Put Some Color On by Sharon Mosley on Creators.com

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Put Some Color On

Suck in your stomach and put some color on! We've heard this one from our Southern mothers for years. And, yes, we've layered on the lipstick, too. But in tough economic times, the lipstick may not be so rosy.

It's easy to wrap yourself up in a cloak of black and hang out in the twilight zone. But maybe it's time to come out from hiding under the gloom of darkness; brighten up your life with a sunnier outlook.

Besides, adding some color to wardrobes is a very inexpensive way to update recessionista closets. By pairing a T-shirt in a trendy color with something you already own, you will instantly gain a new look.

Here are some tips to color your fashion world:

— Find your colors. If you've been stuck in neutral territory for a long time, it may be hard to know what colors look best on you. It's time to experiment. Just because hot pink is "in," you don't have to pick up the first pink jacket you see. Take a day to shop and see what colors you are drawn to in the stores. There are plenty of "personal shoppers" to help you.

— Never say never. Don't rule out a color. You may not like a certain shade of red, say a brick red, but perhaps you would look better in a bluer red like a garnet red. You will most likely find that yellow greens, such as olive, will not work for you either, but a bluer green will. And if you love a certain color, but don't like it near your face, wear it on your feet. Accessories are a great way to brighten up a wardrobe of neutral colors.

— Check out the color wheel. I know this one sounds a little elementary, but you will be surprised at what you can learn from doing a spin around a 12-part color wheel.

There are definitely "harmonious" color combinations, which can trigger some ideas for your wardrobe.

"Analogous" colors are some of the best combos — three colors that are found side by side on the color wheel — yellow green, yellow and yellow orange. This spring, I perked up my "turquoise" cardigan with a lime-green tank top. Complementary colors are also fun to combine: purple with lime green.

— Start at the cosmetics counter at your favorite stores. Professionally trained beauty experts can guide you in the right direction, giving you advice on what colors flatter your skin tone. Your hairstylist will probably have an opinion as well.

— Listen. Pay attention to what other people say when you wear a particular color. I get compliments when I wear shades of turquoise. So now, it's a standard in my wardrobe — a great way to change up my basic blacks and grays in the winter and whites in the spring and summer.

— Suck it up. Sure, it's fun to stock up on bright orange flip-flops, purple satin clutches and lemon-yellow jackets, but another word of warning from our mothers — "spending the rent on red shoes" — is not a rosy thing either. It's better to limit your "color" selections to two or three brights in a few key pieces, which will work in with the rest of your wardrobe. Oh, and remember to suck in that stomach, too.

Sharon Mosley is a former fashion editor of the Arkansas Gazette in Little Rock and executive director of the Fashion Editors and Reporters Association. To find out more about Sharon Mosley and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.