Patterns and color change for The Cat - YouLookFab Forum

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Patterns and color change for The Cat

Anonymous

So The Cat posted about how our preferred patterns (contrast, etc) change as our coloring changes in another thread-and figured I'd move it to it's own!
Imogen writes about it on Inside Out Style-but anyone else have insights about patterns and coloring-as we age, dyeing hair, etc?

General

38 replies

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Janet

(website)

Veteran

I'm resisting any change in my preferred color palette by resisting the changing color of my hair! I've lived my whole life with high-contrast coloring, so it's very, very hard to consider doing anything different.

But I do notice that having blue and green streaks in my hair makes wearing blue and green even more natural than it already was. Wearing other colors can feel a little too maximal, depending on my mood.

Anonymous

I'd love to do sunset hair- but so much maintenance!
The high contrast works so well for you I tried, but so wrong on me, though 80 or so % black to 20% light isn't as bad.

Runcarla

Veteran

Absolutely! And it is more complicated than just what colours suit hair colour. There is psychology involved! (I've been thinking about the psychology of my wardrobe a lot this past year -LOL!)

For 50 years my hair was the colour of an old copper penny. I wore medium to dark saturated colours - purple, green, cobalt, topaz, olive, brown and black. I coloured my hair for a few years when it started to go white, but went natural over 2014. It took a while to sort things out, and I was going through lifestyle changes - move to a new community, commuting to work in a big city, followed by retirement a year ago. This all resulted in different wardrobe needs, however letting my hair go natural resulted in rethinking COLOURS.

My hair dresser says I am about 60% white, 40% red and by hair reads as a sandy blonde when blown out straight. When left to curl naturally, there are shocks of white that look like highlights. White, light grey, and silver are my 'go to' colours now. I wear a lot of blue - all kinds of variations on navy and denim. I still wear black, but not as much. I can wear red close to my face now. My closet is very neutral heavy now, but I can wear PALE versions of the colours I used to wear. Lilac, dirty yellow, and camel/tan LOOK really good, but I'm having trouble embracing those colours. I'm struggling with cognac. It used to be a no fail 'bookend' with my hair, but now seems too dark, and I don't know where to go with that. Leopard print works, especially snow leapord.

I've discovered the mirror can reflect what colours are working with my 'new' colouring, but I choose colours that make me happy. I recognise that a sense of 'self' derives from being VISIBLE. For 50 years red hair made me highly visible whether or not I wanted to be. I am used to being visible. Pale colours like lilac and camel make me FEEL invisible (even if they are flattering) - however, bright white, silver, and red are NOT invisible (even in conventional silhouettes or paired with neutral black or blue).

Patterns are a whole other thing. With big curly hair I like solids and stripes to ground the crazy or big florals that repeat the shapes of the curls and play it up.

Anonymous

Oh definitely Runcarla! The bolder colors and patterns are just right for you
I'm guessing that the colors you used to wear would still work though-since our skin stays more or less same. My mother still looks best in deep saturated colors, especially cobalt, though she now has white hair (was dark).
Now "grounding the crazy" or "playing it up"? Is that more of a mood dressing thing or situational (like a more conservative setting = stripes)?

The Cat

Veteran

Right now, I'm in a hurry, but just want to say thanks to suntiger for a pleasant surprise: this thread. I look forward to reading the comments later. Thank you all in advance for sharing your viewpoints and experience.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

since our skin stays more or less same

Does it? I have an image of rosy pink grandmas and babies, but don't know as white people in-between are so pink. More study is required. My grandma was certainly a pinkish octogenarian, but the BW pix from her youth in the early 20th century don't reveal what tint she was then. Otoh, we might be more pink than I realize. I think of myself as cream-colored, but my son has held a few things up next to me that show I'm more pink than I realize.

I have a feeling I've delved a bit off topic again. Sorry!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

"I've discovered the mirror can reflect what colours are working with my 'new' colouring, but I choose colours that make me happy. I recognise that a sense of 'self' derives from being VISIBLE. For 50 years red hair made me highly visible whether or not I wanted to be. I am used to being visible. Pale colours like lilac and camel make me FEEL invisible (even if they are flattering) - however, bright white, silver, and red are NOT invisible (even in conventional silhouettes or paired with neutral black or blue)."

Runcarla, thank you for this insight! I'm reaching an age where women tend to become more invisible, and I think you've hit on a bit of why I resist the grey in my hair -- I feel like it will wash me out, reduce my inherent contrast, and render me even more invisible than I am already starting to feel. Especially since I don't dress bright and sunny because that's not my jam. Hmm, you've given me food for thought.

Liesbeth

Veteran

I agree completely. Years ago I lightened my hair (highlights, ombre etc), now I’m using color shampoos to emphasize the darker brown that’s come through in recent years - unfortunately, I’m also getting quite a few gray hairs at the same time. At some point I would love to do the trendy natural grey but just not yet...
Anyway, I feel like the cinnamon brown hair dye allows me to stretch my summer palette further into soft summer territory and that I can pull of cognac accessories, bronze and rosegold etc better.
I would even add that hair structure plays a role. Since I got my perm, the extra volume and texture to my otherwise flat hair, allows me to wear more texture, print and volume in my clothes, which suits me just fine!

Runcarla

Veteran

Suntiger - hmmm, I don't think my skin colour has stayed the same at all. My younger self had ivory skin with golden freckles. In my late 40's I experienced the onset of Rosecea that progressed so badly that I was constantly asked about my 'sunburn'! December 2018 I started using a prescription topical cream and within a month my complexion changed significantly. My skin is pale, with a smidge of pink, and I no longer have any visible freckles.

Janet - I wonder if stylish women 'of a certain age' who are considered fashion icons use formulas of either contrast (dark/light - black/white) or vibrant colour for visibility? I'm thinking of Lyn -'Accidental Icon' and Mel - 'Bag and Beret.' Both with short grey/white hair and pale skin (low contrast) but definitely standout style.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Carla, re: AI and B&B: I think their style holds the stage, regardless of color palette. I notice some of their outfits are high contrast, but sometimes the colors are not overtly noticeable but the cuts and combination of items are. But I'm sure that using contrast in their outfits is a technique that contributes to their super-high visibility. (They both dress WAY more dramatically than I ever envision myself dressing -- I wouldn't be comfortable being THAT visible, LOL.)

JAileen

Veteran

My color palette definitely changed when I went grey. And by grey I mean virtually white!

I never thought about contrast before I went grey, but now I like low contrast outfits. I think I felt that before, but didn’t know why I liked some outfits better than others.

As for pattern, I prefer non florals. So stripes, polka dots, plaid. I’ve always liked and worn those patterns.

Treasure&Bond Treasure & Bond Crewneck Sweater | Nordstrom

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JAileen

Veteran

I don’t know why that top is showing up - I can’t seem to remove it.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Carla and Janet, why the secrecy and code names? Why not message each other?

Janet

(website)

Veteran

FashIntern, what??? Carla referenced Accidental Icon and Bag & Beret, and I just abbreviated them because I was hurrying.

Anonymous

Haha FaahIntern-it's Accidental Icon and Bag & Beret, had to scroll up to figure it out!
So, yep then, I guess our coloring can change! There's a good chart with yellow, neutral, pink tones light to dark- but wasn't able to find. Other ones include olive too, so big tonal variations, even within similar darkness ranges.
And yes our hair texture, and skin texture, too changes what's best over time!
Just realized I probably prefer curvy prints due to my wavy (ahem-uncooperative) hair, not just my shape!

Anonymous

It could be Artificial Intelligence and Bed &Breakfast

Janet

(website)

Veteran

ST, LOL (see what I did there?)

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

ST, that’s what came to my mind first!
So I guess these are fashion bloggers and those are the handles they go by on line? Oops—I obviously didn’t know that, and probably should on this forum. Thanks for setting me straight.
Janet, at least I’m not *that* out of it.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Hmmm, the invisible woman. In my experience that happened about 50 years old, give or take a bit. I have got used to it but it is annoying. I wonder if men feel it at all or does the prevailing culture of women being valued by appearance and men by achievements mean they don’t feel it? What if the men are not particularly “successful”, I wonder if they feel it then?
Just musing out aloud.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

FI, I had never heard of those bloggers either. The only bloggers I have read are Debbie Roes of Recovering Shopaholic, Sally of Already Pretty, Angie of course and occasionally Imogen Lamport from Australia. Essentially all those have linked to each other I think. I spend enough time on YLF to not want to spend more time on others!

Anonymous

AI has an edgy style-sunnies, black leather, motorcycle....kinda looks like Arnold...
B&B is much more laid back. PJs, florals, sometimes nautical

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Jenni, arguably, men who don’t have high levels of accomplishment feeling ignored/invisible is a major driver of political opinion these days, at least in the US. (Then there are high income earners who are paying lower taxes and so will continue to vote their wallets).

On topic, I used to wear much bigger pattern than I’m generally comfortable with these days. I wore orange and yellow too, but can’t really say if that’s because they were good colors for me or if I just didn’t notice. I haven’t drawn any direct lines, but this recent drive towards berry colors coincides with, shall we say, “softening” of my hair as more and more of it is turning grey.

ST, thanks for filling me in!

Sal

Veteran

Interesting - great insights here. I agree colouring can change - both skin and hair.

My hair has had some form of colour since my early 20s - I used to get away with being platinum or dark but need to stay in a warm dirty blonde range now to look good. My skin is pinker ( capillaries) and my worst colours look worse. I have patterns I like and those I don’t - not sure if that has changed or not.

In the past there were more rules or protocols - don’t wear pink if red haired, black for evening or at a certain age, etc. My grandmother who was very stylish dressed for her generation in tweed skirts and small muted patterns.

Runcarla

Veteran

Pardon me, FashIntern...

Lyn Slater - Accidental Icon - https://www.accidentalicon.com/

Mel Kobayashi - Bag and a Beret - http://bagandaberet.blogspot.com/

Be nice

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Thanks Carla! I will check them out. I hope wasn’t being not nice—was not my intent.

Anonymous

This is such a fascinating thread. There is so much to read and think about.

Thank you, RunCarla for doing so much of the heavy lifting for me. Thank you, Janet for drawing the information out further.

JenniNZ -- I loved your "musing out aloud."

Anonymous

Let me start by saying I definitely do not have an artist's eye. Is it normal to be able to judge colors/patterns on other people and be blind to them on myself? I have a decent mirror, yet it is useless to me.

I used to be a Strong Winter. I only wore high contrast. I could easily carry off strong, vibrant colors. Fuchsia, black, and white were my signature colors.

Then something happened eighteen months ago. Due to time and scheduling constraints, I allowed my grey to naturally blend with my dark brown hair. The blending of the grey into my dark brown color resulted in a "softening" of my overall hair color. It would be fascinating to know how my hair would "read" to a stylist. I guess a dishwater brown?

My skin color changed too. I can't say how exactly. I just know something is different.

I stopped wanting to wear my signature reds and fuchsias near my face. I can't put into words why this is though. Lower contrast? I started wearing lots of navy (LOTS of navy) and off white.

I'll be studying this thread for weeks to come. Thank you, Suntiger for starting such thought-provoking threads.

Joy

Veteran

Through the years my coloring , including skin, have changed. I have had times when brights looked best, then heathered or grayed tones, then brights again, especially neons, then jewel tones. Now, for the first time ever I can wear black and pastels. Hair color is important but skin (and make up) changes too. As a young woman I was definitely an Auburn-haired autumn. Those colors do little for me now. To not be invisible, I have embraced bling and bold pattern mixing, if I can find them, orange or coral neon, maybe neon citron too.
Patterns...definitely a change. My SIL still thinks of me as clad in plaid. I still wear it but like patterns large and bold now. Water color patterns or big simple florals with lots of open space are now a favorite. Patterns with some curves or swishes are better than straight geometrics.

Anonymous

You all are starting to worry me!

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