Style Not Age Challenge: My Signature Color

Seated pose in the garden for Is This Mutton's Gail Hanlon in her signature colour of lilac, worn here as a blouse with yellow trousers.

It's the last Monday of the month which means it's time for the Style Not Age Challenge. This time it's Hilda's turn to set the challenge and she chose My Signature Color. My choice of lilac may have surprised some of you who might have expected pink.

Of all the colors, I think lilac is the one that suits me best. As a child I had a floral t-shirt and shorts, both in lilac, and used to get a lot of compliments about the color.

The problem is that lilac is not often in fashion and tends to be relegated to bridesmaid and prom dresses, fitness gear and nightwear. But I am forever searching on websites and sometimes I come up trumps. Zara is particularly good for stocking this color. The blouse I'm wearing is a recent purchased from a second hand shop on Etsy, StillLovedClothing. Owner Denise has some lovely items.

Over 50s blogger Gail Hanlon from Is This Mutton in a lilac blouse with yellow trousers and pink accessories

I tend to wear lilac more in winter because I like to pair it with purple, and there's usually a lot of purple around then. You may recall I have a gorgeous lilac coat. I remember seeing lilac and primrose yellow together and thinking it was an unusual match, but a good one. One of my teammates on the challenge, Emma from Stylesplash, who is very adventurous with color mixing, has paired lilac with yellow. So that was the inspiration for today's outfit, with a bit of pink thrown in for good measure.

Some of my other lilac looks: floral skirt and top; white and lilac blouse three ways; wedding outfit (probably more violet than lilac).

Over 50s blogger Gail Hanlon in lilac and yellow in a summer garden

The yellow trousers are from Kaleidoscope. The sandals are old (Topshop), the bag is from Amazon (still available).

Now let's see which colors my friends chose, starting with Hilda whose challenge it was. Hilda, from Over the Hilda, has chosen orangey red. This is such a stunning, rich color. Look at how it enhances Hilda's complexion. It's a perfect example of how we can all wear every color as long as we find the right variation. Orangey red is too warm for me but a scarlet or pillar box type red is fine.

Anna from Anna's Island Style found it hard to choose one color because her signature style is the rainbow, as she shows with the fabulous skirt, a charity shop find from Jaeger as were the fab pop art shoes and equally jazzy handbag. The shirt is a TK Maxx purchase.

Emma, below, from Style Splash is also wearing red, but a different shade. Her dress is by Dark Pink (from Asos) and the shoes are from M&S (a few years old now). It's uncanny how similar the pattern is for the dress and shoes!

In Is This Mutton's Style Not Age Challenge post featuring Signature Colours, Emma from Style Splash chose red and is wearing a red dress with red patterned shoes

Jacqui from Mummabstylish has chosen two of her favourite colors - pink and blue - and combined them in this print dress, currently in the Next sale. She's added pale pink peep toe sling backs and a blue bag.

In the Signature Color challenge Jacqui Berry has chosen a pink and dark blue print dress and paired it with a blue bag and pale pink sling back shoes.

Sharing this post with Stylish Monday at Fashion Trends and Friends, Monday Runway at A Pocketful of Polka Dots,Top of the World Style at High Latitude Style, Chic & Stylish at Mummabstylish, #SpreadTheKindness at Shelbee on the Edge, Anna at Muttonstyle, #AnythingGoes at My Random Musings, Thursday Moda at Elegance and Mommyhood, Turning Heads Tuesday at Elegantly Dressed and Stylish, Style with a Smile at Stylesplash, Anna at the GlamAdventure, Style Six at Coast to Coast, TFF at Doused in Pink, Fancy Friday at Nancy's Fashion Style, Fabulous Fridays at Lucy Bertold i, Beauty by Miss L Link Up, ConfidentTwosday at IDoDeclaire FeelGreat at Myriad Musings

Have a look at the girls' blogs to see more pictures. What's your signature color, or do you agree with Anna that you don't have one? Let me know in the comments below. I'm back on Wednesday with the #WowOnWednesday link up. See you then!

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