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WIW: How I'm doing pales when I need CONTRAST

Vix

Veteran

Hi all --

Well 'tis my season for finding skintone neutrals (aka rose dust, rose beige, cameo rose, palest pink etc)...but while my skin looks good in them I look "off" without contrast!

In case anybody else is the same way when it comes to wearing their lightest shades, thought I'd share how I'm finding adding even a little bit of medium-to-deeper tones helps.

[You'll see the boots feature prominently. Can't wait to pair them with sandals soon...

Thanks for looking and if you have any sources for very inexpensive charcoal or black glass oval pendants I'm all ears!

Blush ponte pencil skirt with rose dust T combos

With totally over-the-top kimono...last year I wore it as intended with a single button closure, this year I've tied it to reign in some of the fabric. insanely floaty and fun [winter kate circa 2011 or 12? via Poshmark]

With floral scarf worn as hairband and ok-ish dark pendant (still seeking right thing)

With big floral high-low shirtdress (last spring's inexpensive find...I had it tailored to make it slightly less boxy and "low" and wore it once a week over darker shades)

With floral bomber jacket (also shown with dark green skirt)

Dark green jersey skirt and top with long blush linen cardigan

I've also worn the cardigan over charcoal T and skirt and a black dress

Pale pink linen DOUBLE RUFFLE SLEEVE dress with charcoal skirt and blue/green/purple necklace

I love linen knits but I'm not really a woven linen person (too natural/earthy for my style and I'm not at all "at peace with the crease)...but YES I'M THE AUDIENCE FOR THESE SLEEVES hahaha. Had to add pearlescent shoes and freshwater pearls to make it mine.

update: added 1 more shot of the pink linen with baby bootcuts and pearlized pink booties as now our weather is swinging cool again!

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31 replies

Latest reply was from Aida

Brooklyn

Veteran

Ooh, I like the blush pink with the charcoal colour. It puts me in mind of this picture that I have at home. (Yeah, I go floral all the way).
And the green combo is one that wouldn’t have occurred to me.
Interesting because I also like contrast and find colour mixing a challenge!
Re the charcoal pendant. I have this Kendra Scott pendant in gunmetal that gives a charcoal vibe. May not be your style. Have you looked at Etsy?
PS I am also not at peace with the crease, plus I find linen scratchy. Really annoying because it’s so suitable for my climate.

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Kendra Scott 'Aiden' Pendant Necklace

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Anonymous

Wow VIX- what a terrific job on all the looks. Personally i think you nailed each and every one. The care and thought that went into each look shows big time. Well done.

jussie

Veteran

Yes I love the pics with a little more contrast. Looking good! The lighter outfits are reasnoble too.

Dottie

Fantastic! You've nailed it.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I'm definitely agreeing with your approach. Since you have a high-contrast look yourself, with the pale skin and dark hair, it looks best to carry it over into your outfit choices. I"m really loving the pale pink and green combination.

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

I admire the consistency of the palette and approach to proportion- you really know what you like and what works for you. Congratulations!

And thanks for bringing up this important idea of contrast. It’s something I’m thinking about a lot too. I figure I look best in low contrast medium tones, but I’m adding blush and white and metallics as summer accents, experimentally.

JAileen

Veteran

This is so interesting. The contrast and pale pink look fantastic on you. And lucky you know what works!

I tend to want low contrast. I think because my hair and face have low contrast.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

I love this, Vix! You’ve made me think, because I’ve always thought I didn’t like contrast because I’m not a fan of stark black and white. But, of course, I have dark hair and light skin, so, like you, I always have contrast built in. I think I’d feel uncomfortable in head-to-toe skin tones, too! It’s amazing what a difference something as simple as a pendant can make.

Btw, fun to see pictures of you without the sunglasses! You almost look like a different person.

Lynn

Veteran

Beautiful Vix. I really like the pale tones with the charcoal on you.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Vix, I love your kinky, salt & pepper hair, and adore how the patterns you wear echo the vibe of your locks somehow.

You look dead right in contrast. Rock on.

Cardiff girl

Veteran

You look trim and stylish in all these photos and I love the pale with the darker contrast it makes it so much more sophisticated and stops it being overly girlish.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

You are the master or should I say mistress of color, I always learn from you. You are so correct that the pale spring shade needs grounding and I've never thought to combine these two shades which look fantastic on you. Love the linen dress! And the Winter Kate shawl. I have a WK cropped kimono jacket from the same era it is a faded black and an orphan as I do longer wear this color. It's a great layer over dresses (silk, lined). If you are interested, PM me, I'll send it to you.

Toban

Veteran

These look great! Thank you for bringing up to the topic of contrast. It makes the difference between a great and so-so outfit. I need low to medium contrast, so I struggle with bringing in light colors except under toppers so it’s a small amount or within a print with a variety of low/mid/darker tones.

Vix

Veteran

Hi all -- didn't mean to post and run but am unexpectedly out and about...promise to chime in later!

For now a group thank you for all the suggestions, compliments, and offers!

Bonnie

Veteran

Lovely outfits - I like the blush and charcoal palette you have chosen.

Runcarla

Veteran

You have landed on the right pink/blush for you. Love the linen dress!

Column

Veteran

Super smart!

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Beautiful and inspirational! I am always attracted to black and blush prints and now I see why. I especially like what you did with the pale blush top and beads in the last picture. That is something I must try! And lovely to see your beautiful face !

Joy

Veteran

I fell in love with blush a few years ago on a springtime trip to Japan. Everyone and their grandfather and baby were wearing blush with black or charcoal and looked fabulous. Blush skirts and tutus with black tights and shoes, blush ties with black shirts, blush scarves with black coats, blush shirts with black suits. You can wear pales with contrast.

Sal

Veteran

Great post with lots of ideas there. I like them all but the last one wins my pick with the fishnet tights!!

lyn67

Veteran

Love blush with black accents! Very dramatic your nr 1 look, and congrats Vix, you nailed the so wanted contrast within the pales, too-very clever and always so stylish!

Vix

Veteran

Hi again all!

The last time "my" blushes were easily available I did a lot of pairing with black -- that classic ballet class look -- but trying to see how low I can go (with contrast!) is really working my style muscles, ha!

Brooklyn -- I love greys with blush and that's a gorgeous inspiration picture! Thanks for the pendant rec and reminder to check Etsy, which I love for jewelry. I tend to go looking and get easily distracted! ps I know linen softens up when it breaks in so am hoping this dress gets a little droopier, ha!

Efbegen and Dottie -- Thank you both for the votes of confidence! Gotta push our boundaries, right? I agree with Jussie -- preferring the higher-contrast looks -- but trying to get ready for those 90+ degree days!

UmmLila -- Thank you! I was very pleased with my originality re the green/pink then discovered similar Pantone 2018 shades often paired together...assume I registered subconsciously haha! I have so many mixed-contrast prints but reallllly want to wear all light outfits when it's hot but geez, harder than it seems!

Jessikams -- Glad to have another contrast experimenter around, and thanks! Sounds like the light accents will be beautiful without disrupting your medium needs...will look out for them!

JAileen -- Trial and error, error and trial! Thank you, I'm so happy to finally have tops to match my pale warm-weather shoes. I think you and I may have inverse contrast needs...should we encourage a "mirrored outfit" challenge, ha?

Jenn -- Yes, you and I have such similar coloring that I always checking your combos! The mostly-all-light look...eh. I challenge you to try it so I get more ideas to steal!

Oh with these stupid selfie shots I look like a different person/body to myself. Very elongated face (hey I only have a 5-head not a 7-head!) and big ole eyes. At least I remembered to make sure the skintone "perfector" was turned off for the for the first few.

Christina F.

Veteran

These outfits are beautiful! Thanks for sharing--it's informative because I have a high need for contrast as well.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Beautiful! You've picked perfectly for yourself, not only with the level of contrast but also with the shape and size of the patterns. These are lovely on you. So feminine.

LaPed

Veteran

Love these colours on you! Gorgeous softened contrast. And you have a way of finding prints, textures, accessories, etc that suit you so well it seems like a form of magic.

Vix

Veteran

Lynn and Bonnie -- Thank you, glad you think I can pull of somewhat "sedate" colors! I can see I'm going to have to keep up with my blush and charcoal laundry this summer.

Angie -- Yes, my hair calls the shots so I just try to placate it with the right prints, ha -- thank you!

Cardiff girl -- Seems like the line between ingenue and sophisticated gets more fine every year for me so I appreciate your thoughts. I even gave away most of my skirts with ruffles but OOPS I did it again with sleeves, ha!

CocoLion -- I know you share my love for dramatic boho pieces and wish I could pull off your stylings but OTOH it's fun to see the differences! Hope your lilacs are giving you that spring feeling (another beautiful-with-green color!) Check your PMs and thank you so much!

Toban -- Thank you! Yes, those bridge prints with low-med-dark tones save so many outfits for me, too. I'm going to have to keep an even closer eye on your outfits for inspiration!

Runcarla -- You're among the best at finding beautiful natural-fiber items so I'm glad you approve of the linen!

Column -- Thank you!

Shevia -- Hello hair sibling! Congrats on having great instincts...I hope you're not resisting them! Please do hurry up and try this whole mostly-pale thing so I can steal ideas. And thank you (though my face is certainly Selfie-Proportioned).

Joy -- That repetition must have been so beautiful to see, almost like a movie! I'm loving seeing the range of blush has grown wider this season -- now I'm really seeing it on men around here in casual wear. Thank you for sharing that memory and for the compliment.

Sal -- Thank you; given your climate I think fishnets would come in handy on those lovely legs of yours!

Lyn67 -- I always wish we could share closets as we have so much overlap in our preferences! Thank you for the very kind words!

Christina F -- Glad you found this useful and thank you. I love my deeper shades but when it's hot out sometimes they feel like too much. Will look forward to seeing your ideas/outfits!

Suz -- Go big or go home when I get in the mood to do colors and prints considered traditionally feminine, right?! Thank you for the compliments.

La Pedestrienne -- Thank you so much! I was going to poo-poo your "magic" remark but that (silk) floral scarf was on clearance for $11 and rang up for 1 CENT (real price). That felt pretty magical so maybe I've found my superpower. But mostly I just look for organic prints in a small range of colors, ha!

Aida

Veteran

Lovely! I think of this type of pairing as "soft high contrast" (versus a "bright high contrast") -- there's still drama from the contrast but with a much softer secondary effect with the pale colors. Really loving that last outfit in particular, clever!

(Totally feel you re hair calling the shots. I dress depending on what my hair is doing on a given day ^^ )

Beth Ann

Veteran

Vix, you are such a master at being the boss of your clothes, and editing trends to suit your style! Love the color palette you're using -- it's perfect for you, and is so visually pleasing. The bold kimono is also peaceful, with it's simple color spectrum.

Thanks for sharing!

cjh

(website)

Veteran

Wow! That’s about all I can think when I see your sharp but sweet color choices. How sophisticated yet feminine and unique, and so suited to your coloring. Love all the pieces and outfits.

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