Color It In (Frugal Basics)
This is a follow-up to yesterday's post.
To demonstrate how to apply the principle of a personalized color palette, today I show you a color for each Frugal Mom Basic:
Bermuda shorts: There really is a danger of these making your legs look shorter, if that is something you are concerned about. I never worry about it, although I do have short-ish legs, I simply choose a color that blends with my legs. Having very fair, slightly peach skin, my current favorites are a khaki pair and a peach and white plaid. Recommendation: a brown or tan close to your melanin color.
Skirt: The point of the skirt is to be able to wear it with your t-shirts. Recommendation: a neutral or a print containing the colors you wear.
T-shirts: Currently I'm playing with the idea that each person has a family of colors they can draw from freely, and I'm not talking about those packets of 30 colors. Basically, most people look great in their eye color, although I use my hemoglobin color (that is the reds present in the skin, great for brown-eyed girls). My "color family" is coral pink, running from coral, the brightest, to watermelon, more muted, to very pale pink or peach. Quite a useful range, don't you think? Recommendation: find your own color family and buy a t-shirt in one of those colors every season. Oh, and let me know what you pick, so I know whether I made any sense.
Jacket: (I have several previous posts about what color jacket to wear.) Recommendation: The color of your hair (that's why I get a white jean jacket!) or its complement.
My summer wardrobe color scheme? Pink, white, and khaki. That's about it.
To demonstrate how to apply the principle of a personalized color palette, today I show you a color for each Frugal Mom Basic:
Bermuda shorts: There really is a danger of these making your legs look shorter, if that is something you are concerned about. I never worry about it, although I do have short-ish legs, I simply choose a color that blends with my legs. Having very fair, slightly peach skin, my current favorites are a khaki pair and a peach and white plaid. Recommendation: a brown or tan close to your melanin color.
Skirt: The point of the skirt is to be able to wear it with your t-shirts. Recommendation: a neutral or a print containing the colors you wear.
T-shirts: Currently I'm playing with the idea that each person has a family of colors they can draw from freely, and I'm not talking about those packets of 30 colors. Basically, most people look great in their eye color, although I use my hemoglobin color (that is the reds present in the skin, great for brown-eyed girls). My "color family" is coral pink, running from coral, the brightest, to watermelon, more muted, to very pale pink or peach. Quite a useful range, don't you think? Recommendation: find your own color family and buy a t-shirt in one of those colors every season. Oh, and let me know what you pick, so I know whether I made any sense.
Jacket: (I have several previous posts about what color jacket to wear.) Recommendation: The color of your hair (that's why I get a white jean jacket!) or its complement.
My summer wardrobe color scheme? Pink, white, and khaki. That's about it.
posted by Rebecca | 10:17 AM
7 Comments:
What about those of us with a more, uh, *dressy* style? I do like my pink Perfect Fit t-shirt from Old Navy and am planning to buy a few more in other colors, but could you give some advice for frugal classic dressers?
I am guessing (hoping) linen slacks in a flattering shape for bottoms, but then what?
xoxo
Hey, I didn't mean to imply exclusively crew-neck t-shirts; the sleeveless one was jewelneck, wasn't it?
Linen slacks -- YES! But I still think t-shirts, or cotton sweaters, because of the no ironing. Any neckline, though: square (I love), scoop (loves U), Vee (be careful), even a collar.
You can probably wear a tailored jacket over almost year-round where you live, but another great option is a twin-set. I have seen them for a price I would consider, but never was able to bring myself to actually commit to, in the Chadwick's catalog and at the Eddie Outlet.
Do you think the difference in what you wanted for recommendations is related to style personality or to lifestyle?
And with all this controversy (see the comments on the post "who knew?"), which I love, I'd really like to hear from Stacy, who the post was originally for. Was it helpful? (It's okay, I have my thick skin on.)
Beth, I'm thinking when I have time to do more research, I will put together something more detailed. (The other one took the better part of a day.) xo :)
Rebecca, I went shopping just a couple days ago with my 19yo daughter -- she really helps me. I bought a pair of cute khaki capris and a tank in coral (good color but I'm taking it back). I *think* I like the bermuda shorts, but I'm not sure they look good on me. I'm 43 yrs old, 5'8 and have an average figure but I think my knees look bad in these shorts. I DO love to wear skirts in summer, but sometimes they feel a little too dressy. My jacket-over-everything is a jean jacket. I'm looking for a couple of sassy, bright, flower pins to add to it for summer.
I am still looking for the perfect pair of jeans -- bootcut, not too faded, waist a little below the belly-button. Any suggestions? If they fit everywhere, the waist is gaping. I'm loving this topic. Thanks for your ideas and helps.
Rebecca, I wanted to leave the address to a fun little fabric flower to make. They'd be cute pinned on a jean jacket or handbag. I'm going to try to make one for my jean jacket (anon. post above).
Scroll way down to find it:
http://mollychicken.blogs.com/my_weblog/tutorials/index.html
~JodyC
Jody, you and I have alot in common (my jacket over everything is a jean jacket, too). And when you get to our age I don't know if it matters if your knees look fabulous, some days are just too hot for pants and, although I do like skirts, sometimes I'm just afraid they won't keep me covered in my activities.
It's interesting, I've observed a number bloggers in the fashion community also complaining about the fit of the low-rise jeans. My daughters have gone almost totally to mens'.
About jeans: JCPenney sells St John's Bay, I would try them first, on sale usually for around $17.99. I also have a used pair of New York & Co (Lerners?) and a couple of the Gap original bootcut.
Good news: the trend is going away from the low-rise and the faded!
Anyone else have suggestions?
I just bought a pair of the bermuda shorts, as well as some capris that actually hit me just a few inches below the knees (since I'm 5'2" most capris just look like I hemmed my pants too short) I do worry that they make my legs look stubby-but I just started working 2 days a week at a boutique here in town and needed something less dressy than church and more dressy than hanging around the house stuff to wear. Personally ever since I had an actual choreographer tell me I looked like I had dancers legs I've tried to show them off! (and it was a woman choreographer)
I have a different question for you. I genetically have always had a little "pot" belly, even at my skiniest. After 2 kids, I think I look pretty good but do try to camoflague the belly :) I always thought that when wearing a top you wanted it to end below the point that you were trying to de-empansize, but my mom said she saw a thing on TV that said you should actually bisect it to break up the line (in the case on tv they were talking about the butt I believe)
Opinions?
Jenn, that's a good question. My husband was helping me with research in one book (Clinton Kelly and Stacy London's Dress Your Best) while my daughter was looking it up in another (the one I push). I even modeled a pair of jeans for them to try to discover the answer.
I have another friend who reads this blog who I think would be interested, and I want to post a picture, so I am going to write a fresh post.
I'll try to post soon.
Post a Comment
<< Home