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Style and beauty

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Original poster

Do you wear colours that don’t suit you?

118 replies

HouseofSaltRock · 16/10/2023 22:08

Black washes me out yet I wear a lot of it for versatility.
Tan shades are too warm but work so well with black that I wear them too to look stylish.

My blond daughter looks amazing in both.

Now, navy, charcoal, pine green, purple and burgundy really flatter my complexion but I find it hard to mix them, smaller range of choices / quality / budget add extra complexity.

Please share if you have managed to eliminate unflattering tones from your wardrobe, and where do you shop for wider range of colours.

OP posts:

Suckingalemon · 16/10/2023 22:13

Following with interest. I mainly suit darker colours, I think I'm a slightly warm winter. I struggle in summer because I feel I need lighten up my wardrobe, and yet pastels and bright prints don't work for me.

NatashaDancing · 16/10/2023 22:14

I've never thought about it. I wear colours I like.

In a lifetime of looking at other people's clothes and thinking "wow" (or not as the case maybe) I've never given it any thought. It's the item of clothing I look at.

dressedforcomfort · 16/10/2023 22:21

@HouseofSaltRock you sound like you have exactly the same colour palette as me OP!

I actually find navy a hugely practical colour - it goes with SO much. So that tends to form the basis of my wardrobe now and I mis other colours in to liven it up.

MartyFunkhouser · 16/10/2023 22:25

I have never thought about what suits me, I just wear the colours I like. I wear black, white, tan and grey.
They could be immensely unflattering on me for all I know but I really dislike bright colours.

dudsville · 16/10/2023 22:26

I'm on the fence with this. I have some things that don't suit me but i4 love them and so long as they're close to my colours I go ahead and wear them. Like you and the other pp, black washes me out and dark navy is my "black", it makes my skin look refreshed. However i have a few black things because it's such a staple. The yrick with things that really don't suit you is to wear a scarf in the colour that does.

minipie · 16/10/2023 22:39

No I don’t, generally. I buy the same colours over and over because they suit me.

I’m pale and have fairly wishy washy colouring naturally and there is a huge difference in how I look in a “good” colour vs a “bad” colour.

I think people with stronger more definite colouring can get away with more of a range - I can wear a lot more colours since going blonder for example.

NatashaDancing · 16/10/2023 22:58

I wear black, red, green (all shades), blue (all shades from pale to dark navy) pink (pale pink to shocking pink to fuschia) purple, yellow, camel, rich browns, orange, bright and dark colours.

As MartyFunkhouser, said* *they well be immensely unflattering on me for all I know. I honestly don't know what posters mean when they say colours suit or don't suit them.

TheLeadbetterLife · 16/10/2023 23:58

I have a warm complexion and strong features. I look dreadful in all pastels, but that's fine because I don't like them anyway.

Navy is a much better shade on me than black, but it's harder to find a range of basic things in navy.

I find that black garments that absorb light look much better on me than things like black cotton, which wash me out. I have a merino jumper and a silk shirt that look warm on me and so work well. I think the texture of the fabrics can change how the colour works.

Same with white - pure white cotton washes me out, but if there's some texture, like linen or muslin, it looks better.

With both black and white garments, gold jewellery can off-set the washing-out effect on me.

In general, gold jewellery looks nicer on me than silver, but I have some lovely silver pieces, so as with clothes I don't have hard and fast rules.

PicturesOfDogs · 17/10/2023 00:02

I’m an autumn, and have finally stopped buying summer wear in pastels, because I look so washed out in them.
i had a good clear out not too long ago, and got rid of a lot of stuff i like, but didn’t feel ‘good’ If that makes sense,

Finlesswonder · 17/10/2023 00:27

I am light and so cool I'm cold: pastels make me look amazing (especially baby blue and lilac) but who the hell wants to actually wear those shades? I wear jewel tones even though they wash me out

FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 17/10/2023 08:14

I have no idea which colours suit me but I tend to wear a lot of black and grey regardless.

I'd love to get my colours done.

Floisme · 17/10/2023 08:26

I pay more attention to colour than I do body shape rules. I think there's something in it but that it's more to do with the shade than the colour itself. The only colours I try and avoid totally are black and white (which I believe aren't actual colours anyway). I did consciously decide to give up on black. It probably took about ten years to eliminate it.

Aside from that, I mostly get by through avoiding anything either very bright or very pale. I can be very fussy about finding the right shade though, particularly with navy. I don't have a list of shops that do 'my colours/shades' - I'd say it was mostly the fashions of the season that influences what they stock. The only time I really struggle is when I need T shirts because so many retailers now only offer black, white, the 'wrong shades' of navy and grey or, if they branch out, very bright primaries.

I'll dye clothes sometimes to get the shade I want - not a completely different colour (cos the stitching often doesn't take the dye) but if I just want it slightly darker or deeper and if it's in a dye-able fabric, then I'll take a punt, although I wouldn't buy something new with the intention of dyeing.

I've not had my colours 'done'. I just go by what I see in the mirror.

MartyFunkhouser · 17/10/2023 08:30

I see those IG post where people are having their colours done, and someone is holding different coloured fabrics around their necks. I think I’m supposed to think ‘wow, what a difference…’ but the person’s skin tones look exactly the same to me.

WeighDownOnMeStayTillMorning · 17/10/2023 08:32

I've no idea what colours really suit me, and I don't think I care tbh. I wear what I like and what I think suits my new shape after a lifetime of being overweight.

Teddleshon · 17/10/2023 08:33

I do wear colours that don't suit me but not next to my face. Navy is my go to colour, particularly for my top half.

WeighDownOnMeStayTillMorning · 17/10/2023 08:33

dudsville · 16/10/2023 22:26

See, I think that wearing a colourful scarf thing screams I've had my colours done. Can spot it a mile off!

pancakeontoast · 17/10/2023 08:35

I don't really know what colour I do or don't suit. I'm blonde with hazel eyes and medium skin. I just wear what I like lol

JonHammIsMyJamm · 17/10/2023 08:37

I haven’t had my colours done but I’m warm toned and look terrible in pastels.

I suppose it depends on the look you’re going for. The thing I’ve seen is that the ‘right’ colours look harmonious and you don’t necessarily notice them other than thinking the person looks great. Whereas often when the person wears the ‘wrong’ colours (or just a certain ‘wrong colour’ for them) they provide a contrast that can be really dramatic and almost editorial looking. It often looks much more fashion forward than the tonal, harmonious look.

FWIW, I tend to dress in shades that work for my tones. I’m just more drawn to them and they do look better on me. So I’m not one of the fashionable ones

PuppyMonkey · 17/10/2023 08:40

Since I let my hair go grey, I’ve had to completely rethink the colours I wear. Things like cream, yellow, beige, certain shades of grey etc don’t just “not suit” me, they make me look positively awful. I have to stick to blues, whites, blacks. Some bright jewel colours look fab too but those shades are really not what I would naturally choose so I’m reluctant to buy things yet, haven’t quite come to terms with my new palette tbh!

JonHammIsMyJamm · 17/10/2023 08:45

I think the colourful scarf thing (if it’s a silk type one) is a dated approach to the seasons thing. I get a few US ‘colours’ people on my Instagram account and they don’t do it, they just dress like regular 30-50 year olds (but in the best colours for them)

RubaiyatOfAnyone · 17/10/2023 08:46

I have the same pallet (autumn colouring).
i tend to work around navy trousers and brown/warm plum trousers, and pair my tops with those - so the navy / forest green/ charcoal with the blue, and russet/burgundy/ burnt orange etc with the brown. Yes, it’s not as easy as using black as a staple, but on the other hand i glow rather than look pasty, which i like enough to make the effort.

Floisme · 17/10/2023 08:48

Now, navy, charcoal, pine green, purple and burgundy really flatter my complexion but I find it hard to mix them,
Don't you find they work with each other op? I often wear greens/purples/navy together.

KirstenBlest · 17/10/2023 09:20

@WeighDownOnMeStayTillMorning, See, I think that wearing a colourful scarf thing screams I've had my colours done. Can spot it a mile off!
I think it depends on the scarf and the outfit.

I had my colours done but didn't particularly like them, but I have noticed that I look a lot better in some colours.

Enko · 17/10/2023 09:23

I do. Mostly due to having put on a bit of weight and while not a full size up its a half side and it doesn't look as flattering as it used to.

I need to loose weight or buy new clothes but circumstances have made that a bit hard at the moment. I'm hoping 2024 will help with that.

I am another one whodoes not suit black but I simply do not buy it. Drives me insane how everyone assumes you will have black stuff. No I don't.. no it doesn't suit everyone no not even a pair of black trousers no I won't be buying them.

Cantonet · 17/10/2023 09:23

I have a low contrast & a Soft Autumn colouring. But I really dislike wearing lots of colours & enjoy the minimalist look. I think it's really hard to look elegant in colours for day to day wear & it takes a lot more thought. I still wear all black but with a scoop or v neck with maybe a lacy camisole or a cashmere scarf in Winter. Like others I wear a lot of navy & have several Cashmere scarves in various shades of blue. I'm also looking forward to loads more Brown items becoming available this year.In terms of shopping Tk Maxx & BrandAlley are good for Cashmere & Brora for lace edged camisoles.

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