“Have you ever wondered WHY some people can get away with wearing bold, bright outfits and others can’t? Or WHY someone wearing pastels looks absolutely terrific, but others who put on the same gentle colors appear totally washed out? The REASON is that certain colors complement you naturally, while others can overpower or detract from your personal coloring.” (Q Style, page 20.)

Dennis brings it all to light in this cartoon from yesterday’s paper. (Courtesy of Ron Ferdinand.)

Sometimes it’s easy to SEE, like Dennis does here. Sometimes, it’s not so easy to pinpoint.

“Choosing the most flattering garments involves not only decisions about which colors to wear, but–more specifically–selecting the correct shades that complement you. And believe it or not, choosing the right patterns, prints, and textures of fabrics is also an important element that comes into play.” (Q Style, page 20.)

Here is a blog I wrote back in 2022 titled “Are You Wearing Your Clothes or Are They Wearing YOU?” These images pretty much say it all.

You may remember, I ordered the dress on the left because of the turquoise flowers, but I never dreamed that the dark background would completely overpower my fair skin/hair. I needed something with a lighter background that had less contrast. I opted for the light blue dress. Can you SEE why? (A side note, I ordered the dress on the left from a catalog and was not able to try it on in person until it arrived.)

In the first photo, I have become a headless horseman. You do not notice my face when you look at me, you only notice the dress.

If you have a special occasion coming up or simply want to buy a new outfit, here is a short list of things to consider to help you make your best choice:

1. Color – You can quickly scan the racks or pages of a mail order catalog to choose a color with the best clarity for you. (Clarity means how bright or muted a color is.) And eliminate all the others–BECAUSE, if the color isn’t good for you, it won’t look good on you!
2. Pattern – Is the pattern overpowering (or perhaps too small)? Is there too much–or too little–contrast between the print and the background?
3. Fit – Does the outfit flatter your figure? Accentuate what you want to accentuate and/or hide what you want to hide? Bring balance to your silhouette?
4. Fabric -Is the fabric a good weight? Is it too textured/heavy? Too flimsy or thin?
5. Style/Comfort Level – Does the garment look like YOU? (Define how you want to look: classic, bohemian, country, sporty, sexy, romantic, noticeable.)

A note about the last item listed, Dennis had on a fabulous outfit, but he realized the most important thing: It simply wasn’t HIM!

You really have no chance of feeling confident, if you aren’t feeling like your authentic self. Always remember what we say on Page 1 of QUINTESSENTIAL STYLE:

“Personal style is just that–personal. What you have to be is yourself. It’s not about styling an outfit; it’s about styling who you are.”

… Janna Beatty