A lovely reader asked if I could do a post on wearing Red – as she bought a pair of red shoes in Paris, and was thinking that maybe they looked a bit ‘clownish’ – so here are some tips. Red comes in many guises From bright to dusky, from warm to cool, light…
I have a style challenge that I need help with. I am a Spring according to the color theory websites. I am the one season that does not look well in black, in fact, I have given away my black garments with the exception of a black dress that I only wear to funerals. My…
How to create a working wardrobe and get the right balance between basics and heroes? Whether those heroes are patterns or items in bold colours or textures that make their own statement it’s worth identifying the right balance or ratio for your wardrobe. This is the topic of discussion I had with Jill Chivers of…
What are analogous colors? Analogous colors are colors that are adjacent to each other on the color wheel and share a similar hue. They create a cohesive and harmonious color scheme when used together in design or art. On a colour wheel, these are the colours that are next to each other and they…
Reader Question: I struggle with the intimidation and non-approachable effect created by being tall, high contrast, and a fairly classic dramatic personality. I dress in medium to low contrast and more muted colours to be approachable and less intimidating but it feels less me. What do you suggest to dress to look more approachable? How…
As many readers are curious about what their colour contrast levels are, I’ve posted these celebrity examples to give you some clues on your colouring. Monochromatic – Low Colour Contrast Monochromatic means one (mono) chroma (colour) – so, in essence, means just one colour at a time. Gwen Stefani with your brown…
One of the easiest ways to plan a wardrobe capsule is to take a multi-coloured patterned hero garment and use the colours in it as inspiration for your colour scheme. I have a real life example of one such capsule in this post about how to pack 72 outfits into carry on luggage where my…
As many people go grey their skin cools down along with their hair colour, but not everyone has cool grey hair and cool skin. Some people’s skin remains warm even though their hair has cooled and greyed, and if they choose not to colour it, find that it can look a little odd if they…
I have a red plaid blazer that I adore but I am getting really bored with what I wear underneath it since I read the only appropriate items are neutrals or colors in the plaid. I’ve worn leopard print shoes with it and loved the look. Leopard print top underneath.. .not so much which I…
In This Video 0.07 – How do I get to be more adventurous with my style? 5.30 – How do I narrow down what works for me? I get overwhelmed by all the options in stores. 10.08 – Where do I find nice clothes at affordable prices? Adding Element What You Must Know…
There was a discussion in my 7 Steps to Style program about finding a navy blazer to work with your colour palette and undertone – and what to look for particularly if you have warm colouring and don’t want to end up with too cool a navy that will wash you out. You can read…
If you want to make your getting dressed process faster and easier each morning, you could create your own personal fashion formula, one that works with your style guidelines and personality, and that takes away some of the mental load. Let’s take a moment to talk about mental load… I see references to it everywhere…
The Enigmatic Palette in the Absolute Colour System of 18 different colour directions is Smoky, Warm and Dark. It is related to the Autumn palette in the seasonal colour system but is more muted and dusky and has lost some of its obvious warmth with the additional grey. Medium-dark to dark hair, and may be…
In this Video 0.10 How do you determine your balance points? 4.19 Body 8 shape vs X shape – what’s the difference and why is the advice for each different? 6.44 Are there any shades of brown I could pick for my shoes and bags if my colouring is cool and bright? Balance Points Understanding…
Today I’m excited to be introducing the lovely Vix from Building a Colorful life who lives in Oregon in the USA. 1** What is the secret to great style? As many of my posts center on how I’m learning to dress myself after decades of being style-impaired, I’m still trying to unravel that! While I…
Do you have any blog posts on how to wear the black items in your wardrobe when your value contrast is low or medium and you don’t want to wear all neutrals/all black? I don’t want to part with all of those clothes as I still like them. I found a few posts about wearing…
Low Value Contrast means colours that are only 1-3 shades away from each other (on a grey scale such as this): It doesn’t matter where on the grey scale the items sit, just they need to be close to each other in depth of colour. What it doesn’t mean is that the colours have to…
In This Video 0.08 I read your post Are you colour contrast dominant or value contrast dominant and I just wonder if you can be value contrast dominant although your ideal value contrast is medium? I believe I am medium contrast and I think my features are all neutrals. I do have green in my…
Not just the bi-annual wardrobe transitions from summer to winter and back again. What do you do when your wardrobe needs a major overhaul? Where to start? You first need to define your personal style. Watch the video and discover how to transition your wardrobe to one that works for you, your lifestyle and personal…
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…
In This Video 0.08 I’m struggling with my style now that I’m Older have gotten overweight and find, physical shopping difficult, but I also keep waiting for a miracle weight loss. Use to be more hour glass, now frumpy middle weight. Embrace The Body You Have Today How to Align Your Wardrobe With The Person…
