Me and the color yellow

nancylee

I've had the yellow ikat print cardigan (on the left in #1) for about three years, but I almost never wear it. The color just never felt right for me. Still, it always survives my wardrobe purges because I love the pattern and the idea of having some yellow in my closet.

Mustard yellow caught my eye recently as a good color to try. The mustard cardi (on the right in #1) just arrived this week, and I think I've found my yellow.

Any color experts want to dive in and offer opinions? I'm pretty sure the mustard works better for me because of its warm tone....but is there more I'm not seeing?

#1 - both cardigans
#2 - yellow ikat print that doesn't feel quite right for my coloring
#3 - new mustard cardigan that feels more like "my" yellow

12 years ago

Dressing

8 replies

Latest reply was from Echo

Thistle

Veteran

I see why it has survived the purge. it is lovely!! And it looks so good with the blue. Love the way you have styled the patterned cardi in #2.

I am no color expert, but I think you look terrific in both!

12 years ago

Liz A.

Veteran

I also think both look good on you. You may be having trouble with the first one due to the pattern.

12 years ago

Molly L-R

Active Member

It's tricky to be certain because the lighting isn't consistent between the two photographs. But the mustard yellow does seem to warm up your complexion, whereas the first cardigan doesn't seem to do much.

In the last year I've been experimenting with colour after spending much of my adult life just wearing black and white. After ascertaining that I should be wearing warm colours instead of cool ones I dove straight in, thinking that the wider a range of colours I had, the more options I would have and the better I would feel. But you know what? I'm not wild about every colour. Even though yellows and oranges suit me, I really don't care for them at all. I like burgundy, but I'm pretty ambivalent about red and purple. So I've decided to narrow my colour palette to mainly include:

- petrol blue
- peacock blue
- teal
- olive green
- leaf green
- salmon pink
- terracotta
- cognac brown
- conker brown

I guess what I'm saying in my roundabout way is, don't feel that you have to have some of every colour in your wardrobe. If it's just going to hang there unworn, it's taking up valuable wardrobe real estate that could be occupied by something you really love.

12 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

It might be the combination of the pattern and cut, Nancy. I'm not really sure. You don't tend to wear patterns that large as a rule. Not that it is huge or anything, but it might be a factor in why you don't reach for it.

12 years ago

Rambling Ann

(website)

Veteran

Before you dump the patterned cardi, you could try it with a navy or light blue shirt and see if it works. I could also see it over a mustard tee, but it's a little hard to judge the color. Side by side with the other cardi, it looks like it could.

12 years ago

nancylee

Veteran

Thanks for all of the wise replies, ladies. I do think the patterned cardi could still work...I just think the mustard is better for my coloring.

Molly, our coloring sounds very similar. I've gone through a similar process to focus in on which colors suit me best, and they are the ones on your list. You will have to tell me what "conker" brown is, though. We don't use that adjective in the states!

Suz, Ann, and Liz, I think it's the cut (it's a little long) and hue of yellow that's holding me back on the patterned cardi. I actually love ikat patterns in a crazy way.

12 years ago

Caro in Oz

Veteran

I think the first one is a clear colour & the mustard one is more muted (greyed). Hard to tell on a monitor though:)

I think the cut looks boxier too - could you shape it at the sides a little?

12 years ago

Echo

Veteran

Hmm, my eye must be off from others because the first sweater really seems to brighten up your face while the second is more tonal with your hair and colouring. That's not to say there aren't legitimate reasons why you don't reach for the Ikat sweater; I just prefer you in the lighter colour in comparison.

12 years ago

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