Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Wendy's Fall 2013 Colour Story

I have never been able to create and stick to a colour story.

Like a magpie, or my favourites - a hummingbird - I am attracted to whatever colour is in front of me at the moment. 

This is not necessarily a good thing.

Oh, it makes it nice and colourful when you open your closet door, but when you are trying to put together outfits, it feels like all frosting, new cake.    No - I did not make the last metaphor - that is a visual therapy term from the wonderful book Nothing to Wear, which I bought several years ago and which I forgot about till recently and have been benefitting from again.  I plan to do a post on this vis-à-vis my own life, so this is just a teaser...


Okay, so back to colour.  As you know, I have been winnowing my closet down, what with the dramatic shift in my life as I have changed careers. 

I do not want/nor need as much clothing this fall as I would normally have felt I needed when I was working in the corporate world.  Wait - full disclosure here - I likely didn't need as much as I thought I needed when I worked in my old job - the money just enabled my expanded wardrobe.  Phew - feel better.  As they say on NBC - The More You Know....


Anyhow, I have never been disciplined enough to follow a colour story.  But I feel the need to impose one now, from both a simpler style perspective and from a financial perspective - making sure that I am purchasing items from a colour story palette will make it easier to ensure that the things I purchase actually coordinate.

Using the Nothing to Wear lingo, I have divided my colour story into basic colours and accent colours.

The Basic Colours:

Black
Navy
Grey

Pretty basic huh? 

My accent colours:

Pale pink
Pale Camel
Blues

My colours are all flattering to my complexion and they all look good together.  Tomorrow, I plan to post on what I actually wore this summer and you will see that there is a bit of a trend there....

There are many nice options for my colour stories in the various retailers this fall and I have wish listed some things in various places and will purchase as things go one sale.    In the coming couple of weeks, I also plan to post on what to wear when working from home, as this has been consuming some of my non-writing time!

Images inspiring my colour story (all of them except for the last one are from Pinterest):

Layers with pearls
sweater
Perfect
neutrals and sparkles
oversized sweater + dress + scarf + leggings/tights + boots
My new skirt from ebay - don't think the top will work...Studio Flats In Blush
Fall style...
Anthropologie lace inset boots. I've been watching too much Downton Abbey.
Flower drop earrings
meringues
And even my honeysuckle in the backyard:




Even yesterday as I was looking online, I was struck again and again how having a colour story made me bypass certain items that might have been "fun" to have in my closet, but which would have been a poor purchase.

Now I just have to marry my colour story to my style statement of creative-nostalgic.


In the coming weeks we are going to talk more about my process and also about changing your wardrobe when your life changes.  Part of that we will touch on tomorrow when I show you what I actually wore this summer!

Have a great day and stay safe out there!

57 comments:

  1. SHIFTING IN TO NEUTRALS Top of the morning to you and the clubhouse WMM. Love some of the pretty, quirky things that have caught your eye. Although I am wishing you luck with those dainty shoes and our Canadian weather ;-)

    I am mostly a black, grey, navy gal, but a few years ago, I somehow acquired a whole fall colour story, forest, burgundy, gold, chocolate, olive lots of tweed jackets. I was actually debating the other week whether I would haul it all over to my actual closet next month for September-November. Not feeling the colour love right now, but once I start wearing maybe?

    You have a great day as well...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And of course, here's to discipline that simplifies mornings and actually results in more to wear.

      Delete
    2. Ha! These are just inspiration pieces - I don't even have my wishlist sorted out, so no worries on shoes I cannot wear in Canada! :-)

      One thing that helped me was to look at what I wore this summer - what did I reach for? why did I reach for it? Why didn't I? I do think our colour stories must change - how dull would life be otherwise? - but it is helpful to have a core story and the odd "stray" is okay - but in the past, I was so all over the place that I couldn't think. That is a sign of sensory overload!

      Delete
    3. I am good at having complete/ mix-and-match sets, black & grey, navy, this fall one. But now I think I have enough/ too many for space where I live. Also new colour stories (ex. schoolboy blazers)rather keep me from the hefty priced pieces I need (new boots, trench coat.)

      Delete
  2. Well according to the fashion bible, aka InStyle, a very powder pink is THE color this season...have at it. I have been going through my closet, I even put it all on polyvore (which really helped recalling the jewelry when robbed). I am a navy/grey baby with a pinch of green and a dash of purple. I am now in the process of going through my clothes with a discerning eye. Are the pants hemmed to the right length? Should I change out the buttons? Are there armpit stains? Pilling? And if I do look at navy, Lord knows I have enough, it either has to replace something or have texture or pattern...I am lacking both in my wardrobe. This has helped me see my clothes as a collection not individual items.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. BB, oh no, now you have me thinking navy jacquard, pinstripe...(navy is my new black.)

      Delete
    2. I have to say, and not to enable anyone, but the navy jacquard polka dots pants from JCrew factory were lovely!

      I am like you re: using a discerning (and realistic eye)

      Is Em gone?

      Delete
    3. I thought about those (not a rayon fan, but also not paying for silk capri pants rare amount of times I can wear now). Of course, soon as made up mind gone, and don't like drawstring in JC ones.

      BB, do you have empty next blues??

      Delete
    4. We leave Thursday. Hubs and I will spend a few nights in Asheville also then be home Monday. Have the blues and she's not gone quite yet.

      Delete
    5. I find the days preceding someone leaving are almost worse than when they are already gone. How many hours is Asheville from where you are?

      Delete
    6. Speaking of navy, I saw a long sleeved navy top at J. Crew yesterday with a round neck, half placket buttons, right up your alley BlueBooby! It's probably not silk, but was a substantial weight with a nice shirt-tail hem that looked good untucked. You need another navy item, right? :-)

      Delete
    7. Cate - you are an enabler, but I think she does need it since the green Henley didn't work!

      Delete
    8. Okay, now it's off to the website. I have to order pants for son and may need something to help bump up for free ship. Asheville is two hours from Knoxville, all interstate, and then Elon is another three. Last year we drove five hours to Auburn, spent the night, moved him in the next morning, then five hours home. Told hubs not again. It was just too jolting for me. Em is sick so we are lazing around playing Candy Crush.

      Delete
  3. Beautiful colour pallete I could happily live within its confines, the meringues are so pretty, as a child they were my favourite cakes, Whole Foods make huge ones which are amazing looking.
    Colour wise, - yep as you know, one trick pony here.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. But it all matches, My Little Pony!!! I realized I am actually pretty much set for skirts for fall, unless I find a really special one that fits in my colour story..

      Delete
    2. I had an ex who used to call me My Little Pony!

      Delete
    3. Oh that js to funny - you are kind of my little pony like - all that lovely hair and a bit of sparkle!

      Delete
  4. Oh, going back to music, your next band to try is Alabama Shakes. There big hit is Hold On but the album is fantastic. Also Steve Martin, yes from The Jerk and SNL, and Edie Brickell have a great new album also. He plays the banjo and is quite accomplished at it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is so funny, I have been meaning to pick up the Steve and Edie album! I loved Edie in the 80s!

      Will have to look up Alabama Shakes!

      Delete
    2. Love her voice and the music is great. Alabama Shakes is also lead by a young chick.

      Delete
    3. Will also check them out.

      Delete
    4. One of my daughters gave me a Steve Martin album; the dubstep one!

      Delete
  5. This is above my paygrade at the moment bc I am just trying to stop wearing elasticated items of clothing at the moment!! But I am trying to stop the black thing and wear more dark greens, browns and greys instead. In my head I love a colorful neutral if that makes any sense.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CWS, I find when I wear less black, more navy, grey, brown (not all at once), I feel lighter, less part of the sidewalk pack.

      Delete
    2. GF - I was laughing imagining you wearing it all at once - I am wearing khahi and navy now - off to find my brown!

      Delete
    3. Getfresh, all at once is camouflage then I might look thinner but I would disappear all together! ;)

      Delete
    4. I have a brown EF knit pencil skirt and camisole that I wear constantly. In the fall with tights and boots and tweedy brown sweater. Yes, less black is good, I think.

      Delete
  6. I am loving your color story particularly that shade of pink and camel. I have the Stylebook app and it is showing me that my closet is roughly 30% blue, 15% each of camel, black, white, gray and 10% other colors. I am looking to add more jewel tones this fall and am disappointed with the black and white palette of Jcrew's Sept lookbook. Thanks for sharing your inspirations, I need some new visions this fall.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Stylebook App! Ack! Must go look for this at lunch!!! I would benefit from that! I have actually inventoried my closet and now have a list of what I own for fall winter and that is helpful!

      Delete
  7. I love all of your chosen inspiration pics from Pinterest! I have been TRYING to edit my closet for 3 years now, lol. Just when I think I've cleared out enough, I need to clear out again when I change seasons! I have not been too careful in my selections, falling in love with an article of clothing (crewlade) and not taking time to decide if the color is right for me (Color Me Beautiful anyone?) . I recently bought a copy of the Color Me Beautiful book from the used book store, began reading it, and have not yet learned what my colors are, lol. I am hoping to pick up some tips from your upcoming posts!! ;D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh - I have a book for you Suzy! I will post on it tomorrow!!!

      And yes, the crewlade is fun, but without a vision, I became the Bride of Gaylezilla....

      Delete
    2. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    3. WMM, I don't think you were Bride of Gaylezilla at all! You don't give yourself enough credit. You may have chosen an out-there piece or two, but you wore them fabulously. You never looked crazy. If you want to refine your wardrobe, have at it, but I liked what you were doing then too :)

      Delete
    4. Thanks Cate! That was the "creative" part of me....

      I think I more want to have a wardrobe that I will really wear - some pieces I will of course keep for special or fun occasions, but they cannot form my day-to-day uniform as they sadly don't get worn..

      Delete
  8. You know I love these pretty neutrals and have some of the same items pinned! I didn't notice those Bravura flats until you pinned them, mmmm, so pretty. I have a hard time keeping to my color stories too. :) Agree that it's best to keep a solid wardrobe of go-to neutrals and have the other colors as pretty icing/fun!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. M - I have to get better with polyvore - yours are so great! I sooo need to see it all as I am very visual!

      Delete
    2. shopwithm, that's my strategy too. Always have the basics/neutrals and the rest is fun.

      Delete
    3. You should get into polyvore, it's so very helpful, and I think you'd like it. I love that I can see everything I have (or a similar version of it), and it helps to shop and to put things together. Or at the very least I can see what others do with the items. :)

      Delete
    4. I know - that should be my weekend project!

      Delete
  9. Pretty color story. I have been looking for the perfect dusty pale pink blazer since March. A pretty pair of pink shoes just makes you feel airy and younger! Good job Wendy:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A - there is a lovely one at Anthro I have been eying...

      http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/product/clothes-jackets-outervest/28358810.jsp

      I don't really need a blazer or I would grab it!

      Delete
  10. Hi Wendy, I love the hits of blush pink in your lineup. My main neutral is navy, I like it even in summertime. Looking forward to your upcoming fashion posts.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks Patricia - I could of stumbled on the pale pink this summer and it has been a nice stumble upon!

      Delete
  11. Blush pink + gray is one of my favorite combinations, especially when done up in cashmere or suede. I think you're going to look lovely in your color story this fall. Can't wait to see what items you pull!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks MW! I am definitely looking at the pale pink cashmere Vneck at jcrew and a brora cardigan when it goes on sale...

      Delete
  12. I constantly flip-flop around, I mostly have a neutral base of blacks, dark blues, even white (!) now but every now and then I want colour. Like you, I am swayed by every colour I see. I get bored easily but somehow I always revert back to neutrals. It's such an exhausting dance! lol

    For fall, I definitely want to get some espresso pieces, some darker greens and violets and a camel scarf.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I bought the new Lands End supima cotton cardigan in the leopard print and the there is definite espresso there! I do have a couple of brown pieces, but only a couple and they may be a future years' colour story!

      Delete
  13. I think that pale pink will go well with dark rich brown , too. I have a time sticking to color coherently, but love my navy all year. I don't see those lacy booties in Canada, or in Maine.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh they are inspiration - no intention of buying those puppies!

      Delete
  14. Hi WMM,
    Your updated color palette suits you and you have found some great pins.

    Nothing to Wear is one of my favorite wardrobe planning books. Black, grey, white, navy and various shades of blue make up 85% of my wardrobe. The balance is comprised of prints, some green, pops of seasonal color, and the one shade of khaki that works with my skin tone. I am not a minimalist and have a lot of fun shopping my closet and tweaking what I already have to align with the current season. I still buy a lot, but staying focused on color and fit helps me to avoid what I think of as “one wear wonders.”

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Muffy - I love that term - "one wear wonders!" - never was a truer term ever writ - at least for me!

      Delete
  15. That is a great book - one I have used and gifted many times.

    My color focus this season is on the gorgeous wine and berry tones available on trend. Last week I found the perfect lipstick shade for inspiration. I am very aware of what colors I can wear on me and what washes me out. I bought a few black basics and I am allowed NO MORE black in my closet. I'm somewhat obsessed with this sweater, http://www.calypsostbarth.com/new-arrivals/clothing/uma-cashmere-cocoon-cardigan in dark merlot. Also considering this blouse http://www.calypsostbarth.com/clothing/shirts-tops/blouses/kioni-shirttail-blouse in bean, but since it isn't a berry shade not sure if I will pull the trigger-though it is perfect for leggings and skinnys.
    Glad you are focusing on shades that work for you and your new lifestyle. I have found an emphasis on color eliminates a lot of unnecessary purchases.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh I wish Calypso et al would ship to Canada! I like your picks!!

      Delete
  16. Ok, so under danger of being excommunicated, I have to confess I never really bought into "colour stories". For someone like me, who thrives on rules only to break them, having one would feel restrictive (and tempt me to break break break break it!) I am starting to see the point though, if you are a trigger happy free spirit, it can certainly rein in your spending :-) I have strong reactions to clothing, especially pieces that are special (maybe why I love Anthro so much!) and love having unique ones that many claim lack versatility. Somehow though, it kind of works for me as I don't very often find myself at a loss for what to wear. However, that doesn't ensure that I don't look like someone's crazy aunt. Hm, on second thought, I probably do.
    I have trouble with neutrals since I love color and have no idea what to do with a black dress. With that said, I am crazy about your blues, navys, camels, grays, etc. I think they really suit you, especially with your "new" makeup. Since honing in on your style, you have been looking incredibly sophisticated!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks AB- Anthro is on my list to really "try" this fall - there is a gorgeous blouse from there in blush that I am watching for a sale price!!!

      I know what you mean about rules. No one puts baby in a corner! I do not have a lot of patience for rules, but since I need to start somewhere - the colours I love, and some neutrals are it...

      As for what to do with a black dress...I say: pearls... !

      Delete

Kindness is a virtue...