Three Diverse Ways to Add Color into Your Plain, Neutral Wardrobe
- thequeenmidastouch
- May 8, 2019
- 9 min read
Note: for the purpose of this post, “black” refers to neutral colors of all shades and types, as it is the most common go-to color, at least in Northern America and much of the Western world.
Some people are quite content in their layered, all-black ensembles. Or perhaps their partner or their place of employment is content for them in this matter, if you get what I mean. This post is not meant to rock any of those boats. Some people have to wear black-on-black (or some combination of plain, neutral clothing) for work. I’m not trying to get anyone written up. Unless someone wants to be written up for fun and flattering clothing. I’m okay with that write up if they are.
Heck, I got written up in high school for wearing “dangerous pants” to school (I used a few too many safety pins on some seriously baggy jeans I had altered to make MORE baggy). I don’t mind a little danger now and then. Years later, when I worked at Macy’s Herald Square doing on-call visuals for their front window team, I wanted to keep my job. I wore their uniform and made sure I had enough black clothing to be the part they’d hired me to be.
The New York, All-Black Complex
The thing was (and is), that New York City, amongst quite a few large cities in the United States and beyond, contains an overwhelming tide of black clothing. New York happens to have a lot of people whose coloring bodes well with black (but also plenty of color, too—check out my blog post "On Color and Knowing Yourself." But there is more to sartorial life than one, dark shade.
Your wardrobe likely has a ton of black, too. And that’s alright—especially if it comes with a diverse layering of textures (different fabrics or fabric treatments) or tonal patterns. However, all-black can be a crutch to lean on when life gets busy or fancy or whatever. At least if you have tonal textures on white, you can see them much more easily! By the way, I feel very similarly about jersey fabric as I do about black. But that topic for another time.
On top of being creatures of habit, many of us are creatures of environment. It’s good to be aware of this, whether you choose to do something about it or not. Manhattan, for example, is known to be a big, jarring, tough city. Many of its inhabitants like having that stamp of trademark toughness. Black helps propitiate that persona. Its wearers are abundant, whether in winter coats, pencil skirts, suits or denim. Summer’s sundress season does break up the otherwise monotonous black sea. Even New York needs a good, solid color infusion on the regular.
Things to Remember:
You can be tough without being a New Yorker.
You can be a New Yorker without wearing black.
You can be tough (or whatever you want to be) without wearing black.
A ≠ B, B ≠ C, A ≠ C.
More Things to Remember:
Black does look good on MOST people (near their faces), but not everyone.
Black can look great on even more people with the addition of contrast-increasing makeup.
Natural redheads and blondes, in particular, should push themselves to find colors (not black) that bring their coloring to life.
You have the power to be yourself. Yourself has preferences and a personality. Use them! Remind yourself that in plenty of non-American places (India, Guatemala, Brazil, etc.) This could be a reason why “ethnic” is a term used in Western fashion for bold color, pattern, and other details we’re not as used to seeing regularly.
In climates whose surroundings are colorful and bright, it’s easier and more natural for inhabitants to reflect back that beauty in what they’re wearing. They naturally have a little Midas touch all over their clothing markets. For us, we have to work a little harder to bring that same energy to our worlds. But the results are worth it.
Why does wardrobe color diversity matter?
Not everyone is “called” to wardrobe diversity. My hope, though, is that more and more people will consider it and work toward integration. Color is a communication tool and an outlet all at once. As diversity adds a richer, healthier experience, to foods and nutrition, or school and neighborhood makeup, so does diversity for one’s wardrobe. Color is one of the easiest, most effective ways to diversify. It makes you a well-rounded citizen of, and gives you a key to, the world of personal style.
As a student at the Fashion Institute of Technology, taking a mandatory biology class actually lent depth and knowledge to my pursuit of a non-scientific career path. Of course, everything has its boundaries, but many of us easily put up one wall too many when it comes to personal expression and exuberance. It’s okay to be pushed outside of a comfort zone—the best things often happen once we are.
Personally, having too much black or too much jersey fabric in my wardrobe actually affects my mood. There have been plenty of seasons where I have banned myself from acquiring additional pieces in either category. I want to evoke joy for myself and for others, to enjoy my day with the added bonus of my outfit, and help others to do the same.
Some TQMT Followers Are Already Experimenting
In the few weeks since I’ve started The Queen Midas Touch, I’ve started to get people sending me photos of them trying their hand at pattern mixing, or resurfacing a fun dress they had forgotten about for several years, or literally incorporating gold shoes into their outfit. AMAZING! That alone makes the launch that much more exciting to me. By the way, please feel free to post and tag your own “golden touches” as you start to get inspired by using #findyourgoldenlining and/or tagging @thequeenmidastouch.
I was especially pleased in the case of one pattern-mixer. Her husband has a rather traditional taste how she presents itself, and I wasn’t sure how he would feel about her new look. It turned out that he liked it!
For many more of you, maybe you’re not quite ready. Maybe you’re still not sure where to start. Here I will work to lay a foundation (or several options for foundations). From there, feel free to pick a direction and start yourself off.
Accessorizing: Dipping Your Feet in (Literally)
You may already be doing this, but it’s important to note that the least compromising, most simple way to introduce color to your clothing options, is through accessories. What counts as accessories? Amongst the most common are shoes, belts, neckwear (scarves/ties/necklaces), bags (from briefcases to clutches).
In the last couple of years, as weddings have become both more personalized and less formal, many grooms have asked their groomsmen to wear funkier footwear to an otherwise classic ensemble. The Queen very much approves of this.
Home Accessorizing and Mirages
It’s worth mentioning that, at least in this way, your home style can also benefit from pops of color via accessories. A brown leather couch or a beige slipcover can be woken up through the punchy addition of something more colorful—a gold pillow or a burgundy throw blanket, for example. And when you add that same color in a few spots around the room, you can move the eye around the space in a pleasing way—sometimes even tricking the eye into thinking the room is wider or taller.
Accessorizing yourself can have the same impact. Let’s say you’re wearing your go-to, all-neutral outfit, but you want to liven it up a bit more AND you want to draw some attention to your legs. You can wear a bolder pair of shoes (or visible socks with planer shoes) to draw the eye down. If instead you want to instead draw attention to another area, like your hands. Besides a brighter manicure, you could layer on a few bracelets or bold rings.
The Color of the Week
The Queen Midas Touch philosophy is not to be overly concerned with trending colors. A trending color would be one that is considered fashionable for a short period, but quickly looks dated. It's much better to find the colors that look best on you, and harness those—paying attention to the fashion industry as you so choose.
However, it is possible to incorporate “the color of the week” into your wardrobe, most easily, in accessory form. Some time ago, there was a summer when every other lady side-walker in Midtown sported a neon green, highlighter yellow, fluorescent orange or electric pink crossbody leather bag—the Fluoro Satchel. It was British Elle magazine’s special request of the Cambridge Satchel Company, gone viral. The bag certainly added a pop to any monotone ensemble, but it also added volume to a look already full of life.
Adding Color to Your Mix: Wading in
If the majority of your clothes are neutrally-based, I recommend picking 1-2 definitive colors into your wardrobe through future additions you might already want to make. You can look for this color in all-over color, interwoven through a pattern, or just on some sort of a trim.
Figure out which colors to add by considering your personal style. I’ve said this before, and I’m sure I will continue to: use three words to describe your current personal style. Use those words as a guide in choosing your color(s). Hint: “black” cannot be one of your three words. Even if you want it to be, think of a creative way to otherwise define your style.
Think about the colors you might already be flirting with in accessories, or the colors you might get complimented for wearing from time to time, and commit to at least one of them. Maybe you want to start with a soft pink or a teal blue—one, or both. Once you start putting them together, you can be extra proud of yourself. But initially, just work with a few new (or new-to-you) pieces, and see how you feel about it. Perhaps you already wanted to find a jacket you plan to wear often in the upcoming season. Consider it in an all-over color.
You can still keep the more neutral colors closer to your face, too—wearing the majority of your statement color in a pant/skirt/short, for example. You could also drop a colorful top beneath a blazer or jacket—keeping it both present, and as an accent color, that way. You might eventually want to kick it up another notch. Or not. Again, this is about both pushing yourself and knowing yourself.
Taking the Plunge
Ready to shed all that monotony and submerge yourself in a wilder, freer world? Spring and summer are certainly great times to do that. Manhattan isn’t the only place that pulls out the rainbow for swim-worthy, drool-worthy weather. Think about geographies where the weather is ALWAYS nice. How many little black dresses do you see in those parts? There’s something about brighter, livelier colors that draw us to them when weather warms up. Some places have it all year round. Some eras had it all era long.
Eggplant is a Neutral (So is Metallic)
If you find yourself continually reaching for black, grey, or other neutrals, and you’re totally ready for a complete freshening up, start to make a habit of recognizing what you’re reaching for. Then break your habit every day. Change your mindset. Only then can you make some proactive choices.
One of these changes might even be to lay out the next day’s outfit the night before. That helps you to really think through and coordinate something incredible, rather than scrambling for the same-old once the morning’s craziness really starts to hit. I like to do that. I also like to substitute dark jewel tones, such as eggplant purple, dark forest green, and deep maroon in places where black might be the obvious choice. The same goes for metallic (usually in leather shoes or a leather jacket). I find it adds a depth that is nearly impossible with just (or mostly) black.
In getting dressed (what you have):
You can challenge yourself in hiding 50%+ of your neutral items. I recommend putting them in a suitcase you won’t use for a little while, and putting the suitcase back in storage.
Start layering or coordinating a few pieces together that are in the same color family
Bust out the yellow dress from the back of your wardrobe that you’ve been hesitating to put on again.
In shopping (what you buy):
Start seeking out COLOR when you shop:
In basics or staples(!)
In accessories
In statement pieces
Think about borrowing something or trading with a friend who has a style that’s just a little brighter and bolder than yours, and see what you think.
Let’s get going!
My hope for TQMT is to encourage you to START. Just start. Don’t put a lot of pressure on yourself. Maybe try a new combination for a party or a night out before you start expressing yourself in your daywear and work looks. Gain confidence first in a more fun or casual setting before setting yourself up for a boardroom decision in a red-and-orange polkadot button-down. Or maybe you’re ready for the boardroom, and they need to know you mean business. Maybe the only way is that dotted, statement piece.
Whether you incrementally build your confidence, or if you have all the might already to get a sartorial move on, the most important thing is to take action. It will boost your mood, the smiles around you, and your own sense of accomplishment, as you set out on your golden journey. As you can see, there are plenty of polished ways to pick up your look in color—whether a splash or a submersion.
Was this helpful for you? Still not sure you want to fly the neutrals nest, even with an accessory or two? Do you feel totally ready and wish you had started last summer? The Queen (the royal we) would love to hear from you! Please comment below with any thoughts or comments, or even photos of your process.
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