Tone on Tone

casual chic over 50

So, this is a feeble attempt to counteract the mismatched reds in my last post. Or an antidote to it, whatever.

In any case, I’ve gone full on tone on tone, matchy-matchy here. Look, I even matched the background to the outfit! OK, that was pure co-incidence (it’s not exactly difficult to find pastel-coloured buildings in Helsinki…).

I chose berry, burgundy and blush tones mainly because my wardrobe is full of clothes in these colours. Why? Because these colours really flatter my natural colouring and always make me look my best.

One thing that blogging has taught me is that I should listen to my intuition when it comes to colours. I know what suits me. And I should stick with that.

tone on tone 1300 x 1300

casual chic over 50

However, every now and then I get bored (with my wardrobe, my favourite colours, life, whatever…) and decide to try something wildly different. 

Of course, it’s OK to try new things (and clothes, and colours), but I usually end up with an odd collection of items in weird colours that, in retrospect, only make me want to scream ‘what was I thinking‘. You know, like a top with funny sleeves in mustard yellow, or chartreuse, or neon green (been there, done that, hid the evidence). In other words, items that looked fantastic on someone else, but made me look a bit sickly at best, and a total fashion victim with zero taste at worst.

So, next time you find me going on and on about the latest colour-of-the-moment and how I’m going to ‘make it work‘ for me, please remind me that putting together an outfit shouldn’t be so difficult, and the right colours always look good without trying too hard.

berry shades

Outfit details:
jacket: KappAhl (old) / top: Esprit / trousers: Marks and Spencer (old) /
bag: Coach (old) / gloves: Sauso / scarf: A + more / shoes: Nero Giardini (old)

Tiina

What are your best colours?

Linking up with:

Not Dead Yet StyleElegantly Dressed and StylishHigh Latitude StyleStyle ElixirA Labour of LifeCurly Crafty MomFashion Should Be FunColor and GraceThe Wardrobe StylistNot Dressed As LambStyle NudgeLiving on Cloud NineA Well Styled LifeElegance and MommyhoodPosh Classy MomNancy’s Fashion StyleShelbee on the EdgeA Pocketful of Polka Dots Style SplashThe Fashionista MommaTina’s Pink Friday, Away from the BlueMummabstylish , Living on Cloud NineMutton Years Style and I

22 Comments

  1. debwlv
    4 December 2019 / 4:51 am

    Once again, everything you said in this post rings true to me! I’m getting there, slowly but surely….As I detest shopping, it’s getting easier and easier to stick with the tried and true and leave the experimenting to others. Love those colors on you and, as you said, the outfit works effortlessly for that very reason….thanks for sharing,,,

    • Tiina
      Author
      11 December 2019 / 12:52 pm

      Thanks, Deb! I know what you mean about hating shopping… It’s hopeless trying to find something specific. But if I’m just browsing, not looking for anything, or don’t even need anything in particular, I often come across something I really like. It’s as if my mind is open to new ideas when I’m relaxed and not fixated on a goal.

  2. 4 December 2019 / 11:06 am

    woww, I love so much those rich burgundy shades and you’re so brilliant picking them and making them look so fabulous on you!. You’re right, choosing colours that make us look (and feel) better is key. All we have those ‘what was I thinking’ moments, after buying something in a color which doesn’t flatter and never will do. I think that blush or pastels make me look sick, so I usually pick jewel tones. They are my favourite ones!.
    besos

    • Tiina
      Author
      11 December 2019 / 12:56 pm

      Thanks, Monica! You’re always so sweet.
      Yes, these are good colours for me: soft, muted, yet saturated. I love jewel tones, too. But blush, I would never wear it next to my face (because it’s basically the same shade as my face), but I find it makes a great colour for ‘neutral’ accessories. It’s a great substitute for beige.

  3. Flora
    4 December 2019 / 5:51 pm

    It’s tempting to buy a colour that you love but doesn’t do anything for you. I remember when I was young a fashion for coffee and cream combination which looks great if you are a Mediterranean beauty with matte olive skin but although I was a brunette/auburn I got my pale skin from my red headed Irish Grannie. I looked awful. Your outfit is great for a December day.

    • Tiina
      Author
      11 December 2019 / 12:58 pm

      Oh I know what you mean! Whenever I look for style inspiration, I always pick those coffee and cream outfits. Of course, the women wearing them tend to have olive skin (and I certainly don’t), so they look amazing. And if I try to wear these colours, I just look tired and worn out…

  4. voguefauxreal
    4 December 2019 / 6:36 pm

    Apparently everything in the red spectrum works for you….burgundy….pink…red – because you look fabulous! I’m in love with that Coach bag and the striped shirt and the gloves!

    Ruth
    https://voguefauxreal.com/2019/12/01

    • Tiina
      Author
      11 December 2019 / 1:00 pm

      Thanks Ruth! Yes, most cold red tones work for me; the warm orangy-red tones not so much.

  5. 5 December 2019 / 5:16 am

    We’re twinkies! I wore the same shade of red today, too! Thanks for linking up with The Style Six!

    • Tiina
      Author
      11 December 2019 / 1:01 pm

      It’s a great colour, isn’t it? Thanks!

    • Tiina
      Author
      11 December 2019 / 1:01 pm

      Thanks, Mireille!

  6. 6 December 2019 / 6:18 am

    You look stunning in burgundy. It’s such a great neutral color. In winter, it’s a nice change with respect to the gray and black everyone is wearing. Looks like you had already your first -25C. We have -27C right now.Why is it that the first cold snap always feels so bad?

    • Tiina
      Author
      11 December 2019 / 1:04 pm

      Thanks, Nicole. Yes, burgundy is one of my favourite winer colours, and so much gentler on the skin than grey.
      It is cold in Alaska! But You’re used to it, right?
      It hardly ever gets so cold here (up north for sure, but not here in the south). It was around freezing or just below when these pictures were taken, so it wasn’t so bad.

  7. 8 December 2019 / 4:03 pm

    Oh too funny – as I think yes, maybe lots of us have been in the “I LOVE that colour” moment with a new and exciting colour and then sadly realizing that colour DOES NOT love us, and yes, I am a cool colours person – put me in mustard or chartreuse or rust and I look horrific. Put me in “winter colours” cold and bright and pure and I look human – give me raspberry, fuschia, blues and cold greens and I am happy, as to what to do with those pesky colours that tug our heart strings and do us no favours – hmmm I don’t know as they dont look good on. Still I content myself with all the colours I can wear dont necessarily look good on someone else – and there are plenty of colours for everyone

    • Tiina
      Author
      11 December 2019 / 1:08 pm

      And isn’t it infuriating when shops only have clothes in colours that don’t suit you? Everywhere you look you see nothing but rust and mustard and some weird shade of green that looks like baby puke… And when you see all of that often enough, you start thinking that OK, that’s all there is, you’ll just have to adjust, and make it work. As if it was that easy…

  8. 9 December 2019 / 12:52 pm

    So true Tiina, most of us do know what colours suit us but step outside these colours anyway from time to time, usually with the same result, total fail. You always wear those jewel tones so beautifully .

    • Tiina
      Author
      11 December 2019 / 1:09 pm

      Thanks, Jill. Well, a little experimenting is good, of course. But often it leads to those ‘what was I thinking’ moments soon afterwards.

  9. shelbeeontheedge1
    10 December 2019 / 5:28 pm

    Oh we have all fallen victim to that “I am going to make this work” mentality, haven’t we?! There are certain colors that are absolutely brilliant on me, some that are decent and look good, and others that are just horrific. I have gotten better at eliminating the horrific no matter how much I WANT them to work but I still wear many that are decent and not enough that are brilliant. Just yesterday, I tried on a bright red winter hat and was like, “Woah! Why am I not wearing this color every single day?” I bought the hat, of course. And I need a new hat like I need a new head. (Actually, I probably could benefit from a new head these days.) Anyway, these burgundy and blush tones are gorgeous on you. But you already knew that! Keep styling away, my friend, in your very own amazing way! Thanks for linking up and making me chuckle.

    Shelbee
    http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com

    • Tiina
      Author
      11 December 2019 / 1:11 pm

      Thanks!
      And yes, you absolutely needed that hat. Anything that makes you look (and feel) fabulous is worth it.

  10. 16 December 2019 / 10:18 am

    Such a great monochromatic outfit! You do look great in burgundy! I agree we should wear what makes us happy! 🙂 I like your bag too!

    Thanks for joining the #WeekdayWearLinkup! A new link up is live on my blog now, I’d love you to join again 🙂
    Hope that you had a great weekend 🙂 We went to the movies and another Christmas party.

    • Tiina
      Author
      17 December 2019 / 4:59 pm

      Thanks, Mica.

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