Bettycrocker, I think navy Is a color that stands in as a neutral. Colors are anything you would find in a rainbow, and blue is in the rainbow, typical neutrals like black, white, grey, camel, etc. Are not part of the rainbow. I personally would call dark navy and Ivory a high value contrast. I don't know that you need to add more color if you are trying to experiment with this. You could always try it and see if you like the effect.

Astrid, nice close up of your hair, and I see now that it is indeed ash blond! Very pretty style!

Texstyle, I think the key with the blond hair is a division between warm and cool. It seems that warm toned blonds are colored and cool are not. In any case, this is not anything to take too seriously, so by all means break the rules and do it your way!

Alasse, I concluded the same about myself. Value contrast dominant. I'm still not entirely sure what to do with this but I clearly see looking back at my pictures here and elsewhere that the medium value contrast ones look best.

OK, so I tried all of the links and pretty much understand the theory but my results in theory and my results in realty do not match. I will just watch this from the sidelines.

Thanks, StaysFit. My eyes are not bright or the first thing noticed in pics, and I've always preferred color near my face to enhance them. My hair appears darker in pics than it actually is. I feel completely at ease in the navy and ivory with brown I'm wearing today, abs wonder if the navy is my color while ivory and brown are the two neutrals. ???

I'm guessing brown is a neutral.

bettycrocker, I think it would be great to put that question to Imogen on her blog!

She might say that it depends. Navy comes in so many varieties. There is a bright, light navy that looks like a colour -- at least when it is paired with other colours.

And then there is a darker, ink navy, that looks pretty neutral. The first impression one gets on looking at it is "dark."

I was still curious about this, and I've enjoyed following the thread, so I glanced back over at the outfits I've posted in the last month.

About half of them seem to include 2 neutrals & a colour, and all but one are low to mid contrast, so I guess I do generally follow those guidelines, if not consciously! I don't know why I balked/felt so limited to see those rules, when I'm quite happy to dress in soft summer colours 99% of the time and don't feel constricted by that. Hmmm. I'm pretty good with the idea of dressing mainly in low to mid contrast (although I reserve the right to occasionally combine soft white or blush w navy or charcoal!), but the 2 neutrals & a colour thing feels too restrictive, for my style at least.

Suz, the navy I wore is a dark navy and the ivory (I'm using the color name in the online description) is a soft white. It's high contrast, but it could be the way I wore the outfit that made it work. I layered the navy blue 3/4-sleeve sweater over a navy/ivory striped long-sleeved tee shirt. The stripes showed at the neck and bottom of sleeves. I wore natural (soft white) skinny jeans and tall chocolate brown boots. My sterling silver necklace was a large, round pendant on a rather think 20-inch chain, the striped top has thin sparkly silver stripes in it, and I wore small silver hoop earrings.

What????? OK - I can see that I have missed out on something really interesting here - haven't I? I've just skimmed all of the comments and am pretty cross-eyed trying to wrap my brain around value/color. Going to head on over to Imogen's site and try to get a better understanding of what you are all talking about! Be back later!

I balk at guidelines, as a rule, especially when it comes to dressing. I want to wear what I like because I like it, not because it is harmonious with my "two neutrals and a color" appearance. It just seems ridiculous and constricting. I think I like what I like...if it matches with some formula so be it, but I just don't care. Some thing look good and some don't. I have my favorite silhouettes, colors, etc, but I don't think it is because they fit into a "formula", it's just because they suit me. I figure that out buy trying items on, evaluating my lifestyle, and knowing what I need/want. I feel the same about having my "colors done". Too rigid for me...I want to explore without constraint.

Missey, I am so glad that you are able to intuitively know what works! Not everyone is able to do that. I for one, am not particularly intuitive when it comes to color, style, contrast, or my clothing. I have had to work hard at this and am learning. I accept your way of doing things and am so happy for you. I hope you will be happy for me as I sort out my "color confused" ways. It seems to be working for me. I certainly can laugh at myself, and do this all with good spirit and humor. I know from much experience that before you intuit something, you must have a general understanding, a knowledge base. That plus experience is where intuition comes from.

I haven't really thought of it before, but Missey has helped to clarify my thinking and I truly thank her for this! I am really working towards being able to become an intuitive dresser. Someone who just knows what is right or wrong for myself. I know that this is possible to learn. This entire process I am going through, learning my body shape, getting my colors done, deciding on words that describe my style, etc. All of them help to define what will eventually be a knowledge base. I will then gain experience using it and eventually it will all become intuitive.

This exercise and these guidelines are yet another part of this process. I am learning so much from everyone's feedback and hopefully but experimenting with using these guidelines I will learn something more and eventually become free and fashionable!

E, That is so interesting, I am not surprised by what you discovered when looking at your pics. I think you have a natural ability to know what works well for you. Of course you should always wear what you love. The guidelines are only guidelines and not there to be rigidly followed!

Bettycrocker, I would love to know what you have concluded? Maybe try out another ensemble and see what happens? I think you may be correct about the stripes part by the way. Depending on how the stripes are spaced, it could effect the contrast level.

StaysFit, I think the best thing I can do is ask Imogen to clarify. Meanwhile, today I'm wearing a charcoal grey and camel floral jacquard sweater with charcoal grey pants and dark brown boots. I added a splash of color with a teal scarf.

Let's take a look at Imogen's post about the value scale:

http://www.insideoutstyleblog......trast.html

According to this, my personal value contrast level is medium, as my skin is at level 8 and my hair is at level 6, with my eyes somewhere in the middle (about 4). My value contrast very closely resembles that of Angelina Jolie, who Imogen classifies as medium to high contrast depending on her hair color. If I don't highlight my hair, it's darker and my contrast is higher. That's the way it is right now, and this may explain why yesterdays navy/ivory/brown outfit worked. ??? With highlights, my contrast is like the pic of Angelina in Imogen's post. I do have some white hairs, but not too many, and not enough yet to cause a change in contrast.

Missey, I personally don't feel that reading someone's guidelines and knowing about rules inhibits creativity or self expression in any way. To me, knowledge is always useful. Sometimes I read a "rule" or "guideline" that doesn't apply to me, and I dismiss it. Many times, though, the rules and guidelines help me come up with more flattering and appropriate outfits.

StaysFit- I often wonder if our dressing styles mirror our inner workings, personality, work, and learning styles. You seem to be very scientifically minded and many of your posts regarding fashion and dressing have explored having your colors read, dressing formulas, etc. You seem to find reasurance and comfort in these structures and they appear to make your dressing more harmonious and "you". I have noticed in your posts after you have explored a new concept that works for you that your outfits do seem to work better for you and look better on you! Seems crazy to me, but, looking back at your posts, it also seems true! The science behind fashion seems to be your niche!

I am generally a fly by the seat of my pants kind of gal, adapt quickly to change, and love variety. This can be great when I'm getting dressed, but can be terrible when I'm buying clothing because I might not consider my true lifestyle. I admire many styles, but realistically, do I need wool dress pants, refined booties, a beautiful suit? The answer to that would be no. Do I own them? Yes.

I live on a lake 20 miles outside of a mid-sized town (80-100,000) in central MN. My admiration for many styles has filled my closet with many items that get little wear (but they are there in case I need them-LOL!) as well as items that I can wear all of the time. If you run across a system that teaches realism and restraint, let me know! But it can't be too structured or systematic, because as I mentioned earlier, I balk at rules