Are you a “Yay! Colour lover” or a “No thanks, neutrals only” kind of gal? Or perhaps a bit of both, with a nagging feeling that you should define your style and pick a camp? It’s such a personal journey. As we mature, I think we transition from the teenage years of wanting to fit in with the cool crowd (an ever-moving target) to finding steadiness in our 20s, when the beauty of youth means we can look good in most options. In our 30s, we often enter a phase of children, yoga pants, and hurriedly scraped ponytails. Finally, in our 40s and beyond, we can look up and truly define our own personal style.
There are many factors that come into play when consciously taking this later style journey. I plan to delve into all of them, but I’d like to start with colour. It’s interesting to observe people’s relationships with colour. Much is made about knowing the colours that suit your complexion and those that don’t. Personal colour mapping is a big business; however, it is just one piece of the personal style puzzle. I understand the relief in finding a set of style rules—it feels safe—and I agree that knowing your key colors is important. However, there are other aspects that are not often addressed in colour mapping. One is your character, along with your history with different colours, both remembered consciously and sub-consciously. Additionally, colour represents different things in various societies and cultures. Another factor to consider is that you might have a skin tone that loves bold and bright colours, but what if your personality prefers a milder, calmer energy? Part of colour selection is choosing shades that not only flatter your skin tone but also match your personality without overwhelming or underwhelming it.
On top of all that is something I think is crucial: JOY! The joy of colour. The sheer satisfaction and grown-up style confidence one feels when stepping it up. That’s not to say that monotones are a no-go; just that selecting colour consciously and appropriately for the day can greatly enhance the positive energy we share and, in turn, experience from others. Remember, colour does not have to be bright or loud; there are many depths to shades, and the underlying tone and saturation play a fundamental role in what will or will not work for us.
How do we begin this journey into colour? I will explore influential elements one at a time over a few blog posts. Let’s start with the most obvious:
COMPLEXION
Perhaps you’ve had some colour mapping done? That’s a great base to work from. Personally, I view this as a guide rather than a rulebook. The truth is, colour mapping has not been standardized, so you can get very different results from different experts. That said, they should still be able to identify your best and worst colours, which is what matters most.
A good colour will brighten your complexion, giving an instant lift to your face. You may find many colours that you’re unsure about—that’s okay. All you need to determine are your best and worst colours. The shades in between can be useful in many ways and I will be sharing that on our style journey. Sign up to my newsletters for insights on how to determine your colour palette, as well as working with colour families and adjacent colours.
In my next colour post I will look at colours in this seasons trends and what I am excited about!
Lastly, if you have any questions about colour that you would like to ask me then drop a note in the comments below. I’d love to help you with them.
Warm regards,
