Jane's Style Gallery — Kigo Color & Style

Jane’s Style Gallery

Jane’s Color History

Jane arrived in my studio more well-versed in color than the average client! She was a fan of the illustrious Christine Scaman, and found me through this SciArt network of color analysts. Jane had also been typed in a different seasonal color system in the 1980s—likely Color Me Beautiful, which was the popular framework in use at that time.

However, Jane did not find her original seasonal color experience very helpful. Notably, the palette she was given (True Summer) did not age with her—from her youth through middle age, the rules became muddled and made less and less sense as she experienced changes in her skin and hair. This is often the case when clients come to be re-draped from a system that doesn’t recognize neutral seasons.

Jane even brought a specific rose pink sweater to her appointment with the question: “Why do I feel so good in this?” She had a fantastic intuition for her own colors, but she needed the language and system to really take advantage of those instincts.

Jane’s Style Goals

Jane had defaulted to blue as the backbone color of her wardrobe, which is common for undiagnosed or misdiagnosed Summers. Soft blues feel as natural on Summers as a cardinal red feels on a True Winter. However, blue alone lacked the romance, softness, and most importantly the little bit of warmth that Jane’s actual Soft Summer season contains.

Jane wanted to wear a variety of colors besides blue—and also to find those specific blue tones that didn’t look drab or heavy on her. In addition, she yearned for more complexity in her wardrobe. Many of the closet items she showed me were not quite right for her, but they betrayed a love for color, layering, and fun. While Jane’s normal outfits comprised of a sweater and jeans, she said she wanted to move away from this formula, calling it too plain for her liking.

Luckily for me, Jane had already decided to make over her wardrobe, so I knew that she was energized and ready to go shopping. Although everyone can make tweaks to their closet on any budget, it’s always exciting to embark on a dramatic change.

Jane’s Style Needs

Jane needs clothing that is comfortable enough to walk her dog in the chilly coastal California weather, but wants outfits that match the elegance and sophistication in her face and frame. Her natural setting is casual+, a step above running errands, but without the restrictions of business casual.

My Styling suggestions

I noticed that Jane was drifting towards a very naturalistic style influence in her past purchases, but that didn’t reflect anything about her body or her personality. I believe that living in a coastal California town made her believe she needed to dress earthier than she wanted to. In truth, Jane looks most herself with a little more elegance and polish, and less rustic.

I decided to suggest some specific silhouettes based on Jane’s body type and style preferences. In particular, I love her in closed-neck tops—bateau, mock, and full turtleneck are preferred over V neck or cowls. I told her to think Grace Kelly, to define the waist and find opportunities for softness and femininity, but not to the point where she turned into Stevie Nicks. Long trailing scarves are not her ball game, but silk foulards tied in creative ways are perfect. Silk scarves are a wonderful place for her to explore the watercolor and abstract nature patterns that Soft Summers look so great in. And they are an easy way to inject color right by the face, even in a neutral outfit.

While jeans had become a safe choice for her, she expressed that she did not like living in them. Jeans tend to convey more rustic, relaxed vibes, so I wasn’t surprised she felt out of place in them. I recommended a mix of drapey trousers in a more polished fabric and colored jeans, which can feel more dressy and less hike-ready.

She was already starting to play with pink, and I recommended she go full steam ahead. I asked her to lean into the midtone and deep pinks in her palette, and to use the pale rose shades as a background neutral, as they aren’t always strong enough to make a statement alone. Jane’s warm mauves and soft burgundies meld beautifully with all the jade, sage, and Atlantic blues on the cooler side of her palette. And she doesn’t need to be afraid of navy, which she had often rejected for being too harsh in the past. Her navies are softer, grayer, and more shadowy than the crisp Winter choices.

I recommended she stay away from angular details like point collars, knife pleats, or graphic patterns. She was happy to hear that, as none appealed to her naturally. Her first homework assignment is to wear jewelry with every outfit, even if it’s just a simple pair of stud earrings or a feminine watch. Soft Summer gems like kyanite, tanzanite, moonstone, and jade along with natural materials like abalone are easily worn with casual outfits, as they don’t scream GLAM!

Jane’s hair is a beautiful mix of pewter and bronze, so she looks particularly fantastic when she wears accessories that echo that color. Purses and shoes are two of the easiest places to repeat her hair color and enhance it. Metallic accessories are feminine in a low-key way, as they can be simple and clean while also feeling special.