The Space Between My Peers

Becky writes:

Rebecca, several of your posts on dressing in colors that are present in your personal coloring have puzzled me. For example, I have very fair that is somewhat yellowish (also dark blonde/light brown hair) and I look horrible in colors that contain too much yellow. It seems to me that I look best in cool colors that balance out the yellow of my skin.

Nobody looks good in yellow outside of Texas, do they?

But seriously, Becky, you bring up a good question. Your experience corresponds with the advice to Choose the Opposite Color that I blogged about awhile back. (I also notice that most of the commenters said the same thing you did, “horrible in yellow”.)

Here’s how eternalvoyageur answered:

Hmmm… I think that we have to pick what we want to highlight in our colouring (either by using these colours or contrasts) and what we prefer to conceal or balance out. read the rest of her answer …

I agree. Don’t emphasize anything you don’t want noticed (undereye circles, acne, birthmarks, etc) by matching it in color.

In one of my very first posts, on selecting jacket colors, I gave the following advice on wearing a color similar to your skin tone next to the face:

• Separate the garment from your face with a swath of contrasting fabric.
• Choose as an accent color: your eye color, white, black, or your lipstick color.

There is, of course, the danger of being washed out by not using enough contrast in your color scheme. To combat that possibility:

• use a darker or lighter version of the eye or hemoglobin color
• use the complementary color
• add a small amount of white, black, or a shiny metallic

Finally, finding flattering colors to wear next to the face can be as simple as identifying your hemoglobin and melanin colors, by-passing the overall skin tint. Hemoglobin is the oranges, reds, and purples present in, for example, the tips of your fingers. By melanin I mean the color of your freckles, that is, the browns in your skin.

In the end, I decided against the monochromatic “safari suit” for this evening’s semi-casual banquet, opting instead for a variation with greater contrast.

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Eternal Voyageur writes:

BTW the camel colour made me think of requesting you to do a piece on creams, beiges and off-whites someday. I always struggle to connect name to colour, let alone decide which ones are flattering and which are not.

Here’s the problem: when I started looking up the color names (cream, ecru, beige, ivory, and so on), they all basically had the same definition - pale grayish yellow. That’s helpful! (You could hear the sarcasm in that, couldn’t you?) While I cannot promise is to give you names by which you can be certain you & others will be thinking of the same color, I do have some suggestions on how to select those which are flattering.

First, look for the undertone. While technically an off-white can be a super-light tint of any color, most of them tend to separate into those which are in essence a brown (like coffee with extra cream added) or those which are yellow.

Personally, I find the yellows hard to wear. I recommend them with yellow-blonde hair. For me, I like coffee.

There are also very light taupes, which make a good substitute for white or khaki trousers.

The other thing I would add is, even if you look okay in more than one range of off-whites, to stick to one in your wardrobe, thereby increasing your chances for serendipity. Believe it or not, the bermudas I picked up for a buck this week match the safari jacket my mom gave me for Christmas. What are the chances of that?

I hope this is helpful. Any insights or follow-up questions?

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I own a million pieces of turquoise jewelry, I love the stone. I however never know the type of clothing especially the tops to wear. My hair is ruby midnight with purple under tones. My eyes are dark blue and my skin naturally has a yellow undertone. When I changed my hair to this dark color friends and family said it looked beautiful on me and made my eyes really stand out. I figured this is the best place to ask this question because I read such great advise to the above question. Thank You to all of you who answered (Judi)

(Ruby midnight = rich auburn black)

My best advice is to wear solid tops in deep, intense colors: black, midnight or royal blue, purple. With dark blue eyes, blues - including turquoise - are natural.

I think what I’m suggesting is that the turquoise is naturally going to harmonize with and flatter your eye color, and a top in a dark color, when combined with the dark hair, will frame the face. It’s going to be a dramatic look!

Alternatively, turquoise is appearing in lots of great prints these days. Depending on your personal style idiom, either a funky kind of ethnic look or a more simply elegant backdrop seem natural to me with turquoise jewelry.

A third option with turquoise is to use its complement, which is orange or brown. White is my favorite hot-weather black substitute. And metallics always look elegant with turquoise.

Okay, readers, Judi was asking for your advice. What tops do you suggest with turquoise jewelry?

Just for fun, here’s some pictures of looks that might work:





Incidentally, while in Italy, we saw LOTS of cute metallic sporty shoes.

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Alternative title: Why blogging is a frustrating way to spend a life.

Having the morning free before a lunch meeting and a later appointment, I was looking forward to getting some serious “blog puttering” accomplished. Fat chance!

First, I thought about posting about choosing eyeglass frames. Since I hadn’t brought along a photographer when I actually selected my new ones (although it would’ve been a good idea), I thought perhaps I could use pictures from one of the virtual try-on places. Like this one. Or the one over here. Except that you can’t copy those pictures.

In any case, here’s what I’m thinking about eyeglass frame selection:

• line movement in the face, and especially in the eye area, seems to have a greater bearing on what works than does face shape. My face is a combination of curved and straight, vertical and diagonal. Today’s horizontal frames make me look dull, flat, and tired.
• some styles may be unacceptable because they simply don’t mesh with the wearers personality. Such was the case when I tried on a round, completely rimless style. I had to laugh, although it didn’t look bad.
• glasses should be in harmony with the size of the facial features. Which is good news for me now, since small glasses are about all one can find.

More on this topic another time, I’m sure. For now, I think I’m addicted to playing with the frame-finder.

After failing to produce a post on frame fashion, I turned my thoughts to color, a topic never far from my mind, and starting looking at some of the links my mom had sent me recently and thinking about defining the beiges, as per eternalvoyageur’s request, only to find myself distracted by …

this pdf from the Utah Education Network, which reminded me of a quiz in the book Casual Power. To be completely honest with you, in my life I have often been disappointed in the way I am received on first impression. Until recently, that is. For some reason - could it be the long gray hair? - I have noticed more people smiling at me when I am out and about, young and old, and an overall willingness to strike up a casual conversation.

I don’t know about you, but I really want to relate positively to people.

I invite you to take the quiz. Unfortunately, when I tried to cut and paste the table over here, it disappeared.

Here are a few of the questions:

1. Do you attract people with whom you have interests in common?
   
2. Does your dress send an accurate message about you?
3. When you catch an unexpected glimpse of yourself in a mirror, do you like what you see?
4. Do other people ignore you or push you around?
5. Do you feel you look dull or boring?

Any insights you’d like to share? Any of these topics you’d like to see further discussion on?  Any of your own frustrations you’d like to spout off about?

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Her Majesty, The Queen of Carrots, asks a tough question, tough for me because it’s been so long since I’ve been in maternity clothes. I’m expecting lots of help!

Her question:

On a very old topic, I went back and tried the measuring the four zones thing and found my measurements were almost the same as yours except my Zone 2 was even longer proportionally. And I do tend to gravitate towards sharp distinctions at the waist–belts, scarves, short jackets, strong color contrasts. So what I really wonder is, what do I do with this zone when I’m pregnant? I don’t have a full-length mirror, but I rather suspect maternity tops are making my legs disappear altogether. Or should I just be grateful to have lots of room to fit a baby in?

Yes, lots of room for baby is something to be thankful for. I’ve also heard a number of people say that because of a long torso they didn’t need pregnancy clothes as soon.

A couple of thoughts, though, concerning maternity top shapes:

1. I like the look of the cute maternity tops they have out now with a pretty ribbon tied just below the bust. If you had a top that was long enough, you could add your own ribbon.  This breaks up the zone a bit.  Tying a belt around the hip would also break up the zone.


(Sorry- I know you’re not crazy about pink.)

2. The other thought is to use this opportunity to wear the short dress as top look.
3. 
   

Picture these dresses with shorts, pants, or leggings under.

What other suggestions do you readers have? Anybody else have this dilemma? (All illustrations via GapMaternity - Clothes.)

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Christie’s question concerning smart casual winter tops, which came in response to my post on the six levels of casual:

I also need better ideas for smart casual winter tops. I have a semi-wrap merino wool sweater which I like, but it seems to have shrunk in length. I like to be warm, so I look for non-bulky wool sweaters. But my first layer under sweaters usually is just a tee, so that’s kind of boring.

My off-the-cuff answer:

I was just thinking that I could get a couple of slim turtlenecks and just use them for the boring t-shirt part, topped by a snappy jacket in velvet or suede or wool. I have also been using drapy silk blouses under my v-neck sweaters and liking that.

You see, typically I think of assembling an outfit, or a uniform template, in terms of

The Base (pant, skirt or dress) + The Top + The Layer

The paradigm shift:

Brenda Kinsel suggests considering each zone as a room in a house. The larger the room, the more furniture (line breaks, detailing, embellishments, bells and whistles) you can put in there.

Based on the fact that shorter hip-length fitted jackets, the more pockets and detailing the better, are the hands-down best length/shape for me, I’m toying with this variation on the “formula”:

The Base + The Top Layer + The Connector

The top layer being the jacket, sweater, sweatshirt, etc and the connector being the top underneath which makes it all work together. Which really makes perfect sense, as the character of an outfit is created by the jacket … which I am now in the market for more than ever, for two reasons: one, I have laundry snafu’d all my favorites right out the door and two, Fall/Winter clearance.

So I don’t know if I helped you, Christie, but you certainly helped me!

What say the rest of you lovely people?  Other than that I over-analyze things.  Isn’t that the point? 

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Christine writes:

I hate jeans, mostly because I can never find a flattering comfy pair. I think I finally did, but after a few days of wearing them I’m feeling kind of dull. I’m a skirt and dress wearer but sometimes it’s hard to transition, from summer to fall for example. Some days bare legs and sandals feel too bare but it’s not time to drag out the tights and boots.

I also look dreadful in black so that cuts down a lot of skirt and dress options that make the transition easier. Suggestions anyone?

Although I am not a skirt and dress person everyday, because of what I wear to church I can still relate. Transitional seasons are certainly challenging.

Here are some ideas. Readers please add your suggestions in comments!

• Nicole’s suggestion: lightweight tights and peep-toe shoes to make a summer skirt transition into early fall.
• Similarly, I have been thinking about adding footless tights to my summer skirts with sandals. Here’s my trouble: my summer skirts (all pictured here) are unlined. Unlined skirts stick to tights. But, Christine, perhaps you have some that would work or, alternatively, don’t mind wearing a slip.
• Another thing I have done, tell me if you think this is weird, is to wear my summer skirts, bare-legged, with knee-high boots. On second thought, don’t tell me if you think it’s weird. It just works for me.

What works for you in this time of transition?

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Sounds like a store, doesn’t it?

Dana writes:

okay, so our new, fab house is almost complete and we’re moving in around the first weekend in October (give or take - more likely give- a week).

My closet is/will be a smallish walk-in shared with my hero. Hero has a fair amount of clothing and is one of those types who prefer not to have the hangers all smashed in together, smushing his duds.

What I am getting around to - oh so slowly - is a plea for assistance and resources for free closet planning. I know we’ll need to maximize our layout to make it work and we have high ceilings, so we can do an extra high layer of hanging stuff to make it possible to keep even the “off season” in the closet year-round…. Ideas, oh smart and hip readers of Bex super blog?

and

Things you might like to know when giving advice on this - the shape is square with one angled corner where the entry is - and that is a “no door” arched opening. the closet is wedged into one corner of the bathroom - I rise much earlier than the rest of the fam, so I will be able to get up, enter bath, close door to bedroom and stay there until I am ready for the day. You may not need to know that, but the idea excites me….

Congratulations Dana and hero!

Now, wonderful readers, leave us links to your most fabulous closet planning resources!

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Polia left this nice comment on my Family Camp post:

I like your daughter’s daring mix of prints, although I would never, ever guess that she was nearly 18 based on that outfit. Do you think it’s possible to dress too young when you are in your late teens? Or does anything go, as long as it is suitably modest?

My answer:

Overall, I think most “rules” are specific to the individual idiom, or at least to the style personality. Meaning that, while this outfit might look young on most people, certain individuals could wear it even in their old age and look perfectly normal. Because it suits their idiom.

The only rules I think are generally applicable to everyone are: face as focal point, feeling like yourself in your clothes, being able to move and function and, of course, modesty.

But that all doesn’t really answer your question. I’d love to hear from others on it.

Your thoughts?
Later, as my hero and I were out for the evening stroll, I asked him the random question,

“what do you think of the faux hawk?”

To which he answered, after first ascertaining that I indeed meant the hairstyle emulating a mohawk without shaving the head,

“it’s fine, if you’re nine”

Although most of the pictures I found online don’t look bad, in person almost everyone who wears it does (look bad, that is). Why is it that so many guy trends are basically unattractive? Sagging, for instance.

When I related the above conversation to my daughter (the tie-dye one), she shot back positively,

“nine year old boys don’t have hairstyles”

To which I replied,

“of course they do, their moms do them”

Which she thought was about the most pathetic thing ever!

So here’s another question: at what age should a young person have responsibility for their own hairstyle? Feel free to comment on the faux hawk as well.

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At the recommendation of Charity Grace, I went to JCPenney to hit up their clearance racks today. The only thing I found was inspiration. (Inspiration - YAY!) I walked in, took one look around, and thought, “these colors would be perfect for Susan’s trip to Paris.” I grabbed a cinnabon for lunch and scampered home to scour the affiliate pictures.

Minus the heels, this picture from Bodenusa.com is a good start. While the dress has a nice classic style, and the white pants and sweater also form an appropriate ensemble, what I’m really recommending is the color scheme:

warm browns, from cream to khaki to chocolate

in combination with

warm blues, from robin’s egg blue to aqua to teal, and maybe even a cyan navy

You see, while black is possibly good advice for most, on that topic Susan and I agree: it’s not for everybody. And it’s not much for us.

The pieces:

1. a classic style dress would be nice, like the one pictured or a shirtdress or whatever you like, print or solid.
2. I would probably take two pairs of what Angie calls 8 hour shoes, at least one of them a full shoe as opposed to a sandal, not athletic shoes.
3. although it doesn’t rain much at all in September in Paris, the trench seems a sensible coat option. Scarves and umbrellas are a personal thing (I would take neither).

In addition to the above, choose casual separates for mix and match and you can get away with packing just a few things.

The classic casual uniform template:

• skirt or trousers or dressy bermudas or nice-fitting, dark-wash jeans
• knit tops
• layering pieces, including some that can be doubled up (like a sweater worn under a blazer)

Everything pictured here is from Boden, a UK company, and also on sale.

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