FASHION - How to wear a colour that isn't one of your best including BLACK!

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Summary - 

As a Personal Stylist, it’s my job to teach women what colours look best on them but what if your wardrobe is full of colours that didn’t get a mention as one of your ‘best’? Not to worry - I’ve got plenty of tips & tricks up my sleeve to ensure that those colours can still be loved & worn in a really flattering way.

Things I Mention - 

  • Simple, practical tricks to wear every colour and still look your best.

  • Why you should be mindful about wearing certain colours near your face.

  • How to wear black if black usually makes you look washed-out & tired.

PLUS, I reveal the 80/20 rule with regards to colour and explain how you can use this to completely transform the way you look. 

Links & Helpful Resources - 

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I’ve mentioned this in a few episodes now but I’m not one to tell you that you can’t wear this or that because I do wholeheartedly believe that with a little styling know-how that anyone can wear anything and make it look incredible however I have worked with enough women to know that the very big majority of on-the-go women prefer a little heads up or a nudge in the right direction which is why I like to give suggestions based on what I know has worked well for other women that have come to me for help with personal styling - colour included.

If you’re yet to listen to my first episode on colour, do yourself a big one and go back and listen to that - it’s episode #28. This episode is a great follow on and will likely make more sense with regards to why I still give my clients digital colour swatches and suggest a number of specific colours for their particular “colour type”.  It’s not because I think they can wear those colours and those colours only, it’s because I want to make getting dressed and looking & feeling  good easier for women with little to no effort or thought. 

Ok we all have an inkling or gut feeling if a particular colour looks great on us or not. I’m sure you’ve tried something on before and perhaps put it back on the rack because you felt like the colour washed you out a bit or emphasised just how tired you really do feel. You know what they say about gut feelings, they’re always right and that’s because there are certain colours & shades that won’t always light you up but that’s not to say you can’t wear them and still look good especially if I have anything to do with it. Here’s how - 

Avoid Wearing The Colour Too Close To Your Face

Your face is the easiest indication of identifying your true skin tone and this is where colours

that are not considered your most ‘flattering’ will show at their worst. If you have a top in a

colour that you love but you’re not quite sure if it brightens and highlights your complexion, you may find that styling this top with a jacket or a scarf in a colour that does compliment your skin tone, may actually make the top a lot more flattering for you to wear.

Keep To The 80/20 Rule

The 80/20 rule with regards to colour, refers to the triangle from each shoulder to the middle of

your cleavage, you should aim to wear no more than 20 percent of a colour that isn’t one of your best in this triangle. This is why wearing a jacket in a flattering colour over a top or dress can help make the dress or top more flattering on you. The jacket prevents more than 20 percent of the alternative colour being seen in the triangle from your shoulders to your cleavage. 

Another little trick that I love is to layer a statement necklace in a colour that looks amazing on you over a top or dress to make it more wearable for you.

Any colour or shade can be worn on the lower body without it having too much impact on your complexion. If you’d like to wear a particular colour though that you’re unsure about, try wearing a patterned skirt or trousers with that colour in the print rather than wear it as a solid colour. From here, you can style that bottom with a top in a colour that you know looks great on you. 

Use The Colour As An Accessory

You can use a colour that sits outside of your suggested colour palette as an accessory. Belts, shoes and handbags are all great places to use "avoidable" colours that you love. It’s best to avoid wearing jewellery, scarves or hats though in a colour that isn’t one of your best just to keep that colour away from your face.

Ok, let’s chat about black … 

Black remains one of the most popular shades to wear. It’s a favourite for investment buys such as a suit, coat or little black dress and it has the ability to make the wearer feel instantly sophisticated, elegant and sexy. 

Unfortunately and contrary to popular belief, it’s not the most flattering colour on every skin tone - not everyone can look as striking in an all-black outfit or wear black as a flattering dark neutral shade near their face. I find the younger my client is, the easier it is for them to wear black since youthful skin has a knack for providing a nice contrast to black however once we hit our mid twenties, our skin and facial features begin getting softer and more muted and this is when it pays to know some tips and tricks on how to make black work for you, whether it is suggested as one of your best colours or not.

So, if you ever find yourself doubting how black looks on you, here are a few simple tips - 

  • If it’s not a suggested dark neutral shade for your skin tone, wear it away from your face.

  • Style black with a lighter colour to tone down its harshness. Avoid the temptation to style black with a bright white though as this can enhance the pigmentation and make black look … well, more dark.

  • Wear black with statement coloured jewellery or drape a coloured scarf around your neck in a colour that’s suggested for your skin tone. 

  • When wearing a black jacket, aim to wear another colour outside the collar to soften the effect of black against your face such as with jewellery or a scarf.

  • Softer fabrics like knits, jerseys, tweeds, corduroys and silks will absorb the light and soften the impact of black.

  • A dress or top that’s low cut, off-shoulder or sleeveless will be a better choice than one that has a high neckline because it introduces a decent amount of skin between your face and the harshness of the black shade.

If black is a favourite for you, go ahead and enjoy it but don’t forget to experiment with other dark neutral colours that could potentially be a lot more flattering on your particular skin tone - think navy, dark brown, charcoal grey etc. These dark neutrals could very well become your “new black” with a far better impact on your overall appearance and how you look & feel.

Enjoy wearing and experimenting with colours that you had always written off! It is truly liberating to realise you still can.

Elisha CasagrandeWomens Confidence, FEEL BE LOOK, Confidence, Brisbane Personal Stylist, Online Personal Stylist, Styling Tips, Outfit Styling, Clothes Pyschology, Fashion Psychology, Style Rut, Fashion Tips, Styling Advice, Shopping Budget, Fashion Budget, Repurpose Clothes, Personal Style, Defined Personal Style, Wardrobe Versatility, Investment Buys, Shopping, Online Shopping, Add To Cart, Colour, Cool Colours, Warm Colours, Wearing Black, Dark Neutral, LBD, Black Clothing, How To Wear Black