You’ve seen these fashion headlines: “Find Your Perfect Little Black Dress” or “Basic Black Makes Basic Sense” or “Feeling Chubby? Wear Black!” 

Maybe it’s time to authorize a moratorium on black and give yourself a chance to lighten or brighten up. Are you ready to explore the sea of color? Ask yourself the following questions:

• Are you tired of only bringing black garments into your dressing room?

• Was black once edgy and exciting to you but now it’s dull and boring?

• Are you fed up with blending in and now you’re ready to make a statement?

• Has black been your ‘go to’ color for decades but now it’s appearing to make you look older and more tired?

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions then it’s time to dip into some new color options. The first step is to find colors that resonate with you. You could start with colors that relate to your skin, hair, or eye tone. Or, let yourself fall in love with a brand new color, one your wardrobe has never seen. There are so many colors to choose from. Where do you even begin?

Color inspiration

Here are some ideas to get you exploring:

Home decorating magazines are a great way to discover new hues. The exquisitely photographed rooms usually have great color schemes. Sometimes they revolve around one hue but then they’ll add accent colors that make everything look fabulous. Rip out the pages that inspire you.

Look around your house. What colors pop out at you? Are they in your favorite porcelain floral teacup, your favorite print rug, or your favorite patterned table linens? Maybe they’re in your favorite painting. Someone was paid a lot of money to design that color combination that really works. Why not capitalize on their terrific efforts and consider wearing some of these colors in a new outfit.

Dipping your toe into color

Start small by adding pops of color in accessories. Bracelets, beads, bags and scarves are all a place to begin your new color collection. If you love blue, here are a few examples.  Or, try another color that's been tempting you.

Wading in color

Ready to take color a step farther? Find a nice blouse in a new hue that you love and pair it with a jacket and pant. May I suggest something in a French blue, jade green, soft yellow or rosy pink? Or brighten up black basics or other neutrals by adding a skirt in a more vibrant color like royal blue, violet, coral, sunflower yellow, or red.

Making a big splash with color

Ready to dive into color headfirst? Try pairing interesting color combos together. As an example, see the possibility of a pewter grey jacket with a lemon-lime blouse or a turquoise blouse paired with white pants and a navy blue boyfriend jacket. 

Do you need color floaties?

If you need some help staying afloat in the sea of color, I'd love to help. Getting out of a color rut can be very challenging. You don’t have to do it alone. Let’s find the right color mix for your wardrobe. I know you'll enjoy the benefits that color brings!  Here's the way to get started and register for your analysis.