“Mum, is red your favourite colour? Because you often wear red.”
I do wear red often. However, if I had to pick just one colour as a favourite, it would actually be blue. But I like wearing red.
Red is bold and bright.
Red is happening and vibrant.
Red makes me feel confident and alive.
So I like wearing red.
When I’m stuck in a tracksuit rut, it helps to fall back on the colour I love to wear. And red is that colour for me. My zing colour (borrowing a word from Law & Shoes). Over time, I’ve collected many red accessories…a red bag, belt, necklace, ring, shoes, scarf, bolero and earrings. When I need to whip an outfit together, I wear black my classic and comfy black pants, a black top and team it with 1-4 red accessories items.
This can work with any bright or primary colour, and by balancing the colour with black or neutrals, it’s not overpowering, just uplifting. For a rough guide, keep 80% or the outfit black or neutral and make up the other 20% with your zing colour.
If you are in a tracksuit rut, pick a colour you like to wear and be on the lookout for accessories. Try a second hand shop, markets or accessory shops like Diva and Equip. Team the accessories with black or neutrals for a no-brainer outfit that you’ll feel good in.
Fashion for me is not about focusing on the outward appearance or following trends. Instead it’s about doing the best with what I’ve got, being me through clothes and enjoying what I wear. It’s Loving the Moment with my clothes.
I like wearing red. What colour do you like to wear? Do you find yourself in a tracksuit rut sometimes?
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34 Comments
Lucy
April 18, 2011 at 7:52 amKelly, like so many of your posts, I love this one. So simple, so useful.
As you know, I am a girl who loves red.
When I doubt, I get my red out.
You’re a goddess.
xx
Kelly Be A Fun Mum
April 18, 2011 at 8:46 amHonestly Lucy, each time you comment, I just melt. You have an amazing voice, IRL and online!
Yep, I can see you rocking red. And you knew I’d dig that rhyming didn’t you? “When I double, I get my red out.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Kristy McGrath
April 18, 2011 at 7:55 amI’m a girly girl and looove pink and florals!!! The florals can work the same as fav colour team it with black (or denim) and away I go 🙂
Kelly Be A Fun Mum
April 18, 2011 at 8:46 amYES! Great point. Florals can be the zing too! And they look amazing with denim don’t they. 🙂
Kathryn Rodda
April 18, 2011 at 7:55 amGreat post! I can’t be in a tracksuit rut as I got rid of all my daggy ones last year – only because I realised they had seen me through 3 pregnancies! Time for some new ones that are on layby at target 🙂
My Zing colour is pink – the brighter the better! I’m also quite taken with that new orangy/red colour that is all the go at the moment. I love bright things. Most of my clothes are in fact pink or purple, white or denim so I can mix and match easily. As is my jewellery 🙂
But you look fabulous in Red Kelly
Kelly Be A Fun Mum
April 18, 2011 at 8:47 amGood on you for getting rid of them Kathryn! I had to do that when I was always wearing my maternity clothes aka tracksuit rut.
I’ve seen you in pink and I agree: It’s your zing colour!
xx
Meegan
April 18, 2011 at 8:38 amHi!! I read your post and wanted to share: I so often wear by denim bottoms and a black top that my friends and family often joke “I see you’re in uniform again!”… LOL! After reading your posts, I was thinking, hmm, I love to wear blue, I can do this!!! 🙂 Thanks!!
Kelly Be A Fun Mum
April 18, 2011 at 8:49 amYES Meegan. You go girl! Go get yourself some blue…sapphire blue, teal bue, sky blue, aqua blue or any other blue you love. Put it with your “uniform” and you’ll feel like a new woman!!!
xxxxxxx
Nicole
April 18, 2011 at 8:54 amGreat tip Kell.
Red is definately one of my zing colours. I just bought a rockin’ red trench for Winter and I lam looking to knit a scarf to match.
I also love bright emerald green. It makes me feel like a star.
You look beautiful as always, even in tracksuit pants!
xx Nicole
Kelly Be A Fun Mum
April 18, 2011 at 11:58 amYou’d rock red Nicole. Ooo, and I’m wearing emerald green today. We have very similar colouring don’t we?
RED TRECH!!! OH MAN!!! GORGEOUS!!!!! xx
Andrea
April 18, 2011 at 8:57 amTracksuit Rut ha ha ha.
We did a study that shows 1 in 5 women own a ‘good tracksuit’ for wearing in public, and 50% wear them out at least once a week.
http://www.foxinflats.com.au/2011/03/tracksuit-rule/
So you’re not alone!
There are some great options out there to try though.
xAndrea
Kelly Be A Fun Mum
April 18, 2011 at 12:00 pmThanks for the link Andrea. I think tracksuits are great…and even wearing out they can look good…but when it’s all I’m wearing…well, I’ve been through times when I’ve totally lost my style mojo with parenting. And this is one of the ways I got myself out! 🙂
Andrea
April 18, 2011 at 2:51 pm@Kelly Be A Fun Mum,
Its a great idea. In fact the impetus behind Fox In Flats was that I had just started to resort to wearing my tracksuit ALL THE TIME. In fact, I had two that were identical that I would rotate.
That reminds me, must ceremoniously burn these…
x
Kelly Be A Fun Mum
April 18, 2011 at 9:57 pmHA! Rotated tracksuit. Love it!
Alissa
April 18, 2011 at 10:50 amHaha!! As I read this post I had a moment…. Sitting here in my tracksuit!! 😉
But I must say I am wearing black bottoms and a bright purple top! I love blue, purple and green, and most often have at least one of those colours on…even if it’s with my trackies!
Oh, and I am pregnant… And staying home today…. That’s my excuse anyway!! 😉
Kelly Be A Fun Mum
April 18, 2011 at 11:50 amLOL! There is absolutley NOTHING wrong with tracksuits. AT ALL. I love them. I just find that when it becomes my new uniform and it’s all I wear…well, that’s the rut.
Tracksuits are awesome…just not all the time.
Ella
April 18, 2011 at 11:03 amI only wear my trackie daks if im at home or out walking. Theres nothing like coming home when its cold and putting on some comfy clothes! I love to dress up and do most days – i wear a lot of black but like to break it up with a bright scarf, necklace etc. I love red and a lot of my accessories are red. Most of my wardrobe is charcoal or grey, black, red & white so its easy to mix and match. You look gorgeous as usual!
Kelly Be A Fun Mum
April 18, 2011 at 11:53 amI love comfort clothes too. And you are right, especially in winter, it’s just the best to be at home in comfy clothes and ugg boots. BLISS!
Ella
April 18, 2011 at 11:04 amWhat brand are the shoes? They are cute!
Kelly Be A Fun Mum
April 18, 2011 at 8:52 pmAren’t they? Got them from Myers. Sandler brand.
Dorothy
April 18, 2011 at 1:59 pmI do love red. I used wear a lot of red, but with age I’ve realised that it’s not really my colour, so I really like your suggestion of using it as an accent in your outfit. Lately I’ve discovered that I really like wearing green, a khaki/bush kind of green. I really enjoy layering it and using brown to accessorise. I think the earth/forest child in me is coming out.
Blue is also a favourite colour, one that really looks good on me, it somehow brings out my natural colouring… Perhaps I should try that in accessories, too?
Kelly Be A Fun Mum
April 18, 2011 at 8:54 pmOh man Dorothy, I agree that green would be gorgeous on you. I think you could absolutely pull off emerald green too. And I think blue would be amazing with your skin! Get some blue accessories baby. Blue shoes are amazing…even Doc Martin’s or converse sneakers.
Glenys
April 18, 2011 at 4:41 pmWhat a fantastic, simple, inspiring post. I honestly don’t think much about what I wear, usually it’s what’s clean and fits. But I am smiling here because I just happen to be wearing my favourite red top so I’m feeling part of the in crowd right now 🙂
Kelly Be A Fun Mum
April 18, 2011 at 9:08 pmHA! You’re so welcome here Glenys, no matter what colour you are wearing….but since you’re wearing red too, well — you can get some bonus points…hehe 😉
Elizabeth
April 21, 2011 at 8:37 pmSo love this. A touch of color with black is perfect and I think you always stand out with that ‘zing’.
I find I am wearing more and more black as I get older and it is so easy to grab a bright necklace or bangle as I head out the door to the shops, or school, or coffee with a friend. I feel complete.
Marita
April 22, 2011 at 11:28 amDoes dying my hair hot pink count as an accessory 😀
It does rather nicely match my block clothing, although I discovered that wearing red is a mistake with pink hair.
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