Build Your Wardrobe with Your Fabulous Five

I’m not talking about your favorite rock band, I’m talking about colors!  Recently I coined the phrase ‘Fabulous Five’ to help my clients understand their best colors and how to integrate them into their wardrobe.

By now you know that I’m a big believer in creating a wardrobe strategy.  But many women don’t even know where to begin.  While color may seem like the obvious place to start, learning how to leverage the power of color to work for you (not against you – bye bye, black!) and use color t guide you in knowing what to buy and how to pull it all together offers an easy blueprint. 

For many years I have been coaching my clients to use a few of their best neutrals and best Wow! (accent) colors as a starting point.  Learning to wear color in a powerful and positive way is a great thing but can be daunting at first.  So starting with just a handful of colors can help you to focus and get exactly what you need, creating a core wardrobe and building from there. 

This past week, in my Discovery 101 sessions it was thrilling to see so many a-ha’s around this philosophy, and see everything just ‘click’ when my clients discovered their Fabulous Five and how to put them all together. 

Here’s how to discover your very own ‘Fabulous Five’:

1/ Core Neutrals

First, choose 2 of your very best core neutrals.  You know, least memorable and most neutral.  Dare I ask you to forget black?  Even if black is one of your best colors, let’s find some other neutrals that tie into your personal coloring.  These 2 will be your foundational colors and where you invest the bulk of your wardrobe budget.

2/ Wow! Colors

Next, choose 3 of your best Wow!, or accent, colors.  These are those lights and brights that really make you stand out.  They could be your eye color (especially if your eyes are blue), your skin intensifier or any other color that makes your hair, skin or eyes look amazing!  You want colors that are memorable and make a statement about who you are.

3/ Mix and Match

The key to creating your Fabulous Five is that each neutral goes with each of the Wow! colors, and the Wow! colors can be interchanged and all work together.  This mix and match approach allows for maximum versatility in your wardrobe, giving you more bang for your buck and making it EASY to know exactly what to bring into your wardrobe.

4/ Prints

While starting with solids gives you a good foundation, I strongly encourage you to bring in some prints, patterns and textures.  Ensure that the prints contain at least 2 of your Wow! colors so they will coordinate with your solids.  Jackets, cardigans, scarves, handbags, shoes, accessories, etc. are a fun place to bring prints in.

5/ Accessories

To keep things simple, choose a metal and stick with it.  It will help you to know what to buy, ensure that your jewelry is neutral and goes with everything, and make it easy to finish off your look with the polish of accessories.

If you’re not what your Fabulous Five are, play with some different colors over the week and see what resonates with you.  You want it to feel natural and all you.  Once you get this formula down, you’ll marvel at how easy shopping can be!

Your Assignment: Determine your Fabulous Five colors for your spring/summer wardrobe and make a list of what items you’d like to add in which colors.  Then let me hear from you!  I want to know what combinations you come up with and how this formula works for you! 

Need help?  As your StyleFinder™ Mentor, Consultant and Coach, I help you get to the essence of your style and dress in a way that makes you feel more like you, whether you’re a corporate executive or a stay at home mom.  Email me at Michele@onechicmama.com to set up a complimentary get acquainted session and learn how I can help you!