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Limiting wardrobe palette/colors

ironkurtin

Veteran

So in an effort to create a work persona for myself, and make dressing easier in the AM, I went through my closet and packed away anything (minus gear and scarves) that wasn't:
- gray
- black
- white
- dark denim blue
- pink
- pale blue

I love my closet now and it is so much more fun. I don't know why this is true, but it is. And it makes shopping a lot more directed. If it isn't those colors, I don't consider it.

I do think I would make room for certain really color-busting crazy pieces, but the vast tracts of my wardrobe are the colors above.

Dressing

48 replies

Latest reply was from ironkurtin

Nicole D

Veteran

Sounds like it will all go together pretty well and I like your choices of colours to keep. Is there a lot left in your closet? Will you get bored? Time will tell.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I think this makes things a lot easier. As long as we love our color choices and aren't bored. I never dreamed having 4 main colors (plus neutrals) would be enough to make me happy.

ironkurtin

Veteran

@Nicole - I really doubt I will get bored. I love those colors.

Thistle

Veteran

I think this is a terrific idea for streamlining morning dressing. It's like your whole closet is a capsule.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

Love it. I'm working on this too & would love to eliminate black from my wardrobe but every time I try to my wardrobe stops functioning.

Carla

Veteran

Funny that. Over the past 10 months I have edited a lot of colour out of my wardrobe as well. Navy, black, grey, white, jean blue dominate. Cobalt, yellow, and purple make supporting appearances. I, too, am very happy with my 'carefully curated' wardrobe. In fact, I've been musing how easy it is to get dressed in the am, in outfits with high happiness quotients, and how even my weekend outfits have been kicked up a notch.

Your choice of pink and pale blue is very 'on trend' as well, given what is being shown on the runways for S/S '14.

Helena

Veteran

love the idea, well done!

ironkurtin

Veteran

I love black. I know Angie says it is harsh, but I love its graphic and sculptural qualities.

Also, I should note this is for my winter/fall wardrobe, I have to revisit my summer one. Black is, for sure, much too hot for Austin summers, but PNW summers may be different, especially in the evening.

Anonymous

Love this idea, and I have been slowly moving this direction myself. I just bought duplicates of my favourite layering tees in white, grey, black and navy, and my denim is all white, indigo, black or grey, and burgundy. Sweaters diverge a little but are mainly all black, navy or grey, with a couple vermillion and orange.

Most of my blazers are black, and I have the new cobalt one, and the knit moto in grey/white.

Sharon

Veteran

I think this is a great idea. I just find it tricky to resist the allure of new colours when they come into the stores. Do you get tempted? Or do you just not allow yourself to go there?

jen

" Women Who Wear Black, Live Colourful Lives"

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

I'm totally on board with this. I've recently noticed that my wardrobe is primarily navy, black, white, grey and cobalt with pops of purple, green and red.

I figured out just how fab this is going to work with a purchase yesterday of black watch plaid trousers and discovering I already have tons of tops/jackets to work with them. It's actually kind of exciting.

Adelfa

Veteran

These are Reese Witherspoon's colors! Ask me how I know, I love her style.

I love having well-defined colors. I always write mine down for every season (black, navy, gray, cobalt, purple, pink). I have to admit I've let dark green sneak in, though

Carla

Veteran

TS makes a great point! If you control your clothing colour palette, and shop for colours in that range, new purchases are likely to blend in seamlessly.

*Lightbulb moment!*

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I limit my colour palette, too. There are variations within the limits (I wear a lot of different types of blue) but I keep things to a pretty confined set. Interesting that you notice you might want different colours for your spring/ summer than your fall/ winter. I definitely differentiate between the seasons. More white, cobalt, and light blue in summer. More cranberry, raspberry, and taupe in winter.

ironkurtin

Veteran

@Sharon - I find that if I veer from these colors I really don't wear them much and it's harder to make them work with what I have. So I may be tempted, but it's never a great call.

Like I said, though, I make an exception for gear. So I do have colors in sweatshirts and stuff.

Sharon

Veteran

Hmm, I think I may have to start being stricter with myself because now that I think about it, the out-there colours are more likely to become orphans. And I like the summer/winter idea too. Whilst I live in a fairly warm climate, I still yearn for darker palettes in winter and brighter ones in summer. Food for thought - thanks for the inspiration.

Deborah

Veteran

Love the sound of this! My palette is similar and it works a treat. Im heading in to summer and I don't expect much change colour wise. I will add some cobalt and some red but otherwise I love the look of black against skin, so sleeveless black dresses etc create a fab look for summer IMHO.

Fruitful

Veteran

IK, I think this is brilliant, brilliant, brilliant. I have been wanting to do this but haven't taken the plunge yet.

I have read about a style blogger who only has black, red and white. At first I was a little scared but then thought, how liberating.

I could probably pare down to charcoal grey, fire red, classic red, navy, royal blue, if pushed. Maybe fewer colours than that even. I do like a bit of orange and yellow too though.

Anonymous

This is a great idea! I agree with Thistle that identifying your core colors can be a step towards the goal of having a closet that functions as a giant capsule.

pil

Veteran

A friend of mine does something similar with her wardrobe - she always looks terrific.

shemarie

Makes SO much sense, IK, thanks for sharing. What a great discovery. When my closet is haphazard color-wise, nothing works, everything is so disjointed, and I get frustrated. I'm still trying to figure out exactly what those colors are for me, but I'm slowly, by purging ruthlessly and limiting my purchases to things I feel "alive" in, starting to see them emerge. I can only dream of getting as streamlined as you!

Gracie

Veteran

What a great idea to simplify your dressing routine. And if you love all the colors, you won't be bored. What accessories will you add? Silver? Black, colorful?

Marley

Veteran

I've done the same thing IK - and am also enjoying how liberating it is - and easy to manage! My colors are the same as yours - but with added shades of blue and cream. I also really like how simple it makes shopping.

ironkurtin

Veteran

@Gracie - I don't really wear a lot of accessories. When it's cold I wear scarves, but tbh these are usually in patterns or colors that mirror the rest of my wardrobe. I tend not to wear the ones that don't.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I think this is a great idea too - I have been tempted to go with my main colours and abandon the rest into bins. I think I'd get bored, though.

Susie

Veteran

I think it's interesting that a lot of us like similar colors and no one mentioned brown. It's a color that I've avoided for years. I also used to not like green but the deeper shades appeal to me now.

My main colors are black, gray, white, navy and various shades of red and wine.

catgirl

Veteran

I've done this with my work wardrobe as well. Black, grey, ink blue, a few of my favorite saturated colors thrown in (citron, emerald, red) and that is pretty much it. Some pattern and texture for interest. This is keeping me on the straight and narrow.

NDMom

I do this too! Love the ease of dressing and I smile when I open my closet and see everyone playing nicely together....

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