Tuesday Miscellany: Hair, Color, and More

Susan B. of une femme d'un certain age wears a pixie cut and red lipstick. Details at une femme d'un certain age.

The Return Of The Pixie…

So yes, I went for “the big chop,” 💇‍♀️ and have no regrets. It was fun and a novelty to have my hair a little longer, but after a while, the annoyance of it being constantly in my face outweighed everything else. (As I mentioned in the “growing out” post a few days ago, I was already experiencing the itch to cut. 😬 )

(Lipstick is NARS velvet matte pencil in “Red Square.”)

Contemplating Color…

I’ll admit, I have a rather fraught relationship with color. Or at least with wearing color (other than accessories or lipstick). I really would like to wear more color, but when I do I often feel overwhelmed by it. Part of it, I think was my upbringing. I was taught to view neutrals as more sophisticated and classic. (While I think there’s truth to that, and that neutrals are a good basis for a wardrobe, a wardrobe with only neutrals can feel drab.) And part of it is my own coloring.

I’ve had my colors “done” before, three times actually since my twenties. And each time, the assessment came out differently. The most recent color analysis (several years ago now), put me in the “Light Summer” range. During the assessment the stylist wouldn’t let me put my glasses on, and I’m very nearsighted, so had to take her word for what effects different colors had on my skin. It’s true that some of the colors in that palette are “good” on me, but many of them feel somehow trite and juvenile when I wear other than in small doses (like scarves).

I’ll never be a person that wears a lot of color, I don’t think. Or who completely eschews black. But I feel my wardrobe is missing a certain joie de vivre, and that maybe getting color “right” is one of the keys to unlock that. I was intrigued when I read about Lisa’s (The Sequinist) experience with a color and style consultation with Red Leopard in London. Since we’ll be visiting for a few days in late June, I decided to book a session with them. I promise a full report!

And Those Pants…

AG Caden twill trousers in sulphur mahogany red. Details at une femme d'un certain age.

In the meantime, I’ve found that color is often easier for me to incorporate with pants or accessories. For many years when we’ve visited France during Spring and Summer months, I’ve spied both men and women wearing pants in a a faded brick red color. It’s a shade I like and can wear, and have often looked for something similar here with no luck. I recently spotted these trousers (I already have the same style in a tan color, wearing here) so ordered this color to try.

An Unwelcome Visitor

Yesterday morning as I was making my coffee, I noticed something that looked like mouse droppings on the counter. I dismissed this as unlikely, wiped off the counter, and started checking email. Not 2 minutes later, a fat grey mouse scurried across the counter and popped up into the console above the stove. Every few minutes it poked its head out, saw me still there, and hid again. I used to keep pet mice when I was young, so I’m not afraid of them, just don’t want them in my kitchen!

I’m not sure where this rodent interloper came from. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen a mouse in 22 years of living in this house. I always keep my counters clean, and don’t leave any food open. (In California, we tend to get ant infestations, so removing all sources of food has become habit.)

Le Monsieur hustled over to Home Depot for some catch-and-release traps, but la souris has either made a break for it while I was out of the room, or decided to go to sleep where it was. I haven’t seen or heard it moving since. The traps are set (with some lovely cheese and peanut butter) and I have my fingers crossed that maybe it’ll be looking for a midnight snack and get caught. There are lots of fields nearby where I can release him or her.

What percentage of your wardrobe is neutral vs. color? And do you have any tips to get rid of mice without hurting them?

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76 Comments

  1. I don’t feel comfortable wearing most colours. I am an introvert so i feel often that the colour is wearing me rather than the other way round. I would say about 80% of my wardrobe is either black or grey, my 2 neutrals. I don’t wear white or any shades of beige/tan etc because I don’t like myself in them. As I have matured ( I am 59) I have more confidence to wear only what I want and that includes colour. I love burgundy and hunter green. I have removed all navy from my wardrobe as I feel old and frumpy in it no matter the style or cut of the item. I always find it interesting to see the colours people choose to wear. I look forward to following you journey with colours.

  2. I could never maintain a neutral wardrobe, I love color. However, I limit my colors to shades of blue, pink, light yellow and the occasional pattern. I tend to wear colors with neutrals like gray, off white and sometimes black (mainly on the bottom half). I always thought you were a light summer from your online images. My coloring is somewhere between cool summer and deep soft summer. I do not like bright colors or heavy deep colors near my face (such as black though it’s better than bright white).

  3. So glad you cut your hair. I also have a pixie (silver) and it was one of the reasons I started following you. I wear colors that I like too and probably may not compliment but they make me happy so….

  4. I love color in my clothes! It makes me feel light and happy! So glad you did the “chop”–you definitely rock the pixie!

  5. We remodeled the kitchen in our last house and removed a downdraft cooktop. The installers left the exhaust pipe open. I did not think anything about it until a few months later when we started finding mice evidence in kitchen. I stuffed steel wool into the pipe and covered the opening with duct tape. Never had another mouse. Hope you find the hole!

  6. I love color. I had my colors done many years ago. I am a winter, wearing pink, purple, cherry red (not orange red), black, navy white and black. No muted tones for me! they make my skin look dull. I am very regimented in what I wear: always black or navy pants in the winter, and white in the summer. I never wear brown, beige, tan, yellow, orange, gray, green, etc. I feel this works for me. You are probably like me if I wear a color that I normally do not wear, I feel really odd, out of sorts. BTW, I love your hair short. It is very attractive

    1. Like you Linda I had my colours done years ago as well – and am a winter – love lavender, violet, purple (my friends say those are “my” colours) pale blue, cherry red, and wear black, navy and grey pants or skirts (no grey near my face) and NEVER beige, brown, tan, yellow, orange – I just look washed out – like green but not a yellowy-green. Here in Eastern Canada we’ve had a very cold, snowy winter and now a very wet and cold spring – my “uniform” is jeans and a cashmere sweater – have the sweaters in many colours and they brighten up me and the day! My husband hated a very expensive camel hair jacket he bought when we were first married – I figured he was also a winter – stopped wearing the jacket and was happy!

  7. Mice look for warmer quarters out East. If you free the mice nearby, they’ll find their way back. Two winters ago we relocated more than a dozen mice. Woods back up to our home. But this year we reluctantly called in the professionals who found their entry point. Hope that does the trick for us. (Worthless cat!)

  8. Check BEHIND the dishwasher- pull it out-forward (will need help with this) and usually there are drains, pipes left with gaps where the little beasts enter and live happily back there. Other solution says MEOW. On color, you really rock that red lipstick, I think its great on you! Those color theory people have always got my profile wrong, as I am a mix of them all!! HA! Since I let my hair go completely gray, it is even more difficult. So, I keep to basics like black white and navy, Thanks to you! And add in color as accessories. Much better!Also, when I went gray, I became invisible and it really does not matter what I wear anymore!! But I love it!! And lets never forget the blue jean indigo. Pair that with olive, tan, etc and you look great.

  9. I am a true winter and also find that colours in the warm or brown tones make me look drab. Often though I look good in the ‘jewel tone’ versions of certain warm colours. I don’t look good in peach but deep orange looks great forget taupe but deep chocolate brown is fine ( I don’t wear it that much) My colouring also looks best with strong contrast ie black+ white.
    I do agree with the comment about navy being frumpy…I was wearing a smart two piece navy outfit several years ago when several people commented that I looked like a flight attendant or worse, my 92 yr old father said that it looked “matronly” ugh! Out it went! I will wear navy pants or navy striped top but that’s it. Black is always my BFF!!!

    1. I love it too–I think you look amazing with the shorter hair and was surprised you had been growing it out. Good for you.

  10. I usually wear black or dark colors on the bottom, but several colors especially turquoise and corals on top. I like your pixie, but can understand the boredom and enjoyed seeing you with it a bit longer. As to mice, someone told me to try spearmint. I planted it outside my garage door and have had no mice and it has been 20+ years. I would recommend a pot or something to control it as it is a spreader!

  11. I’ve had my colors done multiple times and they’re all usually in the same range of Cool Summer. However, the very best color and style consult I’ve had is with Emmy award winning David Zyla. In his system, I am a Jeweltone Summer. The colors and style fit me to a T. I’d guess my wardrobe is 75% in my colors, 25% neutrals. I love color and contrast near my face. It’s amazing how one’s face illuminates when wearing the perfect color. I can’t wait to hear about your Red Leopard experience. Loving the pixie on you again! Looks so good on you.

  12. Love the hair!

    The colors vs neutrals issue is a challenge for me. I am a “deep autumn” and find myself attracted to burgundies, olive (you got me to buy camo pants I LOVE!), oranges, teals and navy. BUT I also love having a paired down capsule wardrobe, which is harder to do with a lot of color. And at 53 I don’t want to look like I am following every trend. If anyone has suggestions, I would much appreciate. Since I live in Northern California, we have short winters and my Spring/Summer/fall wardrobe takes me through most of the year.

  13. I love you in a pixie! I have to say that I do really think that most women look better in short hair after a certain age. I know that’s not the “correct” thing to say because we should be able to wear any style we like and disregard any antiquated rules. In this case I think the rules are correct though. Its a rare woman who can look her best with long hair as she gets older. I found that out myself when my hair grew back from chemo. I would have never imagined myself to be able to wear short hair but it looked amazing. I got more compliments than I ever did at any other time. It also made me look much younger. My hair is now chin length and I am seriously considering a pixie again. It is also SO MUCH EASIER!! It gave me an appreciation for how easy men really do have it in life. Taking the hair time out of your day gives you back so much 🙂

  14. I’ve never had my colors “done.” Actually don’t want to know as I probably wouldn’t wear what was recommended anyway. I love neutrals and feel comfortable in them. I like you best in neutrals as well. I actually think color can make a person look drab as it can sort of overwhelm. When I do wear a color like a blue, it’s always grayed down…a lot.

  15. I have liked your hair at every length! You are the one who must be happy with it, though. You always look so chic.

    Like me, you have relatively little color contrast between your hair, skin, and eyes, with an overall light color ideal. That is why you look so great in light warm neutrals and the reason that too much bright color (the colors of the rainbow) or dark colors (your beloved black) overwhelm your delicate coloring. Readers interested in learning more about this should check out Imogen Lamports blog, Inside Out Style blog.

    Nowadays, I have to limit the wearing of black pants or skirts to evenings only because the color contrast between black and my most flattering colors has become too great. I’m phasing black clothing out of my wardrobe, but I think my black accessories will be with me for awhile. This is a challenge since American women have been overrelying on black for decades. This has a lot to do with manufacturing profits, options cost money. When we demand something different, the options offered will change. Vote withyour feet and dollars in the marketplace, make capitalism bow to you.

    I really wish Pantone would choose a slate of warm and cool neutrals in a variety of shades so as to standardize them across the fashion industry for a given year/season the way that their colors do. It would be SOOOO helpful!!

    One of my very favorite looks on you has been your medium to light toned blue cardigan and the ivory one as well. Try limiting yourself to wearing shades of one (probably muted) color at a time. You can create interest by wearing more than one neutral and using texture and accessories.

    When I gave up higher heels, I had to give up the longer tops and jackets, which has also been a real challenge. Wardrobe changes are progressing much more slowly than I would like. Marie Kondo had helped, though. I have had some very good luck in thrift shops.

    Onward!

  16. I love the shorter hair. I have been growing out my hair over the year but like you have decided I really look better in a shorter length. About 10 years ago I stopped coloring my hair, with no clue as to what lay beneath. Since then I have received more complements on my hair that ever got when it was dyed back to it’s natural brunette color or when I went the lighter with highlights route. As I am quite petite I think the shorter style suits me.

  17. Had my colours done twice with varying success. Now I have embraced my white hair I feel a bit more certain as to what colours work or not. I have rosy skin and suit cool tones, and in fact white hair has made life easier – if I see something I like but KNOW it doesn’t suit, I pick it up and look at it, admire it and think of the lucky soul who will look good on it. I then put it back and refocus on what looks good for me. I think also along with colouring there is a case for our psychological make up – I don’t like pastels generally except as a targeted “thing” and I suspect it is partly skin tone but but also partly personality and what these colours project. Have fun with you analysis!

  18. Thank you for being kind to your mouse visitor! (Using catch and release traps.) After he’s gone try sprinkling cinnamon around entry points–it smells nice, won’t harm your dog and is supposed repel mice and insects.

    PS–love your new cut. A few years ago I grew my hair out to bra strap length. Ugh, I hated it. Longer hair is stylish now and there seems to almost a bias against short hair for some odd reason. Most women look much better with a short easy care ‘do.

  19. I wear a lot of color: red, burgundy, pink, blue, some greens. I also have quite a large selection of black and white (especially for use in layering). No yellows. Make me look sick! I would venture to say all my pants are jeans or black. I would like to experiment with pastel jeans this season.

  20. Your hair cut looks fabulous! The pixie cut is most flattering on you.
    I cannot wait to hear all about your visit with the Red Leopard team. Enjoy!

  21. I love the look of colors while never buying them. Neutrals or navy work for me. I was excited to see you grow your hair out. I struggled for 2 years until I found the right cut for my longer hair. I have to say you look marvelous with a pixie. Few can rock it like you do. Thank you for the tip of products in a previous post. I order the 5 in 1 treatment and dry shampoo type spray. Love them!

  22. Your haircut is wonderful.

    As for mice, all I know is that our exterminator, because yes we have a regular one now, says that climate change is having a big impact on his business. More critters in more places where they didn’t use to be. At least that’s his theory.

  23. Love, love, love the hair. Did I say love the hair. It’s funny how we see ourselves and really know what looks best on us deep down, but still want the challenge to try something different.
    Finally, at a certain age we are able to accept ourselves as is but most importantly. ..like it. Bravo

  24. This has to be my favorite post. Discussions about color and mice! LOL I love color and the idea of a persons best colors. I have not had mine professionally done but have done extensive reading on the subject if that counts. After years of thinking I was a warm spring I believe I am actually a soft autumn. There are more palettes now then there used to be and several systems. And I think our skin becomes more translucent over time. To me, you are a cool summer, Susan, and look best in the muted icy colors of that palette. As for mice, I too do not want one in my kitchen but don’t want to harm them either. Live traps work best with peanut butter as bait because they cannot grab it and run. Once he is gone, spraying peppermint oil in the areas you suspect he is coming in will help keep them away. Good luck! And I, too, am the owner of two worthless cats!

  25. I lost a long post! (I have a background in visual arts and was contemplating the language of colour).

    For the moment, I just wanted to tell everyone that in French, a pixie cut is simply a coupe courte or a coupe garçonne. The latter makes me think of 1920’s flappers! I hate the name pixie cut; coupe garçonne is far wittier!

    My wee black cat is far from worthless but I take the half-dead mice away from her…

  26. You look really good with a pixie cut.
    That faded red is everywhere here. As you say, on both men and women. And I have noticed another trend–matching shoes. On men and women. Shoes the same color as the pants. Faded red. Also I’ve seen mustard–mustard pants with mustard shoes, both on guys and women.
    I Marie Kondo-ed my wardrobe yesterday and it is black and white/khaki more than ever. Some red, a couple of blue. But that’s OK. I have color in accessories. A little goes a long way.

  27. I had my colors analyzed in the early 80s by the colorist school that arose when everyone tried to figure out why Jackie Kennedy looked so amazing in her LBD. It was done as Red Leopard does it and made very simple. Sitting and watching as varying shades of green cloth was draped on me was fascinating. I am a light yellow based skin tone and it hasn’t changed through the years. I still have my color swatches! The issue for me is that I got tired of sticking to one color palette. So I do wander off the reservation but I make sure my make up is “my” color….very important I think…for everything from foundation to lipstick. Just a note…this “school” of color thought doesn’t rely on anything other than skin tone so we didn’t concern ourselves with eye or hair color.
    GREAT PIXIE! You just lost 10 years!

  28. Love the cut too! I am a definite winter and would have thought you are a cool summer . . . How do you feel wearing peach though- if good, that would put you as a spring! I think we do get too caught up in these things, but when I see a store that is full of beige, rust, and camel, I know to keep going!

  29. Love the pixie cut! Oh, how I wish I could pull that off!

    I’ve always looked better with longer hair, and my hairdresser tells me if I want to go short, my only option is a bob since my hair is super thick and coarse, and I have a very low neckline, so short hair will require a lot of upkeep. One of these days I’m going to stop coloring it and crop it really short to see just how grey I am and to decide if I like it. (I keep pushing back the date – right now it’s 60, but since I turn 59 this year, I’ll probably chicken out and make the new deadline 65.)

    This whole “having your colors done” thing has never worked for me. I’m something between a winter and an autumn – I look good in dark shades of anything (black, grey, navy, hunter green, merlot, dark brown). Also taupe and olive green and most shades of red. It’s most pastels I can’t wear. I have dark hair with red undertones, dark eyes, and very fair skin with yellow undertones. I love a little color now and then (a bright top or patterned slacks or dress, but I will usually tone it down with a neutral top, jacket, shoes, etc.

    I keep trying to wear brighter lipstick, but I feel like a clown. You look so fabulous in bright lipstick, Susan! I think it helps that you have lovely, full lips.

  30. I love that faded brick color! To me, red is a neutral. Also, it’s technically illegal to move a nuisance animal from your property to another. I doubt anyone would ever make a fuss, but just so you know. I live on a farm, and frequently catch raccoons, possums, feral cats, etc (even the occasional skunk). We move them to the creek at another one of our farm sites, but I’ve had feral cats make it all the way back here (15 miles!). Given the rodent control needs of a nut farm, you’ve gotta be a stinker of a cat to be banned….

    1. Yes, we have a creek (public property) with some surrounding fields/wetlands a couple of blocks away, which was where I’d planned to release the little stinker if it ever comes back/gets caught. So far, no signs of another visit.

  31. I’m still the navy, black, gray, white and camel gal. I have to aim for graphite gray rather than light gray. I have silver hair (VERY short and textured) and hazel eyes with a very fair (Scottish) complexion. I still love white tees and white shirts so I wear them despite my white skin and hair b/c I grew up in white tees and denim jeans. That’s how I feel ‘me’. Red lips are too ‘harsh’ for me so I try to go for the ‘my lips but better’ look and wear red rimmed glasses instead. 😉
    I should be wearing scarves with color and/or jewelry with some color but honestly, it’s just not me. And hair: I have thick coarse hair with lots of cowlicks and have to wear it very short. One of my friends hates that I don’t color my hair and that I wear it very short but honestly I don’t have the same sensibilities when it comes to convention. I think short hair can be sexy on a woman and my hair is way past dyeing possibilities. Way past.

  32. Every few years we have to grow out hair like ours to remind ourselves why we keep it short. However, you did better with longish hair than I did. At a certain length, my hair just gives up, hangs lifelessly, and sighs.

    My wardrobe is an explosion of color and print. It makes me happy! (It compensates for the hair.)

  33. Lucky you, getting your colors done! I agree with your light summer analysis. Of course, hard to tell through a computer screen. I am also light summer, very light and very ashy. The light summer colors do skew juvenile. My clothing “colors” are very muted and thus skew neutral, i.e. olive drab, denim blue, flesh. Yesterday I wore an aubergine jacket, which to my horror, was the exact color of my under eye circles!

    As to the mouse, I have two cats and I still get mice. They love my silverware drawer of all places!

  34. Hah Must be the season! I just chopped mine too after attempting another growout!

    I’ve made a concerted effort these past few years to add a bit of red to my mostly neutral wardrobe – it seems to be the one colour I can live with. If you look good in red lippy, you’ll look great in a red dress or top or shoes etc.

    You look great!

  35. That ‘faded brick’ colour you speak of is what i call ‘European red’ – can’t find it in North America. It’s a great neutral and goes with so many things.

    And Red Carpet is on my list for my next London trip!

  36. Love your “new” hair. You look pretty in both styles, long or short. After tiring of having my hair colored for nearly twenty five years, I took the plunge and had a buzz cut right after the first of the year. I’m retired so I knew I could hole up during the grow out period. Well, I love it. I have beautiful salt and pepper hair and it feels thicker. I intend to maintain a modern pixie cut. Imagine te money I’m saving hahaha.

  37. Susan, I like that you’re happy with your hair. It suits you.

    I adore Sequinist Lisa and (if I understood that part of your post correctly) I’m tickled to hear that you and she will get to spend time together
    Finally, about that brick red color — I just bought some Brighton mules in that red color. Also wanted to buy a cute linen red striped (with cream) jumpsuit yesterday, but it was a little too big, so phooey. And it was on sale, too. Double phooey.

    P.S. At 73, I have long hair and love it. Either I look really good in long hair or just FEEL really good in long hair. Either way works for me. 🙂

  38. I like those pants a lot. Think I could do that shade. My basics are black, white, gray, and pops (a bag, a scarf, maybe a chunky necklace) of red, emerald green, purple or a medium blue. When I had my colors done I was told I was early summer which is pretty much pastels and what I call “baby” colors. I am very fair and I wind up looking like a large marshmallow when I wear pastels. As for the mouse – I don’t mind fur, but if it was a snake I would have to move. Immediately. I don’t care if it is a garter snake it is a Black Mamba to me and i wouldn’t even stop to pack. Just sayin.

  39. As to color, you do appear spring with your light yellow hair, and green eyes ( if my screen is correct) or the light summer, that has some spring colors in it. I have been to five color people, three said summer, two said spring. I do find summer colors less “ business like/ grown up” , I also find the colors way harder to find, these could be reasons why you are not drawn to them. I find in our society right now, these colors are not well accepted, I’ve even had people say the colors are too “ feminine “. At the moment, we want words like, edgy, sexy, rock and roll, casual, comfortable, creative, but rarely, “ feminine “. So it could be these colors are problematic, at this point in time.

  40. Love the haircut! I think it adds style and a certain je ne sais quoi – just right for France. Short really suits you, Susan.
    Your comments on colour are really interesting, especially having your colours done 3 times, with 3 different outcomes. I am very much of the view that I will wear what colours I want, which is more likely to make me happy than acceding to anyone else’s views! A great advantage of being older……
    I find it easier to add colour to my base neutrals in summer , possibly the different light? Despite reddish hair, I’ve added some scarlet this summer and am searching for yellows too. As a resident of the (rainy) north west of England, I have to hope for good enough weather that my canary yellow rain,ac isn’t the only thing that will get an outing.

  41. You have such pretty coloring, even more so in person. You wore something recently with tan jeans that I thought looked so good on you. One piece of advice I remember from the Color Me Beautiful book was to wear the colors that you get complimented on. My friends tell me that lavender and violets are “my” colors and I can’t tell you how many times I get compliments when I wear red. As you can guess I’m a winter.

  42. I am growing out some bangs, so I have been wearing headbands. That hair in the eyes thing is most annoying, so I understand your decision to chop. (You need a cat, preferably one who likes to hunt rather than sleep all day.)

  43. I love your pixie. I’m a short hair person and haven’t grown out my hair in a couple decades now. It is just SO easy and if you can rock it (which you do) why not make life easier?

    Lots of black and gray in my wardrobe, but I’ve always loved shades of aqua and turquoise, as well as bright orange/red. So my wardrobe includes those whenever I can find them. I think aqua and turquoise in different variations are here for a while…I’m thrilled.

    We had a mouse in the house the first year we lived here, and I agree with earlier posters re: finding the hole or entry point. We used copper wool to stuff it because it doesn’t rust. You’re lucky they don’t freak you out. My DH was traveling when I looked up from reading the evening news to see the little bugger sitting on the lamp shade looking at me. I’m sure they heard me a mile away. 😉

  44. I wear both neutrals as well as strong color. I don’t worry or stress about it, if it’s “ chic” I go for it. I make beautiful, very bold necklaces which then become the focal point. I can always dabble with my make-up to make it work for me. And, yes, you look 15 years younger with this pixie cut. Great move!!

  45. Your haircut looks AMAZING Susan… as does that lip pencil which I am getting after seeing this photo of you! We really have such similar colouring.

    I can’t wait for you to have your Red Leopard analysis. I’ll be on the edge of my seat, waiting to hear what they have to say and what you think. I know you will love Annie and Manina, and my goodness do they know their stuff!

    I know exactly the sun bleached brick coloured trousers everyone wear that you mention above, they are EXACTLY like the trousers you linked too. I’m quite tempted by those; it seems like a fabulous colour to wear with muted greens and cream.

    We are living parallel lives on the mouse front. We have one which is totally trap savvy, and eats the strangest things in my pantry– it eats the foil wrapper on an anchovy jar, it eats the paper on a soy sauce jar, and occasionally gnaws into a bag of sugar. No nuts, no flour, no cereal, no chocolate, no oats, etc. Whatever luscious cheeses and nut butters we put in a trap, it doesn’t go near it. I hope you have better luck! xx

  46. Your hair always looks great to me. I love the color and I’ve liked it at every length. So, lucky you to be able to choose one you like.

    Colors? Wardrobe is about 90% neutrals (white, black gray, ivory). Just a few colors, mostly blues, but a few warm colors like russet or brick. Never had my colors done because I’ve heard too many stories of people getting it done and getting different answers. I just go with my own judgement. Have I made mistakes? Not than many actually!

  47. The short haircut looks great! I enjoy reading about your style journey and your experimentation with colors.

    Now to the rodents. I appreciate your desire to relocate your visitors, and if you can do that without them coming back, that’s great. If you ever need to take more drastic measures, I recommend using an electric baited trap by Victor. A peanut based piece of candy bar works well as bait and is less messy than peanut butter. When the critter enters, an electric shock stops its heart immediately. Our house backs up to an open area, and we get tree rats in our backyard occasionally, hiding from the hawks. This is what we use successfully.

  48. Susan, your hair looks terrific, and you look at least 10 years younger. As for color, it’s so hard to see yourself objectively… just like the hair. After years of trying and advice, I’m finally convinced I’m somewhere between a summer and a spring. Whenever I wear a certain bright colors, especially blue, I get tons of compliments. I’ll be watching to see what happens with your color analysis in London.

  49. My colour analysis was done as a result of trying to change my hair colour to a lighter shade as I was getting older. Looking back, disaster on both counts. My natural hair colour was dark brown with green hazel eyes. In attempting a more blond look I also tried wearing what I thought were blond colours. Wrong! So the colour analyst said I should never have gone blond and that I should let my now white and grey grow. Hell will freeze over before that scenario! As I suspected she put me as winter though my skin tone is now most definitely neutral (neither blue nor green veins) and since discovering violet shampoo I can now have lighter brown hair without going yellow. I find too that l can successfully wear more tomato reds to brighten my grey, navy, black neutrals.

  50. First time I find this, and may never find it again..it seems that as women, we all have the same concerns.

    Would love short hair, but am tall and wide shouldered and feel unbalanced.
    My face is a long oval too. So at my age, am sticking to between chin and shoulder for my fine fair hair. And when my greyish whitish hair showed up, I tried, but it was such a dreary colour – or absence of- that I couldn’t take it and went back to colour.

    As my little granddaughter says “colour makes me happy”…though not being brave enough to boldly wear the fresh Spring colours that are mine and I love, with lots of black, denim jackets, and light greys, occasionally white.

    So blue and white striped tees, warm pinky flowers on black tops, and today a warm yellow tee, the only yellow I own. I love scarves, in my happy colours. Detest brown and magenta.
    Browns are depressing and Magenta is violent. Strange how we attribute personalities to colours, isn’t it?
    I am a synesthete. This may have something to do with it all.

    But my budget is now limited, hair maintenance expensive, those gorgeous trousers you show beyond my dreams. And I have thighs. Sigh.

    I admire your courage, ladies!

  51. I am going to jump on the bandwagon to say I think you look fabulous!! Your haircut suits your small face and that lipstick is the bomb! I have noticed your foray into color and applaud it. I agree that getting the “right” colors to complement skintones/eye and hair colors is a challenge as I age. I recently stopped coloring my (previously) brown hair. I love the silver short crop that I now sport, but the change in hair color has wreaked havoc in my wardrobe. I used to be a deep autumn, but am now in a much cooler range. I will follow your visit to the color consultant in London with avid interest.

  52. Several month ago, I took all the tops out of my closet that were not black, white, or gray (or some tropes combo of those). I put them in the spare bedroom, and only missed a few of them I’ve added back those few–some dark blue and various burgundies, half a dozen, maybe. And I’m perfectly fine with that.

  53. I absolutely love your hair short! I wear mine in an identical pixie style and receive a least one compliment a day when I’m out and about. I was wearing my hair short when everyone else had hair down to their hinny. Not everyone can go as short as we do but when you can, girl, rock it! You look fabulous!

  54. I’ve never had my colors done…I do have a few clues about what “my colors” are, though. I’m fair, with green (not at all hazel) eyes. My hair was blond as a child, then turned darker. Now it’s probably mostly grey, but I have it colored blond. I get compliments when I wear cool pastels like ice blue, aqua, turquoise, and bluish-pink. I look awful with beige near my face! I do like color, but wear a lot of black, grey, and navy as well. I like navy but agree with other commenters that one has to be careful not to look like a flight attendant! Interested to hear about the upcoming color consultation. Not sure it would change anything for me if I had it done, though!

  55. Love the pixie cut! I grow my hair out a bit from time to time, and I always find it very aging.

    I see a lot of warmth in your hair and eyes, and clarity in your skin. I’d see you as a light-to-bright Spring, wearing ivory, cream, khaki, and camel as neutrals with popsicle colors as accents. The way that you rock the bright lipstick is indicative to me of a need for clear, bright colors.

  56. Love the hair! Like you, I’d been growing mine over the past year or so, but had reached the “over it” stage. Was due at the hairdresser the day I read your post, so took it as a sign to get mine chopped too, and am extremely happy I did so. Now I just need to remember how to style it!

  57. I participated in a Color me Beautiful consultation in the 80’s. The biggest takeaway from that session was warm vs cool colors. A blue red makes me look like a vampire whereas a warm, coral red flatters my skin tone. There are however some warm hues that don’t suit me at all. Mustard yellow….Yecchhh!

    1. I also did a Color Me Beautiful consultation in the late 80s, and pretty much ignored most of their suggestions for a very long time. From time to time I have picked up my color swatches and compared them to the colors I wear, and I have made an occasional effort to line up the color swatches with my actual life, and buy the suggested colors. I always look better in ‘my’ colors. They told me in 1988 that as I got older, my correct colors would make me look so much better, and they do, but I have about 8 shades of green, and for whatever reason, I find it difficult most of the time (except summer) to wear green. But I am a “radiant luminous summer” or some such nonsense, which comes down to the ability to wear both silver and gold. I figure that as long as the colors I do wear don’t cry out in pain compared to my color swatches I’m probably in the ballpark, but by this age I already know the colors that work and the colors that make me look like death warmed over.

  58. Here is our mouse story…
    We have two “senior” cats, one who still likes to hunt. One night, or the very early hours of morning, I woke to the sound of yeowling and hissing on the stairs. When I got up to tell them to knock it off I saw a skinny tail slink off during the distraction. I woke my husband and got my slippers on, but by that time “Mickey” had disappeared. The next day we found droppings on the kitchen counter. We put out a couple of traps, one peanut butter, one cheese. No bites. The next morning one of the cats chased a fleeing mouse out of the pantry into a cabinet in the kitchen, and cornered him in there.
    My husband suddenly became a Man with a Plan! He immediate raced to his laboratory (he’s a scientist). He came home with chloroform which he sprinkled on a cotton ball, put the cotton ball in the cabinet and then taped the cabinet door closed so the mouse couldn’t escape. About 15 minutes later he looked in on a sleeping Mickey. We took Mickey to the creek that runs behind our house and put him in some ivy under a huge oak. When he wakes up I’m sure he will wonder how he got there.

  59. This pixie is really “you”; feminine, charming, and brings out your eyes. And the poppy lipstick is gorgeous. (My problem wearing bright lipstick is that I eat it off in about 3 minutes and haven’t much interest in nonstop touch-ups.) The pants are the classic East coast Nantucket Reds, always worn in summer with boat shoes, •never• socks and one of those web belts. (Preps can be ‘rules’ persons.) I also see them worn a lot in France, especially by men.

    LOL re the colour analyst who would not let you see the colours yourself! Isn’t that the whole point of the exercise? Agree about exterminator for mice but even more important is to find where they are getting in. Catch and release means they’ll just return to Sue’s cozy kitchen.

    1. Thanks so much, Duchesse! It wasn’t that she wouldn’t let me see myself, it’s that I’m very nearsighted and seeing nuances or details beyond a couple of feet away is impossible without my glasses. But yes, it seems to defeat the purpose…

      BTW, I mentioned on your blog that you prompted a visit to Kojima pearls…and a purchase. 😉

  60. Ladies, looker Kettlewell UK for colour inspiration and Look Fabulous Forever for makeup! Found them during covid n my life has changed! Fabulous sites.