[Chris Saper]

I go into their closets with them. Seriously.

And I suggest guidelines up front: avoid tutlenecks (usually); avoid round-necked solid darks unless broken by a nice neckline or collar; look for fabrics that are soft enough to move with the underlying form; no plaids.

If one of them has strong feeling about what they want to wear, I will try to work around it if:

-it has a good neckline;

-I have the skill to paint it well (this will clearly exclude the organza blouse Princess Diana wore in Nelson Shanks's portrait!!);

-the fabric works well (for example, putting someone in a very starched dress shirt can be problematic, since the fabric moves with a life of its own); and

-I can control the second subject's choice.

Unless there were some underlying desire to paint in a given color harmony, I probably wouldn't make that decision until after I begin posing them, or perhaps during the planning phase before I begin painting. The color harmony you choose will gain its unity from the colors of light and shadow, and the overall painting from its value scheme. I am not sure if I have answered your question, Will; if not, please restate it.