September 6, 2019
When you focus on a color palette for your clothes and accessories, you spend money smarter, and you have a much more versatile and coherent wardrobe. But sometimes you might want something… different? Some variety? A change of pace?
I’m feeling that way these days… I’m happy wearing blue jeans, black pants, and the occasional pair of white linen shorts… but what could I add to my wardrobe that might be practical and useful?
pants – L.L.Bean
This color is called “stone,” and is a relatively cool color… So I thought about what other neutral colors could be worn easily with a pair of pants in this color…
pants – L.L.Bean
If you already have your core sweaters, tee shirt and other pieces in your neutral colors, these pants fit in pretty seamlessly…
cardigan – Madewell; tee shirt – Lands’ End; scarf – Nordstrom; pants – L.L.Bean; loafers – AGL; cream cardigan – Lira Clothing; striped tee – Madewell; merlot belt – Rag & Bone; burgundy sneakers – Sőfft
Here’s where my wardrobe would slot in – I could so easily see stone pants with any number of my black sweaters…
cashmere turtleneck – Lands’ End; earrings – Lonna & Lilly; pants – L.L.Bean; scarf – Rebecca Minkoff; black loafers – Sam Edelman; beige vest – Patagonia; beige flip-top mittens – Portolano; black boots – Taryn Rose; black shirt – Lands’ End
Navy and beige is classic…
navy cashmere sweater – J.Crew; sapphire earrings – Bloomingdale’s; pants – L.L.Bean; navy driving loafers – Taryn Rose: navy striped shirt – Banana Republic; navy marled sweater – L.L.Bean; pearl earrings – Niza Huang; navy boots – Spring Step; plaid scarf – Woolrich
You may not expect grey and beige together, but I think that this is nice!
grey turtleneck sweater – L.L.Bean; silver tassel earrings – Talbots; grey sneakers – Naturalizer; pants – L.L.Bean; grey scarf – Joseph; dark grey cardigan – Lands’ End; mother of pearl leaf earrings – Talbots; grey print tee – Luisa Cerano; grey flats – By Far
Light grey is lovely – the intensity of the color is similar so they work nicely…
cardigan – Lands’ End; earrings – Michael Kors; pants – L.L.Bean; grey striped turtleneck – Lands’ End; stone moccasins – Minnetonka Moccasin; grey tunic sweater – Caslon; floral scarf – Faliero Sarti; bracelet – Kendra Scott; grey suede boots – Sőfft
Of course, white is easy to wear with these pants…
white sweater – Caslon; pink earrings – Trifari; white moccasins – Minnetonka Moccasins; pants – L.L.Bean; scarf – Nordstrom; white shirt – Lands’ End; butterfly brooch – Vince Camuto; stone cardigan – L.L.Bean; gold boots – Franco Sarto
And denim is a natural, so to speak!
denim shirt – L.L.Bean; scarf – Marina D’Este; pants – L.L.Bean; tan sweater – L.L.Bean; blue shoes – Trotters; denim jacket – Levi’s; black tee – Lands’ End; black loafers – Fitflop; scarf – Laura Biagiotti
I’m still going to wait until the weather has been cooler for a couple of weeks, and see if I feel that I need pants… If I do, I’m pretty sure what I’ll get!
love,
Janice
p.s. 3 years ago, a very enigmatic heroine built her wardrobe around a portrait of Picasso, by Juan Gris
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I am in this state of mind, too. But haven’t researched it very much. I have a casual wardrobe and neutrals are navy and grey. I’m set for jeans and chinos, but have been wanting something softer, something stretchy going into winter. But not yoga pants or leggings. Or sweat pants. I used to wear the perfect fit pants from Bean, but haven’t in several years. I might revisit them.
This post is very timely and helpful. I can see what this addition might look like and how to style it. Thanks!
I have a solitary pair of stone coloured jeans which are soft and stretchy, but haven’t been worn this year because they have ended up in my alteration pile for hemming as they were a little too long when worn with flats. With all your outfit suggestions, I am encouraged to get them hemmed this weekend and paired with a newly acquired Breton top and my trusted slip-on trainers. Thanks Janice for this wonderful post.
I have a pair of stretch cotton pants in this color (thank you, Eddie Bauer!) and wear them often with light gray, black, white, and navy. They work just as well as you suspect, so I vote yes!
I worked for a company that subcontracted to LLBean corporate headquarters. Those exact pants in stone (and LLBean polo shirts) were our uniforms. To see them featured here brought back memories and made me chuckle.
I love those pants.I usually have a pair. The biggest problem with pants is getting a flattering fit.
I love all the different options for other clothing that you presented.
I love pants in that “stone” color – and haven’t had a pair in years. My husband, however, has several hanging on his side of the closet! I need to rectify that…it’s not a color only for him! I’m not sure if there are many colors that wouldn’t work with these pants.
And that dark grey cardigan from Land’s End…I need to stop swooning over it and order it. I really want it in every color! I love it!!
A lovely reminder that simple can be stylish. As it happens, I’m awaiting delivery of some tan crop pants (a nearly year round staple in South Florida) from Talbot’s and this post is inspirational.
I love having coffee with you three mornings a week!
Hugs,
Tina
I’m always a little bit excited on the mornings that posts go “live” on The Vivienne Files because I’m thinking about people reading what I wrote…
Hugs back at you!
Janice
I too look forward to Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings!! They only days I get out of bed quickly! Your posts are the greatest and I love starting my day with them!! The other days I read all the comments on the posts!!
Hugs hugs hugs…
Janice
I love the color stone and always have pants and shorts in that color. I wear a cool palette of colors in tops and sweaters – pinks, blues, greens – and they all go well with stone. I think stone can be a year round color, especially in the South, where winters are short.
Like you, I wear black or denim pants all the time, but last summer diversified into navy. Since my palette is otherwise blues, white and soft pastels, the navy capris fitted in easily. (Whew.) Because I’m pear-shaped, I prefer dark colours for pants and skirts but the ideas here work just as well for a darker neutral. I can’t believe that it’s three years since the post inspired by the Juan Gris portrait of Picasso! It’s still in my list of bookmarks as outstanding inspiration.
I’ve been eyeing up off-white cords irjeansthe last few seasons so just may indulge after seeing all the possibilities here on this post. Almost all of this is the casual look I wear.
Great job again Janice!
I had sworn off tan, beige, khaki and stone pants. Somehow on my 5’2″ somewhat pudgy body I always end up looking less than stylish. But this year I got a pair of slim fit stone colored ones from Talbots for a price of about $20 on sale that have roll or not roll cuffs. Somehow the fit made me look nice. I also got a pair of birdseye tweed blue and white pants also in a slim cut. They are a good change from jeans.
I love love love the items that you’ve picked to go with – especially the Luisa Cerano tee and the Lands End cardigan. Too bad the tee is out of my budget.
I do like the idea posted above of stone colored jeans. In the right cut they might make me less stumpy.
Loved seeing the visuals on how this could work. When I was younger, stone colored pants were always a part of my wardrobe. I’ve been living in denim and black or gray pants for years. The answer for me is yes to new pants :) I’m so glad this was on your mind.
I have a pair of stone coloured pants and I love them! I find they go with every other colour I wear really nicely, even some of my tops which might be described as ‘rainbow’!
Love the look of these pants, but am spooked by the Bean description of “slim fit”. As a petite woman with curvy hips, i tend to avoid “slim fit”. I think you are similarly built. Did you need to go up a size and if so, how about the waist? These would fit right into the rest of my wardrobe, so am tempted.
Consider looking at Lands’ End, where they have sizing for different body types. That’s where I get mine… Straight cut seems to work for me, but it took me a few trial and error cycles to sort the best ones for me!
hugs,
Janic