Color Theory – Page 7

in short & in summary,

Color Palettes – Midnight Shades: Oxblood Red, Hunter Green, Cobalt Blue; Gold Metallics; Black & White
Shapes & Details – Embellished Shoulders; Cocoon Coats & Capes; Demure Necklines: Peter Pan Collars, Turtlenecks
Textiles & Fabrics – Ladylike Leather; Nomadic Fur; Opulent Velvet
Eras & Inspirations – Baroque; Field & Stream; Granny Chic

Trends are an opportunity to connect with the present, to experiment, and reinvent. But every trend is not for every person. Below are my suggestions on what to wear by body type, complexion, and signature style.

click to enlarge

What trends do you intend to try this season?

Let Cardigan Empire fashion you for Fall. Freshen up with a complete Fashion Package: combining a theoretical look book & a practical virtual shopping session

Feed me fashionably fresh

When it comes to color, there may be options in your closet that shouldn’t have made the qualifying race. Wearing the wrong color can make you ill. Sallow, ashen, and muddy complexions are all signs of color contamination. And the only protection against chromatic allergies is color composition cognizance, specifically, knowing your color category.

And you can start here:

Cool & Delicate (aka Summer)

Cool & Brilliant (aka Winter)

Warm & Fresh (aka Spring)

Warm & Rich (aka Autumn)

Or you could also follow the pattern of your eyes:

If you find yourself stuck betwixt boxes, fear not, you may belong between.

The illustrated color wheel dynamically directs as we dye hair, tan skins, contact color eyes, or age. But to begin, it’s best to analyze our natural roots.

Skin Tone

Porcelain – Clear Winter, Springs, Light Summer
Ivory – Springs, Summers, Soft Autumn
Pink beige – Light Summer, Cool Summer, Light Spring
Neutral beige/Asian – Soft Autumn, Deep Autumn, Cool Winter, Deep Winter
Warm beige/Asian – Autumns
Golden brown/Asian/Latin/African – Autumns or Deep Winter
Cool brown/Asian/Latin/African – Deep Winter, Cool Winter
Olive/Asian/Latin/African – Cool Winter, Deep Winter, Soft Autumn, Deep Autumn

Eyes

Clear blue green, turquoise or bright hazel – Clear Spring, Light Spring, Clear Winter
Grey or soft blue – Summers
Hazel, topaz, golden brown or warm turquoise – Warm Spring, Warm Autumn
Soft hazel or turquoise – Soft Summer, Soft Autumn
Dark brown or rich hazel – Deep Autumn, Deep Winter

Natural Hair Color

Ash blonde – Light Summer, Light Spring
Golden blonde, strawberry blonde or red – Warm Spring, Warm Autumn
Light to medium brown – Light Spring, Light Summer
Mousy brown -Soft Summer, Soft Autumn
Medium brown – Clear Spring, Deep Autumn
Medium to deep auburn – Deep Autumn, Deep Winter
Chestnut to dark brown – Clear Spring, Deep Autumn, Deep Winter, Clear Winter
Dark black – Clear Winter, Deep Winter, Deep Autumn
Warm grey – Light Spring, Warm Spring, Soft Autumn, Warm Autumn
Soft or ash grey – Light Spring, Light Summer, Cool Summer
Salt & pepper or silver – Clear Spring, Winters, Cool Summer

Review the 12 options diagrammed below, and comment on your color category? Does it match up with your personal experience?

What to Wear: Fall 2012 Trend Summary

How to Pick your Best & Worst Colors