Color of garb

[Mairte]

How did you decide on color? There are a couple of colors I LOVE that just arent attractive on my person!
I have a choice right now of a darker blue, brown or green. I am at a loss what to choose with my skin tone.
Anyone else ever had this happen and how did you resolve it? (Sigh. I have to get off my behind and decide within a couple of weeks.)

[auntiegiggles]

My latest garb I choose the color to go with a riding hat that I already own.  Otherwise i usually choose based on design over color.    I think color is easy to determine - but its much harder for me to find a nice pattern on the fabric.  I usually spend a day hunting for the right fabric.  Hope that helps 

[Mairte]

I usually have a much easier time choosing style than color.(Weird, I know.) At least I know the colors that definitely WONT work (reds, yellows, pastel colors).
Everyone is encouraging me to go with the forest green. I dont wear a lot of green (except the darkest greens) so I am in a quandry.
Ack. I worry about the silliest things sometimes!

[Scribe_Wear]

Normally i just try and find a style i like then look for that with a color i like but i mostly stick with darker colors of black, brown, and green

[gem]

Oh, that's tough!  I usually go with what "speaks" to me, or seems to coordinate with other pieces I own. But I understand: this is how I ended up with a sage green silk chemise, before realizing sage green is not a great color on me.

Skirts are a good place for colors that don't suit you as well. I look dreadful in gold, but I have a gold skirt that's far enough away from my face that you can't tell.

[Dinobabe]

The thing I like best is that I can go with colors I wouldn't normally wear.  Patterns, too.  Of course there are always colors you avoid and that is the best place to start (by avoiding them! ).  But use this opportunity to go with colors you may be iffy on but were always curious about.  You can use the less attractive colors (that you love) for the blouse or forepart, items that show little.  Have fun!

[isabelladangelo]

I go with reds (including pink!), blacks, and purples normally because I look interesting in other colors.   I look downright scary in some blues and fine in others but I never have an issue with reds/pinks.  Purples I can get away with and I never have a problem with black.  It's more of a "hold this up and see if it clashes with your skin tone" more than anything else.   I'm sure there is some scientific way to figure out if you are a "winter" "spring" "autumn" or "summer" but, really, it comes down to trial and error.   No matter what, you can always dye it black and wear a lot of pretty colored gems!

[ArielCallista]

I never have issues figuring out color...usually once i draw out the design the colors come flying at me...if not I go wander around the fabric stores looking at and feeling everything...usually at least one fabric jumps out at me as being perfect for whats in my head garment wise...then everything falls into place from there...as to what goes good with that fabric...for me this never fails...touching all the fabrics and getting a feel for them...Also making everything match your hat, bodice, boots...whatever you have that is your favorite and want to wear nearly all the time...its a good idea to make more stuff that goes with that...Also whatever colors you look good in, like to wear etc in everyday life can usually quite easily bleed over into my garb

[Lady Rebecca]

In some cases, as I'm designing things, I have a color scheme in mind. However, it seems that lately, more often than not, my color scheme depends on what I can find onsale, especially sales on red-tag fabrics.

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

The colors of the House of Olmsted are Blacks, Reds, and Golds in some design or another. This way, we do not conflict with Royalty at faires. Though suitable to be part of any Court.

My suggestion is to go with colors you look best in. The designs and possibiitiea are endless.

[Queen Bonnie]

 Colors are very important to me. I love the yellow / orange colors but do have black and a soft moss green too. When I could not find the colors I liked for my Summer cotton gauze garb- I dyed the fabric.

[Mairte]

I googled one of those "skin tone" thingies online and it still didnt help a whole lot,lol. I am a spring or an autumn.(Shrug)
I am just going to go with the green. The blue is too dark and the brown is too drab looking. Process of elimination.

[LadyFae]

I go with whatever "speaks to me" (same as Gem said.)  I will hunt and debate for ages trying to figure out exactly what I like best.  I surprised myself by picking out YELLOW for my newest gown but I loved the subtle pattern and how it looked with the wine that I found to accent it.  I always love the pinks but before the forums I didn't think that PINK was H/A!  Now I know better and I have BIG plans for my next gown. =) 

[Mairte]

If I was going to make my costume I would have an easier time choosing color? Since I am getting this outfit pre-made I just have a choice of the three.(as stated, going with green.)
I AM going to start working on picking out another style and color for the next gown/outfit and going to attempt to hand make that one or possibly pay someone else to do it to my specifications.
Looking around on here, there are so many beautiful gowns! You are all very talented!

[LadyFae]

I would have chosen the green as well, Mairte!  =)

[Mairte]

Well, I guess it helps that green is my favorite color, usually a hunter green though.
I guess I need to get a picture up here of it, huh?

[LadyFae]

Ooh, yes please!  =)

[Imestra]

At some point in the long gone past, I had that color book that proposed seasons as the basis for your color scheme.  The Autumn looks best in harvest colors, if you have an olive color in or under your skin tone.  The moss greens are in this group.  The yellow-greens compliment the olive tones.

The Spring's skin has blue undertones, rather than olive.  That's me.  I feel I look best in blue, pink & purples, especially the pastel shades.  The green has to be just this side of aqua to look good on me.   

It sounds like you are drawn to the Autumn, and could accessorize in the oh-so H/A pumpkin colors that coordinate quite well with moss greens.

[DonaCatalina]

I think the green was probably the best choice, especially if you are an autumn. Browns for us have to be a warm chocolately color that seems to be hard to find these days.
I am a definite autumn but I do find I also seem to prefer those colors, like gold and russet red.
If you think more about what colors you like, rather than what colors you wear for mundane, you'll probably pick the colors you look best in.
Post pics when you get the dress!

[Anna Iram]

A bit late on chiming in here Mairte, but a good way to choose the right color for yourself is to go to a fabric store with a large hand mirror in tow. Drape each fabric across yourself, one at a time, and notice how each different bit changes the tone of your eyes or skin color and how it makes you feel. That's the best way to decide what your colors are. Even different shades of a particular color can be wearable or not, as Dona says. If you are having something made ,ask for a a swatch. Even a small piece can be held to your face and you'll notice such a difference with each change of color.

If it's a color you just love, but can't wear, look for an accessory that has the color. Perhaps in your fan or a feather in you hat.

[Mairte]

I will definitely post a pic when it gets here.
I dont know if I said, but I was trying to decide what season I am. I wasnt a winter or summer certainly. I was "almost" a spring and "almost" an autumn. I think more autumn though....
I will definitely take everyones suggestions in hand when I go pick out the fabric for my home-made dress, unless I have to buy online like I have to do so many things.
I like the idea of a swatch to see how it looks next to my face/skin.

[Cilean]

Yep,  I have Snarked in the past and will do it again. I am amazed at what people think is a costume and what people think is a Renaissance well anything like the chain mail bikinis, um really? Or the I dream of Jeanie Belly Dance gauzy stuff when you are a size 26, how can you look in the mirror and not see the wrong in that?    Most of the time these same people will strike up a conversation after asking me for a photo op and ask me where I got what I am wearing.  This is when I help them to see they too can make lovely things and they too can find glorious garb and they can look as spiffy as anyone at Faire (or in the SCA).


I am a girlie-girl, I adore the big dresses and how silk taffeta sounds when you walk about, I love pressing my Smocks and having lovely jewelery. This is who I am, I am very tall 5 10, and not thin, I have always had to work on people not thinking I am some hulkette to pick up heavy object, because I am of a "healthy" size. How I yearned to be a Ballerina...

So I have lovely gowns in my favorite colors, blues, grays, purples, greens, blacks, I love how I feel in these colors and I love finding just the right fabrics to make my Gowns pop!

As for the Twilight Novels? I have not seen a single Vampire series that attest to what was termed Vampire, so really why not those that glow? I really enjoy the Twilight Series, so brava to the writer she brought a new thought into something that really had become so trite and over done.  She made people want to read again.  Good for her!

Cilean

[Queen Genevieve]

I'm lucky, I can wear purple, if I want.

[Rani Zemirah]

I just buy beautiful fabrics when they're on sale, then stash them and wait until the inspiration hits me to use them.  Somehow it usually works out that I have the perfect amount for whatever I decide to make.  Don't ask me how this works, because I try not to question it for fear that it will stop...   

On figuring out your skin tone's perfect color palette, I was shown something by a theatrical makeup artist once that was supposed to tell if you are a "warm", "cool" or "neutral".  Hold a piece of gold lame up under your chin, in natural lighting, and if your own skin tone brightens with the color then you are a warm, but if it seems to pull the color down and away from your face you are a "cool", and if there is no noticeable change you are a "neutral".  At least that's what she said, and she demonstrated it on several different ladies, although I seemed to be the only neutral, so who knows... 

I like green a great deal, also!  Hope your new garb is exactly what you're wishing for!!!