Help me move beyond my solid black wardrobe?

[smiles33]

Hi ladies! I have about $250 to spend in birthday money (just turned 35 on Wednesday!). I'm ready to spend it all on clothes. For the last 10+ years, 90% of my wardrobe has been solid black (I have multiple pairs of black pants, black tops, black skirts, etc.). I have 3 pairs of jeans. I have 3 tops that aren't black (gray, khaki, and a purple/lavender color). I have some sweaters that aren't black (gray, cream, khaki, and one red one my mom bought for me but I don't wear except on Chinese New Year's day as DH hates red).

I have almost nothing in my closet that isn't a solid pattern--the one exception is a black/white patterned BCBG wrap dress.

How do I even figure out what colors look good on me? I seriously wear almost all black head-to-toe everyday (except today is casual Friday so I have a black top and jeans on).

Here is a photo of me in one of my non-black tops (at Disneyland this past weekend) to give you an idea of my coloring:



I got the top from Garnet Hill's clearance sale, otherwise I never would have chosen a color for me. I assume yellow/orange would not look good on me as it would just make me look more sallow. But am I right?

HELP! My entire family would be thrilled if I branched out into different colors and I'd love advice in finding patterned fabrics.

My only restriction is I can't wear red (I have the crazy DH who hates the color red due to his college rival--they're known for yelling, "Take off that RED shirt!" if anyone wears red at football/basketball games).

Thanks in advance!

[mackmama]

Yay bring on the color!

Looking at your picture, I'd say you're a "winter." Here's a good color chart for your season: http://www.spotonstyle.com/colorspot.html

(Winters wear dark, vivid, bright, and light cool tones well... such as white, black, navy blue, red, bright pink, and very light icy colors. Colors that don't work as well on winters are tones like beige, camel, orange and gold.)

[smiles33]

Wow, that website is SO COOL, mackmama! The winter colors appeal to me the most, too. The funny part is that I always assumed I was warm tone, not cool, because my skin has yellow undertones. DH hasn't liked the one beige/camel dress I have (which I never wear anymore) but I never realized it may be because it's not a flattering color.

I found another photo of me actually wearing a color (when I was matron of honor in a wedding!). It's attached here so you have to be logged in to see it (just because it clearly shows my face). The thing is DH really hates red on me, but I actually think it flatters me.

Anyhow, I feel like those colors are a great place to start. THANKS again!

Anyone with other ideas, let me know! I probably just need to go to Nordstrom and ask for them to pull stuff for me, huh?

[weech]

Originally Posted by smiles33

Wow, that website is SO COOL, mackmama! The winter colors appeal to me the most, too. The funny part is that I always assumed I was warm tone, not cool, because my skin has yellow undertones. DH hasn't liked the one beige/camel dress I have (which I never wear anymore) but I never realized it may be because it's not a flattering color.

I found another photo of me actually wearing a color (when I was matron of honor in a wedding!). It's attached here so you have to be logged in to see it (just because it clearly shows my face). The thing is DH really hates red on me, but I actually think it flatters me.

Anyhow, I feel like those colors are a great place to start. THANKS again!

Anyone with other ideas, let me know! I probably just need to go to Nordstrom and ask for them to pull stuff for me, huh?

I've noticed you saying "DH doesn't like me in X" quite a few times in this thread. Girl, if you love to wear red, wear red! Wear what makes you feel good. Your DH will get over it.

btw - you look gorgeous in that picture

[mackmama]

You look fantastic in red!

[Katigre]

First - let me ask you this. Do you look genuinely vibrant in black? Not all women do - and especially as you hit mid-30's it's really obvious which women look beautiful in black and which women look haggard/aged in black.

If black is your color, then I would recommend keeping that as your neutral base and coordinating a set of 4-5 colors around it. Make your whole wardrobe that combination and you'll have color but still easy.

(Ex. This is my entire wardrobe: Brown as my main neutral - shoes, pants, jackets, sweaters/cardigans with khaki/wheat as a secondary neutral (substitutes for white). Colors are autumn tones of plum/teal/olive/burnt orange/fuschia (an autmney pink). I don't buy scarves, jewelry, shoes, pants, shirts, patterns if they don't coordinate with what I have going on already and it's awesome!

I follow www.dressingyourtruth.com and it has totally helped me in the wardrobe/style department over the past year. I didn't even buy the course, just watched videos and surfed forums to get the basic idea and color pallette.

If you are a Type 4 who looks great in black/white then your color tones are pure colors - not pastels, not greyed/heathered tones, not autumn tones but pure tints like irish green, royal purple, azure blue, etc... FWIW, Duchess Kate is a Type 4 and most of what she wears is in that color pallette (www.whatkatewore.com will let you peruse her colors/styles).

[arivecchi]

Do you have a Max Studio near you? I have a feeling their clothes would look great on you and they have a muted palette, but their clothes are always different and stylish. They also have awesome sales.

http://www.maxstudio.com/

Great stores for colorful clothes are Anthropologie - colors galore! - and Boden. I would suggest you also check out their stuff!

[goldenpig]

Originally Posted by weech

I've noticed you saying "DH doesn't like me in X" quite a few times in this thread. Girl, if you love to wear red, wear red! Wear what makes you feel good. Your DH will get over it.

btw - you look gorgeous in that picture

Originally Posted by mackmama

You look fantastic in red!

I think red is your color...wear it! I agree, you look like a winter. How about black, white & red...always a classic combo. I think you can also do saturated jewel tones like teal, jade, cobalt and eggplant.

I also agree, go by what you like and what looks good on you, not by what colors your DH likes or doesn't like because of his college team. For a long time I was afraid of fashion because I was worried DH wouldn't like what I wore. One of my favorite skirts is black, white & red with an abstract swirly pattern and DH hates it. I hated shopping because I wasn't sure what was going to appeal to him. On the rare occasions I'd bring something home, I'd end up returning it because DH wasn't a fan. We just have different tastes in fashion--he likes more conservative, classic, elegant (to me, boring) clothes and I like color and patterns. Well, since I stopped worrying so much about what he likes and doesn't like and started listening to my inner voice, I've gotten much bolder and gotten more of a sense of what my personal style is. And guess what? DH likes it now! He compliments me all the time. Ha!

[crl]

Your coloring is similar to my ds's. I think he looks great in red (plus it is good luck!) and bright blues. He also looks great in brown.

Catherine

[DrSally]

I think red would be great for you, also teal (both go great w/black).