Keep or return: color quandary. ETA with blues - YouLookFab Forum

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Keep or return: color quandary. ETA with blues

sarah

Veteran

I picked up this cardi at BR yesterday when I went in for a return and made the mistake of bringing along a 40% off coupon. I love the color, which can best be described as baby-poop brown (or mustardy olive for the more refined who've never resided with an infant).

1) Does the color work for me? I fear not.

2) Is the shorter length in the back interesting? Or just plain awkward?

Thanks (I also picked up the red scarf at JCrew - comments on that are welcome, too).

ETA: I added a photo with blue top as per Jonesy's suggestion...

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36 replies

Latest reply was from Aida

Astrid

Veteran

I like the shorter length in the back, but I'm no expert with asymmetrical anything. I agree that the color doesn't really work for you. When you compare it with the cool colors you normally wear in your WIWs, this one's losing. I think you can see how the red scarf you're wearing compensates a little bit of the color when you look at #1 and #3. I would say return.

If you were to keep it, I wonder how well the color would work in your wardrobe. Were there any other colors available?

Deborah

Veteran

I love the cut of the cardi. I have a few cardigans with that design, shorter at the back and sort of cascading at the front...i love them. I am not sure about the cardigan. I think you and I are similar coloring and I can't wear it. Having said that I don't think its bad on you. Perhaps the key is in what colours you put with it, particularly close to your face.

nancylee

Veteran

I like the asymmetrical cut of this cardigan (I have a couple like this), but I don't think the color is doing you any favors. Like Deborah said, you could mitigate this by strategically wearing scarves or other colors near your face, but do you really want to work that hard?

Nakidra

Veteran

Agree with the previous post... I only wear asymmetric garments when I'm traveling to and from yoga or the gym, but that's how it's supposed to look. I love the scarf on you! It really works.

Anonymous

I don't love the color -- I think it would work better on someone with darker skin and hair. I vote return.

sarah

Veteran

Ah, thanks everyone. You see? This is why I need YLF. In the "olden days" (pre-YLF), I based my decisions about clothes entirely on whether I liked them, not on whether they looked good ON ME. This sweater is a great example. I love mustardy colors, but I need to come to grips with the fact that I look better in cooler colors - so, a cooler olive would probably work, but not this mustardy olive. Sigh. It's a good lesson to finally be learning.

Is the warm red of the scarf OK? I know that Deborah, who has quite similar coloring, looked great in her cooler red scarf in a recent post. Can warmer reds work on the likes of us?

Thanks for all of your help! At least this time I hesitated in the store, but decided to get final confirmation from you all.

(The only other color this comes in is soul-sucking beige)

Lynne

Veteran

agree with your assessment re the mustard, Sarah, and I love the cut of the cardi and the red on you.

Nicky1234

I agree with everyone about the color of the cardi--not so good.
As for the scarf, I think it's great. The color looks wonderful on you, and I think that blast of red will be very versatile. It's interesting because when I saw the first picture of the cardi without the scarf, I thought, "Nope. Not gonna work." Then I saw the last picture of the cardi with the scarf, and I thought, "Oh, wait. That looks kind of cute." But it's the scarf the makes it cute, not the cardi, so keep the scarf and ditch the cardi.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Sarah, you can still wear this colour...but as a bottom, or as part of a pattern that includes other colours that suit you better.

Re the scarf: in my opinion a bluer red would be slightly better for you, but you can get away with this because of your vivd smile and your personality. Especially if you combine it with other colours that are great for you, I think it will give you a nice pop!

Queen Mum

Veteran

I *almost* like this color on you, but I agree that there are probably better shades of olive out there for you. I'm not sure I'm ready to vote return yet though.
I actually like it best in #1 without the red scarf. I'm wondering what it would look like with a solid black (or white) blouse and darker wash jeans to give the whole outfit a bit more polish and sophistication.

Jonesy

Veteran

Maybe I'm being blinded by my love of this color, but I like it on you! I would pair it with a blue top or scarf. With your coloring and blue eyes, blue seems like the perfect go-to neutral for you, and I love how that color looks against your blue jeans. So, a blue chambray top, a blue knit, or a blue scarf and I think you are in business. I just love the cut of that cardigan on you--it looks very chic--so I would be willing to try a few things with it to make it work, but I guess if you are not feeling it, then good to return it (LOL--trying to see both sides of the argument here!).

sarah

Veteran

NOW, I'm thoroughly confused!! OK, Jonesy - since you have such impeccable style, I'm going to give the blue pairing a try before giving up.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I like both the shape and color, for me!! I don't know if it works for you or not, honestly. I'm not that color knowledgible! Perhaps try some other color pairings in your closet and see how it plays with them.

Jonesy

Veteran

Well, remember that I might be blinded by my love of this color--I might be alone in wanting this to work for you :)!! But definitely post some more pics!

sarah

Veteran

Yeah, well, you see, that might be my problem, too. I love the color and I really like the cut. Sigh...now, I'm off for a hike!

Scarlet

Veteran

My inexpert thought is I would pair this cardigan with colors more in the same family--a little muted, a little earthier. The other colors in this outfit are graphic and sharp (although I do like it with the red bracelet). I wouldn' t discard the color out of hand yet. Sometimes I think things might not be my absolute best color, but I don't like to stick exclusively to such a limited color palette. Remember Angie in her Zara orange tunic? Along those lines. Personally I wear asymmetrical sweaters like this. I guess I haven't made up my mind on this one yet. Regarding the scarf, it would look super with blue, as one example.

Aida

Veteran

Hmm the color doesn't make me say "oooooh" but I do like the cut. I've a feeling that if this was more gray-brown or more olive it would suit you better, though I'm certainly interested in seeing the pairings with blue. I like the scarf!

sarah

Veteran

OK, I've added another pic a la Jonesy...(well, at least that's what I think she had in mind).

kellygirl

Veteran

OMG, I love it with the chambray top. It's awesome on you. I love that scarf too. I vote keep and pair it with blues.

MNsara

Veteran

Wow - I think the sweater color balanced by the chambray blue with the denim makes all the difference, and that beautiful scarf echoes the gorgeous brown of your boots. I really think you have a winner!

Marley

Veteran

To me the last pic looks the best (with the blue chambray) but I'm not convinced that that is a good reason to keep the cardi. If it isn't really a complimentary color for you, then what is the point? I bet you can find one that is in the "right" color family for you - and still has the great assymetrical look and cut.
Personally, I would not want an item in my wardrobe that I always had to be certain to wear a certain color with it, because otherwise the item would not look all that great on me! I would definitely try this color on a pant or skirt, a handbag or shoe - but not a top - if I had your coloring!

Kate

Veteran

I'm with Jonesy; I love this color, I really like the cut of the cardigan and I quite like it on you. I'd keep it. This mustardy color looks gorgeous with navy blue and I'd also try it with turquoise.

Lynne

Veteran

ditto what Marley said, I still vote return and look for a cooler colour. It will be more versatile and easier to mix.

Queen Mum

Veteran

I really like it with the chambray. So, how much $$ are we talking? Do you need this to be a workhorse or are you okay with this being an occasional player?
While I would normally agree with Marley, I also think there are times we want something a bit out of our norm.

Isis

Veteran

I love the color and the cut of the sweater! It totally works with the blue, so I vote keep! This has been an instructive thread for me, changing the base color transforms this into a keeper!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I like it too!

You make it work really well with the blue, Sarah. Black and white will also look smashing with the chartreuse.

And you know.... I love it with the tomato red because it's the most perfect colour in the world.

sarah

Veteran

Kim - it was $10 off and then 40% off of that, so it ended up being a bit less than $50. I'm leaning towards keeping, because I could see wearing this all the time on the weekends during fall and winter, and to work sometimes, too.

sarah

Veteran

Oh, Angie, we posted at the same time! If you like it, too, well, that pretty much settles it!

Thanks for your input - it's my first foray into tomato red!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

*happy dance*

Enjoy your two new colours, Sarah.

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