Tagged: fashion advice, jessica alba, silver dress, summer colors
Silver-gray dress
The best style advice is always to wear what makes YOU look good, not what looks good in a magazine, in the store window, or on a model/celebrity. But finding what looks good on you is a difficult task fraught with many trials and errors.
Women are always marketed to a lot, which is great because we are given many options, but at the same time, not everyone can pull of those runway outfits. It's so tempting to buy into trends, but the more I spend and the more I waste by throwing away clothes I can't wear, the more I learn to be choosy before forking out the cash. Now, I look for timeless outfits, rather than fall for passing trends. I have spent countless hours analyzing, criticizing, and researching (in other words, shopping) the best clothes. Good style sure takes a lot of effort (and money)! Hopefully, my hard-learned lessons can benefit you as well.
Summer's here and this season's style is all about bright colors, from deep ochre to vibrant reds to sultry purples. I'm glad that the warmer shades are in (as opposed to harder to wear tones like neon colors). With every piece looking so bright and gorgeous, it's very tempting to grab whatever is in the store window. But before you spend lots of money and find out too late that cute number didn't look so cute on you (speaking here from unfortunate experience), consider if the color will go with your skin tone.
Take for example a silver-gray dress on Jessica Alba, who has beautiful tanned skin. In fact most of her outfits that you see online are gray-toned. Jessica practically shines in the gray dress because her tan stands out. This is because a cooler tone will emphasize and brighten warm-toned skin. A great outfit will make you look good by emphasizing your good qualities.
I am also tanned skin and I've made the mistake of buying bright yellow, orange, and red, thinking that it would compliment my skin. Those colors didn't look terrible on me, but they tend to make me look a little more tired and grayish, unless I pile on some bright colored make up and lots of foundation (and I'm not a big fan of wearing so much make up, I'm no longer recognizable). Red and orange, especially, tend to make my lips look purplish.
I believe the opposite also applies (warmer colors will go better with cooler tones). Emily Rossum, for example, looks terrific in red.
My observation is of course not a one rule fit all. It takes some experimenting to really nail down what looks good on you, and to consistently find affordable, cute clothes that look good on you. I also insist on taking risks with style (especially when you shop at Forever 21 and more affordable, trendy stores) because it's fun and life's too short to be shrewd all the time and because sometimes, an odd looking outfit can really surprise you by how good it looks!
posted by voteinstyle on may 22, 2008