brown/olive/natural (longish)

At one point I decided that my best colors were navy/black/grey and tried to get rid of all my warm toned clothing. But I have tons of brown shoes, boots, sandals, and (for some reason) cardigans that were too nice to just ditch, so I decided that my real core color was navy and that I could deploy black or brown as an accent color. However recently I've realized that because my skin tone changes rather dramatically through the seasons, I can wear different colors at different times. I am at core a neutral olive, but in the winter I get quite pale and shine in winter brights, and in the summer I get tan and seem to really rock warmer colors. So last year I developed a mini-summer capsule of brown/olive/natural to mix with my usual blues. These are worn mostly as bottoms, but not always.

Pics 1/2: Olive gauze blouse (old), boyfriend crops (new from buy-all-the-things-June), brown leather fisherman sandals (ancient). OK, so perhaps olive right at my face isn't the best, but this was fine for running a few errands and then plopping on the couch and reading. Oh and I tried another braided style. This is three low braids wound into buns. I always think I've hidden all the bands and pins but then I go outside and take a photo in natural light and see them all.

Pics 3-5: Today I'm heading in to the museum for the first time in about a month. I'll be hidden away doing some data entry, but I want to look reasonably professional but still casual. So olive trousers (last fall), brown pintucked sheer tunic and matching cami (very old), brown sandals (Dansko, very old), and brown paisley silk scarf in hair (the 72 cent scarf I broke no buy July for!). Navy and brown paisley scarf as a coverup/warmth (the museum is always frigid.) A detail shot of my carnelian pendant on pearl strand, and prayer wheel earrings.

So I'm asking for opinions on how I look in the browns and olives. Sometimes I wear these colors when I want to blend in, which makes me suspect they are not as flattering as I sometimes think they are. What say you Fabbers. Olive by my face might not be the best, but can I get away with the richer browns on top, do you think?

This post has 4 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

9 years ago

jackiec

Veteran

I tend to do the same thing, because of my colouring. I find I can wear different summer colours as my skin darkens a bit (bad I know but it happens even with sunscreen). I like you in the chocolate brown.

Sara L.

I think both outfits look good on you. I love the braided updo!

Dee

I usually am not a big fan of brown but the dark/rich color of the top looks so nice on you! The olive is a little more mellow but still works. And, as always, your updo looks awesome.

Meredith

I think both work. I'm really not bothered by the olive top, but I also tend to wear whatever colors I want with little concern for my complexion. I agree that the dark brown is a richer look and love the outfit with the paisley scarf!

Alana in Canada

(website)

1. The braid is fantastic. I don't mind seeing the pins, etc. It stilllooksincredibly complicated and beautiful.
2. The first outfit is quite drab. It is good for not wanting to be noticed--and it is not unflattering, if that makes sense. You look nice. And there are days when you just want to get things done quietly. I understand. If you met a former boyfriend on the street, it wouldn't be the worst thing to be wering,not by a long shot.
3. The brown is deep and rich on you. I love the pintucks! The scarf is lovely. You look fantastic in #4. Your skin is truly fine.

Good for you, making the neutrals work for you! (I end up wearing brown shoes all the time w my navies & greys too, and like how it looks, although I’m not a brunette.)

I LOVE the espresso brown of that shirt next to your face. If you’re a winter of some type, cool dark saturated browns should work, right? (I just checked the 3 winter palettes & found a similar brown to that shirt in each of them.) I honestly think it looks beautiful on you!

The olive is a too muted next to your face: you don’t look bad, but your features don’t have the same definition as in the brown shirt. I think it’s fine as trousers with a more flattering colour up top, but you’d probably ‘pop’ more if you paired the brown with a clear, saturated shade. Whether you want to pop is up to you.

Colour advice out of the way, I love outfit 2! The cut of that shirt is great on you. You look really pulled together, casual professional, but still academic, and that cover up is just the perfect finishing touch. You always have such fun accessories too.

I like the shapes of #1, even if the colours aren’t your best, and of course those braids are awesome (I don't think the fastenings would show to people vs a camera right next to you head, lol). Cool shoes too!

Alassë

Your braids are lovely!

missvee

I think you can wear them very successfully and what makes the difference for me is the rich berry tone of your lipstick. That makes the colours come alive.
PS your braids are just amazing...

MuseumGal

So the consensus is that the olive isn't terrible but also not terribly flattering, but that the richer brown is flattering. You know I realized today when I saw how well the brown of the tunic blends with my hair that that might a good guideline for browns (at least ones that I wear near my face). If the brown goes well with my hair, then it should go well with my skin too, right? Which explains why a brown ballet cardi I have in an ashy brown makes me look positively ill.

Mona

My vote is for brown too. I actually have not seen anyone in real life who looks great in olive.
I am so glad that you did not get rid of all the brown in your wardrobe as you look radiant in it. Are the pants olive in photo # 2?

rachylou

Ok, love the milkmaid braid. I'm going in on Saturday for my stylist to plait my hair (the layers in my hair now ensure that I suck more than ever at hair).

You look really good in those rich, dark colours. The dark brown is stunning.

Firecracker (Sharan)

You look good in 1 and 2, and your hair is lovely like that. You glow in 3-4 in those colors, though, so by comparison I'd say olive isn't as great next to your face. It's not bad, though. Your insight about the brown complementing your hair is a good one; I noticed the same thing, and I think it's true--if a color goes with your hair, it should look good on you. That's why I wear a lot of taupe--my graying dark-brown hair gives an overall impression of taupe. Sweatshirt gray does nothing for me; it just washes out everything about me--hair, skin, and eyes. Some shades of olive actually seem to echo my hair color, too--and yet, I am pretty sure I do not have green hair! ha ha!

Alana, you crack me up. YES, sometimes I just want to quietly slink by and not be noticed. The olive (and a few other muted shades) is great for that.

E, I am a little surprised at how many items I have that are pintucked. I would not have thought it something I gravitate towards.

Mona, yes pants in the second outfit are olive. They pair well with grey, black, and blues, so I get lots of use out of them.

Rachy, not actually milkmaid braids, just three separate braids wound into little buns, kinda like Princess Leia, but all in a row. Do show us your braids!

Category