How do you wear colour...

[FridayIsItFridayYet]

...without looking like you've been dressed by a toddler?
I felt really miserable this morning going out to the office in my dark jeans and dark grey cardigan and black coat. I would like to wear something a little more cheerful but am worried because I have no fashion sense and don't want to look like an idiot in the office. Most of the people are at least ten years younger than me, 10 it's lighter and look put together. Whereas I usually look tired and my age!
Dress code is smart casual.

A scarf, or/and other colour accessories?

it’s a good question @FridayIsItFridayYet I struggle to wear colour. But I do wear colourful pyjamas. It’s hard to wear colour when you’re not used to it. Easier in the summer I think too.

I wear color every day. I don't wear black, as it doesn't suit me. And I wouldn't ever pair black trousers with a colorful top, a colorful scarf over a black coat, or black shoes (with anything. I no longer have any). It just deadens and cheapens the whole look, to my eye.
You need to work out whether you are someone who looks better with clear colors (jewel tones, say) or muted, softer tones. If clear colors look better on you, then you probably look some contrast, so go for a dark color, a mid-color, then an accent. If softer colors look better on you, then choose tonal looks.
Today I wore navy wide-leg trousers, a duck-egg blue silk blouse, a slightly deeper duck-egg blue jacket (a short style, like a Chanel jacket style), burgundy shoes and a deep burgundy belt. All are colors that suit me, all go together (everything in my wardrobe goes together, because I only buy with that in mind). For casual, I might wear dark, wide-leg jeans, a fitted burgundy cashmere jumper, burgundy suede trainers, and a white t-shirt underneath, showing at the neck. Or a blue shirt underneath. All the colors go together and I have a dark (the jeans), mid-tone (the burgundy) and an accent (the white).
Even in these colors, I am more colorful than other people in my office, but that's okay.

I don’t care too much about looking sleek!
I have patterned trousers, all my dresses are colourful. This time of year a bright yellow or pink gilllet warms you up and is cheerful. I love bright trousers! Bright tights are lovely too with a darker plain dress.

I really don’t know as I am very monochrome. Apart from trainers and some shoes, I avoid colour. My entire wardrobe is black, beige, grey and white (plus jeans). Although I’ve bought a few burgundy things this season.

My colleague sticks rigidly to her ‘colours’ as she’s had them done. She’s always in bright clothes and they do suit her. Although she’s the only bright one in the office. I’d never get my colours done in case they told me I don’t suit my beloved non colourful wardrobe.

I think the toddler risk comes in when you pair colours like kelly green and red together, or cobalt blue and orange, Or when you wear loads of different colours. There are plenty of gentler ways to introduce colour. Having a select palette usually works, colours that harmonise rather than fight with your colouring. It’s actually pretty easy to swap black out for brown and navy.

A lot of it is about confidence as colour says ‘I’m here to be noticed, not to blend into the background’. I think you will find more you do it, the more comfortable you’ll feel. As pp said, just introducing colour to black isn’t great as black sucks life out of colour and can be jarring. Maybe take a look at colour theory on what colours are good to pair together. Trinny Woodall used to do some great YouTube videos on how to put colours together which will be out there somewhere.

Do you have a colour that suits you? And stick to just one colour for your outfit. That’s what I do anyway! I’m very ‘neutrals’ though normally

I always wear colour. I do wear black but never brown, grey, white, cream, beige or navy. I’m careful with orange & yellow.

I hear you but I also think just wear what you want! A colourful cardigan with black top and trousers will look great. I think colour shows your personality. At the end of the day I don't think anyone will really care and those that notice will probably think it's nice.

Have a look at Scamp and Dude.

Find the colours that suit you first. I wear a lot of black and grey and navy and cream because they suit me but I also wear lighter blue green and pink. Today I will be wearing a grey dress with black tights and black boots. Yesterday I wore an emerald green dress. Tomorrow I’m going to wear my baby pink jumper with black jeans.

I had did a style/colour analysis done a few years ago, and discovered ‘autumn’ colours suit me. Since discovery this, it’s a lot easier to wear colour, as I know what suits me, and what doesn’t.

I agree that a bright block colour with black looks a bit Cilla Black in the 80s.

I have certain colours that I know look good on me and wear that almost every day, along with more neutral clothing too.

I’m a big fan of a vibrant, 90s Benetton colour scheme, but personally wear mostly blacks, dark greys and navy.
I add colour with scarves, tote/crossbody bags, socks, and nail polish. I think autumn and winter are great for sneaking colours into outfits, because we have so many accessories or layers.
As a PP said, find out what type of colours suit you. Then you can build a base out of the neutral (dark brown/navy/pale grey/camel) that best goes with those colours (important!), and add colour as a shirt under knitwear, a whole jumper itself, or within the print on a midi skirt.

I always wear colour and don't own anything black.

I have a wardrobe based on denim, navy and white. I add colour to that in tops, accessories and shoes. So I don't look like Joseph in his dreamcoat I keep it to my few favourite colours - olive green, mustard yellow, dark duck egg blue.

Than you for the tips! I did once go to a personal shopper who told me never to wear yellow. And I did an online colour thing which said I am deep winter and to avoid yellows and light brown.

I have ordered myself a dark green jumper, I don't want to be too colourful 😂and a white shirt. So, if I've understood correctly, if I wear dark blue jeans, I should wear either a dark blue or a white shirt and then the dark green jumper? And with black jeans, either a black shirt or white shirt? I never usually wear white as I assume it'll get stained, but I'm not planning on taking my jumper off as the office is quite cold.

Black hilights the shadows on my face , under my eyes and by my mouth -I never wear it (sadly as life would be simpler). I had my colours done and am autumn so wear trrracotta (hard to find), gold ,greens, brown. No navy.
You could hold different coloured clothes up to your face in a good light and you should see which brightens your face and which makes you look worse. Or trying clothes on in a decently lit changing room.

I only think dark green, camel or chocolate brown looks good with black. But not just black trousers -camel/green top. Has to have accents - so camel top camel belt camel shoes black trousers black coat looks awesome. Otherwise it just looks dull. Styling is everything hey. I only realised this last few years and got right into belts scarves shoes coats. I’d just through any old crap on before!

as for colour - I don’t think bright colours are ever a good idea. But having them in accents is good. In the gazelle shoes, or jazzy tights, or scarfs works.
I’ve got a bit coloured tights obsessed lately. And I think u can go quite mad with the colours and patterns. As long as everything else is plain. It looks good.

There’s a yellow for everyone! I can’t wear sunflower yellow or a pastel yellow, but I can wear an ochre yellow.

I generally wear dark colours, but will wear a colourful scarf, bag, shoes etc

Also will wear colourful eyeshadow when the mood takes me!

I am a winter so bright colours suit me. When I was in the office I would wear a bright purple skirt, red trousers etc. I seek colour though, and hate to be dressed in black.

If you are wearing dark jeans anyway, there is nothing wrong with a bright top.

I look plain. As in I have a very plain face. My hair is ok but bland looking, not much I can do with it. Therefore I wear interesting clothes, otherwise I would just be drab all over!

I generally go with either an interesting top or bottom half. So plain jeans with a coloured/patterned top or patterned trousers with a plain top etc. By interesting I guess I mean an unusual cut, colour or pattern. But it has to have "something". So I have my basics and anything else I buy, I have to really love and it has to be a little different. Sometimes subtly, sometimes not so subtly!

I recommend this podcast episode
https://checkyourthread.com/podcast/188-stop-wearing-black-colour-choice-with-numba-pinkerton/

The podcast is about sewing but this episode, and a recent follow up, are a great chat through wearing colours.

Personally, being old enough to remember Trinny and Susannah saying don’t wear black with colour, I wear a lot of blues, and wear a colour top with jeans whether that’s a pink t shirt or a green jumper. My shoes are all coloured trainers (Puma/Gola) or Converse style, or brown boots (chocolate/pale tan), light coloured sandals in summer.

I have a group of colours that suit me and stick to them- I’m a real jewel colours person so wearing loads of burgundy at this time of year- easy as it goes with grey/black/navy, pick as required. I also wear a lot of pink- brighter in summer and more muted in winter.

Also I find it’s easier to wear a brightly coloured dress rather than to match separates. I have some lovely bright dresses for work and it’s easy as I only need to consider shoes and a coat.

I have essentials like shoes/coat/bag all in both black, tan and beige so I can pick the combo that works best for that outfit.

Work out which colours suit you/your colour season. Add a scarf. Add some tops. Add a cardigan.

A solid colour dress and accessories is an easy way to add colour.

Next time you get a wool work coat does navy or camel work?