Understanding fashion accessory color is important when determining what accessories to wear. Accessories come in different colors and neutrals. Most people stick with neutrals because they go with everything. But having a few colors also can awaken an outfit, especially shoes, belts, and handbags. Many women stick with metal colors: yellow gold, silver, or rose gold for jewelry. These colors are also considered neutrals.
In my wardrobe I have a lot of black shoes, handbags and belts. However I’m sprinkling in a little taupe (another neutral) and red (my power color). This week I finally found a pair of red shoes that fit my feet. I wear 9 narrows. Finding narrows can be very difficult and finding them in colors and at a price I can afford is even harder. I did my happy dance when I found these shoes.
In this post you will:
- Learn the Body Element that gives you clues to color
- Determine your best neutral(s) and color(s) for accessories
- Evaluate your fashion accessory color
Fashion Accessory Color -- Body Element
The body element that gives you clues to your fashion accessory color is the Color of Your Skin, Hair and Eyes. To review or determine what colors enhance the Color of Your Skin, Hair and Eyes go to: What Are The Colors Of Your Skin, Hair And Eyes Telling You?
The colors you determined from this post are a great place to start when determining what colors you want to have in your accessory collection. You can wear prints with these colors in them or neutral color(s) which will highlight the accessories.
Unfortunately, in this post, I only talk about colors and not neutrals. Understanding neutrals for your coloring is also important though. So I wrote about it in my post regarding pant color (Neutral Or Color — What Color Pants)
In the above mentioned post, you learned every color has a warm, cool or neutral undertone including the color of your skin, hair and eyes. The undertones of the colors you wear should complement the undertones of your skin, hair and eyes. If your skin tone has warm undertones, then colors with warm undertones will enhance it. For those with cool undertones, cool colors will enhance your coloring. People with neutral undertones have more freedom.
The simplest way to determine your skin undertones is to look at the color of your veins on your wrists. If the veins appear to be green, you have warm undertones. If you have blue colored veins, you have cool undertones. Finally, if your veins seem to disappear, then you have neutral undertones. (For more information go to How to Identify Your Undertones and What It Means For You)
Fashion Accessory Color -- Neutrals
Neutrals can be different for different types of accessories. The main component of shoes, handbags and belts are either leather (or faux) or fabric. However, the main component of jewelry can be metal. I will talk about these two categories of fashion accessory color separately with respect to determining neutral colors.
Neutrals For Shoes, Handbags and Belts
The fashion industry has designated black to be the universal neutral color. Black is a neutral but this neutral doesn’t enhance everyone’s coloring. What colors are considered neutral? They are:
- Black
- Grey
- Navy
- Brown
- Taupe
- Tan
- Khaki
- White
In determining your best neutral for handbags, belts and shoes first you need to determine your best neutral. In determining the best neutral you need to know three things:
- Does it have warm or cool undertones?
- What is the relative lightness and darkness of the color?
- Which one is best for you?
Undertones
All the neutrals, except black and white, can have warm or cool undertones. Look at these two sets of grey. One set has cool undertones and the other warm.
I know many of you don’t see the difference between the warm and cool undertones but as you become more aware of them you will start seeing patterns. Just play to determine which works best for you.
Relative Lightness and Darkness
The next step is to understand the relative lightness or darkness of the neutral. Neutrals, except for black and white, can be adjusted for relative lightness and darkness. This means white or black was added to the color. Look at the greys below and see how they change their relative lightness and darkness by adding white or black.
You can determine the best relative lightness or darkness of the neutral by understanding your Color Contrast Profile. You can review yours or determine it in my post called The “Three Bears” Of Color Combinations — The Relative Lightness And Darkness Of Color Combinations
Which Works Best For You
When determining your accessory neutral take into consideration the undertones and relative lightness and darkness of the color. But in determining the exact neutral, ask yourself, Which one do I feel the lightest when wearing it? (To learn my trick of what makes you feel light or heavy go to: Your Body Knows)
Neutrals For Jewelry
When you visit your favorite jewelry store (fashion or fine) you’ll find mostly three basic colors: yellow gold, rose gold and silver. These colors can come in many metal types which can be processed to have these colors.
The question you need to answer for yourself is which color or colors are best for your coloring. While writing this post I did a lot of research but didn’t find anything definitive. The main reason why I say this is because of my experience.
Back in the 90’s I had my colors done and in the process they included metal color. They told me I can wear both yellow gold and silver. When I do my feel light or heavy test I can wear both.
The conundrum comes in because yellow gold has warm undertones and silver has cool undertones. When I do the above wrist test I have blue veins. The colors I wear all have cool undertones and colors with warm undertones mostly make me look ill. My problem arises when telling you how to determine your best metal color.
Then it dawns on me: what makes you feel light or heavy? Try on each color of metal necklace (or any piece of jewelry) and look in the mirror. When you put it on and look at yourself, determine if you feel light or heavy. If you feel light then you can wear it and if you feel heavy then don’t wear it.
Evaluate Your Fashion Accessory Color
It’s time to start looking at your accessories and determine which colors and neutrals enhance your coloring. Look at the neutrals. Are they the ones you picked out above? If not put them in a pile to give away.
Look at the colors. Do they match or blend with your colors that you picked as your main colors?
When wearing these accessories do you feel light in them? If not put them in your give away pile. Wear only accessories that make you feel light so you can tap into your confidence and personal power. Don’t consider what’s on trend or what the fashion industry is promoting. Wear only colors, including neutrals, that you love wearing. Coco Chanel says:
“The best color in the whole world is the one that looks good on you.”
Do you now have a new neutral for your shoes, belts and handbags? What about your jewelry? Tell us what you discovered in the comments below.
The next blog post will be on color combinations. It’s called Accessory Color Combination — Evaluate Your Accessories.
Wear Your Greatness!!
