Can we talk about contrast?

[seasalty50]

I've been reading up about style/fashion recently and have read that if you have high contrast colouring you should wear high contrast clothing.

I have dark hair and eyes and pale skin - a 'winter' season. Is a bright pink top and navy trousers high contrast? Does a navy and white top with navy trousers not cut it anymore?

My 'autumn' friend wears muted low-contrast stuff and looks fabulous.

Do you take note of your colouring in terms of contrast or is it yet another set of rules used to confuse mere mortals?

Just to mention you're not necessarily winter . I know a spring and an autumn with colouring you describe.
Contrast is really important depending on your season but before you get into it you'd really be better off clarifying season

I found this was one of the most useful things from colour thing. I'm muted. Contrast makes me look like I'm dressing up. Apart from black /white top and bottoms which are ok. Oddly. Anything like striking Is a no go

I'm a sultry winter.

My consultant never mentioned contrast Eduardo, maybe it's something for me to look into more thoroughly, thanks!

The only contrast I use is neon

Like a high-viz jacket with jeans Ronald?

eggs actly

I'm a winter and definitely look better in high contrast rather than tonal/low contrast. So for me it's about wearing a bright cardi with a navy or black top. Navy and fuschia is great for me. I wear navy/white tops with navy trousers and it looks fine but looks even better if I add in a coloured belt in eg fuschia.

However, I'm a bright winter though so need the brightness!

Mine.neither. Just noticed it when I read a book

My colour analysis was with colour me beautiful and I was told I suit contrasts. I'm a deep, which is the equivalent to winter, I think.

Ah sorry OP

I don't think house of colour spend enough time on the contrast discussion. Imo it's essential to get that right too. I definitely don't feel right in an outfit of mid tones.

It's something I've definitely missed out on gilly.

Any pointers out there anyone?

I am a sultry winter as well. I think that sultries get away with dressing with as few contrasts as possible. Don't forget that there is already contrast in your colouring - eyes, hair & skin.

I mainly use brightly coloured lipsticks and accessories to add interest/contrast e.g today I am wearing a lot of navy and grey with red lipstick and red converse trainers.

In the winter palette, there are very few mid tones (grey is the only one I can think of) - winter colours are supposed to be bold and cool.

Another point is that selecting colours to wear depends on your personality/style/image - some people look great wearing two bright colours together. This is where I find pinterest comes in really useful - you get much more inspiration and ideas than walking around shops.

I agree with you scatter about the personality aspect too. As I said I need high contrast but I tend to do it with a neutral eg black or navy. I could never wear fuschia and emerald together for example as that just wouldn't feel like me or suit my clothing style (ingenue natural).

In the past I used to wear charcoal with a paler grey but now I would always wear it with a brighter colour.

Contrast was never even mentioned in either my colour or style sessions so I'm completely at a loss on the subject. As a Blue Spring, Natural Ingenue I haven't a clue as to it's relevance. Does it make a huge difference?

I don't know much about Springs but I am under the impression that the contrast thing isn't as important as it is for Winters.

miss do you have a pinterest board you'd be willing to share? I'm floundering a bit after my sultry winter diagnosis and you sound very capable

Have PM'd you Seasalty

Thanks miss! You're very kind. :) Had never seen a pic of Ines de la Fressange (sp) before - she's right up my alley! She also has the same hair/colouring as me so that's a really good find. I can really take some inspiration from her look so thanks for introducing me so to speak

A pleasure - I love Ines and she in my kind of age bracket so it helps to see what kind of things I can wear that are not too frumpy or "young".

Just to throw a spanner in the works, I'm an autumn who needs high contrast . I'm a very blue autumn though (ie my skintone is scarcely warm) and a Natural Dramatic (I need statement/drama in my clothes). It's very personal, the whole contrast thing.

Would a sultry winter with dark hair, very dark eyes and palish skin benefit from high contrast hopefully or is there enough going on already would you say?

On the whole (and this is by no means an absolute) sultry winters can look good with a lower contrast look than other winters, so you may well find you don't need tons in your outfits.

Thanks :-) I feel less clowny now!

Oh thanks for that mention of Ines de la Fressange. I have googled her and I have exactly the same colouring and a similar age, although not the looks or figure unfortunately!
She is a great example of someone who looks good in high contrast she looks fab in white shirt and a black jacket which is quite a simple outfit. However even she does not look quite as good in a black jacket and bronze colour top as not so much contrast.