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introducing colour into outfits-not black rutting

Sally

Veteran

I really feel I have come miles with my dress sense after being on here. I am feeling fabulous not falling back on jeans and long top but I still need to bring more colour into my wardrobe. I think it is because I am scared of a lot of colors. I suit black and while I have dark hair and pale skin, I have a red tinge to my skin which a lot of colours tend to bring out. I have never found a pastel I could wear. I know I can wear white, cobolt blue, emerald green and sometimes purple, and that mustard colour (fennel). I am really envious of those who wear colour combinations with very little black, grey, navy etc....how do you introduce more colour into your wardrobe slowly and find out what suits you.

Shopping

20 replies

Latest reply was from Ornella

Inge

(website)

I'm going to sound like a broken record here, but for me scarves always do the trick, Sally. They're a small pop of colour and they're close to your face, so you'll quickly see if the colours you've picked are flattering or not.

Bags and shoes are also great to start with. A bright coloured bag or fun pair of shoes (see also Angie's blog post today about red shoes) can really transform an outfit.
I used to think that bright coloured accessories wouldn't be versatile, but I was so wrong: especially if you wear lots of monochromatic outfits, they really go with everything and since introducing them into my own wardrobe, I feel like I'm having much more fun with fashion.

P.S. Perhaps you could try to find a few forum members with the same colouring you have and see which colours they often wear/look good in, and then try those yourself too?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Lovely advice from, Inge!

Start by adding tops in more muted colours, Sally.

taylor

Veteran

Good advice already.
I also add color in an accessory first...Scarfs, belts, shoes , handbags etc:)

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

Sally, what is your gut feeling? What colors do you think you look good in? What colors do others tend to notice on you (nobody will comment on the colors that make you look washed out and drab)?

I'm on Team Logical and had to reaffirm my preferences for certain colors (only to come back to those I instinctively thought were right for me) through learning some rules regarding my color type. I suggest you look a little into that and once you identify the colors for your type, try some simple things out, like scarves or simple vests for a pop of color. While I like color, I don't like any color. I will probably never be able to wear pastels, and while I had spent a significant amount of time focusing on what I can't wear and thinking it's the end of the world, I have realized that the color that is right for me is the only right choice. Hope this makes sense I still make mistakes, of course, but at least I do not get high blood pressure because peachy and beige blouses do not look good on me.

Aida

Veteran

I went the complete opposite route and purchased a couple tops in bright colors (either solid or striped, no crazy patterns to start with) that I liked which suited me, just dove right in. Pair with a black cardigan or jacket to mute it down while you get used to it

Or as others have suggested, a dark outfit with brightly colored accessories can look very chic as well! Scarves, jewelry, and handbags are all great candidates for color.

Muted colors paired with smaller doses of the brighter version also looks lovely. For example, a navy top paired with cobalt accessories.

Isabel

Veteran

Yup, that is how I started ! Though it took me a decade ( no kidding ) to move on from scarves and jewelry and get a color shoe last year and bag !

Jewelry really is a great way to do it. And it is really inexpensive at places like Target or Clare's even.

Kristine

Veteran

Good ideas! Also, how about adding more color in skirts or pants? That way you don't even have to worry about how the colors works on your complexion. I feel braver about a brightly colored skirt than I do a brightly colored top.

Kate

Veteran

Just stop buying things in black. If you find something you love in black, step back and look at the other colors that you're missing out on by buying the black one. If you like one of the colors, get it instead.

Marley

Veteran

All great ideas. Also, try tieing one of your scarfs onto your purse handle - a really easy way to start adding color without even having to worry if it looks good with your hair or skin coloring!

Vix

Veteran

Hi Sally --

First: I'm glad you are feeling "fabulous" about how you've shifted your dressing lately!

In addition to all the YLFers who've been where you are (including me!), I have a few real-life friends who've BTDT and I know that when we dress with more intention and care people *do* start to note our internal and external changes...even if they don't say anything. So enjoy feeling good!

Second: Having REALLY been in your place re color, I will try to give a few more tips in addition to all the great ones others have already provided.

I consider myself a recovering blacktextile-a-holic, so black will *always* be more comfort zone/"comfort color" -- Kate's advice to "just stop buying black" is great but makes me panicky to read, ha!

But in the 5 years since I started trying to figure out my style etc I have actually gotten to the point where I wear head-to-toe "color-color." [At times. And in between the monochromatic or "with a tiny addition of color" black/grey/brown outfits. ;)]

So it can be done, and I know you'll find a lot of support on YLF as you try to figure out what works for you.

Tips to come in a separate post....

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

Vix, this is another great ylf-ism - blacktextile-a-holic :))

Speaking as someone who often used to choose all-black because it was the safe option, I can now say that I still wear black - but I feel it differently. Now it is my choice to "do black" as opposed to "fall back on the black" out of pure desperation, I feel I am in charge of the outfit, and that makes quite a difference.

Vix

Veteran

*** Sorry this post is photo heavy, I thought it might help you visualize more easily ***

Ok, I'm back. As another pale-skinned brunette, I will say deep neutrals like black, dark chocolate, navy/dark denim and eggplant have a tendency to look very normal on us as they echo our heads!

Even in summer, I find I rarely wear a "light color only" outfit...it makes me feel unbalanced.

Anyway -- on to incorporating more color! If I had to go back and do things again, I wish I'd added *pattern* into my black'd out wardrobe much, much sooner...but I was a-scared of pattern as well as color.

So based on my doing things non-ideally, I have some take-or-leave advice about what to look for as you transition.

Tip #1 [Pics 1-6] : Pick striped/patterned/printed scarves, tops, or details that contain a MAJORITY of the colors you're currently wearing.

-- It sounds like you may wear a lot of grey and navy as well as black? Then look for patterns with those and maybe one other "color-color" to ease into things.

-- However, if you're wearing mostly black, try to step away from it by wearing outfits that only use alternative dark neutrals -- like grey or bitter chocolate brown. I find these shades are a great gateway drug to color-color, and tend to actually look better with a lot of color-colors than black. Bonus: they also look great *with* black.

You said:
>>>I know I can wear white, cobolt blue, emerald green and sometimes purple, and that mustard colour (fennel)

You're already off to a great start! I began by adding variations of certain colors (blues, purples, greens, rose) to my closet so I think you'll find your colors will be easy to work into what you have.

Tip 2 [Pics 6-12]: Pick jewelry or striped/patterned scarves, tops etc that contain a MAJORITY of the colors you know look good on you and that you like -- but make sure they also have some black, navy, or dark brown in them so they "flow" well with your dark neutrals.

[BTW, many patterns with black/navy/dk brown read the same, so make sure to try a print that has black with your navy or brown clothing and vice versa.

Behavior Change Tip: I consistently overestimate how much color-color I have, so the last 1.5 years I have taken a hard look at my color-color vs dark neutrals balance and "forced" myself to commit most of my clothing budget money to color unless there was a true need for the neutral.

I try to follow a 3:1 ratio -- because otherwise I find (as Kate said upthread) that it's very easy to default to something new in black!

Ok, that's more than enough from me! Good luck and keep us posted on how it's going...as you can tell this is a subject near and dear to my heart, ha.

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Vix

Veteran

Ellie I was busy writing my novel when you posted.

And I agree completely -- I still really love love love wearing head-to-toe, not-even-a-smidge of-color-color outfits, but it feels *intentional* now. Plus new dark neutrals have to fit, flatter, and have a purpose in my closet -- not just get into my basket because they are black!

Also: because those machine-washable dark neutrals just looooove to fade even when I cold-water wash inside out, I make sure not to wear them past their lifespan anymore.

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

Oh Vix, I thought I died and gone to heaven. What a treat! I think I remember you now, from the early days of my ylf-ing, I remember thinking how many beautiful individual pieces you have and what awesome outfits you put together... I'm pretty sure it was you, it must be you!

Sally

Veteran

To everyone thanks for all the wonderful advice. I am going to take it on board as I go about adding colour to my wardrobe.
To Vix - thank you for taking the time to put down your ideas. And the photos you posted are beautiful. You look stunning and the colours you have chosen are beautiful and so well put together. It is even more inspiring for me now to go and find more colours and pattens. I like how you more muted colours too which is what Angie suggested. I went out yesterday in a valentines day mood and inspired by Ornella's post and walked into a second hand clothes shop where I found a beautiful red dress. and a red belt. My husband too me out to get some clothes for valentines day and I got red shoes. There was a big stocking/accessory sale and I got a black and grey checked scarf, nice patterned stockings to wear with my new red shoes and black and red tartaned hose. I know have a few cobolt blue tops and accessories, red ones and have started to add purple. I think I will go and get some muted /patterned (in my next shopping period) which incorporate my neutral colours and my new bold primary colours. I dont wear navy (except for denim) but have heaps of black, and a little grey. Yes chocolate does suit me too. I'm really excited about this project. Thanks so much.
Ornella must have posted at the same time as me and I agree 'what a visual feast!" Absolutely beautiful.

MsMary

Veteran

Just beware... wearing color is addictive! I just bought a perfectly lovely black trench coat and ended up not keeping it because head-to-toe black no longer feels like "me!" LOL

Sally

Veteran

@MaryK- You are another one who gives a visual feast when you dress. If you are a converted blackrutter too, well I am hopeful that I can change too.

Vix

Veteran

Hi Sally --

I'm happy the lessons from my trial-and-error process seem like they may be helpful. Your new items sound like they will be great additions as you move towards more color! So glad you saw Ellie's red + black combos -- I almost missed them myself. Maybe we can convince her to post them on this thread for posterity?

Ellie --

Thank you (and Sally) for the bushel of compliments!

I am pretty sure given all the amazing outfit combos on YLF that I am NOT the poster you are thinking of, but I decided it would be rude to argue with you too much about that.

[Since it took me til 37 or so to even START putting any consistent effort towards the whole personal style thing, I am still (at 40+) getting used to others commenting favorably...but truly, big thanks to you both.]

Lynne

Veteran

Gosh, Sally, there's some fantastic advice here - I am going to return to this thread often! Ornelia, I love your comment on wearing black intentionally.

Not everyone would agree with me, but I recommend the book Colour Me Confident, by Veronique Henderson and Pat Henshaw. I paid for a professional consultaion and bought the book afterwards, and I think it's a great place to begin.

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

Sally, I'm so happy to read about you buying the red dress! I can't wait to see it as well as the rest of the stuff you described - it ALL sounds delicious.
And thanks for starting this discussion, there is so much great information here.

Vix, it WAS you, I know. I remember the photographing style as well, I like angled photos!

Lynne, big wave...