When you think about the value of someone with a darker skin tone, usually they have also darker hair which makes their overall value down the deeper darker end of the value scale. But what is their value contrast and colour contrast? Frequently their colour contrast is monochromatic – one colour – dark brown eyes, skin…
It’s very easy to get stuck in the same colour combination rut. You always put red with white and blue, wear your orange with your brown and then just stick with adding any colour to black as it’s ‘safe’ and you’re really not sure how to mix colours. So sit tight as it’s time to…
When you’re choosing a print, how do you know what contrast it is and how to choose the right value and colour contrast prints to flatter you? Jill Chivers of 16 Style Types do a show and tell inside my wardrobe with a bunch of patterned clothing items. In the video I talk about my “stair”…
Would you consider doing an article on spring and summer looks for high value contrasts? I can’t wrap my head around how to get a summery look with dark colors. Especially if I don’t want to wear navy all the time. I’d love some photos to help me see how to make it work. I…
What are the differences between London and New York Pantone Forecasts? London has a cooler, brighter red in Flame Scarlet as compared to New York’s Grenadine. London’s Primrose Pink is a more muted pink than New York’s highly tinted Ballet Slipper. London’s Toast is a slightly cooler beige than New York’s Butterum London’s Royal Lilac is…
Answering another lovely reader’s question about how to work with a limited colour palette, Jill Chivers of 16 Style Types and I took up the challenge to help demystify and share our secret sauce on the subject. How to Use a Limited Range of Colours and Not Get Bored Is it really limited or is it…
With the money and professional stylists in Hollywood, you’d expect celebrities to always get their outfits right. Yet, time and time again, we see stars wearing colours and contrasts that don’t flatter them. Why does this happen? It always amazes me just how much bad advice they are given and how many outfits they wear…
Contrast – both colour contrast and value contrast can be quite tricky concepts to grasp. Once you see it you can’t go back, but learning to see what is and isn’t working and understanding why can sometimes take a little time. I’ve explained how to figure out your contrast levels in this post – with…
Does the intensity of the accessories (necklace, earrings etc.) have to match with one another OR does their intensity have to match with the clothing worn? Or, both of the above? I’m not sure if the intensity of everything is the same, then there’s no focal point? If I were to wear a warm red…
It took pregnancy to have me really think about building a wardrobe that was versatile, cost-effective and that worked for all the aspects of my life. Most maternity wardrobes are great capsules. So let’s unpack what you can learn from that short gestational time in your wardrobe. 1. It’s Better to Have a Few Great…
I have a burning question: How do I create interesting outfits as a medium-high value contrast and low color contrast gal? Everything about me is warm – my skin, eyes, and hair – all a shade of gold-ish caramel/chocolate. I am by no means Jennifer Lopez, but I feel like her coloring matches mine well…
Yesterday on Australian TV there was an apparent meltdown by one TV newsreader that her colleague was wearing a top that appeared on camera to be the same colour (white) as her own (though apparently, it was a very light blue, but it did show up on screen as white). The problem being apparently that…
Pantone has just released it’s 2017 “Colour of the Year” a colour you can expect to see in home furnishings and furniture and for 2017 it’s called Greenery. It’s a Granny Smith apple green. It’s verdant foliage. It’s lush grass. This colour represents new growth and change. It’s aim is to calm and remind…
Hair Texture and Highlights or Block Colour Once you have figured out how to find the most flattering kinds of hair colours to suit your complexion so you look glowing, healthy and gorgeous, the second consideration is that of block colour versus higlight and lowlights. The answer to this conundrum comes down more to hair…
Do think limiting yourself to a small palette of colours in your wardrobe is restrictive? Or do these boundaries actually create a more freeing opportunity to create a cohesive and functioning wardrobe with less colours? This is the topic of discussion for Jill Chivers of 16 Style Types and me in this video. Should You…
Turquoise is one of the two universal colours that can be worn by both warm and cool undertone people. In this video, Jill Chivers of 16 Style Types and I discuss this fabulous colour that is so versatile because it has elements of both warm and cool and why it’s one of our go-to…
Overdyeing Act II : How To Dye And What You Need By Ms MakeitOver – Bernadette Lis In response to the many inquiries as to how I actually dye items following this blog post – check it out so you can see the kinds of results. This is the exact way in which I dye…
This weekend, why not play with colour and create an outfit around two different colours. Firstly, create an outfit that communicates more authority by using a higher contrast. Then by changing one garment using the concept of the way colour communicates which I wrote about in this post, change your outfit to communicate a…
When you’re putting together an outfit, always consider what you want to communicate with it. Ask yourself what the situation/occassion you are wearing it. Who you are going to be interacting with, and how you want to be perceived. Then you can use this knowledge to choose the right combination of colours and contrast to…
Contrast is a hot topic amongst my 7 Steps to Style and Evolve Your Style program members, because once you see its impact, you can’t go back to ignoring it. It’s an important part of any personal colour analysis – discovering how to wear your ideal colours (not just what they are). Colour contrast =…
Recently I’ve been having fun playing with my scarf collection. Tying them in different ways (check out these 32 ways to tie your scarves), and using them as outfit colour scheme inspiration. Creating Colour Schemes Here I’m using a scarf (that was my grandmother’s) and have used the colours in it to create my outfit…
