What a marvelous thread. GREAT analysis, Denise. You are soooo fab.

I couldn't have said it better than Claire - (lovely to see you, and don't be a stranger!) - and Suz. Very wise women.

FWIW, here are some extra thoughts:

1. Don't allow yourself to feel limited and bossed around by conventional colour analysis. It's merely a starting point that can be whacked into submission because you cannot see colours in isolation.
2. I can't express it enough - LISTEN to how a colour makes you FEEL when you wear it.
3. Grey and black are generally hard colours to wear - very deadening - especially when you have a soft and low contrast complexion. But they CAN be worn in a more flattering and "alive" way - and that often means high contrast in my book. Plus, you have sparkly blue eyes and wear great eye make-up which brings life back into these dark neutrals.
4. Ink blue is great on you - what are you smoking???
5. You look best in light neutrals - hands down. Whites and oatmeals are beautiful with your hair and complexion. #9. There's the proof.
6. Pink, coral and cobalt blue are your best colours. Good thing you like those colours too. Milk it! #7 is proof.

Take it easy on the black and grey. Don't add that much more to your wardrobe. Concentrate on lighter and mid-tone neutrals. Have more fun with non-neutrals. Very bossy me over and out.

You've had loads of fabulous advice and offered soooo much more eloquently than I could ever do. I agree with the analysis of light and warm, but not too bright.

I did have my colours done a few years back and at the time I was told that black featured nowhere in my colours...yet...over the last couple of years, I've actually added some black pieces to my wardrobe. I have pants and a couple of skirts and also boots and shoes. I'm careful never to wear it by my face and make sure I have a suitable flattering tone there instead. I find that black can be such a useful neutral and it's found a small niche in my wardrobe.

Interesting analysis! I agree with most of the comments (keep the distinctive pieces regardless of color, keep neutral bottoms, add accessories and makeup) but you have really figured it out already.

The other thing to consider is how much skin is shown by an outfit - more skin (short sleeves, scoop neck etc) will mute the impact of the color. Colors that you don't find flattering should be far from your face. So you might be able to keep a black/navy v-neck sleeveless top but need to get rid of a longsleeved turtleneck in the same color.

You have a wonderful sense of style

I don't think I can add much more to all the great comments here - except maybe to say that emotional shoppers can also be emotional when it comes to getting dressed (speaking about myself here) - so one day I may feel fab in ruby red and that *feeling* shows in the way I look and in the way I put on my makeup and accessories, and hold myself -- so of course I get compliments. But then another day when I'm not feeling so fab and I put on the same color, well, it's just a regular day and maybe no one notices me. So, I think this can be true for everyone when it comes to their "best" colors. I thought I was over olive green but then the perfect for me *very* deep olive green field jacket made me swoon and I love it it again.

And I echo the excitement to see Claire post again - so great to see you!

great thread....I echo everything Angie said, but especially her comments (and many other posters), who point out that its not just how you look in a color but also how you feel. I know that black is not conventionally flattering on me, but well, someday's it just works for me. and while l look good in green, its not a color that speaks to me, so I don't want to wear it.

Hi Denise, THANK YOU for writing this wonderful thread as it's quite timely for me as I've been thinking along these lines, too.

I seem to be movIng into light neutrals, like cream, oatmeal and even camel and even in my workout gear, I get noticed for my lipstick or the color, as I did today, which is good confirmation.

A "Claire Sighting!" I love it, along with her thoughts and everyone's observations here.

Denise, I think your photos and analysis show that you really know yourself well and in defining and refining your colors, you're helping me, too!

From a quick perusal (I'm mobile and in transit), it looks like you have an instinctive grasp of your own best colors.

3, 6, and 9 are the three that grab me as *perfect* -- and any of these neutrals could easily accomodate your preferred brights: cobalt, coral, pink, etc. (I love pink-on-olive and pink-on-grey! great, slightly unusual combos.)

I think those who've pegged you as warm, soft and light are dead on. Photos are fickle, but if I had to I'd (totally inexpertly) guess you as a soft autumn. To my eye you can in fact go quite deep/dark with greys and browns, even into blacks, especially the softer, more muted/faded blacks. I don't think you need to ditch dark neutrals at all, but if you're not enjoying them maybe giving them a break and working in a lighter palette is a smart style-refresh option.

Denise, you have started a great thread. There are so many thought-provoking comments already; I can't wait to hear what you have to say about them.

Vix really hit the nail on the head when she said you are WARM and LIGHT. I concur.

Suz sees you also softened a bit. I wonder how much brightness you can handle. Quite a bit, I expect (in summer anyway, with skin to buffer it). We've seen you in citron, have we not?

Texstyle brought an important point about projecting fabness when we *feel* especially fab in something. This is a real thing, I'm quite sure of it!

One thing I really like about our current fashion era is all the juxtaposition between warm and cool colors and neutrals. You look wonderful in all the earth toned leathers and suedes and they look very current paired with a black dress or bottoms, I dare say even more fashionable than black footwear accessories would look.

PS Thank you Janet, Jaime, unfrumped, Suz, Angie, Vicki and texstyle for the warm shoutout. You really know how to make a girl feel loved.

I am overwhelmed with joy over your many responses! I am going to try to respond individually, but it will take a bit more time to get to everyone.

Sterling -- Yes, good point about a color analysis being fun!
Brooklyn & Sally -- That's interesting about not removing black entirely. I don't know what I'd do without a black moto jacket, and leather is actually more flattering than some other black materials. I didn't think about black being potentially more flattering in the Summer due to more skin showing, that is interesting.
JAileen -- You mention black bottoms potentially not working with the colors that flatter closer to my face. So true!!! I like wearing black bottoms with white, cream and dark forest green, but other than that I don't really like black combined with other colors. Maybe I could enjoy taupe or oatmeal. I have tons of black bottoms, too many to justify the amount of tops to go with them, so I think that will be a first place to cull.
UmmLila & Lyn67-- I hear you on camel/tans being not a great color on me, I can see why that may be so. However, I find it more flattering than gray or black near my face and find it to be a soothing color that makes me feel calm and grown up. So, the all-important Angie emotional factor comes into play here.
Style Fan -- Thanks for the name, I looked her up. Here is her link. It might be fun to do the bottom tier consult just as a starting point.
http://carolbrailey.com/image-.....-analysis/
Anne -- I am nodding my head with you about darker colors near my face. I find they generate dark shadows around my eyes and nose and mouth. And I am probably 20 plus years older than you are.
Claire -- What a gift to hear from you! How are you? I am glad you still check in with us from time to time. As always you write with wisdom and humor. You make an excellent point about trend colors. I am liking camel this year because I feel it's an emerging trend color. Just like I was all over gray 3 years ago, but less so now because it's become a mainstream neutral.
Janet -- Not tired sounding at all, you make a lot of sense about not being too restrictive.
Shevia -- You crack me up! I want to visit a place where people shout out compliments.
Unfrumped -- I am taking your advice and looking at Staysfit's color choices now.
Firecracker -- It's interesting that black didn't show up on your color chart. Having met you a few times in person, I would think you would look great in black, if you were willing to combine it with a bold lip color.
Vix -- Thank you for your detailed response. Not bossy at all! The reason I am bringing this up is that I want some direction and more limits. I especially appreciate the three color categories you added. The warm spring palette feels intuitively the closest. But -- the light summer looks promising too because I gravitate towards those colors and have received compliments. It could be because my eyes are fairly dark blue/gray and deep set, and I wear dramatic dark eye liner and mascara.

I want to respond to the reset of your comments but may not get to it until later tonight.

Claire, please do come out more often! I've missed your wise advice.

I'm so happy you posted this! You've had wonderful advice and I'm going to go over it again along with Angie's post. Honestly I think you look great in the darker colors, but I'm not wild about the two grays. Glad to see Angie thinks that is a color you should go easy on.

How I feel in a color is really an important factor for me. I love teal, but whenever I do buy an item in that color I hate wearing it unless it is in a scarf in a print. I look in the mirror or a photo and I see I look good in teal, or I did, but I don't feel good wearing it. So I agree with others, start with what makes you feel good wearing.

I'm waiting for spring to begin my serious color with gray hair evaluation, but I'm eager to learn from others. I'm trying to not buy anything new for now, except shoes.

And I'm adding to the chorus--happy to see you Claire!

Getting to a few more responses --
Cerinda -- You are right I could not be happy in a mid-toned world. But it's good to know you, having seen me in the RO colors in Seattle in November, think those are decent colors for me. It has been quite a challenge finding colors that match Mr. Owens' "dark dust" shade (but fun!). I hope you are well and not too crazed this time of year. It was a blast hanging out with you.
Kiwimom -- I agree Insideoutstyleblog is a great place! I learned a lot about silhouettes and used to regularly lurk on her site. I'll have to go look at her advice on color. Thanks for the tip.
Gigi -- Holding zone is good advice. But I do think I can cut back on some of my numerous black bottoms. I think I have two black skirts (in addition to another 3 of them) that are languishing in my closet brand new with tags still! The only thing I won't purge is my washable black pants and jeans as they are part of my work uniform. This part of my closet gets worn so frequently and everything even WEARS OUT! Wish I could say the same about the other 75% of my wardrobe.
Astrid -- You bring up lighting and how this plays on color analysis. I think the final picture is all natural light (I have several windows in this room and a sky light). But -- my deep yellow walls tend to flatter my skin tone and trick the eye. The olive/cobalt outfit (#6? hard to go back while creating a response) was taken without flash, inside a dressing room with energy efficient lighting. The efficient lighting is law in California, and makes for some pretty unflattering lighting wherever you go.
Approprio -- Thank you for the mini color theory lesson. In terms of hue, I think I am warm but once a make-up artist said I'm a mix of warm and cool. Where I don't have freckles I look cooler. Saturation -- does this mean subdued vs. intense? I think I am more subdued. Value -- light vs. dark, we've established I'm light. Although I am sure there are exceptions to these principles.
Alasse -- Thank you. Light Summer as an "expansion palette" is a valuable tool.

If you think you fall somewhere between warm and cool you might be a Soft Autumn. Soft Summer and Autumn usually both can borrow a bit from the other as long as the colors are soft enough. They just lean overall warm or cool. So too cool might not work on you, but the rest is fine in a pinch. And Soft Autumn doesn't have to mean mid tones, low contrast and drabness - same as for Soft Summer. I think you're definitely warm toned if the yellow walls are flattering.

Wow, Claire, so happy to see you have posted a comment! Hope all is good by your place, we miss you so much! Pls. come back to post more often!

I use the Soft Autumn color palette posted above by Astrid. It's not as warm as people imagine.

Thank you for your continued interest in my thread! I'm sorry I have been scarce on the forum, and it's taking me so long to respond to your comments. I do have time to respond to a few more. Will continue to work on the other comments as I get time.

Suz -- Yes your reading of me as light is correct I think. Concerning the warm vs. cool: as I said somewhere else if I look at my skin where the sun doesn't go, I look a bit cool. The veins are blue-green, but more on the blue side. My face and chest and arms have a fair amount of sun damage, all caused prior to age 30 after which I started wearing sunscreen. There are freckles which warm up my complexion. Things which make me seem warm are: I look considerably better in orange/warm reds than cool-ish blue reds. Things that make me seem like I might be cool are: I can wear white. But, overall I think cream and oatmeal, not pure whites, look better than optic white. Can I say 65% warm 35% cool not 100% warm? This is of course my own assessment not an experts!

As far as getting my colors done, I'm not sure it would make me happy. I think it might start me on this obsessive quest where I get my colors done multiple times and get a different response each time. I used to lurk on color forums and one woman had had her colors done 12 times each time with different results! So a part of me would like to do it but another part is afraid to go down that rabbit hole. Another thing is that I am very aware of the subjective nature. I was watching draping videos on YouTube and my opinions could be quite different from the experts! Where the expert thought a deep green looked too harsh on a woman, I thought she looked stunning, and preferred it to the mid grass green. Of course it is Christmas time and in April I might prefer the grass green!

You and many others like Claire made the comment about color trends changing. This is so true! I took a look at my scarf box yesterday, because I have scarves scanning many eras (vintage pieces from Mom in the 70s, etc.) Scarves from 12 years ago look very different from today and the colors read a bit dated to me, even though they might be flattering colors.

Angie -- Thank you for your clear and concise feedback, it cracks me up when you get bossy. We love the bossy expert Angie! I am relieved that you think ink and navy are ok on me. Your point about colors not being in isolation is key. Today I am wearing a cobalt, cream and navy plaid shirt, and using my cobalt bag. With a gray sweater. The whole outfit is much more flattering than if I did my beloved matchy column of color thing. Just that bit of cobalt and cream popping out in the collar makes a world of difference I think. Regarding how you feel in colors, I think a good example is my new citron BR coat. It's an OK color on me, and some may say it wears me a bit, but I feel quite happy and chic in it, it's so perfect as a theater/opera overcoat. That citron coat is my wildcard, it won't be worn a lot but when it is, it makes me happy.

Denise, you are classy to respond to everyone in the way that you have.

(Good to know I make you laugh). And YES! You hit the nail on the head with all your colour epiphanies. Rock on.

Just to add to this...

I'm low contrast, cool, and should therefore not look good in high contrast outfits. Or in black.

Well...it's true. Black's far from my best colour, and pure optic white is too strong, too, as a rule....and a black and white pattern if large will obliterate me. Even with makeup.

BUT...(you knew there'd be a "but," right?)

I feel great in all black or all ink with white collar and cuffs, or tipping or framing of some kind. Like the dress below in Finds. And when I have photographed myself in outfits like this, the general forum consensus is they are fab on me.

So...technically, they really aren't the most flattering. Yet they do flatter. Partly because the hit of white does what bare skin can do for me in summer with black. And partly just because the contrast seems to fit with my personality somehow, even if it doesn't with my natural colouring.

Oddly, I don't actually wear such outfits all that often... I am not sure why. But when I do wear them, I feel good.

I think your love of the monochromatic outfits is partly a love of sophistication and elegance, partly a response to the "softness" in your own colouring (that glows when it is not upstaged). And -- here's a hunch... I wonder if it's also because monochrome or tonal looks represent a change from the high contrast outfits that you have to wear at work? So it gives you some needed variety?

I mean, I don't work all day as a waiter (any more) so looking a bit like one isn't such a bad thing, once in a while. Whereas, back in the days when I did wear black-and-white to work, I remember wearing a lot of tonal blues in my "off" hours.

If you decide to have your colors done, you can stay at my place. Here is the gal that did mine.

This color analysis you have done is wonderful and is exactly what happened to me prior to my year long journey during which I revamped my wardrobe. ( not trying to scare you!! ). When I read the colors you feel are most flattering, they sound a lot like the colors I thought worked for me. I was color typed online as a soft autumn, and tried out that palette for a while, but it didn't feel correct. The colors felt draining and washed me out. As you may recall, I went for an in person color analysis and that made a huge difference for me. I have fairly neutral but light skin. It isn't particularly warm, although it may be a bit on the cool side. My eyes change color with what I wear now that I have the correct colors, and can look green, grey or blue. My natural hair color, well, ha, ha! Now it's grey!

When I had my colors done the big debate was whether I was a light summer or a light spring, and I looked good in many of the spring colors, however, I looked better in the cooler palette, and it was only clear when there was the ability to compare similar shades of the same color. For example the coral tones from both the light spring and light summer palettes, or the yellows, etc.

When I shop, I do not carry my palette with me. I think about the ocean and beaches in the summer. Pretty much any color you would find there will work on me. I also think light, cool and soft because those are the characteristics of light summer colors. I confirm by holding items up and seeing if they make my eyes sparkle, or if they change the color of my eyes. That's a clear sign the color is correct. Typically, when that test works, I feel great in the color, and when I get the item home, it matches my palette.

I do not recommend online color typing. There are too many ways it can turn out inaccurately. I also wonder if you need color typing because you seem to have an innate sense of color that I lacked, and should be able to build a flattering palette you like without being color typed. I struggled with that process.

I hope this helps your thought process, I know it's long!

Coming back to respond to more of your comments. A continued thank you for your detailed thoughts!

Diane G -- Interesting that you were told you should not wear black. I actually think you would look good in it near your face, having met you in person, along with a bold lip and a dramatic eye. It's due to your peaches and cream complexion.

Elle -- Good point about the skin component. This must be why, I feel OK in black in the Spring, for example I have cropped pants and a short sleeved blouse. The blouse has white in it, which helps.

Texstyle -- Thank you for your observation. I'm going to pay attention to my emotional state and outfits now. I do know that if I'm tired, which can make me feel down, I resort to FFBO's and neutrals like gray or navy, and don't make too much effort. Also I may not have the courage to wear pretty colors if that makes sense. When, really, those are the times I should wear color. Fake it until you make it right?

Astrid -- Soft autumn, that's another one to consider. Thank you for suggesting it. I think now I am looking at Warm Spring, Light Spring, Light Summer and Soft Autumn as potential palettes.

Lyn67 and Betty Crocker -- Nodding my head about having Claire check in!

Suz -- I actually like black and white but you are right I get a strong dose as is. I tried that dress on at Macy's. The regular size (shown here, pic 1, in a deep blackish purple) was the right length but designed for a long torso. The hips stuck out very wide around my thighs, not a good look. I tried the Petite Small (pic 2) which fit better but it felt too short, which is often the case with petite dresses on me. The dress did not come home with me, but I will say the white collar really brightened this LBD so a great way to wear black when black isn't a great color on you. Did you buy this dress?

KKards -- Thank you! And I like hearing another vote for team "how does the color make you feel?" I love black too, but more and more it doesn't make me feel as great as it did, for example, in the 80s (OMG that was 30 plus years ago...). I felt so tough and cool in black back then, but I did combine it with white and pink. I also had much younger skin. I see models with minimal make-up wearing black, and no it's not their best colors but really anything looks good when you are a young model.

Vicki -- How amazing to hear from you! I have missed you so much. You look fantastic in those colors. Don't be a stranger ok?

MsMaven -- Thank you for weighing in. So the dark colors look ok to you but not the gray. That is good feedback. I will try to go easier on gray but it's been hard. A few years ago I stopped buying as much black, and switched to gray. It seemed so fresh to me, and more flattering than black. But now it seems, it's really not any more flattering than black on me. There is so much black and gray out there... sigh.

Staysfit -- I really appreciate hearing from you and your color process. So am I reading this correctly that you were first "diagnosed" on line as a soft autumn? Intuitively that does not feel like me either but I am trying to have an open mind about it. I feel much more linked to the warm or light spring, with light summer as a possible expansion palette. Still I'm going to do a pinterest search on soft autumn to be open minded. That's interesting that you recommend an in person color consult. For a potential on line consult, I took a few photos in natural light, no make-up, and they still didn't look accurate to me. My skin looks more ashen in the pictures than it is IRL. So then I tried taking a picture with my phone, and... it looked different too, even taken in the same spot/same time of day.

Deb -- Many thanks for the link and the invitation! I'll look into it.

Just popping on to say thanks for the fascinating thread! I learned a lot, but don't feel like I can add to the advice you've already received. I feel, as someone who tends to wear bolder, high-contrast colors like I struggle to create looks with sophistication and serenity. I love the way you create a certain modern and daring style while remaining grownup, ladylike and mostly casual. Your mastery of soft colors and neutrals is a big part of this.

Agreed - this was such a worthwhile thread to read all the way through, even though I didn't see it until a few days late. YLF at its best. You do look really great in pretty much everything you wear, but I can see why you feel particularly fab in the neutrals like that amazing Rick Owens outfit.

From the hints you've given, my guess is that you're a 'warm' person. The comment you made about looking good in warmer tans vs. Greyed-out oatmeals really drove that home because, for people with cool colouring, a warm tan is a nemesis colour; the absolute worst colour to wear.

You also indicated in your spreadsheet that you weren't sure about mint. I think a warm mint would be good--something more on the green side than the blue side.

I think some 'branches' of colour analysis say you're supposed to ignore eye colour, but I'm not sure I buy it. If you have crystally blue eyes, it seems like you can wear blacks and brights more easily than if you have soft grey eyes or soft green.

My daughter has peachy colouring, and I've had a lot of fun trying to figure out her best colours, which are so far from my own. I think you and she have a few "best colours" in common, so that is why I suggest that you might be a spring too.

Happy holidays Cocolion!

Smitte -- Thanks for the info about warm vs. cool tans. So this is where it gets complicated. I am not sure if oatmeal (cooler, more gray) is better or camel. See pictures 8 (warm) and 9 (cool). To complicate matters pic 8 was taken with flash while 9 wasn't. I may be able to wear both colors, although forum members Lyn67 and UmmLila don't think the camel is good on me. This is where I may benefit from an expert draping. Or, just continue to experiment, knowing that either shade of tan is better than black and gray.

Greyscale & BethAnn -- Thank you both for those super kind comments. I am particularly pleased that I look grown up. That is a big deal to me, as my style tends towards younger trends. But I don't want to look the fool.

Oh, Denise, the fit of that dress! I am so glad you took photos. The petite is so much better on you (and you do look good in this near black and white, I think -- definitely!). But yes, too short -- or rather, not too short for flattery while you are standing, but probably would fail the sit test. Alas. Anyway, the first one is quite comical the way it poofs out in the wrong place!

I didn't try it, no -- I truly have no need of another dress in my life, especially a winter dress. I have 2 dressy sleeved dresses (one warmer than the other), one casual one, and one sleeveless sweater dress that can be layered over thin turtlenecks or blouses -- that is more than enough dresses in winter for me. I only wear them a couple of times a year.

But I collected it as a reminder of the kind of thing that I can look for.

It's going to be so much fun seeing what colours you eventually settle on. It sounds like warm or light spring are the contenders but you never know.

When I had mine "done" (pre YLF) it was quite comical...when I went in, the woman was guessing "autumn" (not that she told me) -- I think, perhaps, based on hair colour. Frankly, that doesn't give me a lot of confidence in her opinion because nobody would ever say my complexion is warm! (In other words, I think I have better colour intuition than she does, whether or not she has training!)

Anyway, she did quickly discard that idea (all it took was one hint of yellow near my face!) but it became much trickier than she had expected to determine which "summer" I am. It turned out that I can "take" much darker colours than she would have guessed and cannot take the paler summer colours at all -- my dominant characteristic is cool rather than light or soft, although there is some softness there as well.

In the end, I think determining this dominant characteristic is probably more important than anything else, at least in my own case. As long as it is "cool" there is chance I can wear it; if not, it's going to drain me.

Funnily, I am grading student papers about Hitchcock and they are analyzing some of the fashion choices in Vertigo. Edith Head apparently put Kim Novak in a grey suit because grey apparently makes blondes look "severe" or "stark" and "distant." Some commentators go even farther and say grey on blondes is self-evidently unflattering. Hmmm... I hate to disagree with Edith Head (who was a genius!!) but I think it does depend on the blonde.

You are gorgeous no matter what colours you wear. But I totally get the wish to find a way to rule out some purchases and harmonize the closet a bit.

This is a great thread, Denise. I have been thinking about it, but colour analysis is my great downfall. It is so easy for me to overthink, to become blind to the forest - plus the trees - because I'm poking at all the zillion leaves. I rather think one (me) has to just go with the first, instant gut reaction. So must say, I think you're right about your colours - which I think Angie reinforced. Re. the dress, the dark purple was *wow* to me and the black was *nice.* I wonder about the black, because it's getting into Puritan territory. Like with severe hair, then maybe it would go *wow.* Which is to say, the style may impact the perception of colour... and colour impact the sense of what style a garment is...

Photographing yourself wearing two colors of the same style dress was a good idea. It clearly shows how much more flattering the dark purple is.

Hi again CocoLion --

and all the many others participating, including Ms-Out-of-the-Woodwork Claire!

I'm not one who believes that people gravitate to colors that flatter...I think we're all a lot more hit or miss!

After all, there are so many beautiful colors/color combos out there, and color speaks to us on a deep level.

Me, I'm continually drawn to items that, when I step back, clearly DON'T and WON'T flatter. If we're talking about something worn near the face, hard experience has shown keeping it is a mistake as item X won't make me feel good enough.

I think one of your biggest challenges will you will be when you love a style but in your gut know the color isn't the best for you. Especially if the price is one you like.

That's where you'll have to make choices based on your personality.

I just returned something I loved and that would have been a *great* practical addition to my closet but the colors were just enough off to matter. I tried so hard not to care....

OTOH, there are colors that really are only marginally better/worse -- and that's where choosing based on whim/gut/emotion works better for me -- sometimes it really is the whole of the parts that matters most!

Rachylou's point about the potential to miss the forest for the trees is such a good one. Even if we strip out personal color likes/dislikes, color definitely doesn't exist in a vacuum when it comes to personal style.

To put just one spin on that statement, theoretically someone could be dressed in 100% "their" colors, but if there's a print where the scale or mix of colors is off then...meh; ditto for wearing those colors in a way that creates too much or not enough horizontal contrast.

I think that's what makes it so fun and such a PITA to figure out our own style.