https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ramblings-about-cardigans-and-color-schemes Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Thu, 09 Apr 2026 04:36:46 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ramblings-about-cardigans-and-color-schemes#post-1202917 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 18:03:01 +0000 Helena 1202917@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Aubergine, I really think you have absolutely perfected your 'signature look' - so it makes sense that the next step would be to keep mixing things up a bit to keep it a fresh experience for you. You look great in these&nbsp;- as you always do imo! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ramblings-about-cardigans-and-color-schemes#post-1202911 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 17:59:19 +0000 Anonymous 1202911@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>It's kind of cool to see this thread pop back up!</p> <p>Since I first posted this, I've phased out some of the cardigans of obligation I was talking about here. The lilac one is in the donate pile, the lavender and mustard ones started to look really ratty and are now demoted to&nbsp;loungewear without me bothering to look for something in similar colors to replace them, and the red one is hanging around mostly in case I have baseball tickets for a cooler day (go Nats!).</p> <p>The new ones I've bought since then have had more thought behind the purchase&nbsp;and are colors (or non-colors) I reach for more often. Even the ultra-cheap one I got from Old Navy a few months ago&nbsp;is in a dark purple that integrates really well&nbsp;with the rest of my clothes.&nbsp;Now that I think about it, my new ones&nbsp;also have more variety in shape, so maybe that's also helped me think about which one really goes best in an outfit rather than just seeing them as interchangeable except for color in a way that makes me want to wear the least versatile&nbsp;color whenever I can.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ramblings-about-cardigans-and-color-schemes#post-1202841 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 17:04:24 +0000 Aziraphale 1202841@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Interesting phenomenon that you've identified here. I think you've got it under control now that you've framed the problem, though.</p> <p>I think I used to do something similar, and not just with cardigans. I often used to&nbsp;purchase multiples of a top&nbsp;-- one in black or grey, and one in a colour. I&nbsp;found myself wearing the coloured items deliberately because they were my second favourite, so that I could "save" the black or grey one for best. Super stupid. It took me forever to figure out that I simply prefer neutral tops. I've solved the problem by only buying a coloured top if I really love the colour and know exactly how I'm going to wear it. As a result, I've got a closet full of mostly black, grey, white and navy tops, and I'm much happier.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ramblings-about-cardigans-and-color-schemes#post-1202427 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 03:12:35 +0000 Jen W 1202427@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I really love how the black cardigan turns up the volume on the printed dress in photo #1. I imagine it looks quite different with lilac or lavender. And in #3 the black cardigan allows your eye go to the more subtle details of your outfit. I think you are on to a very powerful idea that could be very freeing. I'm going to spend some time thinking about this idea as it relates to my own wardrobe. There are several items that may come out to play more often! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ramblings-about-cardigans-and-color-schemes#post-1202409 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 02:57:12 +0000 unfrumped 1202409@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am just catching up on this to say it really resonates with me in some way so I'm so glad you explained your situation. Not sure it's exactly the same, but I'll wear things I like less because they're there and I feel I ought to. But the less- liked things aren't bad, really, so that's what makes it tough to see it and figure it out. For me it's a reminder that<br /> I still buy some so-so stuff, and have not had the nerve to admit that I like other things better, and only wear those. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ramblings-about-cardigans-and-color-schemes#post-1120939 Mon, 23 Dec 2013 20:26:17 +0000 Lisa 1120939@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great insight here.&nbsp; I have a poor habit of "saving" my favorite items, and if I save them too long, I grow weary of them anyway and they end up getting donated with little wear on them.&nbsp; Meanwhile I'm sporting the items I don't care for as much and not enjoying my outfits and wanting to purchase new things because "I have nothing to wear."&nbsp; I'm trying to keep an eye on this and sport more of my favorite pieces more often. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ramblings-about-cardigans-and-color-schemes#post-1120717 Mon, 23 Dec 2013 13:40:07 +0000 E 1120717@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What a good thing to realise &amp; consciously counteract! I love your outfits. :)</p> <p>I do a bit of this with some of my blouses: I love my very favourites so much I don't want them to wear out, so I end up wearing other tops more frequently. I still haven't worn my very favourite long sleeve silk blouse since the weather cooled off! I think I'll wear it today, just to break the cycle. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ramblings-about-cardigans-and-color-schemes#post-1120193 Sun, 22 Dec 2013 16:57:42 +0000 Anonymous 1120193@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks for the kind words, everyone! And&nbsp;I'm glad other people at least relate to this particular variety of clothing craziness!</p> <p>CocoLion, I think I might actually&nbsp;have two categories of closet orphans. There are the ones like this which are really easy shapes for me to wear, but in less-than-ideal colors, which I end up forcing myself to wear. Then there are other ones which are types of clothing I find harder to wear (e.g., jackets, stiffer pencil skirts, woven shirts), and those tend to just sit unworn.</p> <p>Gracie and carambola, I need to keep your attitudes in mind. It's definitely much better to rewear favorite combinations over and over&nbsp;than to&nbsp;keep wearing outfits that are&nbsp;"less than."</p> <p>Caro, it's interesting what you say about more drama working well for me. I've always&nbsp;an extremely low-key and&nbsp;non-dramatic personality, and, now that I think about it, I wonder if that&nbsp;has made&nbsp;me&nbsp;subconsciously shy away from drama in my clothing&nbsp;even though it may suit my looks better and be more fun to wear. Maybe this is something else to think about?</p> <p>Beth Ann, that's really good advice about ponte jackets! I have a burgundy one I like and I don't know why I've never looked for others.</p> <p>Gigi, I sort of like the lilac and lavender for a little variety and because they're the only springlike colors I have, but I probably don't need both. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ramblings-about-cardigans-and-color-schemes#post-1120069 Sun, 22 Dec 2013 06:44:10 +0000 carambola 1120069@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Teal looks amazing on you!</p> <p>Like Shevia, I relate to this even though I don't do it with my clothes. It's an impulse that feels familiar to me, although I end up reaching for my favorite combinations rather than forcing myself to wear things I like less. I've often felt like the drawback is that I don't mix and match as much as I could/should, so it surprised me to hear you say that your conservation system leads you to wear the same outfits over and over too. I guess if both ways lead to outfit repetition, they may as well be ones you love </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ramblings-about-cardigans-and-color-schemes#post-1120055 Sun, 22 Dec 2013 05:46:19 +0000 Gigi 1120055@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I may do this type of thing, wearing what goes with the fewest amount of outfits...I'll have to watch myself more carefully. But it sure sounds like something I would do!</p> <p>Do you like the lilac and lavender cardigans in their own right? If so, maybe you want to find a dress or skirt that really makes good use of them. If not, maybe it is time to purge them. I'm glad you have had this breakthrough! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ramblings-about-cardigans-and-color-schemes#post-1119987 Sun, 22 Dec 2013 03:18:05 +0000 Beth Ann 1119987@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh yes, I've done a version of this, many times.&nbsp; It'll be interesting to see how your "wear pattern" turns out after a couple of months of going with the happiness factor!</p> <p>Based upon what I've seen of your WIW, I think you'd do well with ponte jackets --- the silhouette of a jacket, with the feel of a sweater.&nbsp; I prefer mine unlined, but with a substantial weight fabric, with medium stretch.</p> <p>Don't ya love fashion epiphanies! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ramblings-about-cardigans-and-color-schemes#post-1119979 Sun, 22 Dec 2013 02:56:00 +0000 Jaime 1119979@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You know I strangely felt total empathy with your conservation of cardigan concerns. I don't think I do this exactly but I must have some sort of similar impulse that I repress. Anyway, carry on! And I love the third outfit, great top! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ramblings-about-cardigans-and-color-schemes#post-1119866 Sun, 22 Dec 2013 00:34:58 +0000 Gracie 1119866@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I got a kick out of "Conservation of Cardigans system" I have also tried to give the less-worn items a chance to play even when it means the outfit goes down a notch, because I want to justify their place in my closet. But I'm getting away from this. Nowadays if I think another topper, blouse or shoes work best, even if they are worn often, I will switch the lesser garment for one of these. I figure I don't have enough opportunities to wear all my clothes and I don't want to look "less" if I can think of a better combination. So those tried-and-left-behind items are getting purged after a couple of chances. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ramblings-about-cardigans-and-color-schemes#post-1119852 Sun, 22 Dec 2013 00:18:58 +0000 Suz 1119852@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What Caro said. You look happy! It is great when you make a wardrobe breakthrough discovery.&nbsp;</p> <p>I don't tend to buy a lot of duplicates and this somewhat prevents the issue. But I do have similar guilt about closet orphans. So I force myself to ask why these things are not getting wear, and I try to purge them once I understand the problem.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ramblings-about-cardigans-and-color-schemes#post-1119790 Sat, 21 Dec 2013 22:32:05 +0000 Caro in Oz 1119790@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I really like these outfits on you - there is more drama here, which I think is great for you The teal looks amazing. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ramblings-about-cardigans-and-color-schemes#post-1119785 Sat, 21 Dec 2013 22:23:26 +0000 kkards 1119785@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>How interesting. I almost always go for the most obvious. So if I have a lot of basics, because, well, they go with everything. But as of come to realize, all basics make a very limited color palate.<br /> I like how you have mixed things up. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ramblings-about-cardigans-and-color-schemes#post-1119782 Sat, 21 Dec 2013 22:21:56 +0000 CocoLion 1119782@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don't make an effort to wear orphans, which is what it sounds like you do because you want to wear what you purchase. &nbsp;I am like your husband, I wear what looks best or that I like the best. &nbsp;The orphans stay orphans with maybe a wear here or there and then they get purged.</p> <p>Once in a blue moon an orphan will find a new popularity in my closet and suddenly it goes with everything and I am wearing it all the time (a burgundy H&amp;M blazer comes to mind). &nbsp;But that is not the norm. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ramblings-about-cardigans-and-color-schemes#post-1119769 Sat, 21 Dec 2013 22:08:48 +0000 Vix 1119769@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hi Aubergine --</p> <p>I am so loving your complicated Conservation of Cardigans thing -- but am more glad you're trying to break out of it! The choices you've made in these examples look great to my eye.</p> <p>I don't do the conservation thing as I tend to overthink on the front end so as to be a mood dresser once I purchase.</p> <p>However, I am prone to letting&nbsp;my lesser-worn clothes guilt trip me. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ramblings-about-cardigans-and-color-schemes#post-1119745 Sat, 21 Dec 2013 21:42:08 +0000 Anonymous 1119745@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks, Alasse! The black definitely lets the prints stand out more! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ramblings-about-cardigans-and-color-schemes#post-1119728 Sat, 21 Dec 2013 21:25:11 +0000 Alassë 1119728@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great realization, Aubergine, and I like the way the prints stand out in #1 and #3.&nbsp;</p> <p>Ha,&nbsp;I wish DH played favorites - he's so practical that he rotates purely based on wear, which means any unfortunate purchases get equal time. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ramblings-about-cardigans-and-color-schemes#post-1119702 Sat, 21 Dec 2013 21:00:48 +0000 Anonymous 1119702@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Florence, I really like the sound of all those adjectives - thanks! I definitely do the thing where I force myself to make outfits around something that's harder for me to wear too.</p> <p>Vildy, I think Saving Things for Good is definitely an excellent way to describe it! I always think of that as something that applies more to&nbsp;more expensive or dressier things (which I'm also guilty of sometimes), but it's amazing that the mentality is so insidious that it even happens with something as basic as&nbsp;cardigans in favorite colors. </p> <p>Edit: Liz, my husband also wears a lot of the same&nbsp;things without feeling the need to make sure less appealing options are getting enough wear. I think the only time he wears stuff he doesn't actually like that much&nbsp;is when he's really low on laundry or something.&nbsp;Guys just seem to&nbsp;be lucky enough to&nbsp;have less of a complex about stuff like this!</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ramblings-about-cardigans-and-color-schemes#post-1119698 Sat, 21 Dec 2013 20:57:47 +0000 Liz A. 1119698@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I can totally relate. &nbsp;I force myself to wear everything, and if I don't, I start to feel bad. &nbsp;I even get mad at my boyfriend because he wears his favorites constantly instead of trying new combos with old options. &nbsp;Who's right here? &nbsp;Or am I just neurotic? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ramblings-about-cardigans-and-color-schemes#post-1119686 Sat, 21 Dec 2013 20:49:19 +0000 Vildy 1119686@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Got a kick out of this. I think many of us have a weird Saving Things For Good or Justifying Having It syndrome. :D&nbsp; I love how you look in teal - marvelous color for you. Glad you're going to enjoy it more. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ramblings-about-cardigans-and-color-schemes#post-1119670 Sat, 21 Dec 2013 20:40:05 +0000 FlorenceFearne 1119670@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ooooh, I think you're onto something here! These are my favorite outfits from you, by far! I think the color choices you're making here are really modern and crisp and almost edgy.&nbsp;</p> <p>I don't have quite this same issue, but I do have a similar problem where I own a lot of duplicates (&nbsp;or similar items)&nbsp;in different colors, and I force myself to create outfits around say, the grey jeggings instead of the black jeggings, even though I find the black ones way easier to style.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ramblings-about-cardigans-and-color-schemes#post-1119661 Sat, 21 Dec 2013 20:27:48 +0000 Anonymous 1119661@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think I've mentioned a few times on here&nbsp;that I want to get a little pickier about my color palette. This week I had a mini-realization about how I combine cardigans with other things that may help me on the first steps&nbsp;down this route. </p> <p>For some reason, I generally have this weird urge to "conserve" my cardigans and make sure more of them get regular wear&nbsp;by choosing the least versatile option that goes with whatever I'm wearing. So, for example, if I'm wearing a patterned dress&nbsp;with a few colors and a neutral and I happen to have a cardi in one of the colors, that's my default for wearing with the dress. Or, if I'm wearing an all-neutral outfit that can work with a whole bunch of different cardigans, I'll choose one in a color that goes with less in my wardrobe rather than one in a neutral or&nbsp;in a favorite color. I'll do the same thing with other pieces of clothes, too, but cardigans are probably where it's most obvious.</p> <p>But the thing is, I suspect that&nbsp;this is kind of dumb. It leads me to&nbsp;wear some of the same predictable outfits over and over even though they're not necessarily the most flattering/interesting/happiness-inducing combinations in my wardrobe. It also means that it's sometimes hard to tell whether I'm&nbsp;wearing something&nbsp;a lot because it's a&nbsp;favorite or&nbsp;just because it's there and I'm semi-consciously trying to wear it whenever there's an obvious opportunity. Which means it's harder to make smart decisions about buying new things.</p> <p>Anyway, now that I'm aware of this pattern, I'm trying not to do it so much. This week,&nbsp;I made a point of choosing&nbsp;the cardigan that I wanted to wear the most rather than one that made sense according to my screwed-up Conservation of Cardigans system. Even if it meant that I wore the same black cardigan on Tuesday and Friday. Hopefully no one at work&nbsp;noticed!</p> <p>I know none of these are super-cutting-edge or anything, but they felt a little more purposeful than some of my outfits and like it's maybe a stepping stone toward a more precise understanding of my style.</p> <p>With the dress in #1, I usually wear a pale lilac cardigan or a slightly darker lavender one, both of which are probably lighter and cooler than ideal for my coloring. Sometimes I do gray, but it's one of&nbsp;these two just as&nbsp;often than not.&nbsp;This time I went with a black one instead, and I really like how it plays up the drama in the pattern.</p> <p>The dress in #2 obviously goes with a bunch of things, but this is the first time I've worn it with this teal cardi. Since I love teal and think it's pretty flattering on&nbsp;me, I always feel like I'll have more chances to wear this cardi with something it more explicitly matches. Meanwhile, I see this dress as another opportunity to wear, you guessed it, the lilac or lavender cardigans that don't look that good on me. Or my red one, or one of&nbsp;various other options that are fine but not super-exciting and don't feel quite as "me" as the teal one.</p> <p>The top in #3 is new. My first instinct probably would have been to wear my red or golden yellow cardigans because the warm tones would work with the black/brown of the top, telling myself it would be a shame to pass up a chance to wear one of them. But I chose the black one instead, which meant I got a more streamlined effect that made the brown tones in the shirt stand out more, and also that I could wear fun dangly earrings and&nbsp;my rarely-worn cognac oxfords&nbsp;without feeling like there was potentially too much going in in the outfit. (BTW, the red and yellow cardigans are both wearing out, so I'm wondering if I even need replacements in similar colors.)</p> <p>Does anyone else do something similar to this? Or have any tips for resisting the urge to pair something with the least-worn option rather than the best one?&nbsp;</p> <p>P.S. I've really spent a lot of time babbling about cardigans here this week, haven't I? </p>