https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-many-neutrals-is-too-many Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sun, 03 May 2026 04:53:31 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-many-neutrals-is-too-many/page/2#post-1440021 Mon, 09 Feb 2015 23:23:58 +0000 Helena 1440021@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don't think you can have too many neutrals - I was always very commited to sticking with 'cool' neutrals (black, pure white, cool gray and navy) but have added a few bits of cognac, and beige, and I love them all! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-many-neutrals-is-too-many#post-1440018 Mon, 09 Feb 2015 23:16:55 +0000 Day Vies 1440018@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I know where I live with neutrals, my favorites are navy, charcoal and cream/white. I am not sure I personally can have too many neutrals only because I prefer such bold bursts of contrasting color I need neutrals to anchor my outfits so that the colors are showcased (and I don't look like I got dressed in the dark at a paint factory). The same is true for accessories and jewelry because I love statement necklaces; they need neutrals to play supporting roles. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-many-neutrals-is-too-many#post-1439748 Mon, 09 Feb 2015 16:11:20 +0000 Aziraphale 1439748@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What, you can have too many neutrals? hehehe</p> <p>OK, seriously. My 'core' neutrals (black/white/grey/blue denim)&nbsp;are the same as yours, and I agree that brown/cognac/nude shoes look great with those.</p> <p>Yes, my fabric neutrals are different than my leather ones. I don't wear navy footwear, for example, but I like navy clothing. I have several pairs of brown shoes, which bookend nicely with my brown hair, but I have discovered over the past few years that I generally don't&nbsp;wear shades of brown -- with the exception of brown tweed. I bought a camel skirt a couple of years ago, and it always makes me feel like a librarian (not the sexy kind!). Also, I have three J. Crew Tippi sweaters -- silver, navy and toffee -- and guess which one I never wear? The toffee-coloured one. :-)</p> <p>And for the record, my one and only handbag is cognac. I love how it looks with black/grey/denim outfits. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-many-neutrals-is-too-many#post-1439603 Mon, 09 Feb 2015 05:30:23 +0000 Adelfa 1439603@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks so much for all of your thoughts! I think my bare minimum neutrals are black, gray, and white/cream--DD says blue denim is free! What I've discovered is that I love throwing in warmer colors in my shoes--chocolate, cognac, taupe, and "nude"--which to my eye look lovely with black and gray.</p> <p>I do think it's caused problems when I've tried to bring these colors into other clothing items (not shoes), for the precise reason several of you have pointed out--it becomes really hard to fit those pieces in, when I have a deliberately smaller wardrobe.</p> <p>I'm realizing that my fabric neutrals are different from my leather neutrals. Has anybody noticed that for themselves?</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-many-neutrals-is-too-many#post-1439520 Mon, 09 Feb 2015 01:22:34 +0000 deb 1439520@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Msmary would say 'any color can be a neutral' and I agree with her. I tend to think my neutrals are which colors I have the most of in my closet. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-many-neutrals-is-too-many#post-1439355 Sun, 08 Feb 2015 20:31:57 +0000 CocoLion 1439355@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Haven't read all of the responses yet, but to give you a direct opinion, I think you have too many neutrals for a small wardrobe.</p> <p>On my cruise I kept my neutrals to black-white-navy-gray. &nbsp;I used cognac and coral as my accent colors. &nbsp;Dresses could be a completely different color as they require less coordinating. &nbsp;It was so easy to get dressed, and my neutrals played well together. &nbsp;I think things become more complicated when you have too many neutrals.</p> <p>My advice is to put some of those extra neutrals away for a month and focus only on the pieces and colors you love, and see what you learn. &nbsp;You could have a completely different neutrals palette for each season, although I realized there are fewer season to play with in LA. &nbsp;However you could artificially create some of those seasons to prevent wardrobe fatigue.</p> <p>You could also assign some neutrals the accent color role. &nbsp;Cognac is a neutral in Angie's ensembles but for me, I made it an accent color. </p> <p>ETA -- After re-reading my response and others' responses -- I realize my suggestion is informed by un-fancy.com's seasonal capsule wardrobe approach. &nbsp;;-) &nbsp;Which I know has been controversial on YLF but her wardrobe management approach -- where you pack things away into a holding zone, to&nbsp;clear your head -- is useful to me.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-many-neutrals-is-too-many#post-1439332 Sun, 08 Feb 2015 19:52:52 +0000 ElleH 1439332@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have all the neutrals &amp; I think I have the problem Shiny speaks of &amp; that you're afraid of Adelfa. I keep feeling the need for more shoes, bags, belts, jackets etc to go with the warms &amp; the cools. I know one is supposed to be able to mix warm &amp; cool &amp; sometimes I do, like cognac with ink or navy, but other times I feel wardrobe holes. Anyway, I don't have much colour. I have a tomato bag, a red belt (that I never wear) and some coloured dresses as they don't have to match anything except complementary shoes. I long for the simplicity of Emmanuelle Alt's signature minimal neutrals &amp; colours &amp; I think it would help my budget but I see things on YLF &amp; the Internet &amp; think I'd like that. That's what happened with ink &amp; navy &amp; camel &amp; taupe &amp; white &amp; olive. I used to just wear black, grey with some red &amp; also blue denim. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-many-neutrals-is-too-many#post-1439288 Sun, 08 Feb 2015 18:11:41 +0000 shiny 1439288@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My neutrals are black, gray (from light to charcoal), cream/white, and navy (in that order). I have a handful of camel items but I keep that to a minimum. I draw the line at brown -- because I find that adding in shades of brown complicates factors and I'll wind up with a second wardrobe of warm shades and items that don't mix and match so well with other items. Camels/cognacs are okay in small doses; it's chocolate browns, beiges, khakis that get me into trouble. </p> <p>When I first joined YLF, I had a "double personality" closet like this -- I look best by far in cool rather than warm tones, but I'm just neutral enough, I can get away with warm tones too, it's just not ideal and requires different color hair and makeup. That said I do adore army green: accents my eyes. I consider army green a neutral, but I am using it these days as more of an accent color, as I'm using cognac/camel as an accent color.&nbsp;</p> <p>I don't think my wardrobe could operate without black, gray and white, but navy is optional as I find it plays the same basic role as black. Except when worn with black, then I view it as a color not a neutral, if that makes sense?</p> <p>I do need color in my wardrobe but I run about 75% neutrals and 25% color. I would get sad if my wardrobe was just neutrals, yet I cannot operate or get dressed&nbsp;without a heavy dose of them.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-many-neutrals-is-too-many#post-1439258 Sun, 08 Feb 2015 17:12:41 +0000 MsMary 1439258@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Adelfa, I feel like all the colors you posted play quite nicely together so I don't know why you would pare down unless you really wanted to. After all, "neutrals," by definition, are colors that go with pretty much anything.</p> <p>And as Sharon points out, with many different neutrals you can always find something to go with whatever "color-color" strikes your fancy. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-many-neutrals-is-too-many#post-1439205 Sun, 08 Feb 2015 15:42:26 +0000 Marilyn 1439205@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love neutrals and my wardrobe is becoming more and more neutral with black, navy, grays and whites.&nbsp; The look makes me happy so I don't see a problem with it.<br />Many of my older coloured items are currently in the holding zone.&nbsp; I'm still loving reds and burgundy......currently my colour of choice. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-many-neutrals-is-too-many#post-1439179 Sun, 08 Feb 2015 14:35:21 +0000 kkards 1439179@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>neutrals are colors!&nbsp;<br />like you, i would say 80-90% of what i own is a neutral. &nbsp;honestly, i used to think it was a problem, but every time i'd buy a 'color', i'd panic over how to wear it. so now i'm quite happy with my neutrals.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-many-neutrals-is-too-many#post-1439133 Sun, 08 Feb 2015 10:03:51 +0000 Dimity 1439133@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Colour seems over-rated to me right now. I'm really enjoying playing with neutrals, and I've decided it doesn't matter how many different neutrals I have because I'm boss of me. Fun, eh. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-many-neutrals-is-too-many#post-1439132 Sun, 08 Feb 2015 09:58:53 +0000 Summer 1439132@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My neutrals remain constant: &nbsp;navy, white, grey and a little black. &nbsp;They all have to work together and with the cool colours that I wear, such as purples, blues and berry colours. &nbsp;I rarely wear all-neutral outfits because I love colour, especially near my face, but I'll sometimes do navy/white/grey combinations.</p> <p>I think a lot depends on budget and size of wardrobe. &nbsp;For me, both are small.</p> <p>&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-many-neutrals-is-too-many#post-1439056 Sun, 08 Feb 2015 03:29:32 +0000 Staysfit 1439056@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I only have a few neutrals right now - charcoal, light heather gray/dove gray, white and denim. &nbsp;I have more colors than neutrals. &nbsp;I like the limitation on neutrals. &nbsp;It makes my wardrobe very easy to mix and match. &nbsp;The same goes for the mix of colors that I have. &nbsp;The down side is that it makes shopping tough. &nbsp;You have to be very disciplined about sticking to your color palette and not straying when you find something that you like that isn't in your colors. &nbsp;I do not find any limitation in versatility of my clothing based on whether it is a neutral or a color. &nbsp;The limitations come based on the silhouette, texture, and whether something is basic, or a statement piece. &nbsp;For example, I just purchased a blouse with tulip sleeves. &nbsp;It cannot be comfortably worn under a jacket which limits it's versatility, but it's color, which is fuchsia would not; &nbsp; Fuchsia would go with pretty much everything in my wardrobe. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-many-neutrals-is-too-many#post-1439049 Sun, 08 Feb 2015 03:24:06 +0000 Sharon 1439049@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Another lover of neutrals! I don't think there is such a thing as too many. I stick to black, white, grey and navy as my base colours and tan for my accessories. Then I add in other colours as the mood takes me, but without much of a plan (hence the orange crop, citron T&nbsp;and pink culottes). I find that with lots of neutrals I can usually find something that will play nicely with my coloured picks. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-many-neutrals-is-too-many#post-1439039 Sun, 08 Feb 2015 03:11:20 +0000 AM 1439039@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Occasionally I have strayed from my neutrals and then I always go back to my neutrals&nbsp;(and almost always regret the dollars spent on other colors). Black, grays, ink, light gray blue/light blue, white --with touches of berry and camel. And I would say my love of black continues to grow and grow! I know this is limited but it really makes me feel the most comfortable. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-many-neutrals-is-too-many#post-1439035 Sun, 08 Feb 2015 03:08:16 +0000 Adelfa 1439035@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Deborah, I know you have all of those neutrals, but I think of you as a disciplined black person--which feels very affirming if even you have that many!</p> <p>Carter, you have the same ones that I do. Truly, it is what it is! That's what I'm aiming for now I think!</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-many-neutrals-is-too-many#post-1439030 Sun, 08 Feb 2015 03:01:59 +0000 carter 1439030@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have black, gray, taupe/mushroom, white, denim, and bits of dark brown and navy. I sometimes think it's too many as well, but I love all of them on their own and together. I can't remember the last time I bought anything in an actual color. I still wear older pieces in turquoise, lime, pink, dark red, and a couple one-off things in orange and purple. I'd like it to be simpler, but it is what it is. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-many-neutrals-is-too-many#post-1439026 Sun, 08 Feb 2015 02:59:38 +0000 Deborah 1439026@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am pretty focused with my neutrals. &nbsp;And as you know I love my neutrals and don't really like colour that much. &nbsp;So I don't worry about how many neutrals I have as that is where my need for variety is satisfied.</p> <p>My wardrobe is black, grey, navy, white/cream. &nbsp;I then have what I think of as my accent colours which are Red, Cobalt, Green &amp; Coral. &nbsp;Having said that, I have 1 x red top, 5 cobalt items, 1 green sweater and 1 coral top (which is currently in my holding zone).</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-many-neutrals-is-too-many#post-1439022 Sun, 08 Feb 2015 02:56:33 +0000 Adelfa 1439022@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Shedev, your closet sounds just like mine, where even the colors are like neutrals!</p> <p>Joy, that's it exactly--I tried to limit neutrals but couldn't do it. Neutrals make me happy when I wear them! And I am so glad it's considered okay to mix them now!</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-many-neutrals-is-too-many#post-1439012 Sun, 08 Feb 2015 02:49:14 +0000 Anonymous 1439012@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I used to think as you indicated. That simplifying the closet should mean limiting neutrals. I tried but could not do it. Often I would rather wear neutrals together than add a color. Actually when wearing neutrals together, one or more can function as a color. For me it is often brown or white. I can't think of a neutral that I won't wear. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-many-neutrals-is-too-many#post-1439006 Sun, 08 Feb 2015 02:42:40 +0000 shedev 1439006@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My closet is almost all neutrals. Occasionally I do wonder what happened to the colors. Like the clothes bandits must have struck. My only non neutrals are a couple burgundy and cobalt items. My closet does function much more cohesively than it ever has.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-many-neutrals-is-too-many#post-1438998 Sun, 08 Feb 2015 02:30:52 +0000 Adelfa 1438998@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I should have guessed that my dear YLF sisters wouldn't see a problem with lots of neutrals! I aspire to minimalism and I believe I'm somewhere between half way and three quarters of the way there. But I'm finding I have no desire to finish the job. I like a bit of profusion!</p> <p>Thanks, Shevia!</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-many-neutrals-is-too-many#post-1438996 Sun, 08 Feb 2015 02:25:16 +0000 Jaime 1438996@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have black, white, lots of greys, all sorts&nbsp;of blues, some olive, some cognac&nbsp;and lots of this and that. I don't worry about it at all, but cohesive is not the word that springs to mind when I think of my clothes. And I second Suz in that I would love to see some of your terrific outfits! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-many-neutrals-is-too-many#post-1438990 Sun, 08 Feb 2015 02:15:57 +0000 shipskitty 1438990@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hmm... that's a interesting question because of course cognac goes beautifully with both cool and warm-toned items but I would have said it was essentially a 'warm' colour.</p> <p>I'll have to think about that some more.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-many-neutrals-is-too-many#post-1438989 Sun, 08 Feb 2015 02:14:50 +0000 Suz 1438989@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Heh, Shipskitty and I have the same wardrobe. :)</p> <p>I know about the photo challenges. I just use a flash and/or lighten as necessary. The colours aren't completely true most days, but ..you know.&nbsp;</p> <p>Also, don't you have some citron?&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-many-neutrals-is-too-many#post-1438985 Sun, 08 Feb 2015 02:13:38 +0000 Adelfa 1438985@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>shipskitty, I've often wondered if neutral lists for leather items should be different. I know I don't follow the same rules for selecting colors for&nbsp;shoes/belts/bags as I do for clothing items. And yes, I go warmer in the leather things. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-many-neutrals-is-too-many#post-1438983 Sun, 08 Feb 2015 02:10:33 +0000 shipskitty 1438983@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don't worry too much about what my main neutrals are. I worry more about whether my neutrals go together. So in my wardrobe you will find a spectrum of ink/navy, grey, taupe and black, a little cream/off-white. When I say 'a spectrum' I mean within grey there might be pale greys through to dark charcoal.&nbsp;I try to keep them all on the cooler side of the spectrum. Then everything else must 'go' with those colours. </p> <p>Of course sometimes I don't get it quite right (I'm looking at <i>you</i>&nbsp;slightly warm-toned 'greige' wedge pumps) but most of the time I can still&nbsp;find a way to make those work with some of the neutrals even if they won't go with all of them. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-many-neutrals-is-too-many#post-1438973 Sun, 08 Feb 2015 02:04:52 +0000 Adelfa 1438973@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hi Suz, I have cognac too, though I decided not to go there, lol. Plus I have loden green booties--I think that's another color that's almost a neutral.</p> <p>Thank you for the kind words, you made my day.&nbsp;All my outfits are so DARK that I fear they don't photograph well. For instance, a recent outfit (that DD was really good)&nbsp;was darkest port wine jeans, cognac booties that photograph dark, and a black top. I think with my level of technology the colors would be indistinguishable! I will see what I can do, though!</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-many-neutrals-is-too-many#post-1438967 Sun, 08 Feb 2015 01:53:31 +0000 Suz 1438967@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Most of my wardrobe is neutral. Then again, I consider red and leopard print to be neutral. ;)&nbsp;</p> <p>In all seriousness, I have ink, navy, greys (the whole range from charcoal to dove), winter white, white, cream, taupe, black (though black is more of an accent in my closet). I have cognac accessories.&nbsp;</p> <p>I miss seeing your outfits! Post a few for us?&nbsp; </p>