How to make any outfit work for your Color Code

This is what I consider high-level image consulting, like a 400-level class at college! It’s also how I teach my clients to work with what they already have, or just how to wear the not-exactly-perfect colors they LOVE but that don’t work as well for their Color Code. Plus we all tend to have a fun accessory or piece of clothing that isn’t in our color palette and wonder if we can wear it. (The answer is yes–yes, you can)

Depending on your Color Code, you would

• Light-en up
• Go Deep-er
• Soft-en
• Clear it up
• Warm it up
• Cool it down

Say for example as a DEEP, I’m wearing white jeans and a turquoise top. Really an outfit meant for a LIGHT! To make it Deep-er, I’d add a dark denim jacket or a scarf with shades of dark blue.

Here’s a recent real life example. The jeans and oatmeal-colored tee are something virtually anyone could wear. To Deep-en it, I added the dark boots, dark kimono and dark jewelry.

Or if you are a LIGHT and you have on black pants and a light pink top and look a little bottom-heavy, Light-en it by adding a lavender scarf or a taupe jacket.

My WARM ladies sometimes resist the orange, rust and copper they shine in so they’ll wear cool colors. Warm it up by adding rust or copper jewelry, or a dark brown shoes or bag.

Some quick and easy ways to make any outfit work better for your Color Code:

• wear a “pop” color near your face (the information appears in the Pinterest board description for your Color Code or in the info I gave you with your Color Analysis)
• add a scarf in your best colors or a print that flatters you
• add a jacket in one of your best neutrals–click here for the best neutrals for your Color Code
• make sure your bag and/or shoes match your hair color (this will give you a much more cohesive look every time. Plus when your shoes match your hair, it “frames” your outfit)
• add accessories within your Color Code for a more cohesive look
• pay special attention to your makeup. A Deep might need a darker lipstick, a Warm may need a more warm-toned blush, a Cool could try shades with pinker undertones–click here to see my video about why I look good in every color (which also talks about warm vs. cool tones)

Here are a few examples from my own experience!

Most of the outfits I wear aren’t “perfectly Deep” but I try to wear as many DEEP elements as possible so my overall look has flow. That’s what we look for with the right colors…FLOW between your hair, skin, eyes and outfit. We want to notice your beautiful face and your gorgeous features, NOT your top or your belt. We also don’t want the “floating head” when a woman wears a color that’s too overpowering for her coloring.

This dress is cute and on trend but the color washes me out. Adding the denim jacket and shoes that match my hair made it aaaalllmost work. I’m not in love with it so the dress is actually in my giveaway pile. #neversettle

The teal and white outfit could actually work for a Light or a Soft, of which I am neither! It’s also a bit high contrast. Adding the dark leopard print definitely make me look more like my Deep self. I wore dark shoes and a dark-toned necklace as well.

I love my coral jacket and it’s a color that works on lots of women. To keep it more Deep, I made sure to pair it with dark denim and black (two my my best neutrals). The addition of the colorful necklace brightens it up, too. Notice the black shoes as well.

This top ended up going to my mom (OK, she commandeered it) who is a Cool and it worked great for her! The colors in the top do work for me, too, and when worn by my face still flatters me, even with the light pants. I put teal on my feet, too. Black shoes would have also worked.

Here’s another example of using a piece I like and making it work. I love the colors, texture and softness of this scarf but it is quite light in color so I paired it with the dark green and gray to keep it DEEP over all. The scarf with a light denim and a peach shirt would not work for me!

I love helping women wear what they love in a way that flatters them and helps them look put together.

Please comment or contact me if you have questions with making this work for you!

If you need personalized recommendations on your best colors, consider a Color Analysis Appointment.

I hope these tips to make any outfit work for your Color Code helps you. Read more at the suggested links below:

Outfits for your Color Code

How to put outfits together

I’d be thrilled if you pinned and shared!