You’ve probably already heard that colour is huge for Spring and Summer this year. Whether it be pastels, brights, prints or colour blocking, everyone in the fashion biz is all about the colour. But if I hear that Orange is for everyone one more time, I might just possibly lose my mind. And frankly, that is not something I can afford to do.

There are certain generalized statements in fashion that make me want to pull my hair out – if I had any to spare. Comments about certain colours being universally flattering are at the top of my list. I once watched a makeup artist on television insist that peach blush was flattering on every skin tone. That’s right. A makeup artist. Who should know better. If I walked out my front door with peach blush on my cheeks I might just stop traffic – I would look that bad.

Now I know that all of you know that certain colours look best on certain skin tones and certain colours make certain skin tones look washed out and almost sickly. But what about all of the other people who don’t? They hear these statements, believe them to be true and the next thing you know, someone with pink undertones walks out their front door wearing a Tangerine Tango top. And when that first car screeches to a halt and almost causes huge catastrophic damage, then who is to blame?

For example, when someone says that Orange is for everyone, I wish they would say: Orange is for everyone, but it’s the placement of the colour that is key. If you have pink undertones, please keep the orange away from your face. Perhaps you can wear it on your skirt or pants, or even on your handbag, belt or shoes.

The same could be said for pinks, blues, reds, greens, etc. And not only does it depend on the colour, but also the tint, shade and/or tone as well. For instance, I do not wear pastels. Even though I might pick out a pastel colour that is technically suited to my skin tone, with my colouring, pastels are not flattering. They make me look washed out. Just another thing to keep in mind.

Now, that said, I encourage everyone to embrace colour this Spring and Summer. It can be a great way to update your look and your wardrobe. You can also have a lot of fun with it. Mixing colours and patterns is a great way to show off your unique style and individuality. But, if you do decide to take part, just please watch where you put that orange! Local motorists will thank you.