Fall Colours

I was running errands this past weekend, wearing a pink floral sundress, my pink tinted aviators and my camel sweater (it was a cool morning).  

Why does that matter? 

Well, one of the vendors made a comment about pink being my colour. 

And again … why does that matter? 

Well, the obvious … it’s always nice to get a compliment, especially when I’m in colour, which I rarely do.  The other reason, I’ve been looking at fall fashion, because that is one of my passions at this time of year.  While earth colours are making a return … yay! Burgundy, shades of grey, chocolate browns, olive greens, cherry reds, taupes, almost yellows, blues, oranges, whites and softer shades of pink are also popping up in so many interesting ways. While I am a big fan of earth tones, think olive and khaki greens, chocolate browns, slate greys, whites and blacks … I’m trying to add more colour into my life.  I have always had a soft spot for pink, utterly random and yet, there it is.  

Rabbit hole, my grandmother always looked polished and put together when she went out … simple pieces, simple jewelry, but always elegant.  She had a pink sweater, I loved it on her … It was the perfect shade of pink for her skin tone, it warmed her skin and made her look even more beautiful.  She had an identical sweater in a pale blue, which was equally as lovely, but for whatever reason, the pink I remember more, the pink I loved on her.  

Left turn, my Mother and my Dad’s sisters used to meet for a “Sisters Day” every year, one of these involved having their colours done, which translated to my Mother and Aunt doing mine and my sisters colours.  Spoiler, my sister and I aren’t the same season, I’m not the same season as my Grandmother and unsurprisingly, I am the same season as the majority of my aunts … I’m a winter. 

Colours make me nervous, I don’t really know how to match them, they are often more showy than I care for and can lean on on the trendy side.  All reasons I avoid them.  As I pay attention to clothes and put some thought into outfit choices, I’m looking at colour more.  

By more, I mean buying pieces that have colour, not just shoes or purses, where historically, have been the only place I have felt safe playing with colour.  

I follow Trinny Woodall on Instagram, she makes interesting posts about complimentary colours, how to wear colour that might not suit your skin tone, challenging yourself with fashion etc.  I think watching some of her styling and challenges has helped with my feeling bolder as it relates to colour.  One of her recent posts was a recommendation to take inspiration from nature, look at colour combinations (e.g., colour and shade of both the bloom and the stem etc.) for complementary colour combinations that you might not otherwise have considered … the example she was modeling was green and purple … It was actually quite stunning. 

As a result, I have been paying attention to colours on my walks, when driving - think friends' gardens, strangers' gardens, wildflowers along the side of the road etc. This has been an interesting experience.  I typically see the colours, appreciate them, then move on.  As it relates to gardens, I pay attention to types of flowers, health, maturity, layout or placement … colour isn’t typically on my radar. 

I’m challenging myself to add a couple of accessories and items of clothing in colours I wouldn’t typically buy or wear (e.g., think burgundy belts or rose sweaters or blouses).  I haven’t purchased anything yet.  I need to do a review of my existing fall/winter wardrobe so I can layer in pieces that will work in a few different ways with a variety of my existing clothes.  Given the neutrality of my wardrobe, it will be less about colour coordination and more about what works from a style perspective.  

Small detour, I’m also trying to spend less money on disposable pieces, focussing on items that will both wear well and suit both my body shape and personality.  In fairness, I’m also trying to spend less … period.  It’s remarkable how easily I can justify a spend on shoes.  Sighs.  Shoes.  

I’ve also been trying to be intentional on the looks I’m trying to create, I’ve always screenshotted or cut from magazines any outfit I like.  I’m still doing that.  What I never did, was use those inspirations to build out pieces and looks that I really loved and felt really good in.  My wardrobe has largely been accidental.  I’m slowly looking to change that approach.  

It’s aspirational, given my previous habits and comfort level, but aspirational is good.  We will see where this challenge takes me and what colours end up making their way into my collection … Hopefully some pinks, that idea makes me smile. 

Whatever it looks like, I’m enjoying the frivolity of fall fashion, playing with colours and reinventing existing pieces … I’ve missed that.  As I prepare to head out to a cottage with friends ... I have some magazines packed and am looking forward to sitting on a deck flipping through the glossy pages, dog earring the pages that resonate with my tastes.

#thingsthatmakemesmile

If summer has to end, the subtle shifts to fall and layers makes the transition easier and provides a wealth of inspiration just outside my front door.

Wish me luck readers … I’m both excited and nervous, but mostly excited.  Adding colour seems like such a small thing but, for me, it feels like a big thing … a reinvention of sorts … but I guess that is also appropriate ... when it comes to fashion, isn't it all about reinvention?