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Mo Better Blues: Silver style shift, part 3

Suz

(website)

Veteran

As many of you know, I’m Queen Blue. A peek into my closet would reveal blue, blue, blue and more blue. Traditionally, blue has been my colour and my neutral, my daywear and my nightwear. If there was one colour I could count on — and wear in any shade or tone — blue was it.

Well, now that I have nearly blue hair, guess what? It’s not so simple.

Turns out I’m going to have to get pickier about which blues I invite home with me.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not discarding anything that I currently own. But…well… some blues are better than others, it seems to me. Whereas before, they all seemed pretty great.

I apologize for the quality of some of these “after” shots, which somehow blurred. I think you still get a sense of things, though. There is no styling going on with the shirt photos — I’m just showing the colours.

Pics 1/2: A tale of two denims.

3/4: Verging on violet...

5/6: A multitude of blues

7/8: Chambray

9/10: In the navy

11/12: Kitty print

13/14: Preppy stripe

I’d love to hear your favourites and thoughts.

My final instalment will be a short one on colour and pattern. Stay tuned! I might post today in advance of NAS frenzy. (What? You have better things to do than analyze my colours? No way!)

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Dressing

48 replies

Latest reply was from Sveta

Chris987

Veteran

Hmm... I still like them all with your new hair but the lighter blues (like the chambray dress) seem a little better with the blonde hair...and the blue and white striped one seems somehow too bold for your new hair where that other patterned shirt is great with the new hair. This is all gut feel and all within a general statement that they ALL look great both ways! (just realized that was a thumbs up for the kitty print...duh...of course )

Sara L.

Veteran

Ok, this makes me realize how bad I am at analyzing colors, especially in photos. I think they all look pretty good on you. I'm not sure why but I like #12 better than #14. I wonder if I'm less influeced by the color of the tops than the pattern.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

(What's a Mo Better Blue?)

I can't think of a blue you can't wear, Suz. They ALL look as good - if not better with the new grey hair. So I guess I'm a spanner!

Roxanna

Veteran

Hmmmm...funny but I definitely prefer you on the darker/bolder blues vs. The lighter ones - they give you more presence, somehow. Which is the opposite of me - with my salt and pepper hair, I prefer lighter colours on me since dark ones seem to drain me of colour.

JAileen

Veteran

Suz, if your hair is bluish, are you using the purple shampoo too much?

deb

Veteran

!,6, and 10 are my faves, but really they all look good. I think the chambray and violet blues are my least favorites.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I think they all look great with the new color!

carter

Veteran

Deeper, bolder and solid is a huge preference for me.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

This is great!! I love your comments! Keep 'em coming!

Mo Better Blues is a Spike Lee film and the song associated with it, Angie. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mo%27_Better_Blues

Most of you are seeing what I see. On the whole, the lighter blues are less good with the grey hair than the darker ones.

So much for the "soft, low contrast colours" that are suggested for "summers," right?

I do think the kitty print shirt works well. It's a little on the "soft" side but the black and white in the pattern help, plus it's a cooler blue than the chambrays or the striped shirt. I agree with you, Chris -- the striped shirt is a bit too intense.

I'm sad about the J. Crew tux shirt. It doesn't look bad; it just isn't one of my best colours any more. (I'm sad because I adore the fabric on that shirt; it's divine.)

Roxanna, it makes sense that you'd like lighter colours. Your skin is warmer and darker toned than mine, and your not-yet-grey hair is dark so provides contrast. I think what we crave is contrast, but we get it different ways due to our different natural colouring.

Sal

Veteran

They all look good but I think the bolder ones look 10/10.

1/6/10/12 are my most favourite. I love 6 the most - to my eye it looks stunning!!

The chambray has a slight muddiness in the tone that might have worked better with blonde hair - I thought this yesterday as well. Maybe with a bold raspberry lip it could work brilliantly though.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Sally, you see exactly what I see. Thank you!!

skylurker

Veteran

you can go on wearing blue - that must be a relief

Anonymous

Yeah but.... I LOVE the chambray dress on you - still! I know that flies in the face of the general consensus here, and maybe it has to do with the dead-on fit and style suitability, but I actually like it better with the new hair. I'm a little unsure of how to compare the shirts because they are worn with different pants . I realize that's not the point, but it is distracting my eye from the shirt ....or whatever I'm trying to say. I'm not keen on the unbuttoned shirts over the looser pants, so I may be influenced as such. Anyways - yes to darker blues, and I'm guessing that prints are going to look best in more dramatic versions (rather than subtle stripes and cats - lol). The Aritzia top - for example.

Lyn D.

Veteran

Your silver accessories are fantastic Suz!
Smiling at your matching smiles sans teeth in 11-12 too
I wasn't surprised that all these shades of blue are still great with your hair. I agree that some are more flattering than others, but all look beautiful on you to me.
Hah- last count I have 48 blue items in my closet, can you beat that?

Summer

Veteran

Suz, my first impression was that the chambray, while still lovely on you, maybe lacks some of the impact of the other blues.
The violet blue (4), kitty print (12), and preppy stripe (14) are all beautiful on you.
Navy looks more sophisticated with the new hair.
6 is stunning on you, my absolute favourite. It looked lovely with your blonde hair, but is even more dramatic with the silver - gorgeous.

AviaMariah

Veteran

I think you still look great in all shades of blue although you could split hairs (ha, ha) and say one looks slightly better than the others. I love, love your after in the chambray dress. I slightly prefer your before in the cobalt skirt and printed top. But just the slightest shift in lighting could make the different in these pics. You're seeing the real life thing.

ETA: after reading everyone else's comments it seems I'm the spanner.

Summer

Veteran

I agree that the summer palette can be a little too soft with grey hair. My colouring is similar to yours - before and after transition - and I've had to push my colours into deeper, bolder shades with a bit more contrast than before.
I find my best blues are mid-toned with a purplish hue such as Periwinkle. Cornflower and French Navy are good, too.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Suz, aren't you clever getting this all in before my NAS mayhem. I'm impressed! And my word, can image consultants be wrong about colour pairings and complexions. You CANNOT see colour in isolation. I'm sticking with that forever. (I'm responding to what you said to me on your other thread, btw).

Since blue is BIG for you, why not go deep into all the hues. Otherwise things will get boring - again.

Now. You need to get Fire Engine Red at the NAS.

Alassë

Veteran

I agree, #2 and #4 don't look as good as the other, darker shades. I like the solids better on you than the 2 prints at the end, too. I look forward to reading your thoughts on patterns.

lynn

Veteran

I really tried to find a blue here that didn't look good but I didn't! That said, I think going forth, you will know if something new should come home with you. You will "feel" the rightness of it; I'm sure of it!

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Ooh, those darker shades really pop on you now, but I agree with Angie and others that the lighter ones still work. Actually, I'm really struck by seeing these side-by-side images how much more confident and self-possessed you look with the gray hair. I have a hard time even analyzing the color because you OWN it all.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I can't believe how helpful this is to me -- thank you all so much!!

I think the general consensus is that most blues still look good, but the majority seem to agree that on the whole, the darker, richer blues are a surer bet, and the solids appear more popular than most of the prints, although the sharp architectural print of the Aritzia shirt is very flattering. I think that's partly to do with colour placement, and partly to do with the fact that the angles suit my facial structure and personality.

Angie, I'm keeping my eye open for bright colour at NAS. Fire engine red might be tough to find, but I know I can also wear orchid, magenta, fuchsia, purples, cranberry, burgundy, and more. My eyes are on the lookout!

And yes, that is so true, you have to see colour in relationship.

Summer, that is so interesting. I think our colouring must be very similar indeed. I read somewhere that quite a few "true summers" end up as "true winters" or simply as "cool" seasons -- with the coolest tones from summer's and winter's palette. That sounds pretty accurate to me.

AV, you are not a spanner. I thought I agreed with you at first but in the end, the lighting was so different for those photos and in person the top felt great with the grey hair -- really surprisingly great. It's quite icy, which I think is key .

Re the chambray -- I am in agreement with those who think it is slightly less good than before...but...the dress is such a great dress, and a keeper. The shirt is a slightly different hue and maybe not quite as good. (I bought that dress THREE YEARS ago -- really getting on top of the trend, no? I love it.)

Lyn, thank you, and now I have to go count. Are we talking year round closet and including denim? If so, I know for sure I have more than 48 blue items. If denim is off the list, we might be tied. Either way, we are Queen Blue North America and Queen Blue Oz.

Lisa, I know -- I am sorry I didn't style those outfits. I can't count the number of times I've said to a new member re a K/R post -- "can't tell until you style it!!!" I agree about that dress. The colour is not quite right any more but the fit and vibe is awesome.

Isabelle -- you bet it is. Imagine the financial disaster that would await if I could not wear blue any more!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Aww, Jenn --thank you! I think it is true that it feels good just to be who you are, you know? When it's time to stop colouring, it's time.

Anonymous

I like the ink blue the best on you. It's amazing!
I also rather like the periwinkle-blues better with your new hair.
Actually, I think they all look better with your new hair, even the chambray.

kerry

Veteran

I love blue too! I think all of these blues still work and look gorgeous but I will confess to a slight preference for the darker solid - your eyes pop! Are you tightlining here?

Do you think it'll make any difference when you have more grey hair? Do you think the drama value will change with a longer pixie?

tulle

Veteran

Speaking as another blue-closet type, I agree with Summer: although I think you can still wear any blue, the deeper and cooler ones really seem to snap you into focus. The paler, warmer chambray just looks slightly less interesting. Silvery periwinkle, deep inks and navy are very glamorous on you--and that multi-blue graphic top is spectacular!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Tulle, you see exactly what I see -- thank you!

Kerry, I am not sure I had done the tightlining in those pics..probably not.

As for more grey-- it can't happen because I'm all grey now! But now it goes from a kind of charcoal to silver and will eventually turn snow white, if my parents are any indication. I'll have to see about the drama quotient of a slightly longer pixie -- my idea is to keep the drama but add just a touch of softness -- so we are not talking a big change from this. Just more texture.

Aww, Smittie, thanks.

jenanded

Veteran

1, 6,10,12 as well. There is something about the dark and the light picking up those contrasts in your hair AND with your eyes and skin.

Brooklyn

Veteran

Definitely the darker and bolder blues. You just look so striking. No 1 is amazing. The lighter colours are still good, just not as good.

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