Shades of somebody/something Definition 1 of 3Pro Tip 1/3Subtle Nostalgia Indicates a gentle reminder of something familiar or past. The décor has shades of my grandmother's house, comforting and vintage. Pro Tip 2/3Comparative Notion Used to draw a comparison to something well-known to highlight similarities. His writing style throws shades of Hemingway, with its blunt simplicity. Pro Tip 3/3Implicit Influence Suggests inspiration or influence without directly stating it. Her speech had shades of Michelle Obama's grace and power.