Free test

Black again, to get through the room.

Page of five contrast levels from low to high, each with a gray strip, a small gap marker between the cheek and the features, what it reads as, how it echoes in outfits and one step to try.
Dressed on Purpose, page 9, what it means for your outfits: page on outfit contrast, how far apart your pieces sit, drawn in gray steps with one hatched piece for your color.

Pages 8 and 9

Dressed on Purpose

$24 one PDF, once, for all 12 seasons

Tell me when it is out

Not out yet. The heads-up also joins The Palette Post.

No subscription. Works with any season. An instant download, so it is not refundable.

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Inside, page by page

Turn the real pages

  • Cover of Dressed on Purpose, the manual: the title in dark plum letters with the words on purpose in berry script, on cream paper, a painted bouquet in berry, blush and lilac in the lower corner and a fan of nine gray paint chips from white to near black.
    Manual · coverThe cover
  • Contrast self-check page made to print: four numbered steps to take a gray strip to a window, a table of lips, brows, eyes and hair to compare with your cheek, and a strip of nine gray steps from white to near black to cut off the bottom.
    Page 6Contrast self-check
  • Page of five contrast levels from low to high, each with a gray strip, a small gap marker between the cheek and the features, what it reads as, how it echoes in outfits and one step to try.
    Page 8Five levels, drawn
  • Dressed on Purpose, page 9, what it means for your outfits: page on outfit contrast, how far apart your pieces sit, drawn in gray steps with one hatched piece for your color.
    Page 9What it means for outfits
  • Dressed on Purpose, page 10, neutrals and how to pair them: page on picking neutrals by how far apart they sit, with pairs drawn in gray steps.
    Page 10Neutrals, paired
  • Dressed on Purpose, page 16, three problems and one step: page on looking washed out in photos, black that overwhelms, and makeup that disappears or looks heavy, each with a before and after drawn in gray steps.
    Page 16Three problems, one step
  • Dressed on Purpose, page 20, your two results, to print: page made to print: a grid to copy your line and scale answers into.
    Page 20Your two results
  • The four-square page made to print: four squares to mark one item, one accessory, one place and one word, then a key of eight style words to add up, from Quiet Power to Dry Wit.
    Page 28The four-square
  • Style word page for Quiet Power: its five levers, three outfit formulas drawn in gray with a hatched piece for your color, makeup, hair as options, accessories, and how to move toward it from low, mid or high contrast.
    Page 29A style word
  • Work situation page: dress codes decoded for corporate, creative and retail, three outfit formulas drawn for low, mid and high contrast with the gap in steps, a checklist, skin notes and two notes from Bijou and Nube.
    Page 38Work
  • Dressed on Purpose, page 40, interview: situation page for an interview, with outfit formulas by contrast level, a checklist and skin notes.
    Page 40Interview
  • Dressed on Purpose, page 43, wedding guest, day: situation page for a wedding guest by day, with outfit formulas by contrast level and skin notes.
    Page 43Wedding guest, day
  • Dressed on Purpose, page 46, photos and headshots: situation page for photos and headshots, with outfit formulas by contrast level and skin notes.
    Page 46Photos and headshots
  • Travel capsule page: the same ten pieces drawn at low, mid and high contrast, with light neutrals, deeper neutrals and one hatched accent, and the gap in steps for each level.
    Page 48Travel capsule, drawn
  • Dressed on Purpose, page 49, capsule packing list, to print: page made to print: a packing list to fill in beside the gray strip.
    Page 49Packing list, to print
  • Your card page made to print: a baseline for season, contrast, line and scale with the cuts for each level, a row of eight style words to pick from, and one lever to change this week.
    Page 50Your card

Before and with the guide

The same week, with a manual

For the all-hands you reach for black again, to get through the room without a comment.

Dressed on Purpose, page 16, three problems and one step: page on looking washed out in photos, black that overwhelms, and makeup that disappears or looks heavy, each with a before and after drawn in gray steps.
Page 16

Black stays. Move it.

Keep black off your face: on the bottom halfPage 16

In the group photo you find yourself by the scarf. The rest of you matches the wall.

Dressed on Purpose, page 46, photos and headshots: situation page for photos and headshots, with outfit formulas by contrast level and skin notes.
Page 46

A photo chosen on purpose.

a photo that looks like you, with light and color chosen on purposePhotos and headshots, page 46

The invitation says garden party. The closet says black, gray, and one blue shirt.

Dressed on Purpose, page 43, wedding guest, day: situation page for a wedding guest by day, with outfit formulas by contrast level and skin notes.
Page 43

One page for the occasion.

be right for the occasion without competing with the brideWedding guest, day, page 43

Your day

Pick the day. Then your column.

Your column: page 6, ten minutes at a window.

Work
Work situation page: dress codes decoded for corporate, creative and retail, three outfit formulas drawn for low, mid and high contrast with the gap in steps, a checklist, skin notes and two notes from Bijou and Nube.
Page 38 · Work

Low columnA suit in a mid-deep tone, a top one step away, and one accent, such as a lip.

Mid columnBlazer and trousers in one value, a top in another, and a belt or a shoe that closes the outfit.

High columnA deep neutral suit over a light top, and one hatched accent in your color.

Interview
Dressed on Purpose, page 40, interview: situation page for an interview, with outfit formulas by contrast level, a checklist and skin notes.
Page 40 · Interview

Low columnAt Low, softer pairs tend to feel like you.

Mid columnA top two to four steps from your skin, lighter or deeper, keeps your face in focus, and a much wider gap pulls the eye away.

High columnAt High, you can keep your usual sharp look.

Wedding guest, day
Dressed on Purpose, page 43, wedding guest, day: situation page for a wedding guest by day, with outfit formulas by contrast level and skin notes.
Page 43 · Wedding guest, day

Low columnA soft color with drape: dusty rose, sage or grayish lavender. Satin finish.

Mid columnA dress or set in a friendly medium color.

High columnA sharp color of your season, or a deep with a light accent.

Photos and headshots
Dressed on Purpose, page 46, photos and headshots: situation page for photos and headshots, with outfit formulas by contrast level and skin notes.
Page 46 · Photos and headshots

Low columnA medium, friendly color against a wall in another tone.

Mid columnA blazer in a color of your season over a tee.

High columnA deep outfit with a light tee, against a medium wall.

The formulas are the pages' own words.

Tell me when it is out

Before you buy

Is this for you?

For you

  • You know (or half know) your colors and still buy pieces that read wrong.
  • You want a formula you can repeat for work, a date or a wedding.
  • You want to start with what you own.

Not for you

  • You want someone to tell you your season from a photo. The free test comes first: about 6 minutes, no photo.
  • You already dress for your day with ease.
  • The problem is fit, tailoring or skin care.

What to expect

After you pay

Payment
One payment. No subscription, no renewal.
Files
They arrive by email, to keep. Bought on Etsy, they are in your Purchases, same files and price. Nothing ships and nothing expires.
Swap
No swap and no refund. It is an instant download. A file that will not open is replaced.
Help
Write to [email protected].

The spec sheet

Everything in it, counted

  • 53pages
  • 7situations
  • 8style words
  • 7pages to print
Pages
One PDF, 53 pages. 7 are made to print at 100 percent.
Situations
7 situations, each with low, mid and high formulas: pages 37 to 49.
Formats
PDF, US Letter, 8.2 MB. It opens on a phone, with small pages.
Swap
No. There is no swap and no refund. It is an instant download. A file that will not open is replaced.
Contents
  1. Pages 5 to 16Measure your contrastA gray strip, a window, five levels, three problems.
  2. Pages 17 to 26Find your line and scaleEdges and details, two checks to print. In beta.
  3. Pages 27 to 36Pick a style wordFour squares, then one of eight words.
  4. Pages 37 to 49Open the page for the day7 situations, a formula for each column, five checks.
  5. Pages 50 to 52Fill in your cardYour results on one page.

Do the math

Six pieces, twelve outfits.

6pieces

12outfits

Added up, the ones you do not wear can come to more than the manual, which is $24.

Tell me when it is out

Included

What you do not pay for

  • $0Subscription
  • $0Photo upload
  • $0Verdict on you
  • $0Style for life

The manual is $24, the same here and on Etsy, with no strike-through price, no countdown and no coupon. It is an instant download, so it is not refundable.

Asked often

Questions that are hard to ask

I mostly wear black.
Black can work, in the right place. Page 16 gives it its own problem and a one step fix.
I don't know my style word.
Four squares start it: an item, an accessory, a place, a word. The letters point to a style word.
People will notice I changed.
People notice less than you think. Change one lever at a time and see what worked.
Can I return it?
It is an instant download, so it is not refundable and has no swap.
Does it work on deep, olive or tan skin?
Contrast is measured against your own cheek, so the steps are the same from fair to deep.
Do I need a season guide first?
No. It is measured in gray steps, so it works with any season. Your guide gives the colors.

Start here

Your plan, your day.

Nothing is sent.

Dressed on Purpose

  • 53 pages, all 12 seasons
  • Contrast, line and scale

Tell me when it is out

  1. Today

    Get on the list

    Leave your email below.

  2. This week

    Open your date's page

    Pages 37 to 49. Find your column.

  3. After that

    It stays yours

    It is not refundable and there is no swap.

Cover of Dressed on Purpose, the manual: the title in dark plum letters with the words on purpose in berry script, on cream paper, a painted bouquet in berry, blush and lilac in the lower corner and a fan of nine gray paint chips from white to near black.

You know your colors. Now the closet.

One email when the manual is out, plus The Palette Post.

With any season's Complete Guide ($29) it is Guide + Manual, $45, against $53 bought separately.

Read first, free