October 12, 2022
Ah, the last 5 Pantone colors from New York Fashion Week! Just to make things interesting, I brought along five different neutral color “clusters” to test-drive with these VERY varied colors…
Cotton sweater – Paul James Knitwear; blush opal earrings – Ella Palm; scarf – Henelle; moonstone bracelet – Petit Anjou; loafers – Kork-Ease; bag – Michael Kors
To me, this peachy color cried out for some camel…
Cardigan – L.L.Bean; earrings – Bony Levy; tee – L.L.Bean; bag – Wandler; jeans – L.L.Bean; twig corduroy pants – L.L.Bean; moccasins – Minnetonka; boots – Eileen Fisher
And I think these are perfect together!
For about the ten thousandth time, if you look good in yellow – WEAR IT! It’s not easy to wear for some of us, and it’s such a great accent…
Cashmere sweater – J.Crew; earrings – Savvy Cie Jewels; scarf – lesley evers; citrine braceler – Vir Jewels; boots – Hunter; bag – Sosster
I’m picturing this heroine living somewhere that’s warm most of the year, so her favorite neutral is white:
Ivory cardigan – J.Crew; earrings – Madewell; tee shirt – J.Crew; bag – Sinbono; corduroy pants – J.Crew; ivory skirt – J.Crew; sneakers – Fitflop; pumps – Coach
I think this is lovely – the top outfit, on a rainy day, with the right coat and umbrella, would cheer up everyone you saw!
I’m tempted to wear orange, if only to wear a scarf with a saint on it!
Sweater – Boden; earrings – Konstantino; scarf – Coreterno; bracelets – Fierce Lynx Designs; sneakers – Ilse Jacobsen; bag – Alberto Olivero
I always like orange with navy – they’re opposite each other on the color wheel, which (to me) guarantees that they’re pretty together!
Blazer-cardigan – J.Crew; bow earrings – Milou Jewelry; tee – J.Crew; navy bag – Betsy & Floss; corduroy pants – L.L.Bean; pencil skirt – J.Crew; navy loafers – Birdies; pumps – Anne Klein
Why yes, they ARE pretty together:
They can call this color purple forever, but it’s really more pink – at least to my eyes!
Sweater – J.Crew; earrings – Mel & Alecrim; scarf – Otto & Spike; bracelet – Smilla Brav; shoes – Ilse Jacobsen; bag – My-Best Bags
Is this the perfect accent to brighten up some charcoal grey?
Cardigan – L.L.Bean; earrings – Pure Crystal Jewelry; charcoal Henley top – L.L.Bean; tote – Nadia Minkoff; skirt – J.Crew; knit pants – L.L.Bean; pumps – Trotters; loafers – Aerosoles
I would wear these in a heartbeat…
Oh my. I didn’t include a pair of “Love Bird” shoes because they would have to be hard-core running shoes. (we do NOT choose our running shoes based on color!)
Sweatshirt – Topshop; earrings – Farra; scarf – Hiva Atelier; bracelet – Anni Lu; socks – UGG; bag – Furla
I’m not at ALL convinced that this color will go with black, but black is my remaining neutral color:
black cardigan – J.Crew; earrings – Milou Jewelry; tee shirt – J.Crew; bag – Sister Epic; corduroy pants – L.L.Bean; black skirt – J.Crew; boots – Munro; pumps – Sarto by Franco Sarto
But then again, these are fun outfits! Not all of us will thrive in them, but there are women who would absolutely shine in this color combination!
I’m still pondering what accent color I might add to my wardrobe – after the 100 day dress adventure, and before the winter holidays… I’m still thinking of brown, a lot!
love,
Janice
p.s. Ten years ago, I accessorized the 12 most basic garments (The Common Wardrobe) with all kinds of dotted accessories!
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Beetroot Purple??? Whoever thought of that has never peeled a beetroot! Yes, its pink. However the link goes to a purple striped jumper. Anyway, I like this pink and would wear it with grey.
Love the yellow and the orange. I don’t wear white as the neutral – usually navy or gray. When I wear yellow and black I always feel like a bumble bee. That first peach color is also just gorgeous. I do have some coral – but think the particular peach might be a shade too warm for me. Love the scarves. Looks like we are finally going to get some cool down and rain end of next week woohoo! Of course, then we will be complaining about the endless rain here in the Pacific Northwest. Never happy…..
Interesting you are considering adding brown as an accent color. I usually think of brown as a neutral color. However, as someone who is leaning into an “all neutrals” wardrobe as an experiment in simplification, I am finding a need to redefine neutrals vs accents. So for me, if I won’t wear bottoms in that color, it is defined as an accent color – even if the color itself is a neutral color. That means in my “all neutrals” wardrobe brown must be considered an accent color! Always learning here at TVF!
I will sometimes wear that Lovebird color with beige or camel. I think it looks great paired that way. I’m also fond of pairing neon orange with a beignet neutral.
Lovely choices! I think that with my strawberry blonde, blue eyed colouring I could wear all these beautiful clothes, even the tangelo. The “beetroot” might be my only reject. I’m pinning this article for inspiration, thanks
I think Yellow Bird would go with almost any neutral, except perhaps camel. All these are exciting colors so I’m looking forward to adding something for Spring.
My aesthetic is very much a minimalist, neutral one. The closest I get to a “color” is olive or denim blue. So, yeah, I wear neutrals. I own one rainbow stripe sweater that I wear when nothings clean, it’s impossibly dreary out, I need a jolt to wake up.
The Barbie pink (it’s definitely not beet root) + charcoal is my favorite combo here…and the floral knit scarf is so interesting!
I liked all of these combinations but those pantone colors are all a little bright for me. I enjoyed the look back (polka dots) What an interesting question to ponder. Is my signature a color or a particular pattern? Would be kind of fun to see the common core wardrobe with specific patterned accessories. I’m always drawn to things with leaves or leaf patterns. Maybe that could be my motif?
Happy Wednesday all!
If you look back to posts here from about 10 years ago – just about the time that I did the dots post – there are at least a handful of ideas for what to wear with The Common Wardrobe. I should do that again…
hugs,
Janice
Oh my gosh – yes please.
I think there are a bunch of us myself included who have finally invested in developing common wardrobes as part of going back out into the world post pandemic.
Lovely work! Great find on the pink (beetroot?) sneakers.
I am more drawn to the neutrals you showed! :) Especially that chunky grey cardigan. It looks so cozy!
I would definitely buy trainers by colour. The last trainers I bought were pink/purple abstract design.
I buy my trainers by colour as well
That peachy pink is terrific for those of use with muted coloring. I’ve been working on adding soft browns and rose to my wardrobe. That peach would fit right in.
BTW Target has a great, inexpensive lounge pant in light toast brown right now. I love mine, even if I did have to hack 6″ off the bottom!
Yet again reading & commenting late… I love the bright yellow and the lime…those would work for me, though I also like but could not wear the peach or orange. Hmm, after reading the comments about the C. W., I wondered if maybe it would be helpful if there was a post or 2 about neutrals. I suspect that I am using what to most readers would be an accent colour as a neutral, which has me wondering how do we really define neutral. Can an accent ever become a neutral in the way it is used?
Absolutely! If you (for example) wear shades of purple as the core of your wardrobe – the expensive things, or the things that you wear weekly, then purple is your neutral. I think the rules are too strict…
hugs,
Janice
I think those colors would go well with a neutral of dark brown too – well, I’m not sure about the Love Bird? Your posts are so fun, thank you!
Lovebird is fabulous and would be great with navy too. Empire yellow and tangelo are calling to me too. And yet in my shopping bag is black…
I absolutely love your work! The scenes you set for each collection fire my imagination.
I just stumbled across this post, and very timely it is too; I’m finally building a capsule wardrobe of my own and my accent colours just happen to be bright orange, love bird green and bright sunshiny yellow (And blush pink for my introvert days).
I look great in those bright shades and I live in Australia so they’ll go well with the tropical vibes.
As commented by someone above, I feel like a bumble bee if I wear yellow and black together, so I’m trying to pair it with blue or white denim instead. I have a fabulous orange trench coat I’m dying to wear (it’s currently in storage). And I’ve whittled my capsule wardrobe mantra down to:
• Practical bottoms
• Breathable tops
• Funky flat shoes
This has really helped me to avoid buying pieces I love but won’t get enough wear out of due to them not fitting my current lifestyle (full time carer for disabled special needs child).
Thank you for doing what you do, I thoroughly enjoy it!
Interesting that love bird is chartreuse. The bright green I wear is slightly less yellow