choosing flattering colors

Why Can’t You Let Go of Your Old Clothes?

June 2, 2013 by Nancy Goldblatt 2 Comments

I have a confession. I have great difficulty getting rid of my old clothes even when they no longer fit me.

Do you have old or not so old, clothes you never wear, taking up precious space in your closets?

If you knew which items were really treasures that could be altered or matched with other pieces and which clothes were not flattering would it be easier to let go?

Do your old clothes represent all the unfulfilled hopes and dreams you had when you wore or hoped to wear those clothes?

It’s especially hard for me to let go of my clothes because everything I have purchased in the last 20 years, since I got trained by Joanna Nicholson, as a Color 1 Associate, is the right color and the right style for my body shape.

A few years ago I went to a quilt show at the Walters Art Gallery in Baltimore, Maryland. The quilters were from Gee’s Bend, Alabama. The quilts were very beautiful.

There was a quote from one of the quilters, I will never forget. The quilter wrote,” I used to be poor and I had to use old clothes for my quilts. Now I have more money and I can buy new fabric, but I still use fabrics from old clothes because the energy of the people who wore the clothes is still in the fabric.”

Maybe by letting go of our old clothes, we fear the energy that represents all of our old hopes and dreams will disappear.

Do you have trouble “letting go,” of your old clothes? Do you know why it’s hard to let go of them?

When you know what colors and styles are flattering,you can Store those items that no longer work for you and make room for clothes that really suit you.

Comments welcome.

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Nancy Goldblatt, Wardrobe Wizard can help you decide what clothes to keep and what to give away. She is available to work with you on-line if you don’t live in Baltimore and surrounding areas or in-person if you are local.

Nancy is a Color 1 Associate and for over 20 years has helped women whose size and shape has changed to choose their best styles and colors.</strong> <strong>Contact her at: Nancy@wardrobewiz.com, or 410-235-5325

Too Old, Too Plump, Too Short To Become An Image Consultant?

February 10, 2012 by Nancy Goldblatt Leave a Comment

Nancy2-001 — Nancy Goldblatt, Wardrobe Wizard

Have you secretly wanted to become an Image Consultant but think you are too old? I wanted to become an Image Consultant when I was in my 30’s but thought I was too old, too short and too fat. It took me 10 years to overcome my gremlins. I hope it won’t take you so long, if this is a dream of yours.

Story About A 85 Year Old Color 1 Associate

Joyce Harris, another Color 1 Associate who previously was in charge of makeup orders told me this story last year. Another Color 1 Associate aged 85 sells makeup like crazy. She lives in a senior citizens building and has a large client base. I don’t know how long she has been an Associate, but if she was trained when Joanna Nicholson and Judy Lewis Crum started Color 1, 35 years ago she would have been 50 years old or older when she got trained.

Joyce told me the dilemma this Color 1 Associate was facing was that her clients were asking her if they should wear more pastel or toned down colors since they were getting older. They had heard a myth that as we get older we should change the color’s in makeup and clothes that we wear. She had told them not to change their colors as they got older, but they were having difficulty believing her.

I suggested to Joyce that she tell this Associate to take a picture of each of her clients with the right makeup and clothing colors and then take a second picture with more pastel makeup and clothing colors and let them see the difference.

Wardrobe Wizard Tip

You can do this also when you go shopping for new clothes. Its difficult to be objective when you look in a mirror, but when you see a picture of yourself its easier to be objective because it’s like looking at someone else.

Use your camera phone or a digital camera when trying on clothes to help you determine which colors and styles flatter you. You will be surprised at how much easier it is to use a camera rather than a mirror when choosing flattering colors and styles.

Are you interested in being trained as an Image Consultant? The best training around is from Color 1 Associates. The next training is on the East Coast in Boston, Mass. , Feb 27th -Mar 3, 2012. Be sure to let Leslie Stott know you heard about the training from the Wardrobe Wizard, Nancy Goldblatt

News Release

Color 1 Associates, is holding a 6 day training of new Color 1 Associates, Feb 27 – Mar 3 in Boston, MA. Contact Leslie@thecolorlady.com. Although this training is perfect for Stylists, Image Consultants, & the beauty industry, many take this training for the knowledge it provides. (Photographers, artists, decorators, seamstresses) Time is of the essence, there is some pre-studying to be done.

What’s keeping you from following your dreams? Please comment, I promise to respond to your questions and comments.___________________________________________

“The Wardrobe Wizard,” is available to work with you no matter where you live. If you live in Baltimore, Md or surrounding areas she can work with you in person. If you live other places, she can work with you on-line using digital pictures.

After a woman works with “The Wardrobe Wizard,”she will have a wallet of her best colors and styles, and a pared down closet. She will learn how to mix and match her best looks so she can get dressed “lickety split,” and look great everyday.

“The Wardrobe Wizard,” also works with younger women and is available to work with men. She was trained by Joanna Nicholson, founder of Color 1 Associates, an International Image & Style Company.

Nancy@WardrobeWiz.com, 410-513-9496, WWW.WardrobeWiz.com

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Secrets Of Choosing A Flattering Purse, by Nancy Goldblatt, The Wardrobe Wizard, revised © 2012

January 22, 2012 by Nancy Goldblatt 9 Comments

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Here are four tips for choosing a purse that will flatter you. You will need to consider color, scale, shape and where the purse sits on your body.

COLOR

Because our eyes automatically search for colors to be repeated, when you carry a purse that repeats one of your natural body colors (hair, skin or eyes) you will look visually pleasing and be able to wear this purse with everything you own. (Best choice is hair color if your skin is light and skin color, if your skin is dark)

SIZE

2. Here is a way to find a good size purse that will be in proportion to your body. Spread your fingers apart with your thumbs touching and measure horizontally from little finger to little finger. This measurement is the widest or tallest your purse should be to be in proportion to your body. You can also measure your hand from your wrist crease to the end of your longest finger. This could be the depth, height or width of your purse. (If your hands are in proportion to your body these suggestions will work for you.)

STRAP LENGTH

3. If you can adjust strap length, adjust your purse to end at a place on your body that is the narrowest. For example if you carry your weight in the lower half of your body, and have a defined waistline, shorten the straps so your purse stops at your waist. If you are top-heavy, lengthen straps so your purse stops at your lower hip or thigh. (If your strap is not adjustable, take it to a shoe repair store, have the strap cut and resewn to the correct length)

SHAPE

4. A purse that has some softness and some straightness is best for most bodies. If you have a very angular (straight body) and angular face, you can choose a purse with sharp angles. If you have a curvy body ( with very obvious waist definition and a more curved or round face then you can wear a purse that is more soft and curved. See purse examples below :

IMG_1174 (1) — straight, structured purse best for someone with undefined waist and angular face shape

purses 01.08.12 196 — purse has some straightness and some softness

Curved purse best for someone with a curvy body and oval or round face

TRENDS

Recent purse trends include super sized handbags, clutch bags, vintage, brightly colored and metallic bags. If you are petite, a very large handbag may dwarf you and if you are a plus size an over sized bag may emphasize parts you don’t want emphasized.

If you do choose a brightly colored purse, try to repeat the color in your outfit at least once or twice. This repetition of color can be done with a scarf, shoes, or belt. As stated before our eyes unconsciously search for repetition of color and this will help you to look more pulled together.

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57A30B542C5EDA6CAFAA6BC283410890.tomcat1 — Nancy, Wardrobe Wizard

Nancy Goldblatt is available to work with you no matter where you live. If you live in Baltimore, Md or surrounding areas she can work with you in person. If you live other places, she can work with you on-line using digital pictures.

“The Wardrobe Wizard,” also works with younger women and is available to work with men. She was trained by Joanna Nicholson, founder of Color 1 Associates, an International Image & Style Company.

Nancy@WardrobeWiz.com, 410-513-9496, WWW.WardrobeWiz.com

Wonder Why You Feel Self Conscious?

October 12, 2011 by Nancy Goldblatt Leave a Comment

Are you self conscious about your appearance?

Or do you have a friend or relative who is self conscious?

I want to share with you a story and a theory as to why a person might be self conscious.

When I was younger, before I became an Image Consultant, I was dating a guy named George.

I was waiting for George to pick me up. I had a few minutes and I laid down to take a quick nap.

When I woke up I looked in my magnifying mirror to check my makeup.

I was horrified to see the beginnings of a pimple on the end of my nose.

My doorbell rang and I had no time to pop the pimple and camouflage it with makeup.

George greeted me with,

“You look nice tonight.”

“No I don’t, I have a pimple on the end of my nose. “ George squinted at me.

“I can’t see it.”

“Well it’s there, right on the end of my nose.”

George still could not see it.

I admit, that George’s eye sight was not the greatest.

On the other hand, I have eyes like an eagle.

I see every little detail, especially my flaws.

Even as a child, I would notice the smallest flaws in my appearance.

I would also notice when other people looked bad or looked good.

I thought everyone was as visually aware as me.

When I read the book,” How Your Child Is Smart,” by Dawna Markova, I discovered that not everyone is as visually aware as me.

I used to think my self-consciousness was entirely due to my mother being so critical of me.

I now believe my “learning style,” how my brain is wired, was the other contributing factor.

Have you been self-conscious since you were a child?

The way you process information may be the cause.

I will try to explain about learning styles in the next few paragraphs.

We all use our eyes,(visual sense) our bodies (kinesthetic sense) and our voices and ears (auditory senses) to learn.

There are six different learning styles or learning orders according to Dawna Markova, teacher, therapist and author of many books including “Your Child Is Smart.”

The order in which we use our senses determines how we are smartest, what makes us feel balanced and what sense is the slowest to come but most deeply felt.

In her book,”Your Child Is Smart,” Dawna Markova describes these 6 different learning patterns. The difference in learning styles, is the order in which we use our senses.

There is a front or conscious sense (the way we “bite,” into information) and how we are most aware of whats going on outside of us.

The middle or next sense uses the sub-conscious to help us be aware of both inside and outside and sort information.

The third step in processing information into our brains and bodies is called the unconscious or back channel, It is the slowest to come but often the most creative part of us and the most deeply felt.

Two of the six learning patterns begin with the Visual pattern. These are VKA- Visual, Kinesthetic and Auditory and VAK,- Visual Auditory and Kinesthetic.

If you have the VKA or VAK pattern, you will be visually aware, and you are likely to be self-conscious.

When you have this learning style, you feel what you see.

When I got trained as a Color 1, Personal Image Consultant and learned how to use color and proportion to look visually balanced, something amazing happened.

Because of my VKA learning style, and feeling what I see, when I looked in the mirror, and I saw that I was visually balanced, my feelings of self-consciousness began to disappear.

If any of those old negative messages tape recorded in my brain pop up, I take a deep breath and use “positive self talk,” to turn off the messages.

My old self consciousness has been replaced by self-confidence.

Before I knew how to put myself together using color and proportion to look visually pleasing, I felt self-conscious.

Now, because I know I look visually balanced, I can leave the house and not feel self-conscious.

If you are self-conscious about your appearance, especially if you have felt that way since you were young, it’s likely that you are visually smart.

Here are some other indications that you are visually smart.

Do you learn best by reading or watching
Do you feel energized when you write
Are you comfortable with direct and sustained direct eye contact
Do you organize by writing lists?

If are visually aware, you still use your kinesthetic and auditory senses , but in order to process information, you first have to see something or at least visualize it in your imagination.

Does this sound like you?

If you are self-conscious about your appearance, this does not mean you have low self esteem or that you are self-centered. It’s more likely that the self-consciousness comes from the way your brain is wired to process information.

I have talked in past posts about the magic that happened for me when I discovered what colors and styles looked good on me.

You can have this magic too.

The way to overcome self consciousness is to get educated about what looks good on you.

When you learn how to look visually balanced, using flattering colors and styles, you can replace self consciousness with self confidence.

Want to know what your learning style is?

Get “Your Child Is Smart,” by Dawna Markova or go to her website,www.Smartwired.org.

The website is targeted towards parents who want to understand their children.

If you want to understand your “Inner Child,” I highly recommend ,” Your Child Is Smart.” I believe this was Dawna’s first book. She has written about 6 or 7 books but I found her first book the easiest to understand.

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Think you might be ready to replace self-consciousness with self-confidence? To far away to meet in person?

Call or e-mail to set up a Complimentary 20 minute telephone consult. The telephone consult I am currently offering is FREE, with no obligation, but I only have a few of these slots available each month.

The purpose of the telephone consult is to help you determine what your fashion personality is and to help me better understand what your needs are. Say goodbye to those, “Nothing to wear moments.” I am now doing long distance consultations using the telephone, and digital pictures sent on-line.

__________________________________________________________

Nancy Goldblatt, “The Wardrobe Wizard,” is a “Color 1,” Personal Image Consultant who specializes in working with mid-life women whose size and shape has changed and who have too many clothes and “nothing to wear.” After a woman works with “The Wardrobe Wizard,”she will have a wallet of her best colors and styles, and a pared down closet. She will learn how to mix and match her best looks so she can get dressed “lickety split,” and look great everyday.

Nancy@WardrobeWiz.com, 410-513-9496, WWW.WardrobeWiz.com

“The Wardrobe Wizard,” also works with younger women and is available to work with men. She was trained by Joanna Nicholson, founder of Color 1 Associates an International Image & Style Company.

Where does it lie? (angelheartlee.wordpress.com)
Blog post by Kay Couture (fashionindustrynetwork.com)

Lipstick, How To Choose A Flattering Color

January 4, 2011 by Nancy Goldblatt Leave a Comment

bobbibrown_hollywoodred001 — Bright red lipstick from Bobbi Brown

I recently ran into a longtime client of mine. I noticed she looked tired. She was wearing her best clothing colors and I wondered if she had been sick. I looked at her more carefully and realized why she did not look so good.

It was her lipstick color. She told me she could not get her favorite colored lip pencil anymore and settled for something that was similar. She thought it was similar, but it was much too brown and much too dark.

I told her that the brown lip color did not flatter her. It made her teeth look yellow and her lips looked more wrinkled.

I asked her to try an experiment and put on a lipstick I had sold her previously. This lipstick was a more of a” toned down red”. When she put this flattering lip color on, she immediately got her sparkle back.

"toned down red lipstick" — toned down red lipstick

Brown lipstick will not look good on your unless your lips are naturally brown and your teeth are very white. Cindy Crawford, a Victoria’s Secret Model from the 1990’s, is an example of someone who does look good in brown lipstick.

The makeup industry has been promoting fire engine red lipstick and most recently I have seen ads showing nude color lipstick.

If you look good in “fire engine red lipstick,” you will probably not look good in nude or brown lipstick and visa versa.

With so many choices of lipstick colors, how do you choose a flattering color?

Look at the inside color of your bottom lip. How bright or dull a red or pink is it? You can use this color as a guide when you choose a lipstick. You can go one or two shades darker than this color. Do not go lighter than this color, or more brown or brighter or duller than your inner lip color.

When you choose a color that is an extension of your natural lip color, this color will always be flattering. This will make you look “visually balanced.” When you look “visually balanced,” you appear more attractive. Research has shown that more attractive people are automatically assumed to be intelligent, and honest. When we feel attractive its easier to feel and act confident.

Still unsure which lipstick colors flatter you? With a color analysis you can get a wallet with 40-50 of your most flattering colors from Nancy Goldblatt, Wardrobe Wizard of Baltimore. This wallet includes several shades of your best lipstick and blush colors.

No matter what your age, size or shape you can create an attractive,” visually pleasing appearance.” by wearing flattering colors and flattering styles of clothing.

Nancy Goldblatt, Personal Image Consultant & The Wardrobe Wizard of Baltimore, Maryland is a Color 1 Associate with over 20 years of experience. She is available to do your colors if you live in the Baltimore, Washington corridor. Contact her at 410-235-5325 or nrgoldblatt@gmail.com (Learn to shop your closet and eliminate what doesn’t work, learn to mix and match in new ways and find out what you need to fill in your wardrobe gaps).

Looking Good In Cold Weather

December 17, 2010 by Nancy Goldblatt 3 Comments

Its the middle of December and its below zero and there is snow on the ground in Baltimore. I have seen lots of people so bundled up that only their eyes are showing.

If you care about your appearance but still want to stay warm when you venture out on very cold days, here are some guidelines that will enable you to still look visually pleasing.

1. Wear shoes or boots that repeats the color on your head. If you are wearing a hat, repeat your hat color or if you have lots of hair that shows, choose shoes or boots that are hair color. This will visually help you to look “pulled together.” Our eyes automatically search for repeated colors. When you wear a hat and shoes that are the same color the eye travels up and down to the repeated colors and this is relaxing to the eyes.

Here are a few examples: With a hat or hair that is dark brown wear boots or shoes that are dark brown. If you have a moss green hat, that you love, try to find moss green boots. If your hair is black and lots of hair shows even with your hat on, consider black boots or shoes.

2. Choose a coat color that is flattering to your skin. (Note : not everyone looks good in black). But if you already have a black coat choose a neck scarf that repeats your eye, or skin color. This will give you a “color break,”and the black coat will not look so harsh against your skin.

3. Unsure which colors are flattering to you? Get Joanna Nicholson’s books Dressing Smart for Women and Dressing Smart for Men at Amazon.

4. Consider getting a “Color Analysis,” from a Color 1 Associate. This is a very accurate “non-seasonal approach,” that allows you to wear every color in the right shade. To find a Color 1 Associate in your local area contact Joyce Harris at Color Style. Her e-mail is Joyce5001@aol.com. She also can sell you copies of Joanna Nicholson’s books.

Nancy Goldblatt, Personal Image Consultant & The Wardrobe Wizard of Baltimore is a Color 1 Associate with over 20 years of experience. She is available to do your colors if you live in the Baltimore, Washington corridor. Contact her at 410-235-5325 or nrgoldblatt@gmail.com (She can teach you how to shop your closet and eliminate what doesn’t work, mix and match in new ways and she’ll suggest what you need to fill in the gaps)

Shopping Tips for Fall: Using High & Low Tech Assistance

September 3, 2010 by Nancy Goldblatt Leave a Comment

I was recently talking to a client who had taken her ” Wardrobe Wizard Color Chart,” and her line drawings with her when she went shopping. She showed these to a sales person who knew the store stock well. The sales lady helped her pick out lots of separate pieces that really looked “cute together.” Unfortunately, by the time she got home she did not remember what went with what. The solution I suggested to her was to use her camera phone or digital camera next time she goes shopping. Here are some shopping tips that will make it easier for you to shop for clothes.

Tips when shopping for new items for your wardrobe:

Before you go shopping, shop your closet. Use your camera phone or a digital camera to take pictures of the clothing you wear most often. If you do not have another person to photograph you in your clothing, lay the pieces on your bed and take a picture of the different ways you mix and match your separates.

Load these picture on your computer, save them and print them out. Take these pictures with you when you go shopping. The process of shopping your closet and photographing what you wear should help you be more aware of the gaps in your wardrobe. Every time you buy something new photograph it and add it to your saved file. Eliminate photos of any clothing you eliminate from your wardrobe.

1. When you actually go shopping ask the sales person to take pictures of you ( with your camera phone or digital camera) wearing pieces you are considering purchasing.

This is especially helpful if you are unsure about purchasing the items. A picture will let you know if the clothing is really flattering.

2. Bring items from your closet that are “orphans.” ” A closet orphan,” is anything you are unable to wear because you have nothing to wear it with.

3. Bring some straight pins shopping so you can see how the clothing you like will look when it is hemmed or altered in strategic places.

4. Bring the shoes that look good with pants if you are shopping for pants or shoes that look good with skirts if you are looking for skirts or dresses.

Nancy Goldblatt, “The Wardrobe Wizard of Baltimore,” is a Personal Image Consultant trained by Color 1 Associates. She specializes in working with midlife women whose shape or size has changed. She is available to work with individuals and groups in Baltimore, Md and surrounding areas. Her website is WWW.WardrobeWiz.com/

She hopes to soon be able to do “virtual image consulting.” This will mean she can work with individuals anywhere in the world. Watch this blog for more information to follow soon!

How White Should Your Teeth Be?

November 24, 2009 by Nancy Goldblatt 6 Comments

Have you whitened your teeth or are you thinking about whitening your teeth?

Do you wonder how white your teeth should be?

As we get older our teeth darken or yellow from the foods we eat and the things we drink and smoke.

Whiter teeth can help us to look more youthful. However, if you overdo the teeth bleaching, your teeth may end up looking like they are false.

teeth are too white for her skin, they practically are jumping out of her mouth

An easy way to determine how white your teeth should be is to look at the whites of your eyes.

If you bleach your teeth a whiter color than the whites of your eyes, this color will cause your teeth to become your focal point (the place people eyes go to first and keep being drawn back to). If the color of your teeth is a brighter white than the whites of your eye this will not only cause your teeth to look fake, but it may make your skin look dull or washed out next to the very bright white of your teeth. By repeating the same or similar shade of the whites of your eyes in your teeth you can create visual harmony.

teeth are a good shade of white for her skin color and eye color

Our eyes find visual harmony relaxing and pleasing. When you look visually harmonious you will look your most attractive and you will communicate instant confidence and intelligence.

Nancy Goldblatt, “The Wardrobe Wizard of Baltimore,” is a Color 1, Personal Image Consultant.

She has been helping men and women look great everyday for over 20 years.

She is available to work with you no matter where you live because she is now able to do “online consultations.” using digital photos.

She can be reached at 410-235-5325. her website is www.WardrobeWiz.com/

Unsure if her services are for you? E-mail her at Nancy @wardrobewiz.com to set up a 20 minutes telephone consult to find out what she can help you with.

Why Is It Important To Know Which Shade of White Is Right for You?

August 4, 2009 by Nancy Goldblatt 1 Comment

Nancy2-Original 4 — Nancy Goldblatt, "The Wardrobe Wizard of Baltimore,"

Because only 50% of people look good in “pure bright white.” For the other 50% of you, “bright white,” will look harsh and or wash you out. Everyone can wear “winter white,” which is a less intense white. When wearing “winter white,” be careful not to pick a white that has yellow in it.

Can you guess which shade of white is most flattering to Michelle Obama? Take a look at recent pictures of her in a pure white top. Do you look at her or the top first? Can you guess what shade of white Oprah looks the best in? What about Jessica Simpson and Hillary Clinton?

Find the answers at the end of this post.

How can you determine which white is your best white?

Use the “blink test.” Stand 5 feet from a mirror in good light , put on or drape a pure white item over your top half and close your eyes and then quickly open them. Where does your eye go first? If it goes to the white before your face, the white is too bright for you. If you look at your face and the white at the same time and your eyes sparkle and your skin looks fresh and radiant you may be able to wear bright white.

You need to take something else into consideration when you are choosing the right shade of white. What color are your teeth? Even if the pure white works with your skin, if it makes your teeth look yellow or grey you may be better off wearing “winter white,” at least near your face. Speaking of teeth, if pure white does not flatter your skin, if you ” over whiten.” your teeth this can make your teeth look like they are false teeth. I am not against whitening teeth, I am just cautioning against over-whitening them.

(Answer to questions) Michelle Obama looks better in “winter white.” Bright white is too bright on her because she has “muted.” coloring. Oprah also looks her best in “winter white.” Jessica Simpson and Hillary Clinton both look great in ” bright white.”

*For more information on choosing colors get Joanna Nicholson’s books, “Dressing Smart for Women,” and “Dressing Smart for Men.”

Nancy Goldblatt is a professionally trained, personal image consultant. She was trained by Color 1 Associates. She specializes in working with women in Baltimore and surrounding areas whose weight or shape has changed and or who have lots of clothes and “nothing to wear.” Reach her at Nancy@wardrobewiz.com or 410-235-5325. She offers a complimentary initial telephone consult to help you determine if her services are right for you. She also works with men, and groups in the Baltimore-Washington corridor.

Does The Color Black Really Flatter You? If Not, How Can You Wear All Those Black Clothes

July 26, 2009 by Nancy Goldblatt 1 Comment

When you look in your closet how much black clothing do you see?

Is black really that flattering for your unique body colors?

Keep reading to find out what to do about all that black clothing you own.

Here’s my black clothing story.

My mother wore a lot of black and she told me it was slenderizing, so for many years I wore mostly black clothes.

In my sophomore year of college, my roommate Leslie , who was a good friend, told me if I bought one more piece of black clothing, she was going to strangle me.

She was sick of looking at me in black. At that time I didn’t know what colors looked good on me and black clothes were so easy to find and mix & match.

I bought a few items with color, so Leslie wouldn’t be upset but I continued to wear lots of black.

In 1990, when I had my “color chart done,” by a ” Color 1 Associate” and got a wallet containing 40-50 of my best shades, magic happened for me and I was able to begin adding lots more color into my wardrobe.

I have said in previous blogs that by repeating body colors you can create visual harmony because our eyes automatically search for colors that are repeated. My hair is very dark brown but gives the illusion of looking almost black. Because the color black repeats my hair color it creates visual balance. Now I combine black with my best shades of other colors.

Is black one of your body colors ?

If not, then black is not a dark neutral for you. You may still be able to wear black in small amounts but in large amounts it may drain the color from your face, and it can emphasize your lines and shadows.

What to do with all those black clothes, if black is not your best dark neutral

For my image clients that don’t look their best in black, but aren’t ready to part with their black clothing , I tell them to shows some skin when they wear black. This means v neck lines or scoop neck lines. Or wear a scarf near your face that is a flattering color.

Wondering what your best dark or light neutrals are?

I recommend getting JoAnna Nicholson’s books, “Dressing Smart for Women,” and “Dressing Smart for Men.” These paperback books explain the Color 1 approach to color, which I believe is the most accurate system of color analysis around.

If you are interested in having your colors done and you are located in Baltimore or surrounding areas including Washington, D.C., I am available to work with you in-person. I can do a color analysis on-line if you live in other parts of the country or the world.

I offer a free 30 minute telephone consultation to help you determine if my services are right for you. Contact me at Nancy@wardrobewiz.com

Nancy Goldblatt, “The Wardrobe Wizard of Baltimore,” is a Color 1, professionally trained personal image consultant.

choosing flattering colors

I have a confession. I have great difficulty getting rid of my old clothes even when they no longer fit me.

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