IDEALIST STYLE
  • Blog
  • Overview
  • INSTAGRAM
  • Newsletter
  • Contact
  • ABOUT
  • SUPPORT THE WORK

THE LESSON ABOUT WEARING COLORS

21/11/2014

6 Comments

 
THE LESSON ABOUT WEARING COLORS
Picture
It takes some time to find yourself, and decide what your "look" is going to be like. First you have to determine what signals you want to send the world, and match that with what you feel comfortable in. 
We've probably all had our wardrobe issues and beauty bleepers, leading up to that unavoidable; "what was I thinking" moment. Sometimes it's a "slave to the trends" kind of problem, or maybe you just don't want to draw too much attention to your self, and last but not least, there is the classic "rebellious phase". The common denominator of these styles is that they all represent a way of hiding yourself, and aren't really a projection of who you are. Only when you are comfortable in your own skin, can you truly use clothing to express your true self, and feel free to actually not give a s**t. 
Ultimately, figuring yourself out, is a challenge that will leave you with a lot of hilarious and embarrassing "old" photos (probably reminding you, for evermore on facebook). 

Personally, my biggest beauty bleeper (besides from bangs), was a poor choice or hair color. 
At first stroke of rebellion, I decided to color my hair mahogany red (which was kind of fab on me, actually). But, soon I got too comfortable with dying my hair, and that combined with a bad case the classic, and always dangerous, "idol-fever", it ended with pitch black hair, closely followed by about six years of period appropriate, "Christina Aguilera, circa 2003", moments.
This particular case of "idol-fever" was caused by my older sister. Naturally, I thought she was really pretty, so growing up I wanted to look like her. I wanted black hair, brown eyes and snow white skin. Myself being the exact opposite, having golden brown hair, blue-green eyes and a naturally tan skin, I ended up looking orange with black hair (Or so I felt, and don't get me started on when I experimented with pale foundation, or the annoying obsession with dying my roots).  

In theory, I'm a big fan of bringing out what's unique about an individual, and personally I love an exotic look 
(I mean, the black hair really brought out my eyes. Just, not the rest of me). But in reality I looked like the love child of Snooki and Wednesday Addams, and some people thought I was the kind of person that would pick a fight. (Which brings me to....Why do people always tell you this stuff afterwards? That info would have come in handy at an earlier stage, but then again, maybe I wasn't ready to listen.)
Many years later, after a friend finally talked me into growing my real color back. Not only do I feel more comfortable knowing the only "fake part" left is my makeup, but I've been told that I look more inviting, pleasant and wholesome with my natural hair color. And although I still like that edgy and spicy meets Bollywood look, it's so much easier achieving my goals, when people aren't afraid of me (Especially, since I've mostly been nice).
I think we all have do's and dont's, beauty wise. We just can't follow the same rules. 
I look better with dark hair than blond, but my intensity dictates that I should draw the line at dark brown. 
The lesson is, just because you like the look, doesn't mean the look likes you.
Picture
It's hard to figure out what will work for you, or what kind of colors that will compliment you best (Beautiful people look good in everything right?). 
What looks good on us, is defined by a series of small variations and combinations of depth, brightness, softness, warmth, coolness, and so on. And in contrary to popular beliefs, just being dark doesn't make you a winter, a redhead an autumn, or ashy blonds a typical summer. 
The good news is that many of the colors we like, is our subconscious picking up on what flatter us, but the rest is more a matter of taste. 
These days, I just wear black clothes (instead), even though it's not my best color. But when you really love something, some rules are made to be broken. The same way you can break a rule hear and there concerning your body type, the most important thing is the overall look, and there are some tricks that can help you get away with fashion obstacles. 
For example, when wearing black; I always wear eye liner, blush, something fresh on the lips, and make my eyebrows a little darker. That way I can handle the high contrast of the pitch black. It doesn't really give me a glow, but I certainly feel classy-cool, and thats the look I'm going for. If I want to be makeup free and fresh, there is only three choices; Ivory, mint green or lemon yellow. But that sunny colored and sweet look, is just not my kind of everyday look. (That said, I am working on finding the mythical creature called cool clothes in fresh colors. Just haven't been very successful yet).

The first thing you need to know, is what does and doesn't suit you, so that you are in control of what you are doing. 
The best way to start is by getting a Color Analysis. Just as Body Typing helps you decide what shapes to wear, Color typing is that first step towards accepting your naturally born gifts, and get rid of unflattering fashion items (Better to give that stuff to someone who will use it for something other that closet decoration, right?). 
There are many different color analysis systems to help you determine which colors best suit your natural palette, but unfortunately, both myself and many of my slightly "mixed" looking friends, don't fit into any of them. And if one fits me, it certainly won't work for my sister, and so on. I always feel like something is missing, and it seems that the typical color seasons are based on the more typical color combinations. So, in other words, if you have the "wrong" combination or intensity, you will have a hard time finding your group.  
I have determined what colors work for me, but I still try to pin point my exact season (ever since I discovered my mothers, "Color me beautiful" book). Also, I'm sort of in love with organizing, so I need a system. 
Finally, I just decided to do something about it. Colors have always been one of my better skills, so I thought, "Why not?". 
I have pondered on this subject for a whole year, and eventually come up with my own Color Typing System, one that is both bigger and smaller than the regular ones. 
The already existing ones are great, but they didn't fit my type of logic, and apparently my looks didn't quite fit the logic of those systems either. 
I started on this project a year ago, and it has taken me a really long time, a lot of obsessive thinking, cross checking, trying it out and reorganizing. It basically took over my life for some periods. But now, finally (as all creative people, my gut is telling me that ), I'm finished. Everything adds up (the way I see it), and if it doesn't; there's a system in place for that. It might need some tweaks here and there, but a test drive is imperative before you know if it works smoothly. 
And, the rules of wearing colors, is exactly what my next series of post's are about. 
So stay tuned, if you too want to figure out what Color Group you belong to. 
Picture
CLICK HERE, for "the RULES OF WEARING COLORS"

Photography by: www.camillastorvollen.no
6 Comments
Mimi link
25/1/2015 04:32:46 pm

You'r blog is great, especially section on 'The lesson about wearing colours', keep on posting! :)

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
5/2/2015 12:45:59 am

Thank you so much for lovely feedback Mimi :) Xxx Sun

Reply
Andrea Martin
23/11/2024 06:24:52 pm

Hi, do you have information about women who have some or a lot or all silver hair? I had dark brown hair, freckles when I tanned deeply, and very thick long black lashes and intense black brows like Brook Shields. Now, my hair is a steely silver with dark streaks, my lashes are barely there, and my still black brows have become arched, thinner and shorter. My skin is less vibrant as well, but when I'm exercising the color returns quite a bit. My skin on the surface seems to be warm, but it has cool undertones. It can look very sallow when I'm not tanned and black doesn't look good next to my face. However, with my shape, a soft dramatic, I look great with black pants and dark cherry colored top. In fact, I look so good with that wine/burgundy, cherry color and others that are similar like raspberry and deep purple (reddish) that it seems crazy to wear anything else. I do wear dark gray well, but a dark gray with a yellow cast is best on me, perhaps in part because my hair has a yellow cast to it but it also makes my skin look better. In general, no color with a yellow cast looks good on me and silvers that are too blue don't flatter, again probably due to my hair not being bluish, perhaps due to sun exposure and deposits. I can blue it up some by stripping deposits but I don't do it often.

My eyes or warm medium brown, almost light, but not really. They are not dark, but I've always had deep contrast. Now, though, I look ashen with some colors, especially if I'm not exercising to get that glow. Taking a hot shower helps too, and makeup helps, but I don't like to wear much makeup or have a dry look.

There are so many women with natural silver hair and such a big percentage of the population is older that it's important to include older women with natural silver hair and natural changes to skin tone, eyes, etc. in articles about wardrobe colors.

I know you don't work for me, so I'm not demanding this. Maybe you don't even have time now or want to, but if you are still doing this, I feel you'd have an amazing business serving women who have evolved to have silver hair and who can use guidance in how to evolve their wardrobe.

My wardrobe has evolved from many jewel tone tops and dresses with gray or black or indigo denim bottoms and black accessories plus jewel tone and silver jewelry to black and indigo or dark gray bottoms, tops and dresses that have bluish red or reddish purples (medium and dark or rich pastel, but not too light) and no royal blue, no checks or fine plaids, only prints that are dark with florals that have reds and pinks in them, mostly black or dark gray with red and pink flowers, or burgundy with a floral and fine graphic print or navy with a red and white print that is incricate and has all cool colors, mostly dark.

One conundrum is how to adjust makeup as my brows and lashes diminish. I am using soft brown (taupe) on my eyebrows though they are still black, brown liner on my lashes, no more tube mascara as it suddently doesn't look lush but rather caked and spindly and eyeshadow is a mystery. I looked 15 years younger everyone said till they removed my ovaries, a huge mistake for me to agree to, and then overnight I looked so old, the full effect after three years. It was a money move and it's hard not to be angry about it as they didn't tell me that would happen and it wasn't needed. They said, "They are not doing anything for you!" They lied. It was Mayo Clinic and they try to silence you if you complain. Anyway, I'm coping but it's challenging as people talked with me with respect and interest before and now act like I'm invisible.

So, it would really help a lot of women in their lives to have a solid, detailed section this. Take all the categories and how how to adjust as coloring changes. It was amazing to me how a royal blue and white polkadot dress that looked fantastic on me looked horrible (or I did) with my dark and steely silver hair streaks. There were the clashing colors and there were the clashing patterns. Only solids for me other than some dark fine prints in all flattering colors that blend together to not clash with my streaked hair.

Ideas? Plans? Already did this somewhere else?

Many of the same colors look great on me, but it helps when I wear makeup.

Reply
Therese
4/2/2015 02:13:04 am

Så utrolig bra skrevet :)

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
5/2/2015 12:46:47 am

Tusen takk Therese :) XXX

Reply
Tallin matthews
8/4/2021 09:59:37 pm

Hey, just wondering why the color charts didnt get completed both colors i thought i might be said they are coming in 2020. Was hoping for some insight haha.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    ETHICAL AND PERSONALIZED STYLE, FOR A "GOOD FOR YOU" WARDROBE.

    Idealist style is a website and "slow blog" dedicated to ethical fashion and personalized style, including tips on how to find your very own "slow fashion" style by using color analysis, the body types system, and other slow fashion tips.»
    Created by an idealistic fashion designer, stylist, writer, and illustrator with a passion for "good for you" fashion. 
    Very nerdy about it. 
    Born in Norway, educated in Milan, Italy.


    I decided to name my page "Idealist Style", because I'm an idealist. On both a creative. environmental, and a humanitarian level. So, I feel the title suits my message well. 
    i·de·al·ism 
    -The act or practice of envisioning things in an ideal form. 
    -Artist who treats subjects imaginatively. 
    -Belief in or pursuit of one's ideals, of high or noble principles, purposes, or goals. 

    The work on this site is mine unless specified. 

    Archives

    January 2020
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    July 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Blog
  • Overview
  • INSTAGRAM
  • Newsletter
  • Contact
  • ABOUT
  • SUPPORT THE WORK