Wearing just a few colors

[TxZen]

Does anyone have their wardrobe pared down to just a few colors? I am thinking of black, white, hot pink, with denim as my "neutral" and using the few brown/tan accessories I have- boots, purse, belt. Does anyone else do this? I am thinking with the addition of just a few pieces, I will always be able to mix and match to my hearts content without having that old ball out piece of clothing that nothing matches.

[Zoe Girl]

i would agree with that. i have for many years had black, white and red. there is some brown in my wardrobe, a few accent pieces in other colors but i pretty much stick with black, white, and red. that means it all matches pretty much, any jewelry will also basically match. i still have fun with getting dressed by different textures, cuts of clothing,some jewelry. But it really does make getting dressed easier and i look more professional overall.

[bae]

90% of my wardrobe is loden green or tan khaki. A few red or plaid shirts to liven things up, and lime green/nuclear yellow with reflective stripes for search/emergency work.

[Tradd]

All black bottoms (aside from blue jeans). Tops in bright, strong colors (hot pink, bright blue, purple, red). Black top or two to go under a bright colored cardigan. Everyone says I always look well-put together. Talbots clothes for the win!

[kimberlyf0]

Yep. Jeans as my basic bottom, my shirts are solid white, solid pink, or solid grey, I have a pink hooded sweater and a grey hooded sweat jacket. For summer I have a few skirts in pink, grey, and black. I have a pink Vans, grey Vans, workout shoes, black shoes and a few black purses, and a few things that don't quite fit my basic color wardrobe, like my winter jacket which is dark red (but I so rarely need to wear it that I wouldn't spend the money to buy one in a color that goes with the rest of my clothing). I have one basic black dress and one pair of black dress pants.

When I was younger my basics were red, white, and black (plus denim), but as I get older I find I look better in cool pink rather than red and cool grey rather than black.

[ctg492]

I just joked to the stylist last week that I wear two colors, black and Any other plain color.

[catherine]

I'm a black and tan person myself, like Guinness. 85% of my clothes are either black or tan. I only wear black pants. I have a couple of tan skirts and a black skirt. I have a tan sweater and two tan jackets.

I do have a red sweater and a royal blue dress and sweater, but other than than, I try not to depart from my black and tan color scheme. It makes life so much easier.

[Seven]

I'm kinda goth, so nearly everything in my wardrobe is black, with few red and dark blue items. I never thought about that much, my style just developed over years.

[mtnlaurel]

Talbots clothes for the win!
The clothes can really take a beating, it's hard for me to wear them out.
I never pay full retail, I wait until final, final mark-downs.
I am vertically (and horizontally :)) challenged, so their petite line in variety of sizes fits the bill ... and no hemming!!!!
And they kind of hold their value at resale shops when you want to 'trade-in'

Regarding colors, navy/eggplant/blues/black/a few browns.

[TxZen]

Thanks for the responses.

What I did was take all my clothes and lump them by color on the bed. The smallest piles were the oddball things that I really never wore because I had nothing to wear them with or the color was off on me. Easy peasy- sent them onto my sister who has the coloring for them.

Next, I group by like item (Yes this is what happens when I have time on my hands) and realized I have a few gaps in my wardrobe. I went on Pinterest and started getting some ideas for outfits and now have a small list of 7 items I need to complete my wardrobe for now. I will add 3 pairs of summer pants/shorts later on, but it's too cold to be thinking about that.

I do find it interested I always thought I had not particular style but now I see it emerging.

[lessisbest]

As a throw-back from the 80's, I had my "colors" done and have based my wardrobe on those colors that are most flattering from the winter pallet. I use navy/navy denim as my base color in the spring/summer and black/black denim as my base color in the winter. Nearly all accent colors go with both. I've also noticed some colors that were great when I had dark hair are no longer necessarily colors I choose now that my salt and pepper hair is more salt than pepper. I carry fabric swatches of my "best" colors so I don't waste time and money on colors that don't work in my wardrobe. I also divide my wardrobe by colors and have a relatively small number of clothing to choose from because I can mix and match using nearly all the colors I have.

[pinkytoe]

Black used to be my primary but as I get older it seems too harsh. Now my mainstay at least in winter is deep charcoal grey. It goes nicely with the various shades of blue and red I am drawn to.

[TxZen]

Agree with the change in haircolor thing lessisbest. Mine is silver with some blah brown still hanging on. The neutrals I used to love now make me look dead and wash out. The hot pink warms me up like a punch of blush without trying too hard. :)

I veered from black for awhile but I found that the cut/style and material is what works for me and prevents me from looking harsh. I just bought a not a leather jacket with interesting quilting on it but it fits like a glove and is chic, not frumpy.

I am also going minimalist in the style of clothing- plain shirt but with interesting lines or details. For instance, I just bought a black silk blend shirt with slits at the hips/side but the very top has a gentle lace detail. I love it!!! I am also veering away from loud prints and large prints.

[lessisbest]

Agree with the change in haircolor thing lessisbest. Mine is silver with some blah brown still hanging on. The neutrals I used to love now make me look dead and wash out. The hot pink warms me up like a punch of blush without trying too hard. :)

I veered from black for awhile but I found that the cut/style and material is what works for me and prevents me from looking harsh. I just bought a not a leather jacket with interesting quilting on it but it fits like a glove and is chic, not frumpy.

I am also going minimalist in the style of clothing- plain shirt but with interesting lines or details. For instance, I just bought a black silk blend shirt with slits at the hips/side but the very top has a gentle lace detail. I love it!!! I am also veering away from loud prints and large prints.

Great tips. I avoid faddish items, and am most thankful I no longer work and need a "good" wardrobe.

We met our daughter/granddaughter in St. Louis on the 26th for gift exchange and an overnight slumber party in a nice hotel (it's a 6-hour half-way point for both of us) and went shopping (mostly looking) at two large strip malls - places we don't have available where we live. I found the quality of the new clothing horrible and I refuse to pay over $50 for a pair of p.j.'s (I paid that much for my first CAR! and I'll start making them again for that price).

My granddaughter (just turning 19 in a couple days and chip off the old block) said she can buy better quality things at thrift stores and said how we need to guard our "classics" with our life because in the next few years this stuff will be what we have to choose from at the thrift stores. We had a discussion on how many times I've seen bell bottoms come and go in style, while a well-fitting pair of slacks will work forever in a wardrobe.

[HappyHiker]

Love this discussion -- love color! Recently came across a book about defining your colors by the season according to hair color, skin tones, eye color...found out all my black and white clothes were wrong for me as an Autumn. Autumn: reddish or red-brown hair, golden-honey skin tones, dark or hazel eyes.

What colors for an Autumn? Think Autumn hues of russet, golds, golden-green, garnet, salmon/coral, tomato red, browns, rust, warm beige. No black! No white! I kept some black in my wardrobe, just soften it with an Autumn-hued scarf.

Since I switiched palettes, I've been getting more compliments on my clothes...all this seemed silly to me at first, but it seems to lift my spirits to wear (and decorate) with colors that suit my personal seasonal color personality.

Now my closet looks like a field of Autumn leaves.

Not a big expense as I shop at several great thrift stores that seem to be rich with Autumn colors!

What season are you? Do you care??

[TxZen]

Classics- wool coat-(weight can be determined by where you live), straight leg pants (you can get all lengths now), ballet flats (I adore they are popular now because I can't wear heels at all), square/rectangle purse in good quality material (leather if you like but the micro fiber one's are sturdy now and great), as always LBD's (little black dress, can vary length and cut), plain silk or silk blend tops.

I still love my Calvin Klein products. They last forever and always are spot on, neigh for a few rogue print/colors over the past few years.

[TxZen]

I have no clue what season I am but it took a photo to figure out that as much as I love the light turquoise color, I can't wear it. I saw myself in a hot pink scarf and I looked so much healthier. I also look good in purples, but I just don't like it as a color. LOL

[HappyHiker]

Here's a Season Color chart to play with: http://personalitycafe.com/general-chat/37461-what-your-color-season-spring-summer-autumn-winter-fun.html

[TxZen]

Seems I am a deep winter, according to that chart. Thanks. :)

[HappyHiker]

You're welcome! It's fun, isn't it?

[TxZen]

It is fun!!! It's funny, because I used to fight my olive skin and then going natural with my hair, the right colors threw me off a bit. I can't wait for my hair to come in more silver than the brown I have but I am getting there.

I always have loved silver accessories!!! I do have a black watch with sparkly face and a silver one with a black face. I love them both.


So off to play in my closet again. I have some new ideas!!! :)

[Reyes]

I have primarily black & brown. I've tried to shake it up over the years and then just accepted that black & brown are my colors:-)

[mschrisgo2]

I had my colors done in the early 80's, I'm a cool summer, and have pretty much stuck to that all these years, both in my clothing and decorating. Those colors just make me happy!