June 23, 2020
Finally! We were outdoors, and saw someone who was NOT dressed just to lie on the sofa and binge-watch television…
In all honesty, we only saw her from the back, so I’m just assuming that her mask was red!
Ponte knit dress – Old Navy; face mask – Wolddress; crossbody bag – Calvin Klein; red sandals – BearPaw
Part of why this worked is that her dress (not this exact one, but similar) fitted her perfectly, and she seemed to be completely comfortable with how she was dressed. She walked with good posture and a feeling of energy. Overall, she seemed to have confidence, and that makes pretty much anybody look good!
But also, green and red are opposites on the color wheel. Supposedly, opposites are supposed to go well together. (but then, so are colors that form a triangle, rectangle, square, and also those that are adjacent; I think that covers pretty much ALL possible combinations?)
But let’s see how this work once more – blue is opposite orange, right?
Navy knit dress – Lands’ End; serpent lantern earrings – Tuckernuck; hot tangerine cardigan – Lands’ End; sandals – André Assous
And… light blue is opposite to light orange? I personally feel that matching the intensity of colors helps them dance happily together:
Chambray dress – Karen Kane; earrings – Kendra Scott; bag – Loeffler Randall; sandals – Jack Rogers
But what do you do when you’re wearing a color that doesn’t appear on the color wheel? Indulge your whims, I say!
this scarf speaks to me; I do NOT need another pink floral scarf, but still…
Black pointelle dress – Banana Republic; pink heart earrings – Kendra Scott; 100 roses scarf – Misheo; sandals – Sam Edelman
Same with white… This feels so fresh and summery:
Poplin shirt dress – Banana Republic; reef blue cotton cardigan – Lands’ End; bracelets – Don’t AsK; sandals – Azura
And never forget the potential of having a cluster of accessories in a metallic; this dress could easily be worn with silver, or rose gold too!
dress – L.L.Bean; earrings – Coco Mango Jewellery; shoulder bag – Loeffler Randall; gold sandals – Sam Edelman
More and more, as I try to focus and minimize the excess in my wardrobe, I find that dresses for warm weather are a great option. A simple dress, with 1 or 2 accessory “families,” are the easiest way to get dressed on those days when naked would be most comfortable!
love,
Janice
p.s. Eight years ago, I featured a quote about old clothes from the menswear blog Permanent Style. It’s still true…
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I loved every single outfit here, is like looking at a flower field! I love dresses and since I read your post wear mines more often. Also lovely was the post from a few years ago. I find that everything that makes us stop and think about what we do and why is good. Thanks again Janice!
I can’t imagine how I would survive summer heat without dresses. It does, however, seem that around here only few people share my conviction. Prior to Covid-19, I had another medical condition that forced me to limit moving outside home to a minimun. I learned that going to a grocery store on a random Tuesday is a perfectly good reason to wear a nice outfit and some pretty jewelry…
Reverse color function on some apps / phones is useful for deciding which color is opposite, if anyone interested. Just take a photo of an item and reverse colors!
Janice,
While I have not ventured into Summer dresses , I do wear loose skirt shaped culottes with various tops . That last dress from LL Bean sure does look comfy though !
On the menswear thoughts — this pandemic has had me resort to the “ old money” concept of continuing to wear more worn clothes, but in a very casual domain , I.e. home ! However, on my once a week trip to take supplies and groceries to my 96 year old mother who insists on living alone in her home , I use the occasion to wear my nicer “ away from home” garments . Even for just grocery shopping — it feels good ! Our county is the only county in PA still in the yellow phase of lockdown . Better testing, perhaps ?
As for shopping, I am now at a point where I only replace what has been worn beyond further use, though I still keep an eye out for print tops or those that have some interesting construction detail or embellishment that appeal, as that is an area where I could use some more, especially for Summer use when a topper or a scarf or even a necklace is just too hot !
Loved all the outfit combos today. I agree that when dealing with opposites the intensity has to be the same. And I live in dresses in the summer, too. With our level of heat and humidity, jeans are just too much.
I tend to stick to tonal combinations, but I love to see the clash of opposites on other people or in soft furnishings. I haven’t found a dress yet that is comfortable (i.e. stretchy) that doesn’t make me feel frumpy, so I tend to wear tunic tops over cotton capris or shorts.
I really enjoyed reading the man’s perspective on buying few good quality things and keeping them for many years and looking after and enjoying them. Sounds very much like my husband!
Husband’s the world over – “It’s got bags of life left in it” says by husband. Mmmm – that’s the problem – the bags….
Janice,
I don’t wear dresses, I don’t wear a second layer often, I don’t wear short sleeves, but I do know what I like to wear and find your blog so helpful. Just swap that dress for nice lightweight slacks or cover the wrinkly flapping arms with a sleeve in the same color you suggest and it works great. At first I had trouble changing MY attitude after several months of daily study it is automatic. One area I need work is accessories, they do so much to take everything up a level. My goal is to use the money I save on not buying dresses or second layers and adding some great accessories that I love and will wear daily, weekly or often enough to justify the cost. You can be older, gray and a bit flabby and still look and feel great. Your my clothes hero, thanks so much.
Linda
Oh Linda, I’m older (I’ll be 60 on Monday!), I would have grey hair if I didn’t cover it with purple, and… flabby? I have worked out ONCE in the last 3 months! And I am profoundly amazing, still!
You’re thinking the way all women should…
hugs,
Janice
I like the drama of opposite colors, but I am also perplexed a bit because it seems that when you add in triads, split complementary, analogous, etc., all possible combinations are covered! I find the “pay attention to the values” advice the most useful, personally, though I don’t adhere to it with any rigor.
My favorite color combo shown was the navy and bright orange (I used to love to wear dark jeans, a navy blouse, and a bright coral-orange blazer [which no longer fits] together, even though the orange color did me no favors near my face). Interestingly, the chambray and light peach was my least favorite, even though those light colors are the most flattering next to my pale face/hair, but if you bump the peach up to a medium value coral I’m there for it.
My favorite TVF (The Vivienne Files) accessory harmony was the bracelet and sandals in the white/turquoise combination. I hate sandals but that outfit was so perfect, I could maybe make an exception!
I view dresses a little differently from most people, I think…I like them much better for cool weather than warm. I wonder why?
Summer dress pros:
-Top and bottom are guaranteed to match! No “ah, man, I thought this blouse would match but it’s too off to work” disappointment.
-It gives a neat look without having to grapple with the tucking dilemma.
-As Janice says, it’s the easiest way to dress…it offers the fewest possible decisions.
-All things equal (fabric, refinement, etc.), a dress reads as “fancier” than any other option, so it’s an easy to way to bump up the perceived “dressiness” while retaining comfort (e.g., a knit dress).
-Top and bottom are laundered together so there is no fading mismatch over time.
Summer dress cons:
-One garment has to fit in a lot of places. It’s better than (horrors) trying to fit a romper, but it harder than fitting a skirt and top separately.
-It’s warmer than a skirt and loose top the way I wear my clothes. On my somewhat lumpy shape, a dress doesn’t look great without a topper, which adds warmth. I have to wear an underlayer of bike shorts, etc. to avoid chaffing, so I don’t get the full cooling, breezy effect.
-You have to launder the top and bottom together. I can get a lot more wears out of a bottom than a top or dress before washing, so this increases the amount of laundry effort and wear on the clothes.
-A dress is less versatile to mix and match.
So I can see why I am in the top + skirt camp rather than the dress camp. I value coolness, non-lumpiness, and versatility, and don’t care a lot about it being easy to decide what to wear (under most circumstances, I enjoy choosing outfits) or having a polished (tucked in, neat) look.
Now dresses for the winter is a different story. A thick ponte dress makes a great base layer for all the sweaters, vests, and scarves.
This is a fun post. I would like to expand on something you mention regarding the color wheel. Colors that are opposite one another do go together well. But they create a ‘tension’ or ‘energy’ between themselves because they are opposites. (Think a dynamic balance). Colors that are neighbors (Analogous?) on the color wheel tend to create a gentler energy. More calming. And if memory serves a split complementary color scheme (such as blue with yellow-orange & red-orange) creates a more whimsical playful energy. They all work, and work well, but you might want to choose your combo wisely to suit your occasion. ?
That is such an interesting take on this! I think I’ll try to test it on myself :)
Hi Janice: I have reeeeaaaallly tried to wear opposite colors on the color wheel….but red and green make me look like an elf, yellow and purple make me look like I need watering, and blue and orange make me look like I don’t know what season it is. Perhaps if chose lighter hues on the color wheel it might work better for me (like the chambray/light coral one).
Linda P.,
You’re cracking me up with laughter here at your self descriptions in various complementary colors ! Since I have muted personal coloring, I go with the toned down versions of complementary colors. For instance, I combine a chambray blue shirt with copper accessories , as copper is a shade of orange, and only using that color in accessories does not compete with the chambray blue as being dominant. And yes , navy blue or denim blue and coral are a pretty combination. It’s just the fully saturated blocks of complementary colors together that a lot of us don’t look so great wearing !
With purple, I might wear a very pale cream top . I do like the red and olive green shown here, though I might do a more toned down orangey red , like a coral .
If a color does not appear on the color wheel, such as pink, light coral, light turquoise..you just need to think about that color without the white. Pink is light red coral is light orange( can veer towards yellow or red ) etc.
This is such a lovely post..the olive and red combo is a true classic!!
I have an ambivalent relationship with dresses. I like them but being only 5ft, they tend to swamp me – the body is too long and the arms are often designed for an ape.
Patterned maxi dresses are probably the best as they extend down without a break. They dont cut me off anywhere so even out my proportions. I’ve bought a petite length purple floral dress from Lands End and it fits perfectly.
I always feel that fresses need to be worn with heels but my wide feet and dodgy ankles put paid to anything light and strappy. If I wear flats, I look dumpy. Sandals are a compromise and ankle boots on winter.
However, I look better with a defined waist but wearing a belt over a dress doesn’t work. My preference is to wear a waist length cardigan or short jacket.
My favourite outfit in this post is the soft blue chambray dress and orange accessories though mine would be a pinker shade. I also like the reef blue cardigan but I’m.wondering if that’s a bit too bright on me now.
Beth I feel your pain! Like you I am 5′ and have so many fitting issues. I am just altering a shirtdress I bought from Lands End. It is supposed to be ‘Petite’, but I have had to cut off at least 6″ from the hem and the side pockets are nearly to my knees! Don’t even mention sleeves!
Over the years I have got rid of all my skirts and now only wear pants and dresses (not waisted) as I feel they are more streamlined and comfortable.
But, and I appreciate it is a big but, I sew many of my clothes and alterations are more viable. I only bought the dress above as it was a style that I know suits me; I loved the fabric; it was available in so called ‘Petite”; and was a bargain in the sales at less than it would have cost me for the fabrics alone.
I know not everyone has the inclination to want to sew, but honestly I don’t know how I would have dressed myself over the years if I hadn’t been taught to sew by my mother and grandmother. I would urge anyone with fitting problems to have a go – you only need a very basic machine and there are some fantastic beginner patterns out there. And lots of videos and tutorials online. It is often much easier than carrying out alterations to ready mades, but would in any event enable you to alter hems, sleeves, etc.
When I am sat at the sewing machine my husband will still sometimes say “Why don’t you buy yourself some new clothes instead of all this hard work”. Oh, how I would love to! Perhaps he sees me as a sylph like 5’8″ or so, ha ha ha.
I love all these combinations and love to wear dresses and skirts all summer long. They are cooler and more forgiving of my current shape than shorts or trousers. Although I’m lumpier in the middle, the legs are still more or less holding out all right! I’d get that Karen Kane chambray dress in a heartbeat if they had my size!
I’m enjoying this, and now the “new, mandatory” fashion accessory too jazz it all up too. (facial masks). Please do more with these.
I’ve found that simple, classic lines, in a solid color dress (or in a fabric i can treat as a solid) works the best. Something that many younger than us (I’m also joining you in celebrating 60 years) is the ease and convenience of wearing “a one-piece dress” as opposed to coordinating tops and bottoms, and extra layers at the middle. My oldest item in summer “rotation” is a dress, nearly 35 years young!
Winter wardrobe is much older, wool lasts so much longer and improves when well cared for over the years.
I wouldn’t wear most of these colour combinations but the turquoise and white is lovely. Change the dress for white trousers, the cardigan for a sleeveless miss all the lumpy bits top and the sandals for white and it’s pretty much what I usually wear. With the amount of coloured tops I have I couldn’t justify having different coloured sandals to go with each so I keep to white or metallic. Bracelets are definitely my thing either to match the top or metallic.
I have recently purchased tan leather sandals and handbag greatly reduced in the sales. I plan to wear them with a black dress. I am currently looking for a brown/black bracelet to blend the two colours together.
The “rule” I tend to follow instinctively is: either wear different colors (I don’t usually notice where they are on the color wheel) of similar intensities, or similar colors of varying intensities.
But I bet one can pull off pretty much anything with the right attitude!