Film Noir Buff Style Forum / Dressing in your "palette"

yachtie · 2008-10-08 14:43:34

There's been some discussion on and off on the various boards concerning basing one's wardrobe choices on his skin tone/hair color/ etc. A common way of looking at this is as "seasons" which IIRC goes something like this:
Spring: yellow based pastels
Summer: blue based pastels
Autumn: saturated earth tones
Winter: saturated primaries

What I don't get is the terminal skittishness of too many on the boards that have such fear of not conforming to the perceived pressure of the Navy or Charcoal Only crowd that they'd Never Consider anything else regardless of how bad they look. Since most people are 'winters' this problem doesn't arise since they look best in traditional "business" colors. But as a non- winter, I've noticed a few things: If I dress in my palette I get more compliments of the form "You really look good" and less of the "nice suit" type. That said, I do own out- of -pallette clothes, but I realize that I look alot more like Neo from the Matrix than "healthy" when I wear them.

So, how powerful is the force to conform? I've never noticed it until I started reading the boards and am often pretty amused at the sea of navygrey types who are thinking:: OMG! If I wore that I'D BE FIRED!!! which, unless you're an incompetent, is pretty unlikely. A bunch of scaredycat sartorial pantywaists, IMHO.
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Do any of you consider your complection when you're getting clothes?

captainpreppy · 2008-10-08 15:06:36

I've read these discussions in various tomes on clothing, Flusser's "Dressing" being the most notable, but I have never quite been able to figure out what the hell my "pallette" is. Frankly, my complexion seems to vary--more tan and ruddy when I am out in the sun in the summer, more pallid in winter or when I've been sick. Other than that I have gray hair and dark blue eyes, I don't know if there are any other constants. The whole business baffles me.

formby · 2008-10-08 15:28:14

It's as bad in Britain, Navy and Grey solids everywhere, I'm a bit bored with it all too be honest, that's why my next suit's gunna be a bold plaid, just to f**k with people a bit. Oh, and I'm gunna wear it with chestnut wholecuts .............f**k 'em..........

On a serious(?) note though, I do admire the well dressed Italian's sense of colour, I've seen a picture of the younger Rubanacci on the Sartorialist dressed in some beautiful summer colours, he looked very stylish.

http://bp0.blogger.com/_qjpwnPW4c1o/SJbt7A3cvBI/AAAAAAAAD3g/oDropUpHqU8/s1600-h/6248LucaRubinacciweb1.jpg

Cheeky Monkey · 2008-10-08 16:05:48

Yellow is an absolute no go for me -which is sadly why I was never able to become a Tranmere Rovers fan.

Will · 2008-10-08 19:01:53

I'm also a non-winter and if I tried to dress high contrast I'd look washed out all the time.

That said, unless you're an autumn most of adapting to a palette is understanding what to avoid. I don't wear white shirts in daylight unless I have a tan. I never wear yellow, and most of my suits are mid-tones rather than charcoal and dark navy. It's second nature.

Autumns have the most difficult time as they look better in browns, don't look great in grays, have to pay attention to their blues and have a limited palette of shirts as well. But none of this is difficult once a man understands the things that make him look like he was out late drinking or has malaria so he can avoid the look (unless he actually was out late drinking).

yachtie · 2008-10-08 19:43:42

Last edited by yachtie (2008-10-08 19:44:12)

formby · 2008-10-09 01:16:43

Most people I would imagine don't know what 'season' they are. Perhaps, someone in the know (Yachtie, Will, FNB et al) could post some pics of men who represent each of the said season to develop the subject more.

AQG · 2008-10-09 08:07:35

Like the Cap'n, I haven't been able to figure this whole season business. Maybe somebody can help. I've got dark brown hair though increasingly grey over the ears, green eyes and relatively dark skin for a white guy. I often wear high contrast stuff and don't seem to wash out in it. Just curious. I really can't imagine actually changing my clothing style based on the outcome.

yachtie · 2008-10-09 08:30:16

Last edited by yachtie (2008-10-09 08:41:55)

Tony Ventresca · 2008-10-09 08:44:10

I have the book by Carole Jackson, from the 1980s. Her version is actually quite thorough and accurate, for me at least, and was useful in confirming my previously instinctive choices as sound. This is one of those books that is a bit tricky to get started on, but once you go through it carefully, that "eureka" moment of understanding comes. I recommend buying the book, if possible.

Flusser's version is over-simplified and wrong, useless really.

The "season" thing is really just a handle, don't make much of it. The only danger is taking an iGent approach and treating it as gospel truth. It's useful, but the rules aren't hard and fast.

formby · 2008-10-09 08:53:37

yachtie · 2008-10-09 09:05:32

AQG · 2008-10-09 09:07:54

Well, there we go. Yachtie's put me straight. Winter it is for me with a slight hangover from autumn. Oddly enough, the color suggestions for the Winters in part three of the blog are rather how I tend to dress.

Film Noir Buff · 2008-10-13 20:24:40

I liked the book "Color For Men" by Carole Jackson and thought the color suggestions were very good basics to keep in mind.

Some of the information I plan to violate such as tan camel hair overcoats which I will not give up in spite being squarely in the "Winter" category but it is reassuring to know that I seemed to almost intuitively know my best colors. For anyone whether a natural or not about which colors suit them, this book is a good resource.

#1 2008-10-08 14:43:34

Dressing in your "palette"

#2 2008-10-08 15:06:36

Re: Dressing in your "palette"

#3 2008-10-08 15:28:14

Re: Dressing in your "palette"

#4 2008-10-08 16:05:48

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#5 2008-10-08 19:01:53

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#6 2008-10-08 19:43:42

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#7 2008-10-09 01:16:43

Re: Dressing in your "palette"

#8 2008-10-09 08:07:35

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#9 2008-10-09 08:30:16

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#10 2008-10-09 08:44:10

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#11 2008-10-09 08:53:37

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#12 2008-10-09 09:05:32

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#13 2008-10-09 09:07:54

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#14 2008-10-13 20:24:40

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