Ask Angie: Neutral investment pieces - which neutral

Helena

Hi Angie and all,
Well you've all heard far too much about my black issues (the love vs. flattery issue!) which I have recently resolved with the addition of scarves etc. to my beloved yet worrisome black.

However, this fall I am looking to invest in a new peacoat, winter coat AND classic blazer as all these pieces need upgrading in my closet - I want to get these right and have them to wear for the next five years or so, and since they are relatively costly I don't want to feel like I am "fixing" them with accessories - particularly the blazer, which IS the finisher for me - I don't want to add finishers to my finisher!

So Angie - put my out of my misery, please! - which neutral would you recommend for me - black or gray. I'm sort of over navy at the moment, although I know that's a good one for me, and liking gray and black, so personal preference comes up even.

Thanks very much! Feedback from all is welcome of course!

11 years ago

Shopping

6 replies

Latest reply was from unfrumped

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I was going to say ink blue, which is darker than navy.

A black peacoat - a little boring. A grey peacoat has more spunk and possibilities. And works well with black.

11 years ago

Helena

Veteran

Thanks Angie! Much appreciated

11 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Have fun finding your new grey coat. xo

11 years ago

unfrumped

Veteran

Do they all have to be the same neutral? Different fabrications sometimes work better in different colors, or the color you thought you wanted isn't quite right in the coat that fits, or something.

11 years ago

DonnaF

Veteran

Grays can skew blue, yellow, or pink so they can sometimes clash with other gray items. Ask me how I know. . .so I would advise being very careful with getting a gray blazer and testing it out with your other items (says one who has had problems styling her gray blazer that was thankfully pretty cheap). You won't have that problem with a winter coat, and gray is very good at hiding grime and dust. My bias is for a navy or ink pea coat and blazer, not that I have either LOL.

Just wanted to add that some blacks are deadening and others not so much. I love luminous blacks.

11 years ago

unfrumped

Veteran

I thought I needed a gray blazer because black had gotten too stark, and navy& ink are not that much better. Some shades of grsy are better. So gray seemed "it"- would go with my burgundy and black and other items.

Along with the problem of finding a blazer style( including length) that worked , I have found it very hard to find a gray that is versatile and flattering. Go figure.
As an aside, I don't think I can make good use of an" investment" blazer, though I might think differently if I fell in love with something.

Anyway, I have been re- appreciating what Beth Ann referred to as soft black or off- black-- I have some pinstripe items that give that effect. So recently I came across a black pinstriped jacket in a style I liked, which gives a much less draining look than solid black and that goes better with non- matching blacks, or gray, bottoms and tops plus all the colors and works with some prints.

It is not the " one" blazer for every single outfit and occasion, but I think it will top off a lot of them.

11 years ago

Category