost all of my pieces go with each other (colourwise), because they have fundamental things in common. And of course I like how much better they flatter me! My mom looks beautiful in this vivid grass green, while my niece can pull off intense neons and black/white stripes with aplomb, but put either of those next to me, and I just disappear. I find the way colours interact, both with each other and people, fascinating. But I do understand why some people find the idea too restrictive!

I'd recommend searching the word 'landscapes' on the 12 blueprints site. Those are the posts she does that discuss the overview of every season, although she includes personality discussion in with the colour bits that I'm much more skeptical of, but the colour writing is really evocative. This post illustrates some general 'colour equations' for the different seasons. And once you have a better idea, you can search for a specific season & see a lot of good illustrations & descriptions. If you're on Pinterest, here are the boards of an analyst with lots of beautiful photos for each season.

11 years ago

AM

Veteran

E: I had developed a palette based on Intomind -- and then when I looked at the SciArt -- I felt like Soft Summer was correct. I also felt like mustard and yellows weren't good but pinks and blues were more my thing. I also looked back with regard to black, brown, and muted colors -- so again (and based on similar observations) -- my self assessment would be Soft Summer. See my board on this. I'm a powerpoint gal when it comes to my tools, style, and outfit planning.

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11 years ago

AM

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E: The links you provided are excellent. Color equations, etc. Really, really helpful! A Big Thanks!

11 years ago

E

Veteran

Looking at your first palette (and of course how it appears on my monitor), I could wear the pearl grey, navy, the top greyed blue, and the two roses down at the bottom. I can't wear solid black. It's not my worst colour (that would be things like neon yellow or apple green or bright orange), but the eye gets drawn to the black instead of to my face. And whites are really tricky for me too: pure whites are too bright & also overwhelm me but creams can get too yellow, so I have to find that soft white in between them. Olive green turns me yellow, but cool greens like jade or a silvery sage are some of my best, which is funny since sage & olive don't seem that dissimilar in theory. And I've yet to come across a cooler, muted yellow, so I don't have any in my wardrobe. Oh and the lighter blue would be too bright & light on me, just making me look awkward and somehow ungainly.

But I'm not an authority on flattering colours for anyone but myself! And of course have never seen an analyst, so I'm not an 'official' soft summer. Just sharing my experiences. Suz generously sent me some clothes last year, and it was interesting that quite a few of the colours were too saturated for me at at the very edge of how bright I can go. Whereas she balanced them beautifully.

Why do you want a palette? Are you looking to limit your colours more? Or figure out what's most flattering? Or just curious? Because depending on the reason, you'll know how rigorous an approach you should take re: sticking to one season.

11 years ago

AM

Veteran

E: Very interesting to hear what has worked for you and I feel white is very tricky. Soft white for sure -- not too yellow (the cream factor) or that screaming white. But a touch of white to give lightness.

The white near my face in my Ink outfit was what began this questioning of high contrast and low contrast -- again, I really think it was much more to do with what was next to my face. But the broader issue of color is 1) I enjoy a limited color pallette for sure, 2) I really enjoy black and gray and 3) I struggle with two different sides of my style. I have the creative urbanite (I worked in advertising and the better part of my career was spent in NYC, LA, Portland/OR -- that reflects my love of black, gray, minimal -- and I enjoy a little drama) and then I have my roots in Virginia (classic, sophisticated) -- and I want the quilted classic farm jacket (in olive), hunter rubber boots, navy blazer, etc.) My challenge is to make some of these classic outfits (that might have some color) feel more urban. I think just by adding black and adding some modern pieces this is all going to feel more congruent. But it is a struggle. I pulled some images recently and in the process I've seen that Sarah Jessica Parker (urbanite) has Hunter boots for example (they are black). And she has some other classic elements that read as urban based on her styling. This research is helping and in the end I just want to avoid mistakes.

11 years ago

psychedelicate

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Active Member

AM, I would say that sci/art palettes don't really create a limited palette, unless you select certain colors to base your wardrobe around. You still have an entire rainbow of colors; you just select shades of said colors that have a certain set of characterstics.
You may be interested in seeing David Zyla and learning about his system; he gives you a much more limited palette based on body colors and works with you to create a customized archetype that works with your personality and lifestyle. http://davidzyla.com I haven't seen him, but everyone I know who has found it very helpful and really enjoyed the process. There are people who have even seen Kibbe in person who much preferred their Zyla experience and recommendations.

11 years ago

Suz

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Veteran

AM, I'm not all that confident in my draping. It wasn't by someone trained in Sci/Art but she did use similar categories (i.e. 12 seasonal categories.) When I say I'm not confident, I don't mean that I believe she was "wrong." I just realized, while she was doing the draping, that I already knew what worked on me for the most part, and with a few exceptions had always worn those colours. In the end, to be completely honest, I am not all that enamoured of the colour "systems" anyway. I think they can be helpful guidelines, but if people start getting tied up in knots about very small gradations of hue, it starts getting crazy. In the end I think we should wear the colours or neutrals we love. There are always ways to make almost any colour flattering if we want to.

I found my analyst online (she is local); this was before I came to YLF. I had just lost a lot of weight and wanted to buy new clothes and didn't want to make a ton of "mistakes." Similar situation to yours.

It was immediately evident that I am cool toned. And I'm clearly not a winter.

Because my complexion is quite light and my brows are also naturally light, the analyst thought I would be light or maybe a soft summer. (My hair was covered so that wasn't part of the equation). But the lightest tones in the summer palette are not good on me at all. What's good on me is cool. I can go quite dark or quite bright as long as that condition is met.

By the way, I may be wrong about my personal contrast levels; again, it is hard to be objective about ourselves. But having looked at B&W photos and tried Imogen's suggestions for comparing the greyscale. medium to medium-low contrast is my best guess for myself.

11 years ago

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I am low contrast but find that make-up can keep you from looking washed out in a high-contrast outfit. Or an all black outfit.

11 years ago

Mellllls

Veteran

hm....i have trouble with high contrast--low contrast. i find the look more appealable when a light haired skinned person wears dark tones versus the opposite (which is my coloring).

11 years ago

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