Ever since I started talking “Frugal Fashion” on here, my eyes gravitate towards pops of color. I’m always trying to figure out ways to make that one inexpensive piece look like a million bucks and color is the way to do it. Yes, I share my love of all things black when I have no idea what to wear, and have pondered if there can be too much black in a wardrobe, but color is what draws the eye.
Color is power. I’ve stated before, a shirt can go from blah to beautiful, just by changing your choice of color or accessorizing with pizazz. It’s crucial to know what colors are best for you. I’m not a huge proponent of getting it down to an exact science, but you must understand if you are Cool or Warm Toned. I began digging into a few posts on figuring out the best colors for your skin tone, but I realized that accessing that virtually is a challenge. Hopefully, there will be some tips in my post that will help you.
Gurus in the fashion industry, Pantone, not to be confused with Pantene – the hair product, 😉 revealed their Fashion Color Report trends for this fall, and their pick of the top ten shades. Yes, they rolled it out during Fashion Week in NYC back in February, but don’t worry, my mind would never think that far ahead either. I was just thrilled to realize that this frugal fashionista girl lines up with the minds of the top designers in the industry, yet I was a year before their time.
Last year’s color choice was a shade of turquoise, which is one of my favorite colors, but this year’s top color pick for Fall 2011 was this beautiful Honeysuckle. Vibrant and invigorating, I love this color for those with cool skin tones. Sorry red heads, this won’t work for you.
“In times of stress, we need something to lift our spirits. Honeysuckle is a captivating, stimulating color that gets the adrenaline going – perfect to ward off the blues,” explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. “Honeysuckle derives its positive qualities from a powerful bond to its mother color red, the most physical, viscerally alive hue in the spectrum.”
When I urged everyone an entire year ago to take the Color Challenge, guess what color I showed you all? I’d say that is a pretty close shade, wouldn’t you? Now granted, the model is fifty pounds thinner, but I’ll take it anyhow.
I also featured this purple shirt. Well, I called it purple, but now I know it’s more of a Phlox. Good thing I have been corrected in my fashion color terminology.
As I peruse the top ten colors, my cool toned friends need to stay away from the bamboo and emberglow. Any shade of color can be worn as an accessory or on the bottom as a skirt or pant choice, but you want to keep colors away from your face that do not work with your skin tone.
For me, the cedar and nouget would also wash me out, but taken those hues just a shade deeper is perfect for me.
So how can you start incorporating some of these fun fall fashion colors into your own wardrobe?
Have fun. Experiment. Accessorize! Always Accessorize!
Hit your local thrift store to try out a new shade that maybe you haven’t thought of before. Stepping outside your traditional color routine may be a bit scary, but trust me, the first time you hear, “That color looks great on you,” you will be thrilled you gave it a gamble.
If one is going to become a true Frugal Fashionista, they have to be ok with being behind the trends by a year at least. 🙂 Trends have never stopped me from embracing frugal fashion, so here are the top ten color picks from last year.
I’d love to hear what color catches your eye from the two different color palettes? Are you drawn to risk taking colors or do you need some encouragement to step outside the box and try something new?
I’m all over that honeysuckle and phlox and they both fall within my color scheme! Yay!
Yesterday I ventured out to the mall for the first time in a long time and found a store that was full of purple (phlox). I was in fashion heaven– except for the prices that prohibited me from buying anything. I’ve even noticed that lot of furniture stores are lately showcases deep shades of plum and purple. Love it!
I’m so glad to see color return because it seems like things have erred to the drab end long enough!
I just bought a shirt the exact color of emberglow–one of my new favorite colors! I was thrilled to see it made the list 🙂 I also love the phlox color and the deep teal…wearing such fun colors just brightens me up throughout the day!
Here’s a GREAT site for figuring out what colors compliment your hair/coloring. You will even find out if indeed you should not wear black (I’m not supposed to!).
http://www.colorenalysis.com/
It was very accurate in my case. I’ve had my “colors done” by the creator of the site.
HTH! Blessings, Cyndee
What a fun post! I love red and the warmer colors. Scarves are a great way to add a pop of color when you want to try a certain shade before you commit to a whole outfit!
I love ALL those colors (except the Bamboo, Nougat & Orchid Hush would just wash out my already ultra-pale skin — I’d have to keep those to the accessories…and not too close to my face). I’ve had my “colors” done using several different systems, they are never 100 percent correct. I think you just have to learn what works on you…and if you still can’t decide, ask a trusted friend to help. Because I am so fair, with blue/gray eyes all of the systems want to put me in pale washed-out colors which mostly just make me look like a corpse!
Of the colors at the top of the post, I could wear all except emberglow, honeysuckle, and phlox. I’m a redhead with a little deeper skin tone than most, so it can get really hard to find just the right color. Greens and yellows are my favorites, followed closely by blues and browns. Just the other day I found a shade of purple that looked fantastic on me. I can’t even describe it – it’s not pale, but it’s not as deep as the phlox!
Ohhh I am loving these and have noticed tons of honeysuckle lately. Personally, I am loving the cedar and the deep purple hues. Love that I learned the word Phlox. 😉
Love these colors! I have to tell you, I have been in Goodwill more times in the last month than I have been in the last ten years. I have gotten Gap and DKNY jeans, Dockers pants, and just today, got an Ann Taylor shirt, two Worthington shirts (one is the honeysuckle color!), a Merona dress, and an Apostrophe dress. Total for 5 items today: $10 plus tax. I also got brand new (with price stickers!) Skechers tennis shoes at a garage sale for $2 this summer. Sorry for the novel, but thanks for inspiring me to give this a try – I am having so much fun! 🙂
Hi 🙂 have been lurking a while. Love this feature-if it isnt double-clearance or thrift, I dont have it 😀 re:colors, I used to do drapings&analysis & the biggie is skin-tone. Think about your haircolor as a small child-true blondes&brunettes are cools (Summer&Winter), strawberry blonde&true auburn are warms (Spring&Fall). Never use your current hair color as a guide! Good colors should make your teeth look whiter& the whites of your eyes brighter. If you feel great, it’s your color :). Sure there are exceptions,but it’s a start. And thanks for the enalysis site!
If I’m only a year behind the trends I feel like I’m really doing well! 🙂
We are visiting my in-laws right now and my all time favorite thrift store is just over a mile from their house (the ARC thrift store in Colorado Springs). I found some FABULOUS things for myself (all plus size, by the way) including a great shirt in the “deep teal” color.
I just bought fuchsia (or whatever pink) pumps to go with my black dress for my daughter’s wedding. So I guess I’m in style!