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wiw and thoughts on colour mixing

Brooklyn

Veteran

Hi all

I really enjoyed Angie's post on building your wardrobe's colour palette.

What I realised, and which I have never really thought about before, is that I have (to use Angie's expression) a low affinity for colour mixing. Not only do I prefer not to mix colours that clash, but (for my style) I prefer outfits that combine colours that are in a similar tone or low contrast.

Take this outfit that I wore last week. It is summer here but we had some cool, wet days so I reverted to jeans and boots. I decided to wear grey jeans. They are a neutral right? I could pair them with almost any colour. And I love colour. But what do I reach for? A light grey top.

And looking through my wiws, I definitely see a lot of one colour and tonal outfits. The most "mixed colour" outfit I can find is in pic 3 (blue, green, burgundy, brown). And that amount of mixing is rare for me. I do like combinations of black and white and grey and white. But if I was wearing burgundy I would generally reach for something brown/rust or cognac to wear with it over, say, navy blue. I prefer what I think of as "close colours". For blue, my general preference would be to wear it with other blues or blue-greens.

So I guess I have to limit the number of colours in my wardrobe or I will end up with way too much stuff. I have already been doing that this year. In fact this year almost everything I have purchased has been a neutral.

But I am wondering if I can train myself to colour mix more? Is it like trying out a new style/silhouette - can you adjust your eye to enjoy it? I know lots of forum members do challenges and I am thinking I will try challenging myself to colour mix more.

Thanks for looking/reading. Comments welcome. And thanks Angie for the post

PS Outfit details:

Knit top - Witchery (current season)

Jeans - Rag and Bone buxton (I got mine on sale earlier in the year but they are still around)

Boots - Jo Mercer (Fierce Chelsea, still available)

Bag - Jigsaw (sold out, I think)

Jewellery - Dinosaur designs ring and an ancient set of beads.

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Rag & Bone / Jean Jeans - The Skinny in Buxton

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22 replies

Latest reply was from Suz

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I really like your tonal looks. Your use of color may be part of what makes your outfits seem so well composed and elegant. It also makes them a wonderful backdrop for your gorgeous jewelry and accessories. I would guess that it's possible to adjust one's eye to different color combinations; I feel as if I have become more open to combining different colors since I've been following YLF. How comfortable you get with them may be quite a personal thing. If we all wore the same colors, things would get kind of boring around here!
I love your use of cognac bag and boots with the light grays in 1/2. To me, that's a fresh color pairing; yes, we've seen it here and on blogs, but it's not something I would have thought of even two or three years ago--I would have thought black or maybe cordovan would be the tried and true choices.

Deborah

Veteran

I guess if you want to colour mix more then trying it out and having some fun with it is the way to go. Like you, my palette is small and tonal but I have no desire to add more colour. When I do add colour, its usually with black or it will be worn on it's own. For example I do have an orange dress. I wear it with bare legs and nude sandals. I don't mix other colours with it:) I think your eye can adjust, it just comes down to "is this something you want to try"?

Brooklyn

Veteran

Thanks FC. You are so kind. Thinking about this, I have definitely been influenced by this forum to mix black with ink blue. That mix may seem like a no brainer for some but I struggled with it. Last winter I made an effort to wear ink blue with black and by the end of winter I was happy with it. So change is possible!
Thanks Deborah. I guess I would like to mix colours more in order to get more variety out of my existing wardrobe - rather than getting variety by buying more stuff. The logistics may present an extra challenge during summer. I tend to wear lots of dresses during summer - so not much opportunity to colour mix by adding extra pieces.

Summer

Veteran

Your tonal looks are perfect with your colouring, but there's no harm in experimenting, especially if it turns up some new outfits with no outlay. Sometimes, mixing things up a little can lead to some pleasant surprises. Have fun!

Karie

(website)

Veteran

Your tonal looks are gorgeous so I say keep up the good work! I do like color a lot and will be watching to see how you add more color to your outfits, as I have resolved to do the same.

kkards

Veteran

i hear you...for me, color mixing is adding white! i love tonal dressing, and most days i just wear a column of color from head to toe....btw, i think adding cognac boots counts as adding color to your outfit!
and i love this grey on grey...the various textures add depth and interested.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

GREAT. You are listening to your emotions about colour. That's the only way to do it. You've realized that you have a low affinity to colour mixing and prefer tonal outfits - run with that and enjoy.

You look sensational, Brooklyn. I love how the brighter cognac livens up the grey in #2.

Personally, I love both tonal AND the clashing colour mix. I do have a high affinity for colour mixing, so adding more colour to my wardrobe feels very controlled and right. Your focus on the other hand, is on neutrals and tonal combinations. Something for everyone!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I think these outfits look terrific and cohesive, and I say if this is the method that speaks to you the most, stick with it! You can always venture out into more color as the mood strikes, but I've found that even after experimenting, I tend to return to a fairly limited color palette that feels the most flattering and true to my style.

I prefer to keep my use of color in an outfit to one color plus neutral(s) -- I rarely if ever mix strong colors, and I rarely (if ever) wear head-to-toe non-neutral color. I feel too conspicuous in too much strong color, which might sound odd to someone who knows that one of my favorite clothing items is a bright cobalt blue leather moto jacket. However, I wear things like that with overwhelmingly neutral outfits, or outfits that incorporate other touches of a similar blue. If I tried to wear that blue jacket with something like red pants, I would feel totally uncomfortable and too "loud" even though I know other women who could rock that look. It's all a matter of comfort!

Sal

Veteran

I agree with Angie, of course!!

What you are doing works brilliantly on you, you wear muted shades so well. But it is fine to try a few variations too.

While my colour palette is different to Janet, and I have a different style I share her colour mixing style. My apple green and bold pink jackets get worn with denim and neutrals, my pink sneakers often with black tights! I will wear bright and bold patterns though especially in dresses but then with simple footwear.

I love the grey tunic- and the warm leather is lovely with it, I think much nicer than black would be.

Anonymous

Well, I think you look amazing and I love your tonal looks. I do a small amount of colour mixing, mostly with mid-toned shades. I'll wear olive and burgundy or rust and olive for instance. But I also love and wear tonal looks like you. As Angie said...run with it. YLF!

kerlyn

Veteran

I love your tonal looks, too! I think they're elegant. And I think I'm discovering I also have a low tolerance for color mixing. I tend toward mostly neutrals, maybe with one color (but rarely a bright color). Or else a mix of mid-tone colors that don't contrast much.

What's funny, though, is my one more colorful outfit that I recently wore was the one that got a compliment! I was at a conference and had brought mostly dark colors to mix with black and gray. But one day I wore my cobalt blue sheath dress with a magenta cardigan, and a kind lady stopped me in the restroom and said she loved my outfit! It was a bit outside my comfort zone, but I'm thinking I may have to experiment a bit more with color mixing.

Gigi

Veteran

Nice outfits!

I would definitely try out some color mixing and see how you feel. That is really the only surefire way to know how it will go. I was recently forced to try some color mixing because I had bought a skirt in a mustard color and didn't have many neutral tops that worked with it. However, I had a cobalt blue top that was the right style to go with the skirt. The two colors look very good together, but I just don't feel good in the combination.

I also tried a "lighter" form of color mixing by wearing a rose-colored top and a burgundy bottom; the tones of the two were similar enough that the rose just looked like a lighter version of the burgundy. I found myself feeling yucky in that one as well.

So that is how I learned that I am NOT a color mixer. I just buy a top or a pair of bottoms here and there to pair with my predominantly neutral wardrobe, and that gives me the little bit of color that I crave without making me feel out of sorts.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I'm also not a big mixer, but sometimes the mood strikes. These outfits look terrific - the bag really adds something in #2. Go with the flow!

Brooklyn

Veteran

Thanks everyone!
Gigi, Kkards, kerlyn, shevia and Karie - I am glad it is not just me And I know what you mean Gigi. Sometimes I will put together colours that supposedly go together and just feel yuk in them. What is that?
Janet and kerlyn, like both of you, I don't like to combine too many brights. At least not in large doses in one outfit. And I will generally opt for the muted version of any available colour: teal not cobalt, burgundy not red, rust not orange etc.
Thanks summer, Diane G, KG and Angie. Diane, I already watch your colour combinations closely Rust and olive is a combination I might do.
I am going to try to colour mix a bit more (while still staying with a limited colour palette). Just for fun and variety. But it is great to have learnt this about my style.

lyn67

Veteran

I'm with you with mixing "close colors" for a harmonious look. Think this means low contrast- and so, can be done with stronger colors, like yours in nr 3 too. For all neutrals, I do sometimes love some accents, or pops of colors somewhere, little doses, too. YLF in your greys, and really, cognac makes it all richer!

Deb

Veteran

Your natural personal physical colouring (hair, skin, eyes) is low contrast which is why you are attracted to and look best in low contrast clothing and accessories. You have instinctively chosen your best match. You look great in low contrast so stick with it, whether it be in neutrals or your favoured muted colours.

harmonica

Veteran

Your tonal outfits are gorgeous! The way you mix materials and textures add interest to your outfits.

Carole

Veteran

Beautiful outfit combos...I see texture rich and chic!

Brooklyn

Veteran

Thanks Lyn, deb, harmonica and Carole. Deb, I think that's right but I wish I were a high contrast person! Anyway, as Angie said gotta go with the flow.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

You're so good at combining neutrals and tonal colors, though! I guess we all kind of admire looks on others that might not come naturally to us. I'm curious... do you remember how you felt in that third outfit? I find I reach a point with certain colors/combinations where I feel almost itchy wrong.

Brooklyn

Veteran

Thanks Jenn! I felt good in that outfit! Probably why I posted it. It was only after Angie's post that I realised it is unusual for me to combine lots of colours ie non-neutrals. Makes me think I might be able to get better at it with practice. But I noticed something you said on another thread about combining lots of colours - that when you do that you feel like you are rooting for a football team. That's exactly how I feel! But that said I do admire bold colour mixing on others. And I really like missoni (not that I can afford it) and they are known for bold colour mixing.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

What Janet said! You look wonderful in this.