Cataracts, Colors, and Content
Happy Saturday, all! Today, I am discussing cataracts, colors, and content!
These three…cataracts, colors and content have been on my mind the most the past few days.
So, in the celebration of good alliteration, let’s discuss all three.
Beginning, with my initial cataract meeting at the eye surgery clinic last week.
They confirmed that cataracts in both eyes are the reasons for my difficulty with eye sight at this time.
So, my first surgery is scheduled for January 22, and the second follows on February 5.
I did not realize until I got to the clinic that there are three lenses to select.
We have decided to go with the lense that would keep me in readers, but take me out of the Progressives I am currently wearing. The third option is just too expensive at this time.
Christmas night, I was leaving my daughter’s house and I could not even see the steps to walk down from the front door…just a blob of black…so I am really excited to get this done.
(In case you ask, the porch light was off for better Christmas lights, and my son offered his arm to get me down the steps!)
Thank you all for you great advice and encouragement…I pick up the eye drops soon.
CATARACTS, COLORS, AND CONTENT: COLOR
I am using this taupe cape that I have owned from Chico’s for years, just to demonstrate that the colors in my wardrobe do vary…for a reason.
When I began blogging, I had no idea that colors made such a big difference in our complexions and, for a long time, I just wore what I liked….which always included black.
At a special color session in a Soft Surroundings in San Antonio (now closed), a “color professional” told me I was a winter….I rejoiced and wore more black.
Then during the pandemic, I had an online color professional (who I still love) from London tell me that I am a autumn…and she still believes strongly that I am an autumn.
I fell hard for the autumn color palette and still own many colors in that palette.
However, when looking in the mirror, I could still see shadows cast on my face so I went for an in-person session..REVIEW OF MY HOUSE OF COLOUR ANALYSIS.
The spring colors on me were an eye-opening WOW…I was amazed and pleased that I was still in a warm palette.
However, shopping for the spring palette has been more of a challenge…so during the fall and, now, winter I have reached more for my autumn colors…and the few black pieces I still own because I love them.
But, I want to return to wearing my best colors...not what I have on today...and be better about locating them. Why? I do look better wearing those colors.
Needless to say, my closets have become jumbled messes of different colors…so I am going to reorganize (more about that later) and move the spring palette more front and center.
CATARACTS, COLORS, AND CONTENT: SHOPPING THE SALES FOR SPRING PALETTE COLORS
Now is a good time to find some of these spring palette colors in warm shades.
We are also experiencing very warm weather, so I am not wearing much cold weather clothing…I am not going to purchase any heavy pieces at any price.
Let’s look at what I found in Chico’s big Semi-Annual Sale:
I do layer often, and I hope this color looks as lovely as it appears to.
This is called ROSE SMOKE, which sounds like a warmer shade of pink.
It is the MICROFIBER TANK and it comes in five colors….including a cooler shade of pink.
Currently, I own two athletic jackets that I wear often…one is olive green and one is black.
So, I am excited to own this shade called light taupe heather that also is a lighter jacket that I might wear more often. Lighter than the taupe I am wearing in the cape.
It is the ZENERGY FRENCH TERRY FULL-ZIP JACKET.
So far, the only purchase I have made in the Talbots sale is this cardigan.
I want to try this color called pink rosette heather…looks to be a warmer pink and maybe near to one of my best spring palette colors, coral.
It is the V-NECK CARDIGAN….I like the big buttons. They play to my “creative” style adjective.
CATARACTS, COLORS, AND CONTENT: CONTENT
One quick note in case anyone wants to know about the shoes I am wearing today…they are my very comfy EASY SPIRIT slip on loafers.
These are the VELIA CASUAL SLIP ON LOAFERS in leopard…on sale, and I believe you can still use PAMELA20 at checkout for an additional 20% off through December 31.
Please make sure that you saw yesterday’s post seeking your thoughts on content for the coming year.
I received several emails, but want to make sure that everyone has a chance to tell me what their needs are for fashion and anything else.
Thank you for joining me today for CATARACTS, COLORS, and CONTENT.….I hope all is well…and I will be here tomorrow…hope to see. you again then.
Until then…..
KEEP SMILING!!
By Pamela Lutrell
For all your shopping, please use the links on my SHOPPING PAGE…thank you, thank you to all who shop this way and show support for this blog. It means the world.
Good morning. I am excited that your cataract surgery is soon. Your need seems to have snuck up on you quickly. I chose the same lenses that you did for the same reasons. Although the halos have reappeared for night driving, I am happy not to walk around with progressives all day. Readers are fun and inexpensive. My $ sunglasses have reading capabilities and a touch of long distance reading at top for those faraway highway signs. My husband and I both had the 2nd surgery the week after, not a two week interval. That’s really stretching it out, but your doctor must know best.
Interesting color conversation! I have never brought it up, but since you did, I tend to agree with Annie. Of course, in photos, everything can look different than in person, but I love you in some of the deeper fall and contrast colors, like the teal outfit last week. When I say contrast, I am talking about the value with your skin tone. As I look at what your spring palette says, I find it hard to see ‘light’ as always being your best. Don’t those refer to a light spring? They are my daughter’s, and she is a light spring. If you were a spring, I would see you as a golden spring, which shares so much with autumn. Sorry to ramble as I am not a consultant. It is interesting though that you still wear so many of your autumn clothing and look fab!
Seasons Greetings! I look forward to reading about your cataract journey. I had mine done on October 1st and 15th. Although they were truly easy surgeries compared to many, they still are a bit disruptive to a busy life. Multiple staggered stinging drops regimen for over a month. No bending or lifting 25 lbs for a month after each eye. Make sure you have sunglasses! The sun is low on the horizon this time of the year (up north anyway) and you’re likely to be sensitive to it. The change in colors was quite a surprise. There was an amber veil over everything. It took a while to adjust to cooler, brighter hues. Good luck!
Just commenting on JT’s post about color change. I had bought a pair of pants that I thought were teal pre-surgery. Afterwards when I pulled them out, they cobalt!
Cataract surgery made my life simpler. The eyedrops schedule is the hardest part but my doctor had a simple organized checklist. I love the spring colors on you. They make you glow! Your blog keeps my spirits up every day.
Hi deborah, I appreciate the ramble. I completely agree that I am more of a golden spring than just spring. This is such a work in progress for me. At least I know for sure I am WARM. I will keep walking the color walk on the blog. The way they do the cataract surgery here is you get the surgery on one eye, then the next week you go to your eye doctor and they assess the surgery and give you the go to get the next week other eye and then once again post op is done by your regular eye doctor. Before all is said and done, it takes four weeks to be over it all. Depending everything goes well..which it should.
Good points here…perhaps, after the surgeries, I will be seeing my clothing colors differently…I had not considered that. Thanks JT.
OK…I think I should wait to do anything color-wise with my clothes until the eye surgeries are over with…thanks, ladies I had not thought of this. Part of the journey!
All of you keep my spirits up every day! Thanks for being here, Patti!
I hope your cataract surgery is as painless and successful as mine. My doctor advised against the progressive lenses. He recommended monovision lenses which was the same correction as the contacts I wore before my surgery. The change in how colors appears is quite dramatic. You will notice that after your first surgery that your eyes will each see color quite differently. Which is why with the surgery so close you may want to hold off on reorganizing your closet or any major clothing purchases. Case in point. Prior to my surgery I purchase a bathrobe that I thought was a great shade of red. Turns out its closer to magenta which is a terrible color for me. I’ve kept it anyway because its cozy and I only wear it briefly in the morning. It reminds me though of how tired I look in the wrong colors.
And speaking of color, have you every looked at the tonal system? I was originally draped as a “sparkling” autumn back in the 1990s in a system that’s no longer around. Later I had a virtual consultation with a consultant who used both the seasonal and tonal system. She showed me that while most of my best colors fall into the autumn palette that they were all on the warmer end of it. And that the warmer spring colors (warm pink, peach, aqua) were also my best colors. That’s the warm tonal palette. And the colors are a 90% match to my original draping. So you may be a tonal warm or as DeborahLM suggested a golden spring. I agree that you look fabulous in that deep soft teal.
I am learning so much today…you have convinced me to hold off on the closet reorganization that I was going to do this week. Now, I am so curious as to how I will see colors! Very exciting. Also, I am NOT familiar with the tonal system but will research it soon. Thanks for all of the great information Kathie.
I think that’s a good idea to wait until your eyes adjust to assess the color choices again in your wardrobe. I also agree that you have the warm aspect to your coloring, which together with being a Spring, likely makes you a Warm Spring. I am a Cool Spring myself, but wear warm-toned Spring colors sometimes and feel like I get away with it okay because of my hair. While I have naturally light medium brown hair, (and am back to coloring my silver wisps, 🤦♀️) my complexion is a cool-toned ivory, and my eyes are a cool-toned medium blue. This mix of one decidedly warm element and two very cool initially had me perplexed, but my solution is to look at both sets of colors within the Spring options and then just go with what looks nicest held up to my face. I have the heathered pink v-neck cardigan, for example, and it is just super complementary. Because it is a mèlange of rose tones, I think it can work for many ladies, and would work with brown slacks as well as with navy jeans.
Maybe look at your full month of eye care as a time to deeply care for yourself, Pam. Schedule in some pampering on your calendar beyond the usual nail and hair appointments. I’m thinking massage, or maybe even a session in one of those flotation tanks. 🤷♀️ At the very least, make room for a pajama day or two!
Tux looked super adorable for Christmas, btw. 🎄
My ophthalmologist does the 2 week between surgeries schedule as well, and I can tell you hours after the 1st eye was done, my eyesight was phenomenal! Even with only 1 eye done! One of the best decisions I ever made. My eyesight is now 20/20, with no need for any type of correction. What a nice change after wearing glasses since 3rd grade. I promise you will love it! Good luck
I confess to being very tired of the glasses…thanks for the encouraging report, Michele.
You can always talk me into a massage, Connie! I love them and feel it helps by body stay healthy as well. I am looking forward to so much next month…including the arrival of that cardigan.
My goodness you’re going to be thrilled at the clarity and colors you see! Praying for a good outcome! Dear one. Sandra Winfield
The impact of cataracts on color was clear after my first cataract surgery. Closing my eyes alternately the eye with the remaining cataract cast a yellow color. I did select the expensive lenses because my husband had 100% success. Sadly I still need readers sometimes.
Everyone has me so excited to do this..sorry I have to wait a month…thanks Suzi!
Just a suggestion: ask your doctor about having a massage too soon after the surgeries. When I asked my doctor he recommended against having a massage too soon because of the pressure placed on the face and eyes when lying face down on the massage table.
And the drops are no big deal….takes just a second….and then you move on with life!
Bless you, Sandra…thank you! All prayers welcome!
It is interesting that in the morning I do not need readers. As the day progresses, I struggle a bit. By bedtime when I retire with a book, I definitely need them.
Regarding the tonal system in colors, I think that your hint is on that card you posted: clear, bright, light, and warm. Color Me Beautiful uses the tonal system now. I have an acquaintance that is a consultant. I have attended some of her adult ed classes at a near by high school and I have been to her house for make up. I would enjoy a consultation to see what might be different from mine, but I don’t want to drive myself crazy. (I went from a spring in 1983 to a deep, bold autumn in 2019 and I have many of the same colors from both. I am happy and comfortable as a deep autumn. As I look back at pictures, it is predominantly how I dressed.) My more recent consultant said warm undertone, deep value, and muted, textured chroma. Those are my tonal directions. So even if I go with my light or medium palette colors in my outfit ( especially in summer), I should always have something deep at least in accessories. There is so much to learn, and I enjoy it all. Just in case someone might think I am obsessed, I do have several other hobbies and interests! Ok, done!
LOL! I suppose people think I am obsessed as well! I have always found fashion to be so enjoyable and interesting as artistic expression as well as personal style. Today’s conversation has convinced me to wait until after surgery to re-look at the colors, but I plan to do some research before that. Thanks for your info Deborah…I love it.
Hope that you had a wonderful Christmas! It sounds like it was. My husband just wanted you to know the problem he had with his cataract surgery. The lenses that they used in both eyes are not the same size and he has had problems with his vision, seeing two different size balls on our pool table and difficulty with three dimensional loss. This really affects him in a lot of unexpected ways. He is the 3% that this affects with the size difference. He can see it and he isn’t adapting as expected. It has even caused dizziness and a fall. This is a side effect of the lenses being slightly different sizes. He said to emphasize to your surgeon that it is important to you that he is using the same size. I’ve had no problems whatsoever with mine. I’m seeing well but still need bifocal and midrange glasses so still wearing progressives. The clarity of color is huge. You will see everything brighter, clearer and yes you need sunglasses outside from now on. Get cute ones! Your wardrobe will look different as the yellowish grey film over your eyes will be gone. It will be so much fun exploring your closet with new eyes.
That’s good to hear about your cataract surgery. I hope it goes well and you can get rid of the glasses. I have not had cataract surgery done but those who have said they don’t need glasses.
I didn’t respond yesterday about content but I am always interested in the best colors for the different seasons. I have been told I am a summer but always feel very washed out when I wear summer colors. I’m also interested in nutrition and how to eat well and definitely love the recipes.
If I think of anything else I’ll email you.
Kettlewell Colours can give you an idea of the differences in the palettes of the seasonal and tonal colors. Click on the shop by color page to see all the colors they offer then you can filter by season or tone.
Yes! I have seen that on Kettlewell…thanks for the reminder, Kathie. They were very helpful to have early in my color journey.
Please do, Paula. Love to hear your ideas.
There is so much about this that I am looking forward to…but, please tell your husband that I appreciate him sharing his journey and I will ask my doctor about sizes. I am so sorry he did not have a good experience. After botched foot surgery that I thought would be no problem, I understand disappointment when it does not work out and so sorry he had to go through that.
I am glad you listed the dates of your cataract surgery so I can put you on my prayer lists for those days. I believe that covering someone with prayer is one of the best things we can do for others. I hope it is successful & recovery goes well.
Years ago, I was told I was an Autumn & was thrilled because I have always loved fall inspired clothes. After wearing these colors for a while, I knew that most of them weren’t for me. I look better in cooler colors. I still have a piece or two but wear them sparingly.
Jackets are the one type of athletic wear that I will wear. The Chicos jacket is cute, but the blue color is sold out except for some small sizes.
I know the sale pieces go quickly…thanks for letting us know on the other color, Becky. Praying over my surgery blesses me so much. I am always nervous about procedures and appreciate the prayers for peace, calm, and trust in the Lord working through the doctor’s hands. THANK YOU for praying for me when we get to this.
The best for you with your cataract surgery. I see better but now after 2 years am back to wearing glasses 🤓.
I didn’t get yesterday’s email, but would add that I enjoy the variety you are doing, so keep it as it is. Happy New Year
And To you, Audrey. I got yesterday’s post out late…so it was my fault it did not make the email. That is why I mentioned it again today. Between the comments on both posts and the emails, some great ideas are coming in. I am excited for the new year.
I had cataract surgery in both eyes in IA with Wolfe Clinic,best in IA. I wore contacts prior so after first one just wore on contact and after second one just readers. I went to work next day. Drove myself to work. Had no problems and the colors everything is so much brighter, blue seems bluer, green greener. Still have some problems with night driving so I’m rarely out driving when it’s dark. Oh and on drivers license doesn’t say corrective lenses anymore!!
Yay! So glad you had success.. hoping I will too
I had cataract surgery in September on the 11th and 29th. The drops were no problem, just follow the schedule. My only problem was the long fast beforehand- the surgeon was running late – and the not bending or lifting for seven days. I also did not like being confined during surgery in a frame like device to keep me from moving, but I was given a light medication to relax. All in all, it was not bad. One warning- I could see every line and wrinkle in my face, and my complexion looked entirely different to me afterward! I am still working on the changes! I will be praying for you.
Wow…well, you gave me a lot to think about here.
Hi Pam,
You will do well once you are all done with your cataract surgeries. It’s important to do the drops in both eyes after your sugery. I did well, you will gain self confidence once it’s all done. I will keep you in my thoughts on those days.