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Timeless colors?

shiny

Veteran

Questions on my mind lately:

Other than basic neutrals (cream, white, black, navy, gray, and perhaps red too), are there certain colors that are timeless and won't ever appear dated?

and...

Would any color that truly flattered you, ever really get dated? (Maybe the style of the garment would date... but let's assume a classic style with a color-du-jour).

I've been thinking about this ever since Angie's recent post about the 80s revival, and she mentioned certain colors that are popular right now are reminiscent of the 80s.

I love the colors out right now - particularly teal, Jcrew's "majestic purple" (which seems cobalt to me), emerald, plum. I also love fuschia, turquoise and apple green for spring/summer. Because these colors flatter me, and I haven't seen them in sooo long, I'm tempted to go crazy stocking up on them, in case the whims of the fashion gods change their mind anytime soon...

When I did my most recent culling and closet rotation, focusing on winter clothing, it occurred to me that I had a ton of soft, pastel-ish colors. Which aren't my favorite colors, but it seemed it was all you could find in the stores for many years (other than basics). And for spring/summer, for some reason I have a lot of orange (like a sorbet orange) from past seasons (BR went crazy with orange in... I think it was 2005?).

Finally - what would you add to my list of "basic neutrals"? I.e., what colors do you think are timeless?

Thoughts?

General

14 replies

Latest reply was from Kristen

taylor

Veteran

It sounds like you love/and look best in jewel tones? (However I have seen photos of you in others that you wear well). I think those are all timeless because you can always soften them with a cream or white for warmer months or team them up with black in winter. I agree pastels were all you could find for a long time, and they really don't work for me(I am a winter ).

I think anything that looks good on you and you wear well as far as color goes is timeless. just team your favorite color with a current item(Skinny jeans etc.)

Although the 80's were fun..I like it with todays spin!!

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Good questions - I think there are colors that become fadish at times (i.e. the cobalt blue around lately - and by the way, I LOVE that color), and colors that are never hugely in or out. I know that robins egg blue and grey are my best colors, and while I was really happy when grey became popular this season, it's never completely "out" either, you know? So I'll wear those colors in any season because they match my coloring.

Do you remember about 5 years ago when pink was all the rage, and it went on for a few seasons? Pink, pink, pink. I like pink, not so much on me as on others, but that was too much!

Jenniferblue

I'd love to know if there is an answer to this color question too. I think that the neutrals that you mentioned are safely timeless but wasn't there a time when beige (a neutral) was also considered timeless. What about brown?
I think certain colors have their "in" years and that the combinations of colors paired with the styles date them. Won't mustard and citron, which have been popular for a few years now, look off in another few years? We all look good in certain colors and combinations but sometime they're not popular.
Dark wash jeans are so popular now but not so long ago a lighter wash prevailed. Colors seem to have there own seasons too. So it you look good in pastels you'll have a better chance of finding them in the spring, even if you want to wear pastels in winter. There's a lot to this color thing. Thanks for bringing it up, Shiny.

chelle

I know someone who had her colors done and sticks to coral, cream, brown, and like a sage green. When you see her you just think of them as "her" colors whether they are "in" at the time or not. It is almost like your eye expects those colors from her and it might be jarring if she showed up in gray and plum. I guess I'm more inclined to say that your best colors will be timeless on you? That is as long as your wardrob pieces are in current cuts.

Antje

Veteran

This is a really interesting post, Shiny, and it made me think. So after mulling this over I'd say that there are timeless colors *for an individual*, and those are the colors that are just perfectly flattering for you, which is typically based on the color being a perfect fit for one's coloring (skin tone, eyes, hair). If the color is "your" color, then it will look timeless even if it's not on trend. Does that make sense?
E.g. I've seen women pulling off shades of pink, orange, green etc. that were not fashionable in a given season, but they were so perfect for their coloring and their personality that noone would look at the piece of clothing and consider it dated.
So I think that you're doing exactly the right thing by stocking up on "your" colors during a season that they're particularly fashionable and available, because they will make you shine (pun intended) years later.

Ellen

I think that colour is really something that can be made 'your own' as Antje said, thus becoming timeless. Timeless and trendy are two different things. There are items which are timeless in one sense (you could always wear them in some incarnation and look fashionable) which occasionally become the trendy thing (everyone, everywhere is wearing them).

I think the key with colour is to flatter your looks and style. And if that means that when everyone else is wearing pastels in years to come and you pull out a deep purple sweater, then you will stand out in a positive way.

For myself, I almost always stick to neutrals (black, grey, navy, and white specifically). I am most comfortable in these and get the most compliments on my dressing when I am wearing them. My complexion is quite colourful (read: red!) and I feel the neutrals really calm it down. I add colour with accessories and I think this is an easier way to catch a 'trend' colour - an accessory doesn't have to be in the most flattering colour for you to work well, as long as it is set against a flattering backdrop.

Ellen

Also - I think it's almost ridiculous how some stores will only carry colours which are 'on trend'. How will those colours work for everyone? The idea that someone very fair like you or I wil look equally good in the same colours that suit someone with say, a gorgeous chocolate or olive tone to their skin, is crazy. Trends are fun to follow, but if retailers want to reach all consumers, they should have options available which will flatter different skin tones.

Joy

Veteran

Besides the neutrals (which do cycle. Try to find ink blue this year!), I think basic red and periwinkle blue or royal blue never really go out of style, although some years they are hard to find. If a color is in and flattering, I'd be tempted to stock up. As others said, it's now the color looks on you that's important.

ChristineB

Interesting discussion. I think 'true' versions of colors (ie, primary or secondary colors - red, yellow, blue, green, violet, orange) never really go out of style although their popularity may increase & decrease making them easier or harder to find. However, when those colors are mixed one more step (I think it's called tertiary, but it's yellow green, red violet, blue violet, etc) they become more trendy.

I do agree, though, that as long as it's a fab color on you, wear it. Even if it's a totally trendy color, if it looks bad on you there's no way you'll look good.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Nice thinking, Shiny and Antje and I agree wholeheartedly. Stock up on *your* colours now if they happen to be fashionable.

I feel that so called fashionable colours are becoming more and more basic and widely available. Do you have that perception too?

Red is timeless imo. It’s a totally basic colour.

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Is animal/snake print a color? I think that's pretty timeless, if you buy it in a basic or retro styling.

Nicole

Veteran

I wish I had more thought for color as it pertains to my style and my personal coloring. I didn't realize that colors came in and out of style to be honest. I always thought that color combinations could become dated, but never thought of individual colors as being datable.

tarzy

Veteran

I get very confused by colors and color combinations. I basically came to YLF with a closet full of black, and I never really know what "goes with" what.

I have a question about French blue, which I think is one of those "timeless" colors, although I don't know if it's a neutral.

I just bought a woven shirt (button-down type) in this color. I think it's a great "interview" color. The shirt looks good with several of my jackets (blue, brown, and black.) I also really like it with jeans. BUT - blue is not my best color. It's not that it looks bad on me. It looks fine. It just doesn't look as good as say, a burgundy or a green - colors that "go" with my eyes.

To me, the French blue woven shirt is sort of timeless and classic. Is it okay to have something like this in my wardrobe, even if it's not my best color? Should I get this type of shirt in pink instead? The blue feels a bit more sophisticated than the pink. I wouldn't only wear it for interviews - I'd like to use it in my wardrobe with jeans, for Saturday at the mall, that kind of thing. French blue, or pink ... or just stick with good old white?

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

There is always a French blue, a pink and a white button-down shirt that I have in my closet, ready to go with a suit or under a sweater at any time. I go through different styles for them -- I have some French cuffs ones from Talbots last year that are starting to show their wear -- but I always try to have those three basics.

My two cents -- that might not be a style or a color that suits you, but I like a bit of preppy flair to my outfits, and collared button-downs easily give me that.

As to the main conversation, I always look for colors that suit me the best each season, and if I see one that really flatters hitting it big I try to scoop up as much of it as I can while it's available!