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Silhouette or Colour...or both? How do you get your variety?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Over on Elizabeth P's beautiful travel capsule thread I mentioned that I suspect she gets her sense of variety more from changing up her silhouette than her colours. Traci chimed in saying she has narrowed her colours as she has expanded her range of silhouettes.

I don't think it is an either/ or proposition. Many people (Angie, Aida, and Tanya being three who pop instantly to mind) get a sense of variety from switching up both colour and silhouette -- and why not?

For myself, I adore colour. I do stick to cool tones within a fairly tight range of what flatters, but that still leaves me with plenty of options, and colour is a huge, huge mood booster for me! So I will never eliminate it. (Having said that, I do tend toward mostly neutral outfits with one or two blocks of vivid colour or white and my favourite places for colour are scarves, coats, and jackets. Oh, and bags and shoes).

But even though I love colour, switching my colour palette alone does not give me a sense of true variety. To feel I've worn something truly "different" I have to vary the silhouette.

Sticking with one silhouette takes away the fashion fun.

That's why I'll never be a true wardrobe minimalist, and why I do like to incorporate trends, especially the big ones like the major silhouette shift we are undergoing now towards wider bottoms.

It's also why I love summer dressing. In my climate and with my lifestyle, it's super hard to vary the winter silhouette. In summer I have far more choice.

This is inconvenient in some ways; it does lead to greater expense. And it sometimes means my closet lacks full mix-and-matchability. Even though the colours all work together really well, the proportions don't.

Often, I end up with a few favourite outfits (vs a whole range) that incorporate the new silhouette in some way -- and possibly not many other options for tops, say, to go with that cool new bottom. But, oddly, I don't care. I am happy if I have one or two great outfits in the new silhouette -- that will get me through an entire season. (Until I gear up for the next silhouette adjustment).

I suppose some people get their dose of variety via texture or pattern, as well.

How about you? What gives you the sense of variety you crave? Or are you just as happy without any variety?

Dressing

57 replies

Latest reply was from Aida

Joy

Veteran

Amen to everything you wrote! My biggest boost is adding a new-to-me color, so I pay attention to new trends in color. This fall it is burgundy, although it's not a great color on my any more.
In trying to mimic Angie's capsule template some time ago, I found that the key was varying silhouette and adding a little bit of pattern. Like you I found that this means needing a larger wardrobe to hsve the right tops for bottoms. Changing up silhouettes is much more work. Right now I'd like to copy member Bonnie and her tunics over skinny jeans or leggings, but the idea of getting proportions right may overwhem me. I also want to get rid of low rise jeans for higher rises, but trying on myriads of jeans feels like a lot of shopping and work.
To answer your question,yes, I crave variety. I sort of wish I could be happy in a "uniform".

Tanya

Veteran

I need both color and silhouette variety, as you have already mentioned, Suz I do get bored easily and feel the need to switch things around all the time. This leads to a fairly large wardrobe, of course, but I am perfectly fine with that.

However, this does not mean that I wear all sorts of colors and shapes. For colors, I stick to my cool toned palette, though I will focus on different colors in different seasons based on what is available and trending. For example, this season I am all about blush, burgundy and ink/navy. Also, I will occasionally add a bad-for-me color (usually something warm) in a very controlled manner ( e.g. the tomato pants, the rust-navy striped sweater) just for fun; but only if it is something that works very well with I already own and no further purchases are needed to make it work. In the last couple of years these have mostly been touches of various warm colors that look good with my navies and blues in general.

The silhouettes are more complicated and involved for me than colors, as I am very sensitive to proportions. In the past couple of years, I have realized that the most important thing for me is to have the right footwear for the various types of pants/jeans I would like to wear. In the past it has been happening organically, but this season I decided to purposefully identify three trendy silhouettes I want to focus on, as the trendy ones usually require more thoughtful styling than the modern classics. For example, I can wear skinny jeans tucked into boots without much thought in the winter. On the other hand, cropped flares require some styling effort. I still need to post this, my September really flew past me, but I have defined three pants+shoes combos, and for each three tops/toppers shapes, for the total of nine trendy outfit formulas for me. This streamlined approach has worked well so far, and helped me focus my shopping etc. Those nine formulas are by no means everything I wear, but they do constitute the majority of my trendier outfits.

Anonymous

I love color, so I'm quicker to change color than I am to change silhouette, especially now that I know which silhouettes look best on me.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

Color is really the main way I change things up I guess. I am also very attuned to color for my mood in a certain day so I have to keep at least some variety. I could never do with a 3 color wardrobe. I have deep reds, greens, blues, burgundy, whites, grays, cool brown, etc. And patterns - esp. plaids.

Do you feel silhouette includes changing up a top from say a button down or popover to a knit tee or tunic? Or from a semi-tuck to an untuck? And same question for boyfriend jeans vs. slim jeans? Is this enough to call it a silhouette change?

lyn67

Veteran

Great thred and I am much like you Suz: love color BUT stick with my mainly monochromatic outfits (with occasional pop of color) meanwhile I really do crave variety from changing silhouettes.
I, too, am very sensitive to proportions(like Tanya says) and it is so much work (like Joy says) to nail it as imagined. Then, sadly, it occurs me I'll never be a minimalist either....

Traci

Veteran

I'm learning I get easily overwhelmed by options, yet I crave change. I love color, but find when I have a color rich closet I fret the most about getting dressed. I'm finding a wardrobe of mostly neutrals just takes away that extra stess factor. I am trying to figure out when it makes sense to duplicate and when it doesn't.

Angie's coat wardrobe was actually very inspiring to me because I realized that I would have viewed several of them as duplicates of each other and not allowed myself to buy them, even though I see they're not duplicates. Like, I wouldn't "let" myself have two citron pea coats, and that's silly.

In short, my wardrobe feels good when I can mix and match heavily, across colors and silhouettes. Right now I feel hectic trying to sort the silhouette piece, so I'm paring back on the color. Maybe once I lock in on my shapes I will start bringing color back in.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Really interesting thoughts, all!

Joy, I hear you on the changing of silhouettes requiring more forethought and planning. This is what many forum members feel as "stress" and "work" and it can be, I suppose, but I consider it fun -- under certain circumstances. Basically, I have to be convinced that I will enjoy wearing the new silhouette and then it is worth the shopping effort to me, and I also have to have a source for the support act. Tanya's approach this year really appealed to me. I'm usually much more haphazard and it often backfires.

I also think retailers have to step up their offerings to meet real women's lives. For instance, I was firmly against ankle pants or crops of any kind until retailers began to offer winter footwear options that would work in my own climate. Then I eagerly jumped aboard.

Texstyle, you asked:

Do you feel silhouette includes changing up a top from say a button down or popover to a knit tee or tunic? Or from a semi-tuck to an untuck? And same question for boyfriend jeans vs. slim jeans? Is this enough to call it a silhouette change?

No. Absolutely not enough change for me. I'll just feel like I am wearing jeans and a top. Bores the heck out of me. When I read that "Into Mind" blog and she talked about a long sleeved shirt being a "silhouette" and a different one than a short sleeved shirt, I thought she was out of her mind, not into it!!

Note -- I do think those can be super stylish outfits and the reality is, my everyday wear generally consists of this. But if I can't switch things up more, that's when I get bored. Why I love summer is I have a huge range of silhouettes to choose even at home.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

I realized, after my latest closet evaluation, that my need for variety is quenched by toppers. I'm perfectly happy wearing the same neutral base day-in and day-out and, in fact, I reach for the neutral pieces over other options. However, I have a wide range of topper options in rich colors, beautiful patterns, and luxurious textures. My toppers also come in a variety of silhouettes--a kimono, a duster, vests, jackets, blazers, cardigans--so just swapping that out can change an outfit completely.

This is probably the reason I find summer dressing so difficult and uninspiring...it's just too hot to depend on toppers! This year, I learned to embrace minimalism in my summer outfits, but I also added a few new silhouettes (maxi dress, joggers), and I think having just a couple of different options helped.

Sisi

Veteran

In my opinion the best thing would be varying both colors and silhouette. I am far from this goal. I use color to give myself the illusion of variety. It is easy to add something colorful to my mostly neutral outfits. Varying silhouettes is a bit more complicated.

anchie

Veteran

I must be the opposite, since I don't like to vary the silhouette at all. I know which ones work for my body type and I stick to it. For example, from all types of skirts and dresses, I wear only pencil skirts and sheath dresses. I don't even look at the other silhouettes. I don't wear v-necks, only crew. When I find pants or jeans in my silhouette that fit me good, I buy in multiple colors. I was miserable for couple of years when all the tops and sweaters were oversized and I could not find almost anything in my more tailored silhouette. I satisfy my craving for variety with colors and accessories. I try following the trends with the shoes, bags and outerwear. For some reason, I am more open to try the new silhouette when it is outerwear.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Anchie, Jenn, I think your responses are related and I can identify. Using toppers and outerwear would probably be my own fallback / preference for adding variety also but living in the climate I do (extremes, where half the year a topper is useless/ unnecessary and the other half I pretty much have to wear a puffer coat) has limited that possibility for me. If I lived in a temperate climate I could see having a uniform of neutrals and a wide variety of jackets/ shoes/ bags to switch it up!

But then again, even there... my "uniform" might consist of various shapes. Hmm.

Anchie, also, I rule lots of things out for flattery reasons. I stay away from scoop necks or deep Vs, don't wear many fit and flare styles (though I have a couple of A-line skirts and now, culottes), don't wear mini skirts, don't really wear tunics and leggings at all (despite liking them on others.) So there are definite limits to my experimentation.

Gaylene

Veteran

I like the idea of changing silhouettes, but the reality often bogs me down. Getting dressed takes time and I find myself getting exasperated. I never seem to have the right top or shoe and that means spending more time and money in shops when I'd rather be doing something else. I'm also happier with a limited color palette of neutrals and aren't attracted to patterns. All these factors make me a good candidate for uniform dressing

What your question has done, though, is make me realize I satisfy my need for variety not through silhouette or colour, but through texture, line, and accessories. My palette might be neutral, but my wardrobe includes leather, silk, fine and nubby knits, and tone-on-tone embellishment, I pay attention to necklines and hemlines, layering, and how fabrics drape and move on my body. I like quirky footwear, unusual jewelry, and interesting scarves and bags (but only cross-body bags because I like my hands to be free--uniform dresser here!). These are the ways I create variety and experiment with trends.

Anonymous

Evidently, I don't need a lot of variety. I am quite happy with a limited number of silhouettes. My color palette is pretty consistent as well.

For myself, I like simple. I like classic.

Elizabeth P

Veteran

I was wondering if that conversation would lead to a separate thread

I'm going to have to think about this more, but something Tanya said really resonated with me. I seem to be suffering from MSD (multiple silhouette disorder), and the best thing to combat this is to spend time, playing with proportions. I often find I've purchased something new and trendy (the black crop flares for example) and am truly not sure what to do next. Now I know... figure out the footwear, then play in my closet. Truly the one thing I am VERY bad at doing is test driving outfits... I tend to do this in the morning (I can't plan ahead to save my life, the weather can be so variable, as can my mood) so I tend to have a lot of early morning frustration. Which results in a pile of clothes to put away when I get home. Not good. I think coming up with 2-3 starting outfits for each new silhouette of bottom/top and logging in into stylebook would be a great idea for me. Hey, that can be my next personal style challenge!

This is a great thread!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Off to see a client now Suz, but wanted to chime in quickly to say that you are dead right. I like to swap out colour and silhouette a lot - AND add pattern and shine. I swap my bags daily! I would be a VERY unhappy wardrobe minimalist, and thankfully don't need to be one. I can have all the fun I want within the size of my budget and closet.

I don't wear a lot of accessories and jewellery though - only pearls - and will happily repeat favourite outfits (like you).

(Traci, I have a citron trench coat, a citron wool peacoat, and neon green retro short coat. All different from each other - and thanks for noticing).

El Cee

Veteran

I am another one that craves variety in both color and silhouette. Only problem is that this, for me, requires a large wardrobe. Add to that the four season issue and YIKES!

catgirl

Veteran

Remember my silhouette challenge? I need to reinstate that. I am not a one note dresser but neither am I a maximalist in terms of creativity. This is why I am looking for statement pieces in the trifecta of color/print-style-price range. I have purposely narrowed my silhouttes and colors which I find helpful, though I don't want to be strict to the point of boredom. At the same time I find when I stray too far or compromise on one element, I end up with orphans.

I still find it hard to find edgy items in colors and patterns I prefer, as my recent post on "where are the prints" demonstrates!

I also think Angie, Tanya and Aida have body types (slim hourglass) that are more conducive to a wide range of silhouettes. I would love to wear a tight turtleneck and swishy widelegs but as a short IT with other fit issues, some silhouettes are just not within my reach.

JAileen

Veteran

I think I'm okay repeating things forever, be they silhouette or color. I've limited my colors, and I'm still fine with that, and if I can find a silhouette that works, hallelujah!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

El Cee, I hear you. That's probably why my own wardrobe keeps growing....gulp....(ordering more stuff today, oy!!)

Angie, yes. You wear the new trends wonderfully and always find ways to show us all how to wear them. This is part of what makes YLF so unusual and special -- so your love of variety is a major professional advantage. Plus, it makes you happy and that is always good!

Elizabeth, I think those outfit testing sessions are key to my own happiness quotient with new trends. If I don't try it on first with a few items and see how it works, I won't wear it. I need to be able to grab and go, and once I've found a few great combos, I know what they are and can rely on them. I have a few items that I've failed to test that way before cutting tags and they are the ones I end up consigning fast. ;(

Sterling, that's consistent with what I have seen. It seems you are happy with a limited palette and limited silhouettes. But you are very particular about the items you choose and care a great deal about texture. Also, you do sometimes switch things up a little bit, for example with the BR tweed top with adds a twist to your usual because it is not smooth in texture.

Gaylene, I hear you -- I think you and Lisa P may be similar in this regard. You have certain silhouettes that you know you can rely on and you also have an unerring eye (and great available shops) for the accessories (bags, shoes, jackets/coats, jewellery) that will elevate the items and make them shine. I know jackets and coats are not, strictly speaking, "accessories" -- but they are often statement pieces and in your wardrobe have played that role. I wonder if this preference is also related to your shared preference for local boutique shopping? Maybe local boutiques work best for people who find their variety in this way?

I really love this idea of dressing but in practice it doesn't feel like enough variety, maybe because I don't wear a lot of jewellery? I do like a neutral column of some kind, however. Hmm.

carter

Veteran

Although I may change up shoes, tucking, belting, yada, yada, I consider that I have 3 silhouettes (plus the occasional dress): 1) long top + slim bottom, 2) fluid/boxy top + slim bottom, and 3) fitted top + slim bottom. I have no interest in adding to that list at the moment. Certainly not the wide bottom trend...I already have one of those that follows me everywhere;-).

I like options, but I don't crave variety. For me, different colors--including the range of neutrals--give me options in order to satisfy the need for variety in those around me. I'm not sure I'm explaining it well. I love color, but I would happily wear a black top everyday with either black, white or denim blue bottoms.

Did that make sense?

tulle

Veteran

I'm with you in finding new silhouettes easier (and cheaper!) to introduce through a couple of complete outfits, rather than renovating an entire wardrobe. After all, many trends last only a year or two, and I find that having a couple of current go-to outfits, and a lot of personal classics works pretty well. Color changes are unrestricted: I pay a lot of attention to colors (scents, too) that make me feel and look better in different seasons, as well as what's on trend. Better believe I'm stocking up on pinks this year!

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I've been wondering if I change silhouettes at all. I wear A-line or "boxy" tops over slim bottoms, mostly in summer. I wear slim tunics over slim bottoms. Sometimes tunic length tops over shorts. I wear slightly more fitted knits with boyfriend jeans and chinos. I wear cropped pants with chunkier shoes. I also wear my usual button downs of course but the others are about as different as I go on a day to day basis.

I'm not counting toppers - I have those in a few different shapes - field coat, double-breasted coat, slightly cropped motos, soft knit blazers, etc.

Do any of those differences actually mean a silhouette change in the eyes of YLF?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Tulle, you and me both!! I hope you'll show us some of your pink Finds! I am on the hunt for more pink tops for sure. And maybe scarves, but finding a pattern I like seems a bit tricky.

Carter, that makes sense, and your carefully curated wardrobe works so well for you. I think you and Sterling share a preference for a limited set of silhouettes as well a fondness for neutrals. I wonder if the hot conditions you live in influences this to a degree. I always feel more chic in the heat when wearing neutrals.

JAileen, you made me laugh. I've seen you in several silhouettes that look great on you!!

Una, you look great in your plaid flares/ bootcuts which are sort of "your" wide legs, don't you think?

tulle

Veteran

Suz, I've been looking for silk scarves in pink and rose shades with no luck, too. I did find a gauzy pale pink cashmere scarf from Portolano last year, but no patterned silk anywhere. Funny, when you think of the floral possibilities . . . as for tops, I keep waiting for the runway pinks to trickle down. Haven't found anything great yet.

Style Fan

Veteran

I stick to the same colour palette. I found a picture of my Grade 8 graduation and I had on a green dress. The same green as the dress I wore recently to a wedding. I am pretty consistent about colour. I like certain silhouettes for myself. I have realized what works for me and what doesn't. The oversized look just doesn't work for me so I passed that trend by. And waited for a few years before I could find something I liked.
I tend to stick to the same things for my upper half. I will experiment with my lower half. BF jeans, wide legged jeans, straight legged jeans, etc. Yes I know they are all jeans. If I was working I would buy pants in all different shapes.
So it seems for me the silhouette that works is body con or tailored on top and anything goes on the bottom. Then I like a topper that is not oversized. Any length works but I tend to prefer waist length, mid thigh or knee length. I like to distract attention away from my hips.
I get my variety from textures and accessories. I wish I could get it from shoes but I am happy to find shoes that don't hurt my feet.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Style Fan, you wear jeans so well and are adventurous in the ones you choose. Also, you wear fit and flare dresses sometimes so that is some variety in silhouette.

Tex, I don't think it matters what I or anyone else thinks -- if these feel like silhouette shifts to you, they are, and they give you as much variety as you need (because I know you maintain a fairly tight colour palette). I seem to crave more exaggerated shifts and I have no idea why. It's a bit inconvenient, to tell the truth!

Another reason summer makes me happy is that I might wear my shorts and sleeveless top or tee semi-tucked during the day (one silhouette) and then change into a looser, longer (or untucked) top with tube skirt later on...it's more of a shift somehow even in one day. Funny.

L'Abeille

Veteran

Well this one is a no-brainer for me. My closet is black, grey, navy, red, and white, full stop. A couple of taupe pieces and several shades of blue that get worn a few times a year. And I don't get bored with it at all.

But I just can't limit myself in silhouettes. I have slim pants, straight leg, flares, wide leg, high and low waisted. Plus culottes, pencil skirts, pleated skirts, full or A line skirts, in widths from above the knee to maxi. Dresses from sheath to shift to fit and flare or shirt dress. On top I wear shirts, fitted sweaters, chunky sweaters, tucked in, semitucked, and long tunic styles. Then the third piece: sweater vests, gilets, jackets in their short transitional seasons, and scarves from tiny to huge drapey. And I rarely wear a combo the same way twice, although I am learning to identify and repeat the 10's in happiness factor.

This thread is helping things make sense for me though. I have been attempting (as a mental exercise only) to come up with a few outfit formulas, and I really can't do it; I will wear the same pieces in multiple silhouettes so the number of combinations is, well, more than I'd like to count.

Of course, the bonus of such a restricted palette (and not-tiny wardrobe numbers) is, if one top looks too fitted over a certain bottom, or is too short, I have a wealth of black alternatives to choose from. Really, I mostly decide if I will do print (by which I mean menswear of course: checks, stripes, dots, plaids, some abstract and animal print) on the top, or the bottom. And I tend to go for fulness in one place to balance close fit in another.

Karie

(website)

Veteran

Well I love color and I love to vary the silhouette! One day I'll wear my red fit & flare dress and be super girly (last Tuesday), another day I'll be in distressed jeans, a moto jacket, and a rock & roll tee (last Saturday night for a wine tasting and a walk around downtown), and next up is my super flare jeans, top (haven't decided which one yet) and a fringe shoulder bag (coffee shop meet with a friend, this coming Friday night).

Much of my variety comes from switching between day (work) and evening dressing.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I would say I like to get my variety from silhouette. I have a fairly defined palette--although I probably have capsules that center on my neutrals of black, charcoal, navy, taupe, olive. And I have a fast fallback silhouette, which is long over lean--I like my long toppers over skinny bottoms, sometimes even with tall boots, to add another long/tall element to the look. But I would be bored, bored, bored if that was the only silhouette I wore. I get kind of bummed when I have wardrobe items that coordinate beautifully color-wise but just don't go together because of the silhouettes. Ah, well. Can't have everything, I guess.

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