Fifteen years into my fashion journey, and I’m still discovering things about my own style that surprise me.
You know how people describe your aesthetic? For me, it’s been everything from vintage to bohemian, chic to romantic—and sometimes not clearly defined. But this year, I began an experiment with the concept of an anchor color, a theory that has genuinely changed how I get dressed.
If you’ve been following along, you know I’ve been on a style redefinition journey. And it has helped make meaning out of my clothes, what I look best in and why.
My idea of an anchor color started as an experiment. It is an idea I have tweaked slightly from color theory and has become the foundation of how I approach getting dressed. An anchor color isn’t just a favorite shade—it’s the basis for other style ideas to emerge.
And in redefining my style, it has been a key concept for building a cohesive wardrobe, even when i’m mixing prints, textures, and completely different aesthetics.
SHOP SIMILAR LOOK
Grace Alex styling a Marni Leaf green skirt
Why Anchor Colors Work
Think about people whose style you instantly recognize. There’s often a color that appears again and again in their wardrobe—not because they’re boring, but because they’ve found something that works. It’s a shortcut to signature style, especially when you’re drowning in inspiration and can’t decide which direction to take.
For me, anchor colors have become both a practical tool and a creative constraint. They give me permission to be bold everywhere else.
It is an understanding I came to after noticing a pattern in the colors I chose for fall.
I discovered mine by accident while putting together today’s blog look, and other pieces I pulled out while organizing my wardrobe for fall. I kept seeing the same shade appear: green.
Looking back through old blog posts and Instagram posts, there it was again—green showing up religiously every autumn. Apparently, my subconscious has been curating this whole time.
Meet Today’s Star: The Marni Skirt
The piece I’m wearing today is what made all of this click for me. It’s a deep green A-line skirt from Marni, covered in these gorgeous colorful leaf motifs that feel both playful and sophisticated. The moment I saw it, I knew.
But here’s where it gets interesting: I’m not actually attached to green. I don’t have some deep emotional connection to the color itself. What I love is how it works with everything else in my wardrobe. Brown? Perfect. Orange? Stunning. White and red? Classic. I’ve even been pairing it with purple lately, and the combination is unexpectedly beautiful.
Green is my anchor because it makes getting dressed easier. It’s the common thread that helps disparate pieces feel like they belong together.
But there’s something more to it. Green carries this optimistic, hopeful energy that feels necessary when daylight dwindles and cold weather sets in. On gray mornings, slipping into something green feels like bringing a little life back into the day.
Holiday Shift: Enter Taupe
As we move into the festive season, I’m watching my anchor color shift. This time, I’m leaning into taupe—that sophisticated, in-between shade that hovers between beige, gray, and mauve. It’s not flashy (you won’t see it dominating the holiday displays), but that’s exactly why it works. Taupe bleeds into every traditional holiday color: burgundy, navy, ivory, metallics. It’s the quiet foundation that lets everything else shine.
Building Your Own Anchor Color Wardrobe
If you’re just starting to define or redefine your style, here’s my advice: find one color that makes you feel like yourself. Not trendy, not what looks good on everyone else—just the color that consistently makes you feel confident.
Once you have it:
- Let it guide your seasonal purchases
- Look for pieces that bridge your anchor color with current trends
- Notice how it interacts with other shades in your existing wardrobe
- Watch how quickly getting dressed becomes easier
Your Turn
Drop a comment and let me know if this is an idea you are open to exploring. Because here’s what I’ve learned: our anchor colors say something about who we are and how we want to move through the world. And I’m fascinated by what yours might be.
P.S. If you’re looking at your closet right now thinking “I have no idea what my anchor color is,” snap a photo and tag me. Let’s figure it out together.
