Preference for neutrals is *not* the same as "afraid of color" - YouLookFab Forum

Category

General

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Preference for neutrals is not the same as "afraid of color"

April

Veteran

I saw (on another blog) a comment about people being "afraid of color" and I just wanted to vent a little about how tired I am of hearing this phrase. My wardrobe is largely neutral, and that's what suits me. But I'm not "afraid of color."

My bedroom's color palette is based on turquoise and lime. My crafting room is a riot of yellows and reds, inspired by the vintage painted fruit-and-flower tins and tin plates that decorate it. I love brightly colored handbags and wallets.

But in clothing I prefer neutrals. I don't think that indicates that I'm afraid, any more than someone who adores wearing bright colors is "afraid of neutrals."

Thank you for listening.

General

21 replies

Latest reply was from Lisa

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Brava!! (From a neutral wearing but colour loving sister. )

Today I am wearing taupe from head to toe with a black coat. And a red bag and leopard print scarf. More neutrals!

bj1111

Veteran

as an avowed neutral girl...yesssssssssssss.

Sara L.

Veteran

I agree - I tend to go in cycles where I'll wear a lot of neutrals and then swing back to colors. I find neutrals to be calming and sometimes that's just what I need when everything else in my life is going crazy.

Anonymous

Agreed! I am definitely not afraid of color and I make zero apologies for my exaggerated use of black, I need to have black somewhere in my outfit, for it to feel like me. I do wear some color in Spring and Summer but I love my neutrals for Winter and Fall. I match the weather, what can I say?

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I hear you! I tend to have more color in my warm weather wardrobe, and after several months of it, quite frankly I'm ready for a moody neutral outfit!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Dead right, April.

Some people just prefer to wear neutrals. I have clients who have that preference.

That said, there *are* also those who want to wear colour but are afraid to - so they just stick to neutrals by default. This is NOT you though.

Mamapicklejuice

Veteran

I think the criticism of those who tend to wear loud, bright clothing is that they are "starved for attention," rather than "afraid of neutrals," but I take your point.

It has been an eye-opener for me, since coming to YLF, to see just what a strong, bold statement well-chosen neutrals can make. I have you and other neutral-loving sisters to thank for that! I think both styles need a certain amount of skill to pull off well, and I enjoy dabbling in both.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Thank you, April! Couldn't agree more. I prefer neutrals to colours, and of the colours I do wear, most tend to be muted rather than bright. My house is not a riot of colour either. I find that I prefer the colours found in temperate-climate nature, and those in northern European architecture, and these colours tend to be neutral or muted. Even a beautiful fall day with all the trees bedecked in red and gold -- those reds and golds are not bright in the same way that a tomato red coat is bright. They are much softer. And it's simply what I prefer to wear and surround myself with.

But all the power to those who like 'em,

Anonymous

I prefer muted colors, so where does that leave me? I don't like colors that scream at me or keep me awake at night.

missvee

Veteran

You're so right! Neutrals are colours too, even though many people seem to forget that
I also think that a neutral outfit looks best when the fabrics are good quality and there is a nice mix of textures. You can get away with cheaper fabrics when there's a bold print as the eye is distracted from the quality by the print.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

MPJ, for what it's worth, I have never thought of those who wear bright colours as being attention seeking. I firmly believe that they just *love* colour. The same way that April loves neutrals. And Jean loves earth-tones.

Wearing brights can make you feel very happy. For some, it can affect their mood big time. I feel very happy when I wear bright colours. I feel as happy when I wear black and white. But I need to wear BOTH combinations in order to feel style-complete, as one palette would not sustain me.

Just wanted to share that too.

Carole

Veteran

Amen! I'm with you. I love color but prefer the core of my wardrobe in neutrals, using color in accessories. Just like with home decor, if you have a neutral couch and upholstered pieces its simple (and easier on the wallet) to switch things up with a great patterned pillow or colorful throw.

Mamapicklejuice

Veteran

I sheepishly have to add that I would have been an appropriate recipient of that comment pre-YLF. My shoe collection ranged from black to brown...adding in a navy shoe was an act of supreme courage, and if you can believe it, the pair became an orphan because adding in that color in a wardrobe of neutral black and brown was too sartorially advanced for me!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

And now you have butternut shoes, MPJ :). I also replied to you in an earlier comment.

Mamapicklejuice

Veteran

Oh, I missed that, Angie. I want to be clear that I do not view either style in a negative light. I do not think that people who wear color are "starved for attention" - although I daresay if they are wearing eye-catching, fun, colorful outfits they are probably *comfortable* with attention. I was really just splitting hairs with April, in that the criticism for that camp is that they are attention hogs, as opposed to people who wear muted neutrals, who, of course, must be wallflowers who are afraid of color, right? *WRONG* I love and enjoy both styles!!!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Got it! Thanks for chiming back in. There is room for both palettes in one style - *if* that is your preference.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

And Ruth, you are in the majority actually. In my experience, most people prefer to wear muted tones or jewel tones, AND neutrals - which is precisely your preference.

Anonymous

Thanks, Angie. I was beginning to feel like an odd ball, lol! I do love color. I also love neutrals. And brights? Well, not on me, but I love brights on people who can wear them. I've learned to appreciate the fact that I can't wear the bright colors my DDs look so fab in, but that there are special colors that look fab on me that they can't wear. IOW, I've come to embrace my personal coloring and have learned how to work with it. It took me a while to figure this all out, though.

MsMary

Veteran

I love ALL THE COLORS!!! Brights, neutrals, jewel tones, earth tones, metallics!! Bring it!!!

Ahem.

April, you make a great point! There are some people who are "afraid of color," but I think that is a very small minority of the neutrals-wearing community!

April

Veteran

Thanks to all for your thoughtful comments! I have really tried brightly-colored clothing and it just doesn't suit me. (Right now, there is a bright, hot-turquoise cardigan from H&M in my closet, proving that I have again been drawn to something that I probably won't enjoy wearing. Fortunately, not an expensive mistake.)

But I *adore* colorful accessories. I don't have a single black or brown handbag at the moment. I have cherry red, silver, white, taupe, purple, deep red, and a deep turquoise/teal.

I love looking at color, I just don't enjoy wearing it in clothing.

Lisa

Veteran

Great comments here. I do agree, just because you don't want to wear it, doesn't mean you don't like it.