RSSBrides : Which is the Right White?
September 2, 2009
If you’re an Autumn and you wear pure white, especially if you wear it near your face, your skin will look chalky and overly powdered. Your foundation will seem too pinkish-white, an effect which will be more obvious still in the photographs.
If you’re a Summer and you wear ivory, you risk having a skin tone like a pale cantaloupe, and teeth to match. I was a Winter and wore ivory. I could have done better.
What about jewelry? Who wears diamonds and who wears pearls to complete a look that everyone will notice? Who wears silver? Whose earrings dangle and move and whose are set and still? If a Light Summer bride carries a big bouquet of deep red flowers, people will see 80% flowers and 20% bride.
And this is before I get into the mother-of-the-bride and the potential for meh outfits. Families are being photographed together. How do a Light Spring Mom, a Dark Autumn Dad, a Light Summer sister, and a Winter bride and bridesmaids create an arrangement so compelling that people will pause and have trouble tearing their gaze away? My family didn’t pull that off… but they could today.
Why bridal salons do not make PCA services available to bridal parties is beyond me. From a business viewpoint, this is so clear, it hurts. Family discounts, deals with tuxedo rental shops, co-ops with hair and makeup salons that understand how to use PCA.
The alternative title for this article was The Myth Of The Little Black Dress.
Why black? Because black makes you look thinner? Well not if it takes you over so all people see is your body. You know Ellen in a tux? The black and white are so overpowering that her head looks like a pimple on her shoulders. I love Ellen as much as anyone, she’s a very human celebrity and there are only about 4 of them. But the colours, oy.
Wrong colour actually makes you look 10lbs fatter. This happens because when your body’s colour tone and your clothing disagree, the edges do not come into focus. The fuzziness around the edges of your whole body is interpreted by the eye of the beholder as extra width. This would not be the look most of us intend.
Because black looks expensive? Black is overdone. Black is the excuse when you don’t know what to really do. Black is the mistake that’s ok because everyone is making it. You can look like every other woman there. Or not.
A better title for this article is Reconsider Your Neutrals.
Midnight blue, deep emerald, dusky blue, amethyst, icy grey, jade, orchid. They look better than expensive. They look rich without trying. They look aristocratic and uncommon just standing there.
If this is a business networking opportunity as well as a wedding, you have been given a chance to stand out from the crowd. Get your PCA done before you spend the money. Know exactly which are your power colours.
Colour sends a thousand silent signals. Of imagination, which speaks of youthful vitality. Of ability to take risk and succeed. Of creativity in problem-solving. You won’t have to say a word. Just remember to behave yourself.
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21 Responses to “Brides : Which is the Right White?”
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Christine—everything you are saying makes sense—but i need to see your professional photos showing the before and after. Even some good shots of your old makeup and color clothes and the new makeup and clothes colors( not to mention hair color)….. I have to see it for it to all make sense. Cause i’m another redhead wondering abuut your change……..
Taji,
Of course you have to see it. Photography is the hardest part of writing this site. So far, if you look at the article called The Reveal Photos, you’ll get an idea. There is also an article back there called Makeup Palette Adjustment showing the makeup. Let me know if you can’t find them.
But what about men? At least women have the option of choosing which shade of white (or any other color) to wear to special occasions. What can an Autumn or Spring man do when an event requires black or white tie? The traditional black-coat-and-white-shirt ensemble looks wonderful on Winter men, and Summers do okay in it, but I have yet to see a brown tuxedo jacket or tailcoat with an ivory shirt. Are Spring and Autumn destined to look chalky or – oh my! – like “pimples” in their evening wear? Perhaps we need some trailblazers to make a greater range of colors acceptable.
Fab comment, Elizabeth. I’m smiling as I read it.
I guess black tie is called that for a reason, though I don’t know rigorous the rules are. So, what do I think? No. 1, get thy butt to thy colour analyst!! All of the men’s Colours Books have some much darker shade options. Midnight blue, charcoal, deep aubergine. So much cooler than black. Black is safe (and can be responsible for pimple-head-syndrome). I’m not big on tradition and I think the status quo is wrong about pretty well everything. Don’t look like everyone else there just because of some convention! Nothing is that formal and stiff, short of meeting royalty.
If it absolutely must be black coat with white shirt – well, then, they need imagination with the tie (a man’s tie is a woman’s lipstick; it carries huge make-or-break capacity for such a tiny piece of real estate) or the waistcoat. Anything else come to anyone’s mind?
Hi,
‘Midnight blue, deep emerald, dusky blue, amethyst, icy grey, jade, orchid. They look better than expensive. They look rich without trying. They look aristocratic and uncommon just standing there.’
I have been mulling over this idea.
Remember the 80s, when one of the Big Things was to combine black with another colour, preferably BRIGHT. Cobalt blue, banana yellow, beige, coral red, crimson, London bus red.
Someone, I forget who, told me that ‘wearing black with another colour cheapens the colour’. Now that’s a very strong statement, but… I can see why they said it. Not sure I fully agree, but the more I see colours, the more I see subtlety – and the more absorbed I become.
Black and golden yellow is… stridently attention seeking.
Aubergine or deep green with golden yellow is… striking, absorbing, stylish and (dare I be so judgemental?) classy. I have been playing around with the greys, golds, russets (grey and russet is exquisite, if the tonal values are right). I have rediscovered navy, and found that it is the perfect foil for the purples, golds, teals and peach/apricot tones. And grey. How can I have got to this age and only now discovered grey?
Yesterday I found a piece of voile fabric in the deepest of moss greens. It has appliquéd flowers in deep teal with purple and bronze-brown embroidery. The overall effect is subtle, layered and effortlessly stylish. Can’t wait to make it up into a long flowing tunic. Now, throwing a pair of black trousers under it would reduce the entire effect. But if I were to go with a coordinating bronze, or moss… the effect would be so much more together.
Christine, your choice of words for this kind of colour combination is ‘aristocratic and uncommon’ and that is a PERFECT description. I am making it my ambition to be as ‘aristocratic’ as possible. Grin.
One of the things I love most about this colour exploration of mine is that it is always developing. Every time I turn round there is somewhere new to investigate.
Jo,
You’re so right, that look of black and a bright colour is so 80′s and so easy to keep repeating! I am trying to get out of it, especially as a Deep Autumn. I am finding it sometimes a little difficult though to break with the traditions of a lifetime. I have just asked for and got for my birthday an Italian leather bag in deepish golden brown leather, a classic tote shape, large with two thin shoulder straps attached with brass buckles. I am panicking slightly now though, as it was quite expensive (more than I’d pay!) and I can’t stand expensive mistakes/money wasted. I have usually stuck to safe black bags and would go with silver hardware as more fashionable finish, so this is a bit of a departure – someone tell me its right please! I didn’t sleep last night for worrying about it! Yes, I kniow this is truely pathetic for a grown woman. I will try to send a picture if can work out how to do it.
Trisha,
Check this out:
http://www.thescienceofpersonaldress.com/illustrated_lines.htm
accessories are covered here:
http://www.thescienceofpersonaldress.com/illustrated_lines_cont.htm
I think browns could be the overall best color for Autumns (for shoes and bags), with gold, bronze or brass hardware. Anything from taupe, camel, British tan, golden brown, mahogany, chocolate brown, black-brown, depending on what type of Autumn you are, and which color best repeats your hair color.
Black and bright colors–perhaps Clears and Deeps with black hair can get away with it, but I would agree it’s worth making the effort to find more creative combinations. I also love to use navy and grey, grey being my absolute favorite color. Isn’t it Trinny and Susannah from What Not to Wear (UK version) who totally hate the idea of black with colors?
What I always loved to do is wear black with other dark colors (dark navy, black-brown, black forrest green, dark gray, charcoal), with slightly brighter lipstick or blush.
Thanks Fil,
Thats a great website! Although loads to take in, right down to having the right buttons (or replacing them). I am feeling a lot better about the bag now, especially as I see its not only the right colour and texture for me, the same deep gold brown as my hair, which is good apparently, but also a roughish, naturally tanned autumn finish. Its also remarkably, the right shape for my body shape, as a triangle with defined waist. If you’re interested you can see the bag at – http://www.thetannery.co.uk/product/623/Shopping_Tote_49035 if it works.
I think I’ve always been put off brown because it sounds so dull, whereas black leather has more wild and rock-chick connotations (not that I see myself like that!).
Black is one of my colours as a deep autumn, or so My Colour Me Beautiful advisor told me, and I have worn a lot of it over the years as it was one my best colours, but then my hair was very dark brown (with help of dye) at times. I’m now going back to mid gold-red brown as the grey comes through, closer to what I was in my teens and younger years. I am also wearing a lot of turqoise and teal again, partly as deep autumn colours and in fashion agai anyway. So far I’ve worn these with black, as in black dress and little teal cardigan over the top with teal jewellery. Black with dark navy or grey sounds good, if one of your colours, I think that would look very classy on you. I guess you’re on the cool side to wear grey successfully? I can’t wear grey or navy at all, they make me look like a corpse, which is not a good look!
I keep forgetting to say, pertinent to the title of this thread, I went everywhere when I was getting married many years ago, to find a dress that looked good on me. They were all bright optic white, you know with that blue cast, in mostly layers of nylon (what we call a “meringue” dress in the UK, as they look so white and fluffy). Eventually found one which was actually a ball gown in two parts, a dress with camisole and shoe string straps to the bodice with a tight fitting jacket to waist over it, very 18th century looking, like a riding outfit. It was in ivory taffeta, so much better against my skin tone which is pale, but warm toned and swished when walking as the fabric was stiff. It was a bargain and I loved it. I wore it with an 18th century type wide straw hat with ivory ribbons trailing down the back and spring flowers attached, I couldn’t cope with the thought of a veil, just too cliche for me, and yes as an Autumn, although it was spring, I loved the natural flowers I had picked that morning from the fields, daffodills and tulips, which also decorated the church. now I can see how right that was for me, although I got some adverse comments at the time about not having a conventional bouquet, ect. and we walked to the village church which I had attended as a child. Apologies, I am waxing lyrical here. but yes, the right white is so important to get right for a wedding dress, and if you are getting married this year, go with what feels right on other aspects as well is my advise to you.
The bag is timeless. It seems to have the caracteristics of two of the Autumn shapes (for the benefit of others, the seasons in the linked website are represented by symbols: oval for Winter, circle for Summer, square for Autumn, and triangle for Spring–somewhat but not strictly related to body shape). I think you can still use it in 20 years and it will still look perfect and current. Black and gold may work for Deep Autumns, but black and silver maybe not so much.
I think Christine has posted this before, but I cannot recall under which post. It shows the idea of matching to hair color very well:
http://www.thescienceofpersonaldress.com/com1_hair.htm
this one is also interesting:
http://www.thescienceofpersonaldress.com/outside_colors.htm
Trisha, I am a clear winter (this is my own conclusion though, I still want to do the draping). I thought I was an Autumn, and then a Deep Autumn since the mid-eighties! But I should have known better, I was only wearing the darkest and more neutral colors, and none of the Autumn colors… I think you may be able to wear charcoal and dark navy, but with some of your warmer colors.
Your wedding dress description, the flowers, walking to church, sounds lovely. Do I detect posh ecclectic style here
? I too got married in ivory, even as a clear winter, soft white and ivory look better on me than stark white.
(Trisha, I sent you this yesterday, but I think the links are not working well. See if you can type the web address below to see the page)
The bag is timeless. It seems to have the caracteristics of two of the Autumn shapes (for the benefit of others, the seasons are represented by symbols: oval for Winter, circle for Summer, square for Autumn, and triangle for Spring–somewhat but not strictly related to body shape). I think you can still be using it in 20 years and it will still look perfect and current. Black and gold may work for Deep Autumns, but black and silver maybe not so much.
I think Christine has posted this before, but I cannot recall under which post. It shows the idea of matching to hair color very well:
thescienceofpersonaldress.com/com1_hair.htm
Check also under outside colors for interesting images.
Trisha, I am a clear winter (this is my own conclusion though, I still want to do the draping). I thought I was an Autumn, and then a Deep Autumn since the mid-eighties! But I should have known better, I was only wearing the darkest and more neutral colors, and none of the Autumn colors… I think you may be able to wear charcoal and dark navy, but with some of your warmer colors.
Your wedding dress description, the flowers, walking to church, sounds lovely. Do I detect posh ecclectic style here
? I too got married in ivory, even as a clear winter, soft white and ivory look better on me than stark white.
Trisha, I love that bag, and yes, it is a perfect Deep Autumn colour (I want one!).
Have you got a pair of brown shoes to wear with it? I know it is a cliche to match shoes and bag (and gloves, and hat), but imagine how brilliant it would be to put on shoes and bag that match your hair. Then if all the other colours of your outfit coordinated… yum.
I am currently in love with peach/apricot and deep moss green as a colour combination. It seems to resonate with me in the same way that a large slice of chocolate cake does. Really. I just want to plunge into those colours.
Hi Fil and Jo,
You are both so very kind to offer reassurance, I appreciate it so much.
Fil, I used to be able to wear dark navy when younger, I can’t now, even just that bit of blue in it washes me out completely, as does any grey. The CMB consultant who analysed me as Deep and Warm or Deep Autumn thought I could get away with some deep greys and navys, but on putting colour swatches to skin, realised I cannot, however dark they still make me look ghastly, she said stay right away from them, and don’t like as colours anyway. Posh eclectic? Not sure about that, the posh bit I mean! Everything was really cheap, a bargain dress, the hat cost more, no photographer, my brother took the pics, no cake, we had a sit down 3 course lunch with a few friends and family instead of formal reception. No car to the church, we walked.
I seem to not be able to get away from the Natural look whatever I do, maybe it just goes with Deep Autumn colouring. I am struggling to do some new textile work at the moment and it always comes back to using found natural material, now I’m into reeds gathered last week on holiday. I have had to come to conclusion that colouring does influence your choices in textures you like and everything else too.
Jo, I have to say the idea of brown shoes makes me panic, although in my right colours I know, brown says to me sensible old tweedy lady, which maybe I am getting towards? I think they would have to be quite sharp looking to convince myself. The bag is the colour of a cup of Americano without the milk, just as I like it. Yes, chocolate cake, you’re making me hungary now, although my favourite would be coffee cake. Anyway, its coffee time in the UK, which is why I’m writing this, 11.00 am here although the time obviously shows as different as site in is Canada, take care both and everyone else.
Trisha,
You are right, there always seem to be the few colors that are not as great as others in your palette, and Jo is right also, if not brown shoes, what about some “definitely not dowdy” boots?
Posh eclectic–the name is a bit deceptive. It is more a certain disregard for fashion rules, creating great and individual looks with $5 thrift store finds, mixing unexpected items, such as a flower silk dress with a men’s cardie or a heavy plaid coat, and heavy boots or opaque stockings, looking feminine or as if you’re about to go work in the stables. A certain celebration of frump, which is also a bit aristocratic, as only the Brits can do (I lived in London for a number of years in the 90′s). To me, it looks beautiful and freeing. Compared to the CMC styles, I would say the Posh Eclectic style in Amanda Brooks book is a mixture of creative and natural, with a fair touch of romantic.
Sorry, I meant in the “Lucky guide to mastering any style” book.
Hi Fil,
Thanks for your kind help once again, anything I can help you with?
I must get that book, going to look for it now on Amazon. I should be buying textiles and art book, but end up buying colour and style books instead, which I think a lot of my colleagues would feel was a bit low end! Its the frump bit that worries me and I suppose I associate brown with it. I do live in boots though, those and sandals or in the summer, I can’t stand proper shoes at all. I do like to pick things up in sales and wear slightly differently. I found some dark red leather gloves the other week with frills around the edges, fantastic and £6.00 instead of £25.00. I don’t have much money to spare because I teach mature students for the Open University’s art school section, The Open College of the Arts (which you may have heard of if you lived in London – I lived there for 8 years once). They pay only little as they enable mature students and disabled ones, etc to get the art training otherwise would miss out on, and I do voluntary work for them besides. As I cam out from the CMB style consultation as half Creative and half Natural, maybe that Posh Eclectic is really me? I worry that it may come out more bag lady at my age though. I have a strange desire at the moment to make a series of art dolls depicting the various seasons colouring and style types, probably a lifes work, what do you think?
Trisha,
So nice of you to ask. I live in the US now, but still go to London occasionally to visit friends. If I’m there sometime this year, I’ll give you a shout and we can go for a cup of coffee if you are near by, to talk about, what else, color and style!
I had to laugh reading your comment–I too don’t like shoes, it’s either boots or sandals, and if I have to wear shoes, it’s never a “full” shoe, more like a slingback.
The dolls idea maybe not be a bad one. Have some made and pitch the idea to CMB or Marks & Sparks. It would make some great gifts, for big girls and little girls alike!
Hi Christine. I was looking for Lt Summer make-up suggestions and stumbled across this post.
Do you think we humans can instinctively KNOW what our best colors are? I’m thinking back 20+ years when I WANTED oh, so badly, to wear a pink wedding dress — Mom was paying for the dress and the answer was, “NO WAY!” And I wanted my bridesmaids to wear mid-tone clear-ish teal and put the guys in charcoal gray. Definitely “summer” colors… But, alas, I pulled an ultimate 80s: me in white (tafetta — which, as least softened the white-ness!), bridesmaids in red, yes pure red, and the guys in black. LOL! Would I do anything different if I had to do it over? Probably not. My hubby’s a true winter (despite his very round head and face) and looked fab in his tux!
I think on this every day and wonder why we CAN’T know our colours. I see kids as good at it till they’re 16 or so. Some people are confident and decisive and correct, yourself for instance, but most are not. I would bet most go home after a PCA and are lucky to find 2 correctly colored items in their closet, and that’s before we get into style. I’ve wondered why it’s so darn hard to know our truest dreams and desires too, but we don’t. I don’t know why that’s not given to us. Would we screw it up?
Hi,
I have a school function where everyone must be in white floor length gowns. I’m a Light Spring, and I was wondering what shade of white should I wear to not look off-color.
H, Emma,
The Springs look best in ivory white – so a pure white with a pale yellow tone. Light Spring on the cool side of the Season would avoid too much yellow. Keep an eye at 12blueprints.com. There’s a bridal satin video coming up later this month.