Colours to help us

The symbol of hope

I'm still working on my Spring capsule wardrobe, not helped by the dismal un-Spring-like weather here in Spain at the moment! Trying to choose my accent colours has made me think about how colour can help us all when we need cheering up. Not just by wearing the colours that make us feel good, but also by surrounding ourselves with cheerful colours.

Sunshine in my home

Yellow makes me feel more confident, positive and optimistic. My daughter Kate painted two walls in the living room this lovely golden yellow shade, which is definitely helping me stay positive in this difficult world we are facing at the moment. I don't have much yellow in my wardrobe, apart from some yellow accessories, so maybe I need to add a couple of items?

Red is my favourite accent

Now red definitely features strongly in my wardrobe - not just as accessories. I have many red pieces of clothing including my red trench coat shown in the above photo. Red gives me energy and makes me feel confident. In the good old days when I was working full-time, my colleagues often commented when I was wearing red:"Watch out! Sue's in red today...!"

Orange is another favourite of mine

I wear orange a lot too, particularly in social situations. Obviously at the moment these are extremely limited, unless you count Skype, Zoom and Facetime! Orange makes me feel optimistic and creative, which are traits that help me on a daily basis.

What other colours could I choose to add to my wardrobe that would be helpful to me under lockdown? Green is very calming and helps bring balance and harmony into our lives so is very relevant at the moment. Blue is many people's favourite colour - in my case, I love turquoise. Lighter shades of blue are also associated with calm and serenity. Pink is a nurturing colour and expresses a caring and empathetic love. It will allow us to feel self-love and to forgive others. Purple is the colour for contemplation and is linked with spiritual awareness and reflection. Brown makes us feel supported and safe. It is a cosy and warm colour, especially in the home. I think that is a good enough excuse for enjoying a small piece of dark chocolate in the evenings! Be aware that all colours can have a positive as well as a negative effect on you. Colours that work well for me may have the opposite effect on you, so choose carefully.

Of course we need to choose the right shades of whatever colours we feel will help us. I look best in warm colours, but you may shine in cooler shades. I always find Kettlewell Colours a good resource for choosing your most flattering colours, whether you identify with a particular season or prefer tonal systems. For anyone who would like to delve deeper into mindful dressing and how different colours have the ability to help us, I would recommend reading The Essential Guide to Mindful Dressing by Jules Standish.

What are your favourite colours and does wearing them help you cope during this world crisis? Do you have any other tips to share with us?

To all of my readers, take care and stay safe.

The Common Wardrobe: In The Red

Hopefully I won't really be "in the red" this year money-wise, especially since I have been cutting down the amount of clothes in my wardrobe! However when it comes to wearing neutral colours, as seen in my previous post, I can't resist a pop of colour, with red being one of my favourites.

This is my basic common wardrobe:

It's almost the same as before, however this time I've sneaked in my navy and red striped jumper. For any over 60s who may feel red is too bright a colour for them to wear, remember that there are probably as many shades of red as there are of grey!  Try a few out and you may be pleasantly surprised.  If not, do as I do and add some red accessories to brighten up your look. 

I particularly love wearing red on a cold wintry day like today, as it makes me feel more cheerful. I also find that wearing red gives me confidence, a trick that I used when facing a difficult day at work. Colleagues used to say "Watch out: Sue is wearing red today!" 

My outfit of the day is the navy and red jumper shown above with my navy jeans. Here are some of my favourite outfits featuring the jumper:

November NoRepeat Challenge: week three report

The weather has turned very wintry, which has been a great help for the November NoRepeat Challenge! My previous post showed two tops that I hadn't worn so far during the challenge, however I now need to repeat some tops, as my wardrobe isn't unlimited. The colder weather has meant that I am adding the occasional cardigan or waistcoat for an extra layer, which of course means I'm wearing a different outfit even when the top is the same.

The two tops shown below have already had an outing this month, but I am wearing them with other trousers and accessories to change the look.

    

First time around I wore the blue top with brown trousers and a gold chain necklace. The green top was worn with navy jeans and a simple gold  necklace. I could also have worn these tops with either my grey or black skirt, plus tights and boots and other accessories.

My winter coat made an appearance this week - and seems to be here to stay! - so wearing different outerwear has created some new looks too.  I have worn boots a couple of times plus thicker scarves and gloves on particularly chilly mornings. I suspect that it's time to pack away the short-sleeved tops that remain in my wardrobe!

As you can see, the possible permutations are endless. Many of us always wear the same combinations: for example this green top inevitably gets worn with my navy jeans, so having to think up different ways to wear it is a good experiment and helps me to realise that my wardrobe is more extensive than I thought.

Check out this video on Imogen's blog if you would like some further inspiration: getting creative with your wardrobe.

Finally, I want to mention a point made by Sharon when she commented on my previous post. Sharon said that you can wear different outfits depending on your mood and I totally agree with her. In the photo on the right taken this morning, I am wearing a combination of bright colours that makes me feel upbeat, which was the mood I wanted to create today as I am trying to shake off my first winter cold. The outfit on the left is more subdued, however I felt elegant when wearing it and we were going to the theatre that day so it was the mood that I wanted. Please note that I didn't say the outfit is elegant - only that it made me feel that way! What about you - do you wear certain outfits to match the way that you are feeling or want to feel?