← Her Style Podcast | Shopping, Color Palettes, Fashion, Wardrobe, Outfits, Clothing
Her Style Podcast | Shopping, Color Palettes, Fashion, Wardrobe, Outfits, Clothing
278 | October Q&A: Color Tips for Darker Skin Tones, Polished Prints, and Pregnancy Closet Solutions
00:20:14
Happy October, friend! I’m feeling very lucky today because it’s not only officially my favorite month of the year, I also get to answer YOUR questions in today’s episode! I always love these monthly Q&A’s because they give me a chance to...
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- [00:00]
A
Happy October friend. I am feeling very lucky today because it's not only officially my favorite month of the year, I also get to answer your questions in today's episode. I always love these monthly Q&As because they give me a chance to connect more personally with you and cover exactly what you want to hear on the show. Did you ever wonder whether my color tips work on darker skin tones? If off white and cream is always the better choice for blondes, how to look classic and polished while experimenting with prints, or how to handle a closet clean out during pregnancy, especially in the early days before you're even showing. We're diving into all of this in today's episode. My goal is to help you, no matter your coloring, style preferences or season of life, find the practical answers and fresh clarity you need to approach your wardrobe with confidence. Right here on Her Style Podcast. So grab your coffee, settle in, and let's get into this month's Q and A. Welcome to Her Style Podcast where we're all about empowering you to show up and get dressed every day with confidence. I'm your host Heather Riggs, a 15 year and counting certified image consultant and color specialist ready to build a wardrobe and a personal style you love. Let's get started. Our first question question today came in from deann and it's so good. I honestly had a hard time waiting for today's episode to address this one. I was tempted to make it a whole episode all on its own, but deann wrote in and said many people always talk about getting to know your colors, except I've noticed that darker skin tones are not addressed and that's where I fall. I'm a darker skin toned African Canadian woman. I know that I get more compliments if I wear bright colors and brown colors. Just wash me out. It would be great to get tips and guidelines, even if off and on that relate to styling and choosing colors complementary to the darker skin tones. Like me out there. It may not be possible, but I thought I'd mention it. And deanne, I am so glad that you brought this up. You are absolutely right that a lot of seasonal color systems are not inclusive enough or customized well for women of color. And that is one of my biggest concerns with taking a more cookie cutter approach to putting a color palette together. And it's one of the many reasons why I moved away from that type of system. I just felt that it was limiting in a number of ways and I think it's so incredibly important to take a fully customized approach to color analysis and consider not only each woman's personal coloring, such as their complexion, but also your personality and your color preferences. There are so many nuances that go into creating a color palette that resonates with you on all levels. So first, I do want to clarify that whenever I show visual examples of the five skin tone types, and just to reiterate, they are cool, pink, neutral, pink, peach or olive or warm, peach or golden. So again, pink, pink, peach, olive, peach or golden, those are the five skin tone types. And I always provide images of women ranging from fair to darker complexions, because the truth is, you can fall into any of those categories. But regardless of the depth of your skin, it's not just about how light or dark you are. It's about your undertone and the overall temperature of your coloring. And we also wanna keep in mind your hair color and eye colors as well. Those do factor in when you're trying to figure out your best colors. Now, I gave a lot of descriptive examples in another podcast episode. I believe it was number 110. It was called Makeup Color Matching. To find your best foundation and lipstick colors, I'm going to link that one up for you in the show notes. You can also check out my website. There are some blog articles where I show demonstrations of the skin tone types. We also covered that in our recent Wardrobe Revamp bootcamp. But to your point, many darker complexions really do look stunning in bright, more saturated colors like cobalt blue, emerald green or magenta, things that are really vivid and bright because those hues are going to echo the richness of your skin. And yes, browns or certain beiges can sometimes feel dull. But if it's an equally intense or maybe even a warmer version, like cinnamon, a rich terracotta or a deep espresso, you might find that some of those options will bring out your glow, while more muted browns might feel a little bit off for you, or draining, as you said. And wearing your skin tone beige. Please hear me on this. Whether you have a light or dark complexion is tricky because you really have to get the color exactly right. Otherwise it can make you look washed out. But when you do get this one right, when you are wearing your perfect skin tone beiges, it's going to make you look more awake, refreshed and youthful. So the color psychology that I talk about here is the same. And I have been very fortunate to design color palettes for a wide range of women. No matter the skin tone, I will always, always provide your skin tone related colors, which are great for things like lingerie, color matching your cosmetics like concealer and foundation. And I also really love skin tone related colors for evening wear or pieces that have a little bit of texture or sheen because again, it's going to just help to brighten up your complexion, make you look really radiant and alive. So it is a powerful color to know and have in your palette, but again, there's a lot of nuance to it and we've got to make sure that we find the exact right options for you. I also love to provide your best blush pinks, which are admittedly harder to spot. If your skin tone is dark, you're not going to get that flushed look that makes it easy to pinpoint like after you go for a run or you get out of a hot shower. But you can base your blush colors off of your overall color temperature as I mentioned. And you could opt for cooler rosy pinks if you have a cool, almost blue black complexion. You might want to opt for more neutral coral pinks if you have a deep pink, peach or olive skin tone or more orange based pinks like salmon and peach if you have a dark peach or golden complexion. Wearing your best blush pink colors is going to help you to create a romantic and approachable outfit which is going to be perfect for a date night or lunch with your girlfriends or any occasions where you might be interacting with a lot of new people. So again, this is an important color to know, no matter your skin tone level or type. And here is the key takeaway. Color psychology works the same across all skin tone types and levels. The right colors will bring light to your face, smoothness to your skin and clarity to your eyes. And if you're getting more compliments in brighter tones, that is confirmation of what flatters you best. So please trust that. I do find that most women have a pretty innate sense of what works well for them. And if I ever have the opportunity to design design a color palette for you, Deanne, I will be thrilled to include colors that make you feel your very best.
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B
Hi Heather, I'm Charlotte and I'm from Australia, Sydney. I love your podcast. Thank you so much. And I love the one about confidence and yeah, and perfectionism. I thought it was brilliant. Just a quick one. I'm really pale with blonde hair and I like wearing white, but I don't know if it drains me. I do wear a bright pop of lipstick so I do get color. But what do you think? Can blonde with pale skin get away with white or should I go for more of a softer cream? Thanks Heather. You're brilliant and I really appreciate your podcast.
- [07:45]
A
Well, that just made my day. Thank you, Charlotte. And this is so fun. I love answering all of these amazing color questions. I know pure white can feel so crisp and classic, but it can also be a little bit tricky to pull off. And a true bright white can sometimes highlight shadows in the skin or make pale blondes look washed out. It can also show just discoloration in the whites of your eyes or your teeth. So if you do want a softer and more foolproof option, then ivory or cream does tend to be more universally flattering for fair complexions. That said, I never want you to give up a color you love, and you're already styling it beautifully with a pop of lipstick. That's really going to help to bring some warmth and balance back to your face. And it's also going to create a level of separation between, let's say, a white top and the whites of your teeth, for example. So you're right on track here. I think there are a few other ways that you can make bright whites work even better for you, potentially. I haven't seen a photo of you, so I don't know. That could absolutely be your best white, but if you're asking this question, my gut tells me you're not too sure about it. So you can also layer whites with a jacket or a sweater in one of your best colors near your face. Anytime you can pop one of your better colors closer to your face, that's really going to help your outfit look amazing on you. You could also try wearing bright white in smaller doses, maybe with the use of a handbag or some shoes or a layering tank or a smaller accessory. Or you could choose textured fabrics like lace eyelet or knits, so that the white feels a little bit softer just because of the texture that it's in. My feeling is that, bottom line, blondes can absolutely wear bright pure white. As with everything, it's all about how you style it. So, Charlotte, I hope that that empowers you to continue wearing the colors you love and hopefully find some even better ways to make them look more flattering on you. Okay, so our next question was submitted by email from our friend Phyllis, and she said, I love to wear patterns, and since I sew, I can make whatever I want. However, pattern pants or blouses, usually floral, in pink, blue, or purple, never look as polished as neutrals. Do I have to choose between wearing patterns and colors that I love and looking polished and classic? I love this question, too. You guys really brought some good stuff for this episode. And I want to say first of all Phyllis, I'm totally jealous of you. I think it's so cool that you can sew your own pieces. That is not a gift that I possess and it gives you such freedom to create exactly what you want for your wardrobe. So to answer your question, I want to assure you you don't have to choose between loving prints or your favorite colors and looking polished. I think again, the secret is in the styling. So here are a few things that I would recommend. I would limit the print to one area of your outfit, so if you are wearing pattern pants, balance them with a neutral top or vice versa and then always stick with timeless silhouettes. This is going to relate to your personal style so beautifully as well. But a floral blouse and a tailored button down cut is going to look far more polished and than a slouchy T shirt or an oversized sweater. Just as an example. You can also pair your prints with structured or elegant pieces just to dress everything up a little bit and give it more of a finished look. So you might want to pair a printed floral top with a sharp blazer, a sleek skirt or some refined jewelry just to instantly elevate the overall presentation of your outfit and then stick to patterns that feel timeless and refined. So in general I think it's probably safest to stick with small to medium scale prints. Nothing too wild or oversized like florals. As you mentioned, paisley is a very timeless print. You could also try argyle, stripes, houndstooth, polka dots and plaid. I also think some animal prints like leopard can actually read as more of a neutral. So that's a really safe bet if you want something that looks like a pattern but also works as more of a neutral color for your closet. I know you mentioned also wanting to opt for things that are in pinks, purples and blues. So I would recommend highly that you explore some different brands like J. Crew or Ralph Lauren. They use bold colors, fun prints, but they still manage to maintain a really polished and timeless aesthetic. So you can absolutely do both. I would encourage you to get out there, look for some inspiration and then have some fun sewing away my friend. I would love to see a photo of your next masterpiece so please follow up with me by email. Or you could post a photo in our free Facebook community which you can join@herstyle llc.com community hi Heather, my name is Savannah.
- [12:40]
C
I love your buying less but better approach. I am a clothes lover and have so many and I have been on a mission this year to clean out from your style quiz. I have a most Classic style with some natural and elegant elements. My go to looks are dresses or put together athleisure. My shape is an hourglass or a pear. Part of my cleanout has been getting rid of clothes that don't do much for my shape, especially shift style dresses or longer tops that hide my waist well. Now I'm pregnant. I'm nine weeks so not showing yet except an increase in bust. But now I'm at a loss. Do I continue my clean out when I know my body will be changing? What do I do to make room in my closet for maternity clothes when I need them? Do women typically store away pre pregnancy clothes or keep them mixed in the closet, especially early pregnancy? Should I wait to donate those shift dresses and longer tops because they may be things to wear with an early bump? Do you have favorite maternity brands that align with my style? I appreciate any advice you can offer.
- [13:43]
A
Thank you Savannah. Congratulations, sweet friend. Pregnancy is such an exciting season and I know that it can throw a curveball when it comes to your wardrobe, but we are going to make sure that you are set up for success. So here's my advice. I would continue with your closet clean out, but you might want to use a little bit more discretion along the way. So my thought is that it would serve you well to create three categories. The first one is going to be pieces to keep in rotation. These are things that will work now and throughout your pregnancy, like those shift dresses, longer tops, wrap styles and things with stretchy fabrics. I'm getting ahead of myself, but I do want you to let go of anything that's not a great color that's looking worn out or dated or that you know you are not going to want to reach for even with the inevitable physical changes that are coming your way. The second category that you can set up is store for later. These are pre pregnancy pieces that you love but you won't wear for the next nine months or so. I want you to go ahead and box them up, set them aside so that your closet feels manageable. You can make some breathing room for new pieces. And I will tell you I made the mistake of squeezing into a lot of my non maternity pieces for far too long into my pregnancy and they never regained their shapes. So I ruined a lot of my favorite pieces. I want you to learn from my mistake. Once your clothes are starting to feel a little bit tight or you are noticing that they are stretching as you're putting them on, go ahead and pack them away so that you can revisit them a little bit later. Down the road. And then the third category that you're gonna set up for yourself are those donation items or pieces that you're gonna get rid of. Those, again are things that don't flatter you, that don't fit with your signature style anymore. You don't need to settle even in your pregnancy stage of life as well. We wanna make sure that you're bringing in that you feel excited to wear, that light you up, that bring out your best. So again, to your point, we want less but better. So you're going to keep some things in your rotation, you're going to store some things for later, and then you're going to donate whatever doesn't serve you now or inevitably in the future. This is going to help you make some space for a small maternity capsule wardrobe. You do not need a huge collection. You just want to pick up a few versatile basics that are going to work for your classic natural and elegant style types. And the bonus of having that is your key style is that the pieces that you pick up now should essentially work for you if you have future pregnancies down the road. So if you are sticking with those timeless basics, you'll be able to wear them again and again and not have to worry about having too many trend focused items in your maternity capsule. Now, you didn't mention anything about your budget or your ideal price point, so I know this feels a bit risky, but I am going to oblige and give you a few brands that you might want to check out as you are doing some maternity shopping, which is such a fun thing to do and a way to celebrate this special time in your life. So a few that you might want to explore are Hatch Collection, Isabella Oliver, Ingrid and Isabelle Seraphine, which is actually a UK brand. They're based in London, but they have some really pretty dress options, so you might want to check them out too. And then you can even explore brands like H M or Quince, they have maternity wear as well. Or you could check some rental sites like Nuuly for affordable maternity pieces that you can rent and return that will allow you to bring a few extra things, maybe opt for a couple of seasonal trends, but without the long term commitment. And yes, just to reiterate, I do think it would be smart to hang on to some of those shift dresses and the longer tops for a little bit if they're otherwise in flattering colors and fabrics. If you like them, you're just not sure about the shape for you, then I would hold on to them because they will probably be perfect for later in your first and then in your second trimester as well. I think that could be a good option and if you don't end up loving them, just get rid of them in a couple months. Now I also do have a full maternity 101 episode that I'm going to link for you in the show notes as well. So I hope this gives you a lot of support with buying less and shopping smarter for your maternity collection. And above all, enjoy this temporary stage. It will go fast. It may not feel like it. What do they say? The days are long but the years are short. And I have no doubt that you are going to be a beautifully dressed mom to be. So congrats again Savannah and thank you so much for sending in that question. And friend, that's it. That wraps up our Q and A for today. So I want to thank Deanne, Charlotte, Phyllis and Savannah for submitting their questions for this month's Q and A. If you have a question that you would love for me to cover in our next episode, you can always record a quick voice memo using the Speak Pipe plugin which you can find@herstylellc.com podcast or you can send an email to supportherstylellc.com I would love to know what you're wrestling with or curious about when it comes to your wardrobe, so tackle it right here together. And of course, if you want deeper support to fully transform your style and get one of those custom color palettes that I'm always talking about. Her Style Collective is where we do all of this work step by step so you can feel confident and clear about exactly what to buy, what to wear, how to put it all together, and how to show up as the best version of yourself every single day. I would love to team up with you inside this program and you can get all the details@herstylellc.com collective. I know I just threw a whole lot of links at you so everything will be right there in the show notes for your convenience. And friend, I've had so much fun hanging out with you today. Thank you for listening and make sure you reach out with your toughest style challenge so I can help you solve it in our next Q and A episode coming up in a month, which will be here before you know it. Thank you for listening to today's episode. If you want to stop copying everyone else style and start dialing in your own swoon worthy signature look, head over to take my free 5 minute personal style quiz which you can find at the link in the show Notes. If you've enjoyed our time together, please be sure to rate, review and subscribe to her style podcast so you never miss an episode. Finally, I invite you to make this a two way conversation and send me a DM over on Instagram eatherigs Style to let me know how I can best support you on your style journey. I'm always here for you in style and service. Until next time.