Are you high or low contrast? | CONTRAST THEORY

Have you ever thought that the secret to harmonious style might not be colour, but... contrast? In this video I break down contrast for colour seasons, body types and essences and what to do if your features clash. Your contrast is how opposing your features are to each other, and is it the centre of many style systems.

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ABOUT ME:
🎀 My name is Ellie-Jean, a style analyst and content creator from Norfolk, UK. I make videos that make style systems easy, in order to help you curate a personalised AND flattering wardrobe.

⏰ Timestamps:
0:00 what is contrast?
0:33 high vs low contrast
2:21 contrast for colour
2:28 black and white trick
2:55 high contrast (colours)
3:51 low contrast (colours)
4:15 medium contrast (colours)
4:40 contrast for body types
6:49 contrast for facial features
7:53 contrasting recommendations

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#BODYANDSTYLE #ELLIEJEAN #colourseasons

[moriahw]

This might be a sensitive question, but I've always wondered why darker skinned WOC are considered high contrast? If your skin, hair, and eyes are all the same dark color & tone, wouldn't that be low contrast in the same way having light hair, skin and eyes is?

[NoOne-wtsv]

This was so confusing for me!! I’m a woc, who has obvious contrast. But, there was an obvious softness that had me thinking Summer? Winter?

Lo and behold, I was a dark Autumn 🍂🍁 not much distinguishing difference between woc Autumns and Winters to look for. But contrast is the one thing we both share!

[samanthaj]

For people with more melanin the contrast thing is very confusing as I don’t think it was made with us in mind. I usually look at it in terms of pigment instead of contrast. The more depth or intensity of pigment someone has the more they can tolerate color with high intensity pigments. Its easier for me to understand that way instead of the contrast.

[CatSchrodingers]

I am not a pro stylist but i am a designer so working with colors have been my job for 20 years. The dark skinned lady on the thumbnail is low contrast for sure(hair lips skin tone very similar). This system was deffently made for lighter skin people which is fine(i do not think its rasict or whatever). People with medium to dark brown shold be aproached separatly on matters of contrast and maybe whole color system needs to be tweaked a bit(whole seasons and stuff). Best explored by someone who has dark skin perhaps... We are all different and it is okay.

[traceyvincent]

So interesting, thanks for all this. Some feedback for you Ellie...please ditch the background music, it's distracting and not necessary. Could you also please slow down your speaking, and hold the shots of your examples for a few more seconds so that we can absorb the point you're making. I know that you're trying to convey a lot of information, but I for one would prefer to ff/ skip sections ( with a slower delivery) than having to pause and re- wind. Hope that makes sense!

[pinkroses]

The low contrast of ethereal and soft summer put together got me to thinking. If ethereal is otherworldly or heavenly which can be kind of regal and soft summer is like a summer sunset then all of those faded dusky purples would be a perfect way to blend the looks. There's so many neat possibilities with all of this.

[pinkroses]

I love how your approach treats each person like a work of art 🎨

[rosanilebron]

Thanks! The integration of all these aspects is fascinating. As a soft summer Gamine it is quite challenging to follow the Gamine recommendations. I have very mixed features. For the past few months since I discovered all of this world, I have been more conscious of my body type within this system and try to navigate my quirkiness and softness blend with attention to details. You channel has helped me A LOT!

[local_tomatillo]

Thank you for doing this video! As a SG with low to medium contrast, a natural essence, and a true autumn, I've been confused about how to combine everything. This is helpful for getting closer to understanding.

[audraosborn]

Love love love this video. Especially the background music! It made me want to keep watching.

[gamergirlmars]

High contrast people will be high contrast even if you dye your hair. I first heard of this and didn't believe it initially, but once I tested this with myself and even with black, brown hair and red, pink, or platinum blonde you could clearly see my skin is high contrast and the eyes are too, even brightest/lightest in the black and white photo test with/than my platinum hair. Super cool!

[kaitlincrane_]

This was a really cool video! I love how you expanded contrast beyond colors!

[kamirae]

This makes so much sense! As a dark winter I always thought I was high contrast. I have contrast for sure but mixing black with a bright color never really worked for me. I would switch the black for a darker grey & it’s perfect. Guess I should of connected the dots, but everywhere it seems to say dark winters are high contrast lol

[thereoru]

Thank you so much! This video made me finally understand all that you have explained before. It just clicked!! You are amazing 🙏🏼💕

[jessicaoncanvas]

I'm a dark autumn with a soft classic body type (some romantic and dramatic essence as well). But I've found that leaning too far into softness or going too far towards soft autumn really looks bland on me. This video really helped me figure out why - I was missing contrast!

Now I can clearly see in past outfits why having all these elements I thought would work well and harmonize just didn't quite hit the mark for me...

[LornaLens]

Finally explained in a way I get it, thank you. I am a true winter, and I was never sure which winter I was, but now I know, I also have a diamond face shape and a romantic kibbe, and not sure of my essence yet.

[meltedxcrayons]

This is so useful, thank you!! I have very low contrast coloring with high contrast body type and essence so I was wondering which direction to go-- so the end was very useful especially.

[rzuue]

This really explains why I like the way pairing a light blue jeans with a black top looks on me. I think I‘m medium to high contrast, maybe even closer to high contrast than medium. I can wear all black but I like it the best when I pair black with a much brighter colour or white.
I‘m also most likely a winter type. And I always struggled to place my facial features because they seem sharp and soft to me. Plus my super curly hair adds some softness too.
For my body, I am petite but I also have more squarish shoulders, as someone recently pointed out (they said it runs in the family).
So overall, I seem to be quite on the higher contrast side.

[rachellepennington]

This was a lightbulb moment for me! After years of following style tips for pear shapes, I could never understand why outfits felt so off. Now I see that high contrast top and bottoms and severe waist definition do not suit soft summer (confirmed) or soft natural (suspected). I went shopping this weekend and for once felt confident in the pieces I was buying: gray and blue tones, soft waist definition, and blurred or small patterns. So much more flattering!

[KibbeSiren]

Loved the video ❤ can you do a series with kibbe body types with different style roots combinations? I would love a video on dramatic classics without the stereotypes, I'm a Bright Spring DC with Natural, Gamine and Romantic Essences and I'm very confused by how my style roots can match my DC body. I can't decide if I should go Earth or Mountain vibes! (Before my style roots were Mountain, Fire and Sun and I tried the questions again and it came like Earth, Flower and Sun. I'm so confused on how I want to be perceived and which styles match my lifestyle, help please!