Thin Fabrics Very fine cotton, fine silk, velveteen, chiffon, voile, batiste, lace, crepe de Chine, eyelet, dotted Swiss, transparent fabrics

Crisp Fabrics Polished cotton, embossed silk, linen, satin, taffeta, organdy, sailcloth, chintz, faille, lame', straw weaves

The eye takes in all the colors, and subjectively a feeling is received. Shadows from textured or heavy knitted garments read "charcoal gray" and will actually connect with the gray shadows in a person's hair. The color of nylon hosiery may be quite different in appearance than you assume; the color of the skin showing through must be factored in with the color of open weave fabrics (lace, net and thin fabrics). A purple colored satin is too shiny and bright for an Autumn person, however the same purple when dulled by a shadowed fabric will look earthy and connected. All the elements give great creative options.

DARK FORMAL APPEARANCE IN TEXTURE

Colors will appear darker on fabrics that absorb fully saturated color — such as fine woolens, fine cotton, silk and velvet. These fine natural fabrics take dye readily. Black shadows add to dark effect. Dark colored silks and plush velvet show black highlights when they are draped or in movement on a person. Very finely finished leathers appear more formal and are best for this category.

LIGHT DRESSY APPEARANCE IN TEXTURES

Colors will appear lighter in thin, transparent or delicate materials —such as voile, chiffon, lace, sheers and dotted Swiss. Even if the color is dark, it will appear lighter on thin or lace materials, especially if a light skin color shows through. The feeling of lightness is doubled by silver reflections from light colored silks and silver lame'. Cashmere, mohair, and very soft lacy knits diffuse and soften color. Lightly colored ultra-suede reflects light highlights. Very soft, gray-highlighted leathers seem "lighter".

MUTED CASUAL APPEARANCE IN TEXTURES

Colors will appear duller on fabrics that are richly textured or coarsely woven — such as terry cloth, corduroy, kettle cloth, gauze, tweeds, denim, knits and nubby weaves. The reason these materials look dull is because the textures create gray shadows which diffuse the light (if the threads themselves are not tightly twisted, they are also shadowed). Leathers which are untreated, rough-edged or in their natural state, appear more dull. Textured materials diffuse light because they don't reflect light.

BRIGHT COSTUME APPEARANCE IN TEXTURES

Colors will appear brighter on shiny flat materials — such as satin, polished cotton, embossed silk and taffeta. Anything that shines will feel brighter, exaggerated and lively. Tightly twisted thread such as silk thread will reflect bright color. Warm gold lame' will seem brighter than cool silver lame'. Unusual shiny leather materials such as simulated snakeskin, lizard, alligator appear brighter. Also, shiny patent leathers and sparkly jewelry.

 

Whether you wear one, two, three or more colors together makes a great difference in the picture you project. Basically, the simpler the picture, the more chance you have of showing up. That is why the most beautiful frame consists of the exact tones of your hair and eye colors. There is a special magic in this — right down to repeating the flecks of color in your eyes. The following will give you a sense of what different numbers of colors used together communicate.

ONE-COLOR COLOR SCHEMES

One color always says classic, simple and more formal. One color allows the eye to take in the whole picture without distraction. Your hair color is automatically your basic color, repeating it makes you appear more regal and poised. A contrast of light and dark of the same color is still classic. Even when working with a bright color, if the whole outfit is in one color, it will appear more classic. Formality and poise are emphasized if the lines of clothing are kept simple.

ONE-COLOR MONOCHROMATIC SCHEME OR COLORS CLOSE IN VALUE

Monochromatic colors (various values of the same color) remain simple, but the feeling becomes softened, more dressy, refined, feminine ( or genteel). Again, if the monochromatic scheme is a repeat of the hair color tones, the feeling is moved into classic elegance. (The word monochromatic applies to music and color in the same way.) Soft lines emphasize this feeling.

TWO-COLOR COLOR SCHEMES

Two different colors give the feeling of casualness. Nature puts two colors together all the time — red earth with green trees, purple flowers with yellow centers. Sport uniforms and team colors are always two different colors. Va ri-colored schemes in earthy colors give the feeling of fewer colors only because they come from the same undertone color family of orange and brown. Busy lines and patterns emphasize this interesting feeling. Again, if one of the colors repeats the hair color, the picture leans toward the classic.

THREE-OR-MORE-COLORS COLOR SCHEMES

More colors always express costume, exaggeration and accent. When three different colors are combined, there is a livelier feeling of more fun. If you use more than three colors together, action and excitement are promised. This is why there begins to be a costume feel from using colorful combinations, extravagant lines and different textured materials together. (Hint: Be sure to repeat the hair color somewhere or the effect will be unconnected.) Exaggerated lines emphasize the costume feeling also.

See 1, 2, 3 Color Combinations

One quick and clever way to customize your clothing items is through buttons. The power of a button is amazing. For one thing, buttons can easily be changed. A sweater or a coat of any color can be dramatically altered by the impact of different buttons — the feeling of a charcoal jacket with wooden buttons would be dramatically changed if the buttons were cut off and replace with sparkly rhinestone buttons. Because a button has both color and shape, they can be used to your creative advantage. Just apply the same color/line associations you have learned. For example:

	Oval buttons are more classic than square buttons
	Thin buttons are more dressy than thick buttons
	Four sewing holes are more casual than two holes
	Black buttons are more formal than brown buttons

An "outside" color can be connected by repeating your hair color through buttons, kind of like a trail of dots making a bridge of color to tie you into the picture. Pay attention to value matches; the colors don't have to be exact matches. For example:

You can make a rust-colored garment appear balanced by adding silver or pewter antique buttons.   You can make a cool-navy color garment appear balanced by adding bronze or gold buttons.

The magic of adding warm brown, or wooden appearing buttons to repeat brown hair deserves special mention. Regardless of a person's Homebase, the subtle mixtures of brown, taupe, charcoal, sand and beige in warm buttons are often just the touch needed to connect and repeat brown hair — to either ash brown hair or warm yellow-brown hair. Brown is always an enriched Autumn energy.

shiny buttons satin buttons bright copper

warm colored buttons muted buttons wooden buttons

bright colored buttons gold buttons bright brass buttons colorful buttons different shaped buttons gemstone buttons animated buttons frog buttons triangle shapes star buttons velvet buttons large buttons

thick buttons four hole buttons bronze buttons antique brass basket weave knitted buttons earth colored square buttons textured buttons leather buttons woven buttons 4 sewing holes

silver buttons dark colored pewter buttons medium classic

no thread holes black buttons oval buttons shank buttons silver antique no buttons

pastel buttons tiny buttons thin buttons round buttons scalloped buttons pearl-of-pearl buttons

light colored soft silver buttons

LIGHTING CHANGES THROUGHOUT THE DAY

Lighting changes throughout the day, and different times of the year. Lighting impacts whatever feeling is being expressed. Most of it is felt subjectively, but it is still there.

The Morning light is clear, bright and fresh. So, colorful play-clothes, aprons and house dresses with our freshly applied makeup stimulate enthusiasm, life and energy. The colors are brought up a bit.

Noontime light is more white, and with the over exposure of light, we soften our makeup colors, lines and fabrics of clothing, giving amore subtle lighter feeling.

Then the balanced Afternoon light gives greater realism revealing texture, enriched color and natural -looking makeup. We enjoy sporty feelings and may grab a casual sweater as the light fades and the evening chill begins.

Evening light then prevails with the mystery of dark colors and, because artificial light replaces natural light, we can introduce more exaggerated color to our clothing and makeup.

 

Which "Homebase" did most of your colors test best in: bright, light, muted or dark? That will be your special clothing statement to make the maintain throughout the four season year.

IF YOUR BEST COLORS ARE DARK

Wintertime is your best season because your colors are dark Homebase. Obviously it will be easy for you to dress in the wintertime when darker clear colors are available. However, in the summer season you will have to be more creative, wearing light colors while keeping a dark accent going. Even if the dark color is just in a dark accent blouse, belt, purse or shoes (or even the dark line of the soles your shoes), your own dark hair color must be repeated so that you are connected with your ensemble. Also in the summertime, wearing dark colors in thin materials or in a smaller-space (brief clothing like a dark halter top) is very striking.

COATS Although black is basic for this category, contrast is paramount (black coat over white evening dress). One of the best suggestions is to wear light colored coats over your basic dark colors to create striking light and dark contrast; raincoats and 3/4 leather coats in light taupe, white, pearl gray or icy colors are important items for this category. To maintain contrast, add a dark sweater or over-clothing in the summer evenings to contrast light-colored summer wear. Furs can be in white, taupe or pearl gray , or the reverse of dark furs over light contrast garments.

IF YOUR BEST COLORS ARE LIGHT

Summertime is your best season because your Homebase colors are light. In the wintertime, you can still wear more light space than dark; simply wear lighter colors in heavier materials. Coordinate your light colors with medium to dark accents in blouses, shirts, sweaters and accessories. It looks a bit elegant, but then that's your specialty.

COATS Your best choice will be to wear light colored coats over medium dark colors; or a medium-value colored coat such as blue, gray or cranberry over hair-neutral clothing or lighter clothing (to create medium value contrast). Another suggestion is monochromatic values of one color blended between your coat, clothing and accessories. An important statement for this category are coats worn over clothing of the same color. Furs are best in repeat colors of your hair color.

IF YOUR BEST COLORS ARE MUTED

Autumn time is your best season because your Homebase colors are warm. Casual clothing is associated with this season and there is a great variety to choose from; more than in any of the other categories. Layered clothing gives the opportunity to combine the multiplicity of color and values which express through busy patterns and textures. Your basic colors are not extreme (notice that autumn leaf colors of orange, brown and green have multiple shades and tints, but are close in value), therefore you can easily adapt your colors to each season of the year. In the summertime you can wear creams, buff and lighter tints of your basic colors in lightweight materials. You can even wear white and pastels if they are combined with medium brown and camel. In the wintertime you combine ecru, beige and camel to warm up dark colors.

COAT Hair neutrals of all tones in medium values (wine, teal, camel, brown) serve the very best here. Cream colored coats for some contrast over medium dark colors are excellent. This is the most natural category for fur coats and should be easily adapted to repeat hair tone colors.

IF YOUR BEST COLORS ARE BRIGHT

Springtime is your best season because your Homebase colors are bright. You will feel at home in the springtime when all the new colors in clothing come out. You glow with rich color and wear fashion trends easily. In fact, in this category attention to what is currently fashionable can feel exhilarating. Summertime is also compatible with bright colors, just add more light space by using cream or very light neutrals in tones of your hair color. When the cooler season arrives you can give dark colors bright dashes of color in accent blouses, sweaters, scarves, shirts and ties.

COATS A brightly colored coat is your specialty — wear it over tones of your hair neutral colors. A coat, jacket or over-sweater in your neutral hair color is basic and solves coordinating problems. Leopard designs or multicolored furs are costumey and unique and fit into this category.

There are questions about body and clothing lines that people ask and need to be cleared up.

Yes, you can to all the above. The point is that you need to know how you best naturally fit into the overall scheme of things, and then you adapt the other kinds of energy you want to express. With the concepts presented here, you have universal tools from which to deliberately create and draw from. However, you will consciously know what you are doing — and this is powerful.

So, besides your colors, there are 5 different aspects of lines from which to choose:

 

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