Signature colors: How do they work in your wardrobe?

I'm curious how many of you have determined your signature colors, and wondering how you use them in your wardrobe. I find myself hesitating on certain staple wardrobe pieces because I'm not sure if I should be getting them in my signature color, a compliment to my signature color or an outright neutral.

Here's a "for example." You love red. You look good in red. Do you focus on red accessories (handbag or shoes) so that every outfit has a spark of red in it (or could have) or do you stay away from red accessories and focus instead on beefing up your dress and top collection with shades of red. Do you stay away from red on indoor clothing, preferring instead to add that pop of color with a red trench or wool coat?

I'm not exactly sure what my signature color is (or even favorite color, if you prefer that terminology). I know you don't NEED to have a signature color - but I think it can be a fun part of building a wardrobe and CAN help in narrowing down choices - making the whole process ostensibly less overwhelming!

So I'd love to hear your thoughts. Do you have a signature color? How do you use it in your wardrobe?

15 years ago

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

I don't have one particular signature color, and I am not sure I know of anyone on the forum who does. That said, there are certain colors that I adore and immediately look for when I am perusing a stack of sweaters, but I don't wear them everyday. Mustard is one, also deep purple and brown, and I am loving navy blue these days.

I inherited a lot of clothes from my Shopping Friend recently, and I actually just culled out 14 sweaters and tops that she had given me; every single one was either black, charcoal grey or burgundy. It was just too overwhelming for my closet to have so many clothes the same color; they were keeping me from seeing the variety I have otherwise. I much prefer having a rainbow available than a closet of a signature color.

taylor

I don't have a signature color, but i do have a definite color palette that I work from.

I start with neutrals for my base, like denim, black or taupe, then I add :
Red
Green
Blue
Animal print
White
In the form of: shoes, belts, handbags, scarfs,cardigans, jackets or trenches.
I don't do alot of color in one outfit..perhaps just one or two pieces. If it is my red trench...the rest is usually black.. and maybe some leopard pumps:)

Louise

I don't have a signature colour. Mine seems to go by seasons/ years. Last year i had a big thing for purple and turquoise, in the past i have adored fushia. So for me it's quite a flexible thing x

Mamapicklejuice

Interesting responses so far. I am eager to hear of others.

One issue which may come into play is whether you are a minimalist with your wardrobe or not. In the near future, anyway, I see myself with one trench, one pair of winter boots (daily wear), one handbag (despite having just posted my small collection of 5-6 bags, I rarely switch, and certainly not daily or even weekly or monthly) - and so on.

My feeling is that whatever I choose for those staple items will, de facto, become my signature color - if it should be a non-neutral color. If I have only one handbag that I use 99.9% of the time and it's red, red becomes the signature 'pop of color' you can expect in any outfit, etc. I suppose another part of it is that I'm looking at a few investment pieces - Frye or LC boots, Coach or D&B bag...items that if I purchase them I intend to use/wear them into the ground - haha...so I'd better like the color!

I don't know if I'm making any sense or not - I can feel the caffeine wearing off as I type. lol

I totally understand what you mean. If you have a minimalistic wardrobe by keeping to a few signature colours then everything will be interchangable and will all 'go together' Sadly i'm not very minimalistic so can't offer any advice there x

rute

I'll have to say.. black.. it's a color I love and I feel fab in chic with a total black look, but love also brown and red

greenglove

I have a few signature colors but the two that I go to and feel most comfortable in are copper(burnt orange) and olive drab.
I incorporate those two colors and most everything I wear. Even if I am not wearing a shade of them my hair(rust) and eyes (green) play tribute to them.
Just about all the colors in my wardrobe coordinate with those two.
My neutrals are:
black
brown
taupe
camel
cream
Other colors in muted shades are:
turquoise or any warmish blue
yellow ( muted gold)
eggplant
orange
coral
warm muted greens
I wear brighter versions of these shades in the summer.
metals are gold, copper, pewter, bronze
I have ventured away from these colors and but usually just once in a while. I often try to find these colors in dresses or coats but it is very hard. I just bought a terracotta raincoat and was thrilled that this was available. I am very particular about signature colors. Because my palette is largely neutral, I will wear any of these colors in any way. None are too bright to be the main event.

Color is a huge factor in my shopping!

Anonymous

I enjoy others having a signature color. For example, a dear friend will only own purple handbags. Whenever I see a great purple bag I think of her. Another bases her entire wardrobe around a certain shade of pink, aqua, and navy. Everything can mix with everything else.
I'm not so disciplined, but seek out the colors I know look good on me and are available that season. My go-to neutral used to be ink blue (softer than black). When I shrunk out of those clothes I could no longer find much in ink, so grey in both charcoal and a lighter silvery shade became my neutrals.
Like Louise, my colors go by seasons. I like tomato red, cobalt, and deep purple especially in the fall/winter. For spring I reach more for aqua and turquoise, a medium lavender, and peach. Summer adds coral to the mix and more black and white than grey. If I had to pick a non-neutral as a signature color, it would be aqua.
I incorporate the non-neutrals mostly in tops, scarves, beads, bags, and belts.

What a great topic as we move into the deep dark part of winter in the PNW.
I tend to like smokey purple, burgundy and autumn colors for autumn and winter. Spring and summer I like pretty much the same only in lighter shades of green and pink.
I am learning so much here on the forum and from Angie all the time. I read on another thread that Angie wore her apple green boots yesterday! That blows my mind because I always think if it is grey outside I should wear greyish colors to fit in. I love knowing that we can brighten up our surroundings with colorful clothing anytime. I can add an apple green bag or something and feel more cheerful.
I'm trying to build a wardrobe with colors and shades that inter mingle. I'm sure we all hope for that, in this large investment of money and time with a personal stamp on it. I like to think that with my smokey colors I can add a fuschia thread to the outfit. I wouldn't add a tomato red piece, I stay in the cooler tones and shades. A much more talented person can mix warm and cool.

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