No Hiding Allowed – Colors That Don’t Love You

You don’t necessarily have to eliminate all colors from your wardrobe that don’t flatter you. It’s a good rule of thumb not to waste too much wardrobe space or money on them. But if you have colors in your wardrobe that don’t flatter you, you do not necessarily need to get rid of them.

What do you do?

If it’s a color that you don’t like, there’s no need to keep it unless it’s a classic neutral and the item is a good base item. In that case, hang on to it until you find a good replacement in a classic neutral that you do like. If you have a similar item in a classic neutral that you do like, then go ahead and get rid of the item that you don’t like. Don’t think that you need it for the sake of variety. Variety is only of value if you love the item and it flatters you perfectly. If the item is in good condition, you may either sell it or donate it. If it’s not in good condition, then put it into the rag bag, trash, or cloth recycling (if your area has that). 

If you have an article of clothing in a color that you do love, but that doesn’t flatter your complexion, wear it away from your face if possible. Let’s say that you love aqua blue but it

doesn’t work well for you. It’s OK to wear it in askirt or shoes. However, the best way to keep it up the different colors and you don’t want to play up colors that don’t actually flatter you. For example, try to wear that aqua blue skirt with a top in a version of light blue that loves you back. This will give you a monochromatic line that will make you appear taller, slimmer, and healthier and because the two blues blend, the good blue can flatter you without competition. 

This blending trick works best with colors in the same family AND the same value (lightness or darkness) as the bad color. If you don’t have a top in the same color family, it’s fine to wear a top in the same value. In the above example, light green and light purple are both good alternatives (as long as they’re in versions that flatter you) because they blend well with lighter blues.   

If the item is a top, it may be tricky, but it’s not impossible. If the top has a V-neck or other very open neckline, then you can fill in the space with a shell in a color that flatters you. If the neckline is higher, then you can add a bold necklace or brightly colored scarf around your neck, again, in colors that flatter you. If you prefer showstopper earrings, those work but since they’re smaller, it’s best to add another colored item like a scarf. 

Your hair and/or head coverings also need to be