'thought out' but colourful wardrobe

[Squashinthepinkcup]

I've been on a mission to reduce the number of black items in my wardrobe. It can feel as though the majority of adults stick to black/charcoal/dark blue, then I'll see someone wearing a bright coat or outfit and it brought me joy. So my aim was a joyful collection of garments.

Unfortunately, whilst I now have a more colourful wardrobe...nothing coordinates, or...potentially worse...I end up drenched in one colour and feel ridiculous. For example I have some lovely purple leggings with a creamy top that I wear for exercise classes or hikes, then needed a new waterproof coat and went for a nice purple one, followed a few months later by a need for new running trainers...plum ones were in the sale, fab. Then got myself ready for a hike, popped on the leggings, and the purple running trainers, weather looked a bit iffy so I put the coat on and suddenly I'm an old woman and I shall wear purple!!! Or I got some lovely green trousers, however also have a tealy/green puffer jacket. Often I'm wearing the trousers without thinking then it's time for the school run, grab an autumnal jacket aaaaand....I'm head to toe in green!! But then really the bright green trousers and the purple jacket don't look much better when side by side...

Has really made me realise why neutral outer layers are so useful 😂

I'm just not very skilled at putting these things together when I'm at the point of purchase. It only occurs to me down the line, usually when i'm already out of the house and someone makes a comment. Been thinking about trying to create a more 'capsule' or streamlined wardrobe so things coordinate and I don't end up doing these things, but not sure where to start as capsule wardrobes all seem to be grey/cream/black/navy.

Anyone have any ideas or pointers to help a fashionably challenged woman out?

I don't wear black because it doesn't suit me, so I'm mostly to be found in colours. I try to stick to a colour palette so that colours go well together. I had a colour analysis class years ago that told me I was an autumn, so I have a swatch booklet of colours that do look good on me. I find that these combine well together on the whole.

In summer I often wear combinations of khaki, mustard, coral and teal with some navy (or jeans) as a neutral.

In winter, similar colours but I add in some purple and burnt orange, plus a bit of brown.

I used to try to wear a scarf to pull the different colours together, but that looks a bit dated now so I don't really bother. I like Hoff trainers which are often multicoloured and can tie an outfit together.

Not sure how successful I am, but I do now have a wardrobe that mostly goes together by having cut out things like pastels and cool colours that don't look right on me. Good luck!

Ooo thank you @VioletIndigoBlueGreen ! How did you get a colour analysis? That sounds super!

Well you’re in luck as tonal dressing is highly fashionable at the moment!

I understand what you mean, though. Having left a previous profession where I wore predominantly black suits / dresses, I made a conscious effort to add colour to my wardrobe. Fine if it’s dresses but with separates it becomes exhausting to manage. And coats all too often verge into ‘mistake’ territory.

Two things I find helpful:

1. Assuming you’ve already thought about coordination before you buy something, it’s helpful to try on every new item with everything in your wardrobe, as soon as possible. That way you’ll know in advance what’s going to look impossibly stupid.

2. Stay on top of laundry and dry cleaning. Some of my worst outfits have resulted from sheer desperation when, having prepared two thirds of an outfit, the iron unexpectedly takes against the white shirt I was planning to wear, leaving me with only the green striped top. (Imaginary example.) I always vow to do better, but … 🤷‍♀️

Oh, I totally understand you, the same situation😄Every autumn I try to change my total black/grey/navy to something else, but still fail😎 This year I bought red bag and intended to wear it with red nails (still total black) - let's see if that happens😁

@Squashinthepinkcup my colour analysis was a session with House of Colour. It was over ten years ago now, but I'm sure the same thing still exists. You get draped in different coloured scarves (hair covered so that's not an influencing factor) and see what suits you best. Then you're "diagnosed" as a season and given a palette of colours to use when you're shopping.

I could really see the difference on me with things like white vs cream or certain shades of red. Some drained me and others were much more positive! Once you're in the groove of what suits and what doesn't, it makes shopping much easier.

There's a few ways you can approach it:

• make sure 'key' items are neutral (coat, shoes) so they go with everything
• stick to neutrals for one half of your body - e.g. buy neutral bottoms and lots of colourful tops
• keep to a limited colour palette, so that whilst you might not wear every item you own with every other item, but you can generally mix and match. e.g. if you like purple and green, make sure you have lots of other items in more neutral colours that go with both purple and green. Don't buy items of clothing that only go with one other thing, you ideally want to be able to use a piece in at least 3 different outfits.
• don't worry about colour blocking a bit! You wouldn't think anything of it if you wore black shoes, black leggings and a black coat... so why worry if they're all purple!

@BlackStarryNight thanks that's handy! No you're right I wouldn't think about it, in fact when it's black it all looks quite chic!!

The top or bottom bit is a really good idea. Lots to think on!

I wear a lot of colour. Neutrals are boring and make me look very drab. I do think there's something about tonal dressing with something like purple or green that feels a bit off. Like it's too matchy matchy. Some good advice from @BlackStarryNight. You can do a capsule wardrobe, you just need to pick a palette that all goes together so it's complementary. I wear a lot of navy blue and accentuate with orange or yellow or brown for example, instead of black, grey and white. I'm a Autumn in the seasonal colour analysis.