November 23, 2018
If, for some amazing reason, I ever quit wearing black ALL the time, I can easily picture replacing much of it with dark grey… I just love the way this looks, and the versatility that one would have with this limited number of pieces.
Long-sleeved tee – Lands’ End; short-sleeved tee – Lands’ End; cashmere cardigan – Lands’ End; wool pants – Lands’ End; skirt – Lands’ End; flats – Klub Nico
One of the joys of having a neutral core in this color is that pretty much any accent color will go well here! What might not work? Hmmm… lime green? Think of something, and I’ll give it a try!
For example, I could probably use any of the Pantone Spring 2019 colors here. For fun, I’ve chosen 4, just to see how different the ensembles look when it’s all pulled together!
First I want to try out this lovely Living Coral. I stand by my thesis that this color will work well with any neutral – navy, grey, beige, olive… Black might be a little bit odd, but I still bet it would work!
earrings – BaubleBar; sweater – 1901; scarf – Gucci; bracelet – Lagos; flats – Tabatha Simmons
In my very humble opinion, these outfits are great!
This Mango Mojito color could work with either warm or cool neutrals – I’m trying it with charcoal because of the silver settings of the jewelry, and that simple grey stripe in the scarf. Sometimes, it’s just that easy!
earrings – Telma Camargo de Araujo; sweater – Milly; scarf – Madewell; bracelet – Ni Wayan Astiti; loafers – Etienne Aigner
These outfits are unexpected, but I think they look really distinctive and lovely:
Sigh… if I were going to go nuts and buy myself 5 things that I don’t need, this might be them! Love the scarf, love the sweater, LOVE the boots… sigh…
Sometimes, writing The Vivienne Files is a study in discipline!
sweater – Uniqlo; scarf – Ted Baker London; bracelet – John Hardy; bag – Lodis Los Angeles; boots – Sam Edelman
The depth of the charcoal grey holds up well in the face of the real intensity of this pink – I think everything balances out nicely!
At the opposite end of the intensity spectrum, there’s the gentleness of Sweet Lilac… I’m still loving this ring!
sweater – Banana Republic; earrings – Toberio Gonzales; scarf – Lemlem; ring – Kirks Folly; bag – Chelsea28
The same woman could own both the Pink Peacock AND the Sweet Lilac, and wear the same grey clothes with either! It would be nice to have that option; some days you’re intense, some days you’re more subdued…
I love doing these kinds of posts – I think I might try to pull together some cream, ivory or off-white clothes to use as a base for a few of the other Pantone Spring 2019 colors. What do you think? Especially the greens, and that lovely Toffee brown…
love,
Janice
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I love you doing these posts too! The charcoal grey really harmonises well with those colours especially the pinks. Like you, I cannot bring myself to wear bright coloured shoes – I think it’s because I’m only 5ft 2″ and I was always taught to wear the same colour shoe/boot as my hem to give the illusion of longer legs. Those pink boots though…..sigh.
Oh Sharon – I’m the same, also only 5’2″ and however much I love bright coloured shoes (I own one pair of bright red ballet flats) = it takes a lot to get me out of matching neutrals!
I’m also 5’2” and like the elongating effect of matching shoes/boots with my pants. Glad to know I’m not alone in this. Janice Collins Coyle? Washington DC
I am excited to see what you do with the greens! I, for one, would not hesitate putting them with charcoal gray, but that’s me. I try to choose grays with a neutral or warm cast rather than bluer grays.
Love these series!! As I’ve said before, the five piece French/complement with a neutral base/common wardrobe has been life changing for me. It radically changes the way I expect my wardrobe to work. Thank you and happy thanksgiving!
I tend to avoid grey because I wear many shades of brown, which I do not think go well with grey. Maybe you can change my mind? Rust/copper/russet is another color I wear a lot, and I do not think it would complement the Living Coral color, but maybe you can make that work too! I think the only color from today’s post that might work for me is the Mango Mojito (an unfortunate name, because I dislike both mangoes and mojitos!). Please do put together some wardrobes with the warmer Pantone colors – the Toffee, Turmeric, Terrarium Moss, and Jester Red really appeal to me (I wonder if they would all work together?). Thanks, Janice!
Janice,
I echo this request for us Warmies, please ! Thank you !
Cee, have you tried a greyish taupe with your russet, a light grey marl with your copper and a gunmetal grey with your rust?
Grey is so sophisticated! The most stylish person at my Thanksgiving table last night was also the oldest – she wore a grey dress, silver/black jewelry, black opaque tights, and black & gold sequined mules. She looked fabulous!!
I love that!
hugs,
Janice
As I am getting older, I am moving away from black toward gray. It works better with my coloring and is less harsh against my face. I love all the pinks – especially Living Coral!
I tell myself I want to do this too… I just have to acknowledge that I’m getting older! Years ago I did a blog post about migrating from black and red to grey and pink – it seems wise for many of us, depending on how our colors changes as time passes.
hugs,
Janice
I love this deeper grey. And I am not getting older, I have arrived! With grey hair and blue eyes, I feel too washed out in lighter grey, but this shade is perfect. Thank you, Janice. Although it sounds boring, I am in my happy space combining navy and grey. With your gentle tutoring I am finishing a navy capsule, and I now see it is time to perfect the dark grey. Thank you again.
Neutrals are NOT boring – they’re subtle, elegant, versatile and timeless!
Just like us!
hugs,
Janice
dark grey is my go-to instead of black. works with every color of the rainbow.
Hi janice
I love a good rich dark grey and it seems to like me. I just received my Paul Klimt scarf from the Met yesterday and it is even lovelier than I anticipated. It took about 3 weeks which is fabulous..from New York to Vancouver during a postal strike. It has some dark grey in it!! Thank you for all you do for all of us.
Woo hoo! I have a couple of things from the Met Store, and they seem to be of very nice quality…
hugs,
Janice
I love charcoal grey. If I had to choose out of my favourite dark neutrals I’d pick it over black or navy even.
I think it can go with any colour.
I know I can put it with a pale lemon yellow that I’m fond of. Ruby red, peaches to blush pink. Navy & aqua. Winter white, crisp white.
I think I would even try this grey with my lime green, royal blue and aqua scarf. It’s got a watercolour vibe. And my polished abalone shell earrings and watch.
I just got a new “jester red” or as I call it-cranberry v neck thin pullover sweater today on a Black Friday sale that I’d enjoy with the grey as well.
Lovely neutral.
Would love to see a winter white capsule if such a thing is possible!
I’d like to see winter white also! It’s one of my main neutrals year round (with indigo).
Wednesday…
hugs,
Janice
Me too :) Something for work black and white.
I love the grey. I may need to add some to my wardrobe. At this point I have too many colors.
I need to cut down since we have such limited closet space.
Wow, I love the Mango and Peacock mixes. I’m inspired to look at some bright loafers or boots! Gorgeous!
This really is you best collection of ideas yet! Thank you Janice so much for grey capsule— works so well with these “French Five” 2019 Pantone colors. But now I am awaiting the Winter White with sweet anticipation!
After a large weight loss over the past couple of years, this year I was faced with the task of buying a whole new wardrobe. At 52, with a light warm coloring, hazel eyes, and smokey Ash blonde hair that is rapidly silvering, it felt like a monumental challenge to find clothes in flattering colors that fit and were affordable. I often shopped until I wanted to drop. I’ll soon be in wardrobe maintenance mode and I’m looking forward to the reprieve from shopping!
I discovered The Vivienne Files in time to plan and purchase my cool weather clothes. You taught me to think strategicly about my wardrobe. With an eye on what will flatter my cooling complexion and hair, now and in the future, I chose cool brown and charcoal gray as my neutral base colors with accent colors in dusty warm pinks, mauves, and a bit of burgundy. So today’s post validated my choices, thank you!
Because I have so much brown in warm and cool shades, I thought some teal, aquamarine, and muted turquoise would be fun in addition to my beloved standbys of copper and russet, which are quite hard to find. With my color palette in flux, I want to enjoy wearing these colors while they still flatter since I suspect some of these them won’t be replaced because I will need more muted tones in the future. Carpe diem !
I was quite surprised at how much I liked the charcoal gray with the Mojito Mango, it is such a striking color combination. You are right, it is very unexpected. It made me wish I could wear that shade of yellow.
Many thanks for this regular flight of fashion fantasy that teaches me so much about how to think of my own wardrobe.
Sharing the love for rich, dark grey; my favourite is charcoal. Now that my hair is grey, I look awful in beige or yellow like the Mango Mojito (except maybe in a glass?) or I’d love to wear that combination. But pinks including corals give me a lift visually and psychologically. Janice, that’s a •Uniqlo sweater•, not such a terrible indulgence.
Technical question: I was wondering why there are profile pictures of some commenters, but not of others. Thanks!
I suspect that it’s because they’ve put the photo somewhere in their profile. Half the time I can’t figure out WHERE to add my photo on different websites!
hugs,
Janice
Hi Janice,
Thank you for all the great ideas. I just wanted to let you know that some pages cannot be opened recently. I thought this might affect the site these days.
I, too, have learned so much from you. I have been reading for 2 years and need to say that you have changed the way I think about clothes, dressing and shopping. I love color and find it more important in my home, wardrobe and classroom that any other element. It is like music is for some. That being said, I have learned how to demonstrate that love of color within a CORE OF NEUTRALS, so that they really pop. Then I can change the accents up while enjoying the carefully chosen, well fitting basics that I have worked hard to accumulate. Gray, navy, black with blues/greens or pinks/corals and, then in colder seasons, with burgundy, cobalt and hunter green. I think I only use black because it is so easy to find and mix. Really looking for those beautiful charcoal grays you used in this post. I look forward to your ideas and options and was wondering if you were going back to a post every day? Keep up the good work and ….Thanks!
I love charcoal and how it can be worn with just about any other color or neutral. It looks amazing with both of these pinks! – nancyo
Beautiful outfits! Charcoal gray I see my best neutral.
This the first time that I have read your Vivienne files and I just so enjoyed the articles. Although I’m not in the first flush of youth, or second or even third I feel the the way you put clothes and colours together would suit any age, colouring or shape.
Many thanks for a very interesting and formative writing plus pictures
Maureen Potter
Thank you! I’m not exactly a spring chicken either; I think that personal style should be timeless!
hugs,
Janice
I like your choise very much. What about bags with clothes. And what do you think about autumn coat?
I would probably get some accent handbags – because they’re more easily cleaned, and less likely to get soiled in the first place! But for a coat for this heroine, I would have to choose charcoal grey, in something roomy and fluid…
hugs,
Janice