Does Colour, Pattern and Print Scare You?
Wow! Winter seems to be dragging on forever this year! Not only am I desperate for some sun and warmth, our beautiful clients are clearly feeling the effects of the gloomy winter. I thought I would share with you today some of the common frustrations we are hearing at Style With Cindy and how to navigate them.
Some of the most common complaints of women booking our styling services are:
- ‘Im only wearing black and don’t know how to wear colour anymore!’
- ‘I’m scared of pattern and print and I don’t have the figure for it’
- ‘I need to bring my personality into my outfits’.
There is a misconception that winter fashion is dull and gloomy, that is not the case!
There is plenty of colour and print in stores if you know what to look for and where! I enjoy wearing black, I feel comfortable in black and know that it suits my colour characteristics.
In direct contrast, many women are drawn to colour, and rightly so! I recently posted a blog on the power of colour and the impact it can have on our mood or how different colours can reflect what we are feeling.
Dangerfield Dress $79 Cardigan $69 Umbrella $20
Dangerfield is a hidden gem! Dangerfield has colour and quirk in many flattering cuts and styles. How great is this dress?! You could wear with many different accessories and shoe options depending on the season or occasion, including long boots, belts, opaques or a pair of party heels!
See how the print allows me the versatility to incorporate many different colours into my outerwear? You can wear with a gorgeous cardigan in many different colours and team with pumps or flat shoes to dress up or down.
Dangerfield $88
Another versatile dress with colour and print is this inexpensive option from Dangerfield. Perfect for all seasons, layer this dress with a cardigan to bring warmth, and team with opaques and boots, or think about dressing up with a belt and heels. Accessories such as this hat and striped sock ooze fun and confidence.
You do need to be mindful of colour. The wrong colours will age you, dull your complexion, eyes and hair colour while giving you an inharmonious and confused appearance. The right colours will enhance your complexion and make you look younger and more vibrant. This occurs as certain colours complement your own personal colour characteristics such as your hair skin and eyes.
Now before you say ‘ See, I told you Cindy I should be scared of colour!!’ The same rules apply to shades of black and white. Our colour characteristics also determine the lightest and darkest shades you should wear. The wrong shades of black and white and other neutral shades can drain complexions dramatically.
Life is too short not to wear items that you love and if colour prevents you from confidently choosing those special outfits that would make you come alive, booking a colour consultation is a small investment for the ongoing confidence you’ll receive.
Pattern and print are other powerful design elements that bring personality, and spring to your stylish step! When worn in the correct way, print can infact enhance your shape and draw attention away from problem areas and correct an unbalanced shape.
FCUK: Skirt $59.95 Top $59.95 Bomber $149.95
If I said to you, we are going to team two different spots and stripes into one outfit I think you would scoff in disbelief! Well, how great does this look? Think, energy, fun and sophistication. Stand out from the crowd as a fashionista who clearly knows what she is doing!
The secret to matching print and pattern is the matching of the tones within the pattern and print, along with the matching of personality and facial line patterns of the person. While this is a skill that myself and my team of stylists have mastered over many years of experience, it can be tricky to execute. Like colour, if this type of look is aspirational to you but you are too concerned that you’ll get it wrong then a trained stylist can assist you.
The bomber jacket has had a rise in popularity towards the end of this season! The great thing about a bomber jacket is the ability to mix and match it with so many different styles and looks. This versatile knee length (Lacey has long legs!) pencil skirt, has an infinite amount of mix and match combinations that can be dressed up or down with tights, heels, flats or even a pair of cute sneakers or a summer sandal.
FCUK: Skirt $99.95 Shirt $129.95 Bag $59.95 Necklace $39.95
While polka dots could be referred to as a trend for this year, I prefer to say they are in high demand this season as the polka dot is timeless. Coming into Spring you will see some gorgeous polka dot dresses and shirts, FCUK seemingly leading the pack with a great range of this season’s hot spot.
This button down shirt from FCUK is very flattering as it has great length in the front but also dips even longer at the back. You can easily wear this shirt with leggings or jeans, but what I think looks edgy as well as elegant is this asymmetrical skirt also from FCUK. This particular piece should be on high rotation in your wardrobe as it is made of firming yet comfortable Ponte fabric and is both sexy and fun.
Portmans $119.95 Bag $49.95
This dress from Portmans features a bold stripe which is elegant and timeless in black and white. This is another style that can be worn with layers, perfect with a bolero style blazer and fabulous accessories such as a feature necklace or a belt. You can easily see this dress being dressed up with pumps as well as still looking dressy with a black boot. Portmans is a fantastic and affordable option for bringing in colour and print to both your smart casual wear, work wear and even special events.
A lot of women are scared of wearing stripes as horizontal lines can create a visual widening of the form. In fact, did you know not only stripe but also colour if placed on the correct areas of your body can actually create balance and draw attention away from problem areas?
Often I see women wearing incorrect cuts and styles that accentuate the problem areas instead of those that minimise them. The confidence our clients receive in choosing the correct cuts and styles after they have a body shape analysis with us is the reason I love my job.
If you are unsure of your body shape, I encourage you to learn this very important aspect of achieving a flawless look. You can do this with one of our personal stylists or attend our personal style and body shape workshop to have your body shape analysis completed.
If you already have a wardrobe full of clothing that you are not sure is right for your shape, a wardrobe audit would ensure every single item in your wardrobe taking up valuable space works perfectly for you.
Seed Skirt $69.95 Top $89.95 Poncho $149.95 Black Skirt $69.95
Wow! This powerful look packs a punch! Not for everyone, the somewhat polarising animal print is either a love or loathe but for those with the acquired taste, it never dates.
I love animal print, however, I personally wear it in minimal amounts, usually as an accessory, also for my clients that like animal print, I love the power it brings and the confidence they exude when they wear it. This vest is fantastic as it brings interest to a basic look but also has the power to accentuate shape when tied in at the waist for those who are petite and worn open with a belt underneath for those with a fuller figure.
Let’s not forget accessories!! Accessories are little personality powerhouses! The perfect go to for bringing life to a tonal outfit, and a last minute grab for those with little time to put thought into their look. Accessories are also an affordable way to wear trends without breaking the bank!
So I hope you are feeling inspired now to delve into the world of colour pattern and print!
Share with me your favourite print and how you wear it!
Michelle Griffiths says
Cindy – that Dangerfeild dress was very cute – lovely to see you in some colour!!
Thanks for exploring and sharing
Cindy Newstead says
Thanks Michelle, Yes it’s a cute dress and fun playing with colors I don’t wear normally! 🙂 xo
Louise says
Love this post! Especially love the Dangerfield dress on you! The photos look fantastic, like heaps of fun! x
Cindy Newstead says
Thanks Louise, yes a bit of fun playing with patterns and colors!! Glad you enjoyed 🙂 xo