by Maria K.

Created on: March 24, 2009

Spring frequently brings on a yearning for a new wardrobe - everything around you is so fresh and new, that your same-old-same-old outfits you've been wearing since last November seem drab and boring by comparison. At the same time, you do not want to get too carried away by all things bright and sparkly and blow your entire budget on the latest designer this or trendy label that. Rearranging your closet and finding new ways to combine your long-time favorite key pieces can be as rewarding as shopping... but only if you approach this process with a fresh outlook.

First and foremost, let us get rid of a few persistent color-matching myths. Revelation number one: black and white do not go with everything nor do they always look good when worn together. In fact, black looks much too heavy and harsh next to most colors - especially next to lovely fresh pastels that are so popular in spring, and takes all the subtlety out of them. You may love your trusty black pants to pieces and may have worn them to work with everything in your closet, but this might be a good time to reconsider.

Revelation number two: there are many shades within each color and not every one of them will suit you. For example, you might be dark-eyed and dark-haired - a combination traditionally considered suitable for red. Not so fast! Which red? Fire-engine red? Orangey-red? Brownish-red? Bluish or purplish red? Pink-red? Coral-red? While one of these reds might make you look vibrant and sexy, the rest very well could bring out the yellow or blue skin tones you didn't even know were there and make you look as if you are recovering from a long illness. The way to find out, which shades suit you best is to separate all your garments into piles by color and then hold up each one separately to your face in front of a mirror in good natural light. If it makes you look washed out, sickly, blotchy, or too dark, get rid of it regardless of how much it may have cost you. Sell it on eBay or give it to a friend who might look better in it than you do.

One of the best and most detailed guides to finding your color palette is provided by Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine of BBC'S "What Not to Wear" in their book "What You Wear Can Change Your Life". The colors are first divided into three major groups: pastels (self-explanatory), cold colors (including some deep bluish-purples and reds, emerald greens, etc.) and natural (think autumn leaves and earth tones). Once you find your best group, you can use

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>