Monday Musing on Colors and How They Make Us Feel
Let’s talk about how important it is to understand and value how colors make us feel. We’re bombarded with images and suggestions for what we could and should be wearing, right down to the helpful ones like a personal color palette. Weeding through those ideas to find what feels authentic for us isn’t always a slam dunk. Since Monday is the most personal post of the week, I thought I’d share my feelings about how color makes me feel.
Over the weekend, I was asked why I was wearing a gray sweater since I’m involved with fashion. I realize she may have expected a person working with fashion would wear more colorful clothes and/or noticeable details. I explained that the majority of my wardrobe is made up of neutrals because I feel most like myself in them.
Color and Your Vibration
Many believe that colors vibrate energy and have an effect on how we feel. I would certainly agree, and that’s why dopamine dressing works for people. However, just because a color flatters you, it doesn’t mean you will be happy wearing it. We all have different comfort levels with colors, and it’s wise to respect that. On Saturday, a reader eloquently noted that some colors are calming and some feel too energetic and loud for her comfort level. I feel the same way. Soft pastels may look good against my complexion, but I feel invisible in them, so seldom add them to my wardrobe.
I wear and am drawn to neutrals because I find them easier to wear and pair with other colors. I also prefer them because I like the soft, quiet energy they have. My most flattering neutrals are also shifting as my hair gets grayer, yet I’m still not drawn to bright colors.
Longer Jackets…Neutral and Color
If you wear longer tops or a tunic sweater, you need a jacket that will cover them. Chico’s sent me two longer jackets for an Instagram collaboration last week, and I want to share them here because I know many of you love to shop at Chico’s too.
This jacket has a faux leather collar and sleeves with a boiled wool body. It’s long enough to cover almost any top and still not be coat length. The off-center zipper gives a slimming shape without all the epaulets and extra details that many moto jackets have.
I’ve always been a fan of black jeans, and when they’re washed out and softened to gray, I like them even more. These are the boyfriend style which is a bit roomier throughout, which I’m preferring this fall, and they’re currently on sale.
They also sent me this super soft, sand-washed blouse. They call this a dot print, but it looks like a cheetah print in soft black and off-white to me 🙂
The second long jacket is a quilted mid-length jacket with snaps up the front. It comes in eight gorgeous colors. I really like this blue, but it does feel a bit strong to me. Remember, color has to feel right, not just look right.
They also sent me these great-fitting bootcut jeans and a no-iron stretch white shirt.
What I Wore…a few thoughts
I always recommend taking selfies of your outfits because it gives you a unique and often better perspective of how you actually look. Over the weekend, I made this discovery…
The grayer I get, the less wearable this little camel cardigan becomes. It’s clashing with my hair and complexion. I wore gold hoops to coordinate with the rest of the outfit, but to be truthful, the whole thing felt off to me. The jeans are a warm dove gray, so they can swing warm or cool depending on what I pair them with, but the camel cardigan has to be donated. I love these animal print shoes, and they’re far enough from my face that I will continue to wear them.
For bocce this week, I wore this baby pink cotton blouse, straight jeans, and some silver accessories. The animal print saves this blouse from feeling wishy-washy on me, but just barely. Pastels can be flattering on my coloring, but I don’t like the vibe they have.
Women need to wear what makes them feel confident, and just because something is flattering doesn’t make it a winner unless it makes you feel fabulous!
Are there colors you don’t wear that you know look good on you?
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
I love bright colors on people but I notice the bright colors go with their personalities. My friends that are extroverts tend to wear colorful clothing and feel comfortable in them. I’m an introvert and tend to go with more subdued colors. I love this post and the conversations that have followed.
I think my readers are incredibly insightful
Oh, my I do love this blue jacket on you! I’ve been eyeing it since it appeared on
Chico’s website. I have similar ones from Chico’s in hot pink and red; from 2 yrs ago?
Love the blues (my color) int the pencil photo; plus fuchsia and deep red. These colors are in my wheelhouse. I do think there’s an internal feeling about color theory that lifts the spirit and bright color does that for me. This jacket is calling
my name for sure!!
Interesting topic. If I’m cold I like navy, if I’m hot I like white/ blue. Certain sports I like certain colors. When I performed on stage, I wore strange outfits, so I probably got used to different colors and shapes I wouldn’t normally try on. I like wearing colors that flatter my coloring.
I do like Royal Blue but pick up the hue in an awful way. I guess the jewel tones are not for me with the exception of red.
I too love the earth tones and feel most comfortable in them.
I love this post and all the comments! I don’t have great hair, but when I stopped coloring it my hair turned great shade of silvery white. For the first time in my 70 years, I love my hair! I stick to darker gem tones on top, especially blues and purples. Pants are always denim, navy, or gray. All that said, I have a camels hair blazer that I’ve had for years—it was made for me, fits great, and wears like iron. With my silver hair, I avoid all warm shades, but I’m still wearing that blazer! I just love it and always feel like a million bucks when I wear it. I do pair it with a blue shirt to get a cool color around my face. But like you always say, Jennifer, wear what you love. 😀
Add me to the list of ladies with white hair. A Covid transformation from highlighted brown hair. My wardrobe has lots of black that is way to harsh now. Rather than getting rid of my black clothes I have been on Etsy buying scarves. Reasonably priced, well made scarves. Check them out.
That’s a great idea.
Another great post on colour Jennifer. Now that my hair is white, I’ve looked closely at all the colours I used to wear to see if they still complement my colouring. I’ve always relied on black & white for the high contrast, and that still works (yay) as do the bright blues, greens, fuchsia, teal, navy and greys (which are even more flattering now). What doesn’t work anymore is taupe which worked well when I was a brunette, but doesn’t seem to go with white hair.
I like to wear bright colours in a sweater, shirt, scarf and other accessories, but never have felt comfortable wearing all-over colour. Neutrals plus an accent colour works best for my style and comfort level.
I can relate to you. Hair had been a strawberry blonde since high school, so now at 73 that has been a while ago ☺️ After chemo mind is white around my face and salt and pepper in the back. The fall warm colors don’t work anymore. Have gotten rid of most all of my warm color clothes. Am keeping my leopard cashmere crew neck sweater, it has enough black that I can still wear it.
Otherwise I’m in jewel colors, the brighter the better. Bright pink is my favorite it makes me happy. I got a cobalt jacket a month so ago from Talbots and I love wearing it. Alway get compliments when I have it on.
Such a great post, Jennifer! I recently purchased a fleece jacket, light enough to wear indoors in Minnesota, in a shade a little more vibrant than cobalt blue. As a summer with low contrast hair and fair skintone, blues are great on me, but this one just feels too intense. I think mid tones suit me best, with soft white and lite gray as neutrals. Would love to see more posts on color!
I so agree with you about the big difference between colors you like, and colors you feel comfortable wearing. I love pastel pink, but it’s tricky to wear without being an “old lady” color. I find really bright pinks and blues overpowering to my personality – and, as I age, to my complexion as well. The shade makes the difference between a “yes” and a “no” in my wardrobe. Trying to coordinate clothing and finding prints that are the right shades is an extra layer of challenge when trying to build a capsule wardrobe. Perhaps that’s why we all love neutrals so much!
I agree, that could be why!
I, too, had to change from the taupe, kakai colors that I loved because I let my hair go natural. I was an ash blonde and now a beautiful shade of white surrounds my face yet I still have dark gray under layer in the back and tones of blonde. I find black and navy have become my neutrals. I do like teal and blue as long as they aren’t too strong in brightness. Not fond of white too close to my face either. Love your tips and suggestions.
Mary
Many years ago I had my “colours done” and have found this to have saved me many dollars and many fashion faux pas. I am an autumn and keeping to that palate has made shopping and putting outfits together so much easier. These are the colours I have been naturally drawn to all my life and in which I feel most comfortable and confident. Even as I age and my hair has turned more gray, these colours still work for me. Jennifer, I’m sorry you don’t feel comfortable in the brighter colours because you look fabulous in that cobalt jacket!
I love the outfits you show today, however the blue is a little too bold for me. I don’t think I would get very much use out of it.
The hair color change for me has been hard. I was dark blonde/ light golden brown for years, now am between a silver white and lightest blonde growing out. My makeup has changed as well. I noticed if I go without makeup I look really washed out! I need more rose, peace/pink, or mauve now. I am a warm skin tone, so some warm tone clothes don’t cut it.
I will be all white silver in near future. We will see how that goes. I started with a few grays when I was 21. I started coloring in my 30’s. I think I have been over 80% for a long time, and 90% white silver. My hair is a almost shoulder bob. I like not having to color recently, just not sure if I will keep a very light toner on or not. I do use the purple shampoo. You know I think white silver could be a challenge to keep.
Both jackets are great! As my hair transitioned to it’s natural gray/silver I’ve found that camel, ivory. golds are not my colors.
I would say, my colouring is very similar to yours Jennifer as so is my taste in fashion. That being said; I have been on the hunt for the last two years trying to find a winter coat in a camel colour as not all are equal. (One of my favourite wool blend blazers is such, but to date haven’t found any comparable in dye lot that works for my skin tone/hair and classic style preference.) Do like the cobalt blue jacket on you and agree ‘colour has to feel right, not just look right’.
– Brenda –
I love camel too but taupe will be a better option for me these days.