WIW...and an epiphany, of sorts. - YouLookFab Forum

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Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

WIW...and an epiphany, of sorts.

Carla

Veteran

Finally a bit of nice weather and sunshine! Trotted out easy favourites, and not a neutral in sight, unless you count the sandals.

Don't know if it is the beautiful weather that puts me in a good mood that has me reaching for the colour-on-colour brights, or if the bright colour puts me in a happy place? Maybe a little bit of both?

It is interesting to note how my WIW outfits have morphed from wintertime dark neutrals to colour-on-colour with the growing length of the days. On the other hand, I am contemplating a mustard yellow WINTER coat instead of the navy-blue I originally thought I wanted, and I would like to add a red wool pencil skirt to my closet? Although I think COLOUR is a part of my personal style, will my current passion pass with the season? And, how to reconcile the desire for a modest collection of clothing items with a love of colour?

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17 replies

Latest reply was from Nicola

fuzzylogic

Veteran

Wow- you are in a contemplative phase today! I think it's definitely fine to dress for season (or mood, or whatever variable inspires you!). I can give you no sensible advice on keeping your wardrobe contained, though...... Giggle, giggle.

I love a blue and green combo and the tote brings it all together! The nude sandals were a great choice, too! Have you tried this outfit with a metallic sandal, perhaps silver, for an extra pop?!

Ledonna N.

Veteran

I think you look beautiful in your color on color. I cannot offer any suggestions or input on the other questions but I am sure there will be others who will be able to help.

Alana in Canada

(website)

Veteran

I love your colours on you, too. I don't think there's anything wrong with being low on neutrals in a wardrobe when you are sure about what you want--and all your colours go together.
And then, there are some colours which act like neutrals. Mustard may be one of them (what doesn't it go with?--OK, maybe pastels--is that a concern for you?)

Anonymous

I think Suz has found the same thing, for some reason, the summer light and bright colours are a perfect match, but some colours are much harder to wear in winter.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Fabulous!! This is a gorgeous pairing on you.

Ceit is right. I definitely reach for brighter hues in the summer. Cobalt being one of those. I don't wear it at all in the winter, really. In winter, I'm more of a neutrals, softer blues, taupe and berry kind of woman.

Except that I ADORE a red coat. In my case, cranberry. I am in all in favour of adding a bright coat to the winter capsule. You should have one neutral -- but if you are like me you will reach for the coloured one far more often than you imagine.

Mia

Veteran

Yes! Go for the colourful coat. As long as mustard is good against your skin tone it can spark up any neutrals in your wardrobe and also plays nicely with other colours.

Gigi

Veteran

It's so interesting to see how we interact with colors as the seasons change. It really fascinates me. I am now starting to trot out my brighter colors, though I haven't tried any color-on-color ensembles. Although come to think of it, I don't think I have any bright bottoms...

I was thinking of you when Sveta posted this the other day. She says that the color of it was apple green: http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....-seen-this.

pil

Veteran

The yellow winter coat sounds like a splendid idea. And wouldn't your red pencil skirt count as a neutral?
Love the green and cobalt on yo.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Love this on you! Don't know how to reconcile the love of colors with less clothes but you must find a way!

Aida

Veteran

Gorgeous! Especially love the nude sandals here. I noticed that I reached for brighter colors in cheerful weather, then started making myself do the same in gloomy weather -- I noticed a HUGE positive improvement in my mood on those glum days! So now I refuse to restrict the brights (and whites) to summer. As always, that cheerful bag goes perfectly

As for reconciling color with a smaller wardrobe, I don't think it'll be too much of an issue since you are more than happy to mix your colors in interesting ways. Just don't overload on one single color, if All Colors is what's really appealing to you.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

You look great in this bright outfit! I love the nude sandals with it, too. I like to wear lighter colors in the summer and some brighter ones, too. But I definitely wear a lot of color in the winter. I think a mustard coat would be stunning on you. Try to imagine how it would go over the outfits you typically wear, and see if you can't picture it. Like others have said, I bet you'd reach for it a lot.

Carla

Veteran

A lot of wisdom...thanks!

Fuzzylogic, the silver sandals would be great! The green sweater actually has silver buttons. I've noticed the wardrobe hole that is a lack of metallic or blingey footwear. I feel it keenly, actually, and think I will have to remedy it sooner rather than later!

Alana, Pil, there is a certain something about red that elevates an outfit even when there is no other red in an outfit. The red bag, belt, shoes, or beret is like the cherry on the sundae!

Interesting, Suz. Cobalt is the one colour I DO wear a lot of in winter. Shortly after I started posting on YLF, I challenged myself to a MONTH (February) of different work outfits featuring cobalt!

Mia, mustard works for me very well. I had a mustard coloured sweater, and every time I wore it, people commented on the colour of my eyes.

Very wise, Aida. And I feel the same way about white as well. Seriously thinking about some winter white. Would live a lightweight wool trouser and fisherman't sweater in string or cream.

Below the coat I want#1 and the length I need #2.

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Suz

(website)

Veteran

A coat like that would be amazing on you. I am completely in favour.

I remember your cobalt challenge! It looks spectacular on you with your red hair and works so well with black and white. I think it overpowers me in winter, but not in summer when I get a bit of a tan. But it's also how it looks in the light, to me -- not so much "on me" as "around me." Peculiar, I know.

deb

Veteran

These colors look so good on you. The emotional part of dressing is so important.

Adelfa

Veteran

My gut feeling (totally unsupported by evidence) is that you're experiencing a more enduring shift to color, not just a seasonal variation. I think one way to manage this--together with a desire for a smaller wardrobe--is to be quite mindful about what colors you allow into your wardrobe at any given time.

So for me in warmer seasons it's almost all cobalt, pink, and lime green. I don't allow any red into my closet because it wouldn't play nicely with my chosen colors and I don't want to have a separate set of clothes where red works. In winter it's cobalt, burgundy/purple, and lime green.

As soon as you mentioned your mustard coat (which I agree you should get) I started thinking about how beautifully that would play with bright red. You could pick one other color that goes with both mustard and red--cobalt if you still like it--then build a small wardrobe of your favorite neutrals with these three colors.

Of course you don't have to limit yourself! These are just ideas on how to have color and a smaller wardrobe at the same time.

Another thing to think about is that with your red hair you are naturally more colorful than many of us, and so you will be able to wear lot of color well. It's your birthright!

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

You wear one of my favourite colour combinations in the shades I have not yet seen together. Fabulous.

I can relate to these thoughts about weather, days, brights. To me it has all to do with the light outside, strong and long sunshine, and how I psychologically react to that. This is something I don't ignore, but bask in E.g. years ago when I lived in different climate linen was my pet peeve - yup, linen! I could not stand the look of wrinkles and the mess it represented to my eye when I saw linen things worn on a grey or rainy day, even though it was summer. But moving to place where it gets really hot, those wrinkles seem even attractive - as if their sharpness, enhanced by the play of stark light and shadows, enhances the crispness effect. This led me to thinking generally of how I react to colours, textures or neutrals depending on season, and is one of the reasons why I don't purge out of season items - they almost always look off in the 'opposite' season and I may be prone t make a mistake.

Of course, loving colour on colour these days for you does not mean it's reserved for summer only. You probably go through yet another fine-tuning with your real preferences, which will have effect on your purchases for the next season and future in general. All these fine-tunings are great, they lead to better clarity in many areas, they mean more coherent wardrobe (and more modest). My vote goes for the mustard coat over the navy one, you wear yellow beautifully and the right mustard seems like of of those shades that can be a virtual neutral. Plus, I think everyone needs one coat in fun colour.

Nicola

That mustard coat is delicious. I can imagine you looking wonderful in it. I do think it must be harder to keep a small wardrobe though, unless the colour palette is limited. But it sounds a fun adventure to try it.