I love the efficiency of the concept of multiple pieces to suit the season and the function of 2 or 3 core neutrals with multiple accent colors, which change with the season. I take a given basic color like brown, as I am a warm, muted Autumn colored blonde , with low to medium contrast in my personal coloring, and use the brown as my primary winter neutral. The second Winter neutral is a mid value of brown or taupe. That same mid value becomes my dark value in warmer months, coupled with tan or khaki, or stone in the summer. I love a variety of color, texture, and medium to small patterned tops and limiting them to two colors is waaaay too restrictive to me. E's post from several years ago really resonated with me, as I do have a lot of clothes, as I crave a variety of options ! Part of me feels that I should pare down to fewer accent colors, as my large walk-in closet is getting pretty stuffed, but I am having great difficulty deciding which color cluster to emancipate ! Being a minimalist is just not me. I do use the outer and inner column concept as I am short, but I vary that with texture or pattern or color in the top or topper. I also like to use a variety of shade values to make the contrast. For instance, an inner column of tan pants, a lighter beige top, and then a darker brown topper. All the same basic color --brown, but just varied values (lightness or darkness) of brown. Janice , of the Vivienne Files , just did an excellent post on that topic this week,
using the high contrasts of white, black, and tan outfits placed in various combinations of the three values, along with a scarf and shoes in each of the three values.
She then did a post , using the same clothes, but varying it with various toned and patterned scarves and shoes, and finally, using striped and/or patterned
tops in the various combinations and the effects they produce to create a variety of looks with just a few additional pieces.