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I was an independent Image Consultant in NYC for 16 years, using the techniques that I learned directly from Carole Jackson; author and founder of Color Me Beautiful. To this day, I have yet to find a more practical and easier guideline to utilize when investing in your wardrobe.
Indeed, wardrobe's are an investment and should be considered carefully to maximize both your dollars spent and the clothing worn.

Equal to considering finding colors that flatter your skin's undertone (warm or cool) is the element of CONTRAST (how strong or soft colors appear when put next to one another).
WINTER(Cool/blue undertones) & SPRING (Warm/golden yellow undertones) are both palettes full of high contrast colors. These colors are all "pure" and "direct from the tube". Fabrics using these colors are generally solids or if they have a pattern, they are very strong patterns, usually 2-3 colors and larger scaled patterns. They create a sharp and crystal clear feeling when worn by women with stronger coloring of both hair and skin tones.
(generally): deep black to dark brown hair; or natural bright Blondes to silver gray)

SUMMER (Cool/blue undertones) & AUTUMN (Warm/golden yellow undertones) are both palettes that create LESS CONTRAST. These colors are all "muted" or "grayed down" (meaning gray dye is added to the colors to tone them down). Fabrics using these colors are generally tweeds & softer plaids where it is difficult to see distinct pattern lines. These colors create a softer feeling when worn by women with a lighter contrast of hair & skintones.
(generally: blondes (dark & reddish blonde); Dark Redheads; and Soft Brown to Auburn
Hair colors.

So consider the "overall" feeling the colors and fabric patterns create on the garment that you are considering. Often, even if a color is not "technically" within your "palette", it can still work if the CONTRAST is correct. But do try to stay within your general palettes of warm or cool as when you do this, you simply will have more to wear with less in your closet. Mix and match is critical for a well st yled woman!

Learn more about this author, Justine Blair Carroll.
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