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About: Be Intentional About the Contrast in Your Outfits

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Choosing a Beanie

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

Angie's post was exactly what I've been thinking about over the past few days. So her topic is very timely for me because I wanted to post something about an accessory, a beanie, and how to choose a color with hair color, and whether a low contrast or high contrast is better.

One of my favorite beanie’s is an oatmeal/cream, color, in neutral and low contrast for my lighter hair. However, I did see a cashmere navy blue beanie, which looks so pretty, but it was on a dark-haired person. I began to wonder how a navy beanie would look on me and that's why I'm here. Do you select a hat that is low contrast or high contrast when it comes to wearing a casual hat to keep your ears warm and when you still want to look good?

I was considering the Total Eclipse here:
https://www.aritzia.com/us/en/.....color=1702

The other colors that may work are: Birch, Heather Bone (too similar to one I have), Heather Constant Camel or Heather Gold Camel (not sure what the difference is between these two camel colors). I have sensitive ears and like to keep them covered for early-morning walks. My guess is that the darker color won't look good on me. Thank you for your thoughts.

Added three more that I completely forgot I had.

http://https//www.aritzia.com/.....color=1564

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Shopping

17 replies

Latest reply was from Star

Star

Veteran

I think navy blue will look good with light hair. I like contrast. The two beanies I use are from before my hair went silver and are cream and light grey. They do both work though with the silver. I would like another darker one for more contrast and variety. I guess it depends on the colour of your outerwear and gloves as well. I like them to co-ordinate if not match.

Irina

Veteran

I have cream, oatmeal, beige, black and dark navy hats. My hair is mid grey, so not dark or light. I choose color for hats that work with my outwear pieces. When my hair was brown, I didn’t like to wear black but basically, I pick a color that I like. But I like both, low and high contrast.

Dee

Veteran

I’ve never actually considered my hair colour in choosing a hat, its always been more about the hat’s shape/style and the colour of my outerwear and accessories, but it’s certainly an interesting element to consider.

Your oatmeal/cream hat looks fab on you, I can see how them blending together really harmonizes the look. What is your usual contrast preference? Perhaps that may help you decide if it works for you or not. Before ordering anything, I’d certainly experiment with any old darker coloured hat first to see if I’d like the contrast or not

Runcarla

Veteran

I don’t think it’s just that your hat matches your hair/colouring, but that it co-ordinates with the cream stripes on your jacket. I do agree it looks sharpe.

I have two beanies that I wear equally through winter. They match my puffers, though I wear the navy beanie with my merlot coat as a ‘bookend’ to blue jeans. I don’t think I’d like a low contrast (or same colour as my hair) hat, though I’m wearing a pale blue beret in my profile photo!

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Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Vicki, you are ADORABLE in your cream beanie

I am a dark blonde, and wear these beanies. Low and high contrast depending on my outfit.

The Cashmere Beanie

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10

Cashmere-blend Beanie

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2

The Cashmere Rib Beanie

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SCOTCH & SODA Soft rib knit stretch beanie

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8

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Halogen Slouchy Cashmere Beanie

Sale

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13

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

Thank you Star, Irina, Dee, Runcarla and Angie, for your wisdom! Considering my outfit and what I’m wearing is so important and I appreciate that reminder. It is probably why I liked the navy blue one because everything was monochromatic from the gloves and jacket to the hat.

I really appreciate the links, Angie and Runcarla (love the light blue beret on you!), and will now rethink which jackets I’ll be wearing and go with that. Angie, the colors and that striped beanie are so cute; you’ve broadened my horizon! I’m laughing at myself as I was only thinking about my hair and the beanie when the outfit is integral. Btw, purple is not my color and I wore this on a very cold day when I was working at the Laguna Food Pantry. I acquired it almost 20 years ago when I was going through chemotherapy and hung on to it for its softness. Style matters, even when warming the head and I’m glad I came here to ask! Appreciate all of your input.

Indigoprint

Veteran

If you have blue eyes, I think a blue beanie would be lovely.

Joy

Veteran

I have mostly white hair and whitish beanies look better than dark ones on me. I reach for a whitish beanie the most. I have collected matching gloves, cross body bags and scarves. I also wear white snow boots. I agree that low contrast is the way to go with beanies.

Carol

(website)

Veteran

I select any beanie I look good in, regardless of color. However, if pressed, I actually choose a bright, strong color. My best was a raspberry beret, like the song.

Shape and fit are more important to me, and warmth. See these two? I bought them on Poshmark, but I will ultimately have to can them, because fit isn't right. Hats are really an area where fit is important. These are so beautiful, but I can't wear something that is awkward.

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Suz

(website)

Veteran

You look so cute in your cream toque! (That's what we call them up here in the land of snow...)

I am in favour of all the options. I think it's partly what works with your eyes, skin, and coat/ gloves/ other outfit elements. At the moment, I have toques in that are low contrast to my hair (the light grey) and bright colour (the red -- I also have a red cloche which is more dressy than the very gear-ish headlamp toque) and high contrast to my hair (burgundy and navy.) I would like a fuchsia toque as well.

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Parkhurst Water-Repellent Wool Hat

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phoebe

I think more about how the hat will look with my skin than my hair. I have a black hat with a red and cream pattern and pom pom, extremely warm, a heavy weight charcoal cabled and silver lightweight cashmere.

I think the intarsia and cables make the darker colors more flattering than flat knit solids and silver grey is brightening enough without.

I had a navy cashmere beanie that I never wore as I found it too harsh against my skin.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I think navy would bring out your eyes and the light color works with your hair so basically everything works.

cat2

Veteran

I like to coordinate my headgear, scarves and gloves.

Ket

Veteran

I tend to coordinate my accessories with my outerwear AND often my lipstick. (yes, for real, hehe!!)

However, I also consider mood and energy. If I'm feeling lower energy, I often naturally or intuitively choose lower contrast. Higher energy? More contrast or color. Cloudy days often find me wearing neutrals, with maybe a bright lipstick for color. Sunny days find me wearing all the colors. I guess I'm an empathic dresser HAHA!

As for beanies, I wear a lot of beanies. I do really want to knit one like the Arizia version you shared. I also want to knit a beaniet AND add tulle veil over the eyes. Not sure if I would actually find it enjoyable to wear? But I've been drawn to the style for several years.

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Anonymous

I like the light colored beanie on you!

I just bought this one- unfortunately acrylic so itchy. But- I chose it to go with my warmest coat. If it's cold enough for this coat I probably need a hat (hood is Huge on me).
My hair is medium-dark brown, and my skin is medium brown, so it's pretty low contrast all round. Matches my eyes too.
I also bought it cause I can put my ponytails through it

I also have a beanie about the same color as yours. It goes with my camel coat, but higher contrast with my coloring. Found it at an op shop and haven't worn yet.

Waving at Ket- #teamcoordinateEverything

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Michael by Michael Kors Missy 3/4 Down Faux Fur Trim Jacket

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Vicki

(website)

Veteran

Indigoprint, I have always liked many shades of blue so it may work.
Joy, I completely understand about the low contrast, lighter beanies, and that’s what I seem to gravitate toward and use over and over again. That’s why I began to think about stepping outside of that and trying a different color or two. Still, outerwear will dominate my choice.
Carol, those are such cute beanies and I’m sorry they didn’t work out for you. I bought a beret with some mushrooms sticking up, which I thought was so cute and I wore when I worked at a food pantry for fun.
Suz, I love your toque collection and thank you for teaching me a new word! I like the variety to keep it interesting and I am loving the one with the LED light. What fun!
phoebe, that’s a nice observation about the texture of the beanie and I agree with you that skin tone and the harshness of darker colors (black for me) can change everything even if we do like the color. I guess it’s important for me to try things on.
Jaime, thank you for giving me go-ahead and I may play around with what I have here.
cat2, Coordinating makes perfect sense, and is in line with what I would do, too. Everything looks refined and polished.
Ket, that beaniet with the tulle veil made my day! I love it! Knit it, please! I have a beret with mushrooms on top (grey with red) that I don’t wear often, but when I do, it makes me smile. I so “get” the energy connected with what we wear, and would also consider myself dressing as an empath and honoring my mood. lol. Thank you for sharing your photos.
suntiger, I am learning so much about beanies and I didn’t even know that there was a ponytail beanie. Now I want one! But, not scratchy and itchy, lol. That’s like buying a nice sweater or blouse and then the label is so annoying.

Thank you everyone; you’ve given me a lot to think about and I really do appreciate the photos you added to your posts.

Star

Veteran

Carol raises a valid point about choosing one that actually looks good on you. I have quite a large face and head and I have so many that are a bit on the small side and look terrible on me, like a pimple on the moon IYKWIM. Also I look better when the fold over around on the edge is quite wide. Hence I am sticking with the cream and light grey for now because they meet these requirements and they co-ordinate well with my taupe gloves, but are neutrals so go with all my jackets. Colour is definitely less important for me.