Almost every other client starts a wardrobe edit with the same sentence: “I'm afraid of colour.” Fair enough — a bad experience with a bright yellow sweater a decade ago tends to stick. But the fear of colour is almost never cured by boldness. It's cured by order: colour enters a wardrobe gradually, through pieces that carry no real risk.
Start with shoes and a bag, not clothes
Accessories are the safest entry point. A terracotta pair of flats or a burgundy bag doesn't argue with a black coat and a grey sweater — it just adds an accent. If the piece doesn't work out, that's not a failed outfit, it's one easy-to-replace item. Start with one such piece and wear it for a month — you'll see what it actually pairs with in your own wardrobe, not in theory.
One colour at a time — not a rainbow
The most common mistake once the fear is gone is trying to add five new colours at once. It ends up looking scattered and tiring on the eye. Better to pick one “active” colour per season — the one already on your accessories — and build one or two clothing pieces around it. Everything else keeps working in the neutral base.
Quick start: a terracotta bag or shoes · one bright scarf · one clothing item in the active colour · everything else stays base.
Where to find inspiration if your eye isn't trained yet
In Lisbon it's easy — just look around. Azulejo tiles on the façades, faded shutters, oranges at the market: the city itself shows you which combinations work in this light. Photograph whatever catches your eye on the street — chances are the same shade will suit you in clothing too.
If you'd like someone to pick the exact shade for your colouring and existing wardrobe, come in for a wardrobe edit.