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lizbartlett

Is your decorating sense similar to your fashion sense?

12 years ago

I have spent a good part of today ironing (yes, I still do that), and when I was putting the ironed clothing back in our closet, I was thinking about that question.

I don't decorate so much in colors that I wear; for example we have yellow/gold paint in our LR & DR & I would never pick that for clothing for me. I also have quite a bit of green in accents, etc. and I don't wear green, unless it's a jade tone. I do have some red accents in several rooms, and I do wear a lot of red, or shades of red & coral. I also love to decorate in aquas/teals & do like to wear those colors. Plus, I wear a lot of black & grey, but other than some accent pieces, don't decorate with these colors.

As far as style, the two blend a little more. Probably pretty classic, with some bling here & there, and some whimsey here & there, but more to the classics...not really traditional, just classic. I don't know WHAT that means about the gaudy red valentine wreath I picked up at JoAnne's yesterday...quite sparkly! I think my DH is worried it says "brothel"!!

Anyway, how about you??

Comments (33)

  • 12 years ago

    Oh, yes, and every so often I try to break out of my "style" on both fronts. It's generally not successful. I am coming to accept that I am what I am.

    While the colors in my home don't necessarily reflect the colors of my clothes they reflect the same vibe - classic, understated. It could be a lot worse, I suppose. But some might see it as safe and boring.

    My sister (8 yrs. younger) inherited her MIL's 100 yr. old home, yet it vibrates with color and energy. So does her personal style. And it works! I so envy her in that regard.

    We look back on family pictures and she can howl at a trendy hairstyle she wore at one time. My hair gets updated regularly, but it's more in the way Jackie O's look changed from decade to decade, meaning, not much.

    My daughter is a mix of both our styles. I think she has it right.

  • 12 years ago

    Nope. My house is colorful and bright. My clothing is black, blue jeans and army greens.

  • 12 years ago

    Mine neither. I decorate way more frilly and girly than I dress. I get dressed up when I have to but I don't enjoy it. Would much rather be in my cowboy boots than heels any day.

  • 12 years ago

    No, my clothes are colorful (lots of red and pink) while my house is mostly earth tones and rustic traditional.
    The general vibe is there in both though.

  • 12 years ago

    My clothes are just as dull as my neutral color schemes.

    I love beautiful color, but can't be surrounded by a lot of it. I want restfulness at home. I'm fair-haired and fair skinned, so I can't wear strong color and stay out in front of my clothes. I can spend a week ferreting out the right picture frame, but clothes shopping has never interested me ... too many more decisions!

    I like my clothes to be well cut, well-proportioned, and to fit well. Luckily, I'm a standard off-the-rack size and shape, so I wear pretty much a uniform, almost exclusively solid colors (I do have some pretty patterned scarves), lots of black, brown, camel, cream, white, some blues and greens, the occasional pale coral and yellow, and very little jewelry.

    Are you still awake? I'm even boring myself...

  • 12 years ago

    I have no black decor in my home save the stabilizing items for drama, but I have 26 pairs of black pants in my closet and 12 black skirts, 10 black dresses. Just in my own defense, I admit I have a large storage box full of scarves so that I can reinvent the black wheel each day. ;-)

  • 12 years ago

    Yes I think it is. I go for earth tones, browns, golds, greens, oranges. I like tailored,classic,not too fussy--but lately ruffles have caught my interest--not sure where that might show up in my decor which other wise is described the same as my personal style.

  • 12 years ago

    Yes and no. I dress in colors that I don't decorate with but in both areas prefer things with simple tailored lines, high contrast details in small doses that highlight something interesting.

  • 12 years ago

    This thread reminded me of a good friend of mine who asked me to help with her living room.

    She wanted a red sofa. It was like turning the Titanic to talk her out of it, but she is a strawberry blonde with pale pinky skin, and sitting on a red sofa made her look like a cartoon character.

    She caved in to a lovely watery blue, and loved it to pieces. The next task was to gently move her away from strong cherry pink lipstick and black mascara, and seeing how pretty she looked on that blue sofa helped.

  • 12 years ago

    I'd have to say yes...in terms of neutral with accents of color. My decorating colors are mostly neutrals with accents of color. My clothing colors are simple, generally fitted and I too am an off-the-rack size for the most part. I am tall and slender with dark hair and fair-ish skin so I can also wear red, fuschia, deep blues, white, etc really well and I do. But I have dozens of black and grey pants, skirts, sweaters and jackets, not to mention all those black shoes. I save the bling and funky stuff for after hours and weekends, but you won't see me in ruffles, ever.

  • 12 years ago

    Great responses! Very fun to read this morning.

    I'm pretty sure that I would blend right into my rooms and disappear!

    Always very basic just like my wardrobe - black, grey and white. If you open my closet that's 95% of it then you'll see a paisley skirt of robins egg blue and ocean green w/ gold braid trim and sequins and matching pistachio cardigan w/ blue beadwork that I wear w/ a turquoise tshirt. My closet totally sums up my house colors. My jewelry (when I wear it) is typically understated: CZ stud earrings - usually not matching. Sometimes only 1 sometimes 5 - depends on what I can find and I nearly always wear a sterling silver cuff bangle that I adore - big, bold, simple. I like old costume jewelry very much and have lots of it that I wear for various occasions - very feminine and girlie.

    So yeah - I decorate like I dress - simple, basic understated w/ a girlie vintage spin when you least expect it.

  • 12 years ago

    Well there's fashion sense and then there's my wardrobe...my fashion sense is classic, conservative with a flair and I love jewel tones...some of which is reflected in my home decor which is eclectic with a bend toward traditional. But then there is my wardrobe which, since I retired, consists largely of jeans with a variety of t-shirt or pull on knit tops. Can't remember when I had a pair of heels on last....

    Dad always said when women don't work, they go to pot...yup!

  • 12 years ago

    Yes, in the sense that everything must coordinate, and when dh & I go out to theater etc. our outfits always cooordinate in colors, if they conflicted or clashed, I'd be upset all day. So I shop to coordinate always.

  • 12 years ago

    Yes . . . I guess. I love the color white and wear it a lot, along with black, navy and taupe/khaki. My style is a cross between Classic and Southwestern/New Mexican. So, my accent colors are usually turquoise, emerald green or rusty red. I don't wear frilly or cute looking things and I don't care for them in my home either (although they're fine for others).
    As for my home, it has all white walls (they're exposed adobe brick painted a warm cream but they read "white"). All the floors are a rusty red brick. All the Oriental and woven Indian rugs are basically black or a medium brown background with green, turquoise, rusty reds, etc. The other rugs we have are creamy white sheepskin. Colors of furniture and accent pieces are pretty much the same colors as the clothing I wear. Our MBR, though is done in creams/whites with a few accents in deep rose and moss green, so softer than the rest of the house.
    I wear almost exclusively, silver and white gold jewelry. Most of the metals in my home are silver in color, as well. Hmmmm, interesting topic!
    Lynn

  • 12 years ago

    Not so much. I wear alot of bright colors - and often pair that with black. Pinks and turquoise shades are my best colors.

    I'm a little like Bronwynsmom in that we've recently changed our palate to a neutral background. I love color, but have learned I like it in smaller doses in our home. For example, in our great room, we have a creme/taupe sofa and chair with ottoman(not same fabrics). There's also a dark brown leather chair and another chair in a patterned fabric, plus an upholestered area on a wooden chair that is done in a small red print. We have lots of old wood pieces and wood floors so I've found the light colors play very nicely with the woodtones. Then my accent colors used in my accessories and a chairs are brighter colors. I'm thinking of finding some fabrics that also incorporate turquoise.

    tina

  • 12 years ago

    Not really, especially in my current house as it is very traditional and I tend to stick to casual, traditional furnishings. My fashion sense is a bit trendier and def comes across as more youthful than my current house.

    This post was edited by athomeinva on Thu, Jan 24, 13 at 18:22

  • 12 years ago

    I think so. I don't tend to wear the same colors I decorate with, although I do like red both in decor and in some clothing. (I've been told I look good in red.) In both decorating and dressing, I tend to stick with the basics for the "foundation" -- my pants are all the same brand/style of jeans or black pants, and my sofas are all basic neutrals -- and jazz up the look w/ accessories. I have a lot of art and interesting decorative accessories, and in my wardrobe I have lots of interesting jewelry and pocketbooks. I also tend to wear colorful coats and jackets.

    Interesting question.

  • 12 years ago

    For 4 decades my fashion sense and my decorating were very classic. This was partly because of DH's and my careers. Then DH changed careers and I retired so I've been having a lot of fun becoming more BoHo in both fashion and decorating. A few years ago I 'neutralized' my decor so I could change accessories which are usually colorful. When I replace my upholstered pieces in a couple of years I might even get a red (or at least a colorful) sofa! Definitely no more brown for me in decor.

    While I still have the basic black/grey/brown items in my closet I am choosing more and different colors, sometimes metallics, and more unique styles with tops, jewelry, and scarves. Because I am small I feel I can wear many of the different new styles and there are a couple of stores I shop in that have styles I would not previously have worn when I was more concerned with what others thought. I still like comfortable clothes, don't wear frills, but do love lace and interesting fabrics and designs. I wear almost every color altho there are a few I avoid because they are not flattering to my coloring. Interestingly I avoid the same colors in my decor.

  • 12 years ago

    Kind of. Tailored yet feminine for both. I like bright pastels in both. Being a redhead, brown is my friend, but I can't stand brown for decorating, or any "fall" colors for that matter. But I look great in them. I don't wear a lot of jewelry nor do I like a lot of tchotchkes or stuff on the walls. I love pattern in both places, too--plaid, checks, tons of flowery prints, stripes, paisley, toile.

  • 12 years ago

    This reminded me of a dream I had last night- truly, just last night.
    Someone showed me a board with fabric samples on it in slate blues, grays, dark sages, dusty creams, and maybe a gentle grayish purple.
    My only reply was "What a nice color palette!"

    I dress in and decorate with subdued colors- always have and always will- I don't like things I consider gaudy or garish.
    I like very simple things and for me those things are not generally very brightly colored.
    I want folks to look past the packaging- it should be the appetizer, not the main event.

    Well.... it makes sense to me!

  • 12 years ago

    This reminded me of a dream I had last night- truly, just last night.
    Someone showed me a board with fabric samples on it in slate blues, grays, dark sages, dusty creams, and maybe a gentle grayish purple.
    My only reply was "What a nice color palette!"

    I dress in and decorate with subdued colors- always have and always will- I don't like things I consider gaudy or garish.
    I like very simple things and for me those things are not generally very brightly colored.
    I want folks to look past the packaging- it should be the appetizer, not the main event.

    Well.... it makes sense to me!

  • 12 years ago

    It is an interesting question. Several times in my life, I have had a distinctive, startled comment, "You look good in red". Each time, the person saying it seemed amazed that I looked attractive. So, I wear lots of blue toned reds, hot pinks and corals. Obviously, I'm easily susceptible.

    But my home is hot! Warm, warm, warm. All those browns, taupes, oranges and every color I cannot wear, is everywhere.
    With a few red and blue touches...
    When I see icy rooms, I can appreciate them but not relate.

  • 12 years ago

    Yes, very much so! I decorate in a largely traditional manner, with a few ethnic or bohemian inspired elements here & there. I dress exactly the same way. Kind of Talbots meets Anthropologie for clothes, antique store meets Pier One for decor.

  • 12 years ago

    I have to say yes. For two reasons.

    1) I have apple green both in my home and in my wardrobe.
    2) I am both frugal and indecisive, which means that I keep both clothes and furnishings either until they disintegrate, or until I happen across a replacement item that is just right and is a super deal. Example: the pillows on my sofa are smushed and terrible-looking, but I just can't justify spending even $100 to replace them when they still "function" as pillows. Similarly, right now I am down to black bras only. I need to buy new light bras, but during winter sweater weather it's not so important . . . so it can wait.

    (jakabedy, embarrassed, slips into the background).

  • 12 years ago

    ROFLMAO, Jakaedy!

  • 12 years ago

    Interesting. I have been thinking about this lately too. I dont use as much color by ant stretch, but I think I might get back to that. I seem to have no problem layering patterns in my clothing. Today I have on a black and white snowflake sweater, with black and white polka dot socks and white and black floral and striped shoes. WHy oh why can't I pick layers like that in fabrics! :0 I think it just seems so much more permanent. I also have been loving the Bohemian look and gravitating towards that in decor.

    For years I have worn long flowy patterned skirts and when I was younger, more boho like shirts and shoes. I think it makes sense that I am gravitating to this kind of decor. :)

  • 12 years ago

    Yup. 90% jeans and T-shirts, the softer and slouchier the better, and 10% Yves Saint Laurent. Not much in between. I have coral in both decor and clothing, but the wilder hot pinks, indigos, and magentas haven't made into my decor.

    (Yet.)

  • 12 years ago

    My home definitely does reflect my interior~tan, ivory/white, black, gold(upholstery) and leopard print(upholstery)! I've been wearing ivory for years and ivory pants/sweater was my signature Christmas outfit for years. I have everything from scarves to pj's in leopard print, so maybe that's why I had the slipper chairs in the greatroom done in leopard print. Even my tabby, white cat, and Australian cattle dog(tan)work into the color scheme. LOL

    I have a ton of gray in clothing(shoes/purses too!)but not in my home~if I did, I would pair it with a bright fuchia. I do have a few fuchia, cobalt, turquoise tops, but no other colors, and also a lot of brown. And I love metallics, especially knits.

    While I do love color on other people, at 5'1" and 110 lbs, the color usually wears me instead of the other way around. I was in retail for 25 years and really found out what works best for me.

  • 12 years ago

    Yes and no. I dress in solids only and most of my furniture is solid (or small print that looks solid from afar). But I have clothes in almost every color of the rainbow including gold, purple, lime green, red, brown, red, pink, coral, and lots of black. I have beiges, blues and medium wood tones in the living room; golds, coppers, a touch of green, dark wood furniture, black in the dining room. Black, white and a touch of red and blue in kitchen. Guest room in black, white, cream and silver/gray. Bedroom in golds, black, wood headboard.

  • 12 years ago

    Oh lord, I hope I dont decorate the way I dress. Right now, I have on jeans that have 2 patched knees, and I added to that by kneeling in black enamel paint, so have a big spot of that. Similar clothing seems to be my main attire these days, with my living room, completely torn apart.

  • 12 years ago

    Nah. I dress functionally and don't like calling attention to myself. Jeans, tees, boots, solids instead of patterns, small classic jewelry.

    Decor-wise, I'm most stimulated and influenced by vivid color, patterns, layering and mixes of old with new. Deep, rich colors stimulate me and make me happy when they're in a house. I do have a few deep, rich colors on the walls - a Bermuda blue, a bright lime green. With a more persuadable DH, I'd use the linked picture as the jumpoff for every room.

    Here is a link that might be useful:

    This post was edited by zeebee on Fri, Jan 25, 13 at 13:47

  • 12 years ago

    I use to be very fashionable when I was thin like my girls. I'm afraid to say that after having four kids my style is jeans and sweats. I think that's why I hate to clothes shop.

    My house looks a lot better than my wardrobe.

  • 12 years ago

    Yes, in the sense that I try to obfuscate when things were done, by combining trend and anti-trend in my design process, and I am pretty much the same way with clothes. I am wearing a pair of shoes I bought almost twenty-five years ago, and my good clothes tend to be things from Brooks Brothers that are made the same way for decades, and my casual clothes are intentionally generic but sturdily made. It's hard to tell whether I am wearing something brand new or that belonged to my father first.

    But my interior design sense is much more idiosyncratic, whereas my clothes sense is a uniform of sorts.