The Same Top In More Than One Color

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The Same Top In More Than One Color

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Is it generally good or bad to buy the same top in several different colors?

I am writing because I love my short sleeve button up cardigan (it seems to go with everything) and I want to buy it in several colors. I really like to layer a cardigan over most outfits, even in the summer (I get cold easily) and I haven't found a short sleeve cardi I like as well as this one before. I live in a warm climate, so a SS cardigan would last me into October. I have it in black, and I have white and the sapphire color on order. I'm tempted to buy it in either Bright Papaya, or the Light Citron color as well (or possibly both). What do you all think of that?

http://www.jcrew.com/catalog/p.....=cat302185

Thanks!

18 years ago

Dressing

9 replies

Latest reply was from Ana

Becky

Veteran

Ana, I'm starting to think that bright blues (like the sapphire), reds/oranges (like the bright papaya), and yellows (like the citron) are your signature colors. They would work well with other items you already have. If you think you'd get a lot of wear out of them without getting bored of the same piece, this could be an ingredient in your "uniform."

18 years ago

shiny

Veteran

That is a lovely cardi, and so many pretty colors!

In the past, I have stocked up on jcrew sweaters - mostly their cable turtlenecks because they are soooo warm. And I do stock up on cardis when I find one I like. Usually I buy a neutral (white or black) and one other color.

I think if you only ever wear camis underneath, you'll probably be safe stocking up. However, if you like to wear different style shirts too, and not just camis, then you may appreciate having cardis in a different style. For example, I find V-neck cardis to be better for certain blouses. Also V-necks are better for V-neck dresses.

18 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

This is a good question. It's completely personal. There is no right or wrong.

This particular formula has never worked for me. Pure duplication works better for my style (when I buy exactly the same colour in the same style). I find I always wear one colour more than the other and if I buy a different style in a different colour, I wear them more equally. I know that it makes little sense, but this a quirk that I have learnt about myself and an therefore cautious.

BUT, that doesn’t mean that it won’t work for you. It has worked for Shiny. It’s a beautiful cardi and you look outstanding in it. Sounds like it’s right for Austin. I am very much in favour of uniforms AND variety!

18 years ago

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Thanks for the suggestions, everybody.

I do tend to go overboard if I love something and buy it in every color. And, like Angie said, I usually do end up wearing one color more often than the others. I've sort of shaken my wardrobe up recently, though. I used to only wear jeans (or too short shorts) and a brightly colored top, so all my cardigans and things were either black or white, or if they were colored, I couldn't really figure out what to wear them with. Now I wear lots more skirts and dresses and I have some yellow jeans and I'm contemplating buying some geranium colored walk shorts that I think the light citron cardigan and a white cami would look really sharp with. I also like the cardigan because it works with skirts and shorts/pants, and looks equally nice belted or buttoned or left open. I'm going to think about it, because I do like some variety in my clothing and don't want to get back to just having a lot of clothing, half of which I never wear.

Shiny makes a good point about the different styles of cardigan as well. I wish I could find a great short sleeved V neck cardigan, because I really like that neckline.

18 years ago

Antje

Veteran

I think duplication of an item in various colors is great with basics (which includes this cardi). I bought several simple fitted v-neck sweaters from Zara last fall in various colors and wish I'd bought more!
The cardi is lovely, go for it!

18 years ago

Patience

Veteran

Ana, I've got this sweater in navy which I will probably exclusively wear with a print skirt I've got. So I've been considering buying another one in a different color as well. I think it's good to have it in a neutral (which you do) and a color but there are so many short sleeve cardigans out there I'd be afraid to have a whole rainbow of colors in the exact same style. But it's tempting for me too and it really is the perfect length for skirts.

Speaking of color quirks, I've noticed lately that when something comes in a variety colors, I'm usually drawn to a particular choice, irrespective of what I have in my closet already. If I choose the color that will work best with my existing wardrobe and it's not the color I like best, I'm not as happy. For example, I had tried the BR skirt shirt Angie posted about and was just not impressed for some reason. I was in BR yesterday and noticed they had an jewel green color which I tried and loved even though I wasn't really searching for that color. Fortunately it does work with denim and probably navy.

18 years ago

Nicole

Veteran

Ana, I think for the way you dress, having 3 or 4 of the same item in different colors is a good idea. You are so good at putting colors together, that I think the multiple cardigans will just give you more options to be creative.

I'm glad you linked that sweater. I really like it, and the price is reasonable. Since discovering how slimming cardi layers are for me, I want to get some more short sleeved ones to carry me thru summer.

18 years ago

Tanya

Veteran

Ana, I would go for it. It is basic item, nicely made.

I do this as well. Mostly with super basic tops such as camis and simple layering tees, but sometimes will do it with less basic stuff too. For example, I have the wrap shirt I am wearing right now ( posted on daily outfit thread) in 4 different colors/patterns! I bought the first one full price, liked it a lot and when it went on sale I stocked up on three more. Oh, and I have two exactly same pairs of jeans hemmed at differentlengths: one for heels and one for flats.

18 years ago

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Thanks for the opinions! You all bring up really good points.

Patience, I agree that it's important to pick the color you're drawn to, rather than a color that goes with what you have but maybe you don't like as much. I think if you really really LOVE an item in a color that you don't currently have, if you buy it you will find something to wear it with (at least, that has been my experience).

Nicole, I think this cardigan would be really great on you. It hangs really nicely even when it's not buttoned, and if you only button one or two under your chest, it will create a nice V shape. The sleeves are also true short sleeves, not cap, which works great for me and I think will work for you as well. The sizing is true to size. I have the cardi in a medium (I wear an 8 on top) and it fits really nicely, even when buttoned up--it isn't loose or blousy at all, but the buttons don't stretch or gap, either. You also bring up a good point about how I put outfits together, which I hadn't ever thought about, but I think is spot on. Most of the creativity/interest in my outfits comes from the color and I like bright, interesting and clean color combinations. I think that's why I really wanted to get this cardi in multiple colors--it's kind of like having more crayons in my box.

Tanya and Antje, thanks for the encouragement!

Speaking of buying something in color that you don't have--I also really like the Kelly green one! Now, buying 6 cardigans exactly the same seems crazy (black and white plus 4 colors). I love the bright citron (I'm so hoping that the color comes out close to how it appears online, because then I think it could work with my coloring). I also really like the bright papaya, but I have other coral things (and I have my eye on another coral top I'm planning on buying in the next month). Is this coral overload, even though I love the color and it's good on me? I don't have anything really green, but I think it would still work nicely with what I already have. Is it too close to the citron (which is greeny-yellow), so I would end up wearing them with the same outfits? I'd like to avoid that, because that is when I start wearing one over another much more often. So far, the colors I have I would wear with almost completely different things in my closet, with only slight overlap. What do you think? Does that make sense, what I just said? I'm not sure.

18 years ago

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