Colors to Add to Your Fall Wardrobe

Every season, Pantone and the powers that be of merchandising announce the next season’s signature colors.

We already see these colors showing up on racks, in home décor items, and accessories.  It is really amazing each season to see all of the variations on color and how they change so beautifully.   In our discussions about what the French are wearing, we have talked a lot about neutrals, but with the addition of color, a woman can begin to sharpen her own signature style.

Today, I am turning to the words of image consultant, Cynthia Lee Miller.  She writes, “One of the major components of signature style is your personal custom color – the color that brings an instant reaction of joy from you each time you see it.  It is a complimentary color as it comes from your custom color palette and your emotional relationship with the color. I use my custom color on my business cards, in my decorating and in clothing I wear.  It becomes the Rembrandt of your wardrobe colors and is your formula for presenting your inward beauty outwardly.”

My own custom colors have been the same for the last eleven years.  I am excited by burnt orange, olive greens, cobalt blue, and deep purple.  These are all saturated colors…warm, rich tones.

Stylist Stacy London, author of The Truth About Style (affiliate link),  believes saturated colors are best for midlife-and-above women (rather than the primary or pastel colors). She often says this color transition takes women from attempting to look cute and girlish to looking elegant, chic, and sophisticated.  Remember, colors communicate messages just as everything else associated with fashion does.

Miller writes, “Color communicates power and energy, inspires you and helps define who you are. It speaks volumes about how your feel about yourself and how you view your place in the world. You can enhance your sense of purpose and ability to attract what you want in life through your appearance – and color is the most important part of that.”

I am in complete agreement with her that color is the most cost-effective way to stay on trend each season.

I already have aluminum, sangria, radiant orchid, bright cobalt, and cypress in my wardrobe.  With the help of blogs and fashion magazines, I can find new ways to mix and match these colors for the autumn season.

When Pantone announced in January the color of the year for 2014 is radiant orchid, I began to look in thrift stores and discovered some excellent, quality pieces in this color.  I have mixed it with the gray and black I love so much.  However, with that said, my own signature colors are where I live–my comfort zone.  I have friends that associate burnt orange with me in the fall. It is a color I have an instant, positive reaction to.

Hopefully, by now you have figured out the ten ways to enjoy this fall are the Pantone ten selected colors.  But, few (if any) of us will wear all of them.

Coco Chanel once said, “The best color in the whole world is the one that looks good on you.”

So, what colors get you excited about your clothing?  What do you think of the Pantone colors for fall?   Pull up a chair and join in the conversation….

Then have a wonderful August week.  See you next Tuesday, in The Joy Boutique!