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Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

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carter

Veteran

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Dressing

28 replies

Latest reply was from

Jewell

Veteran

Wow, the difference is surprising! Lovely closet, btw. You look fab in the outfits that feature vibrant colors. Did those outfits feel fab to you? If so, then I think you should make incorporating color into your favorite outfit combos a style resolution for 2014. You might be on to something regarding the seasons. I think many of us tend to wear more color in spring/summer/fall. Maybe we feel a need to match the landscape in winter?

A few years back I had to consciously work color into my wardrobe. I used to wear pretty much all black, white, and gray to work. Now my work outfits are a lot more colorful.

lyn67

Veteran

Wow, Carter, your closet is a dream, not else!!!

In a somehow probably odd manner I also associate dressier and more sophisticated outfits with neutral and monochromatic outfits. But I am a low contrast girl, so cannot deal gratiously with a lot of color at once, anyway (and both my casual and dressier ouffits are usually the same color scheme).

It's also true, come spring/summer I crave more color (and do it more confident, too) but for fall/winter is more about texture and subtle neutrals-as the nature itself looks alike, if that's making more sense.

So, I'm not surprised about you feeling like that, at all. It may only be that you never observed yourself regarding color before. That's a great project-lot to find out and learn!

BTW, if you crave color for this season and the dressier side of you- a smashing pink coat/jacket will absolutelly do the job to all the smashing outfits I saw in the second pictie! Just my 2 cents:-)

Meli

(website)

I love you in color and love those outfits. Make more effort to incorporate color! It can be more difficult but the results are worth it

Meli

(website)

I wanted to agree with lyn- most people switch to dark colors for fall/winter. I bet you'll naturally crave more color as spring approaches!

unfrumped

Veteran

You may be onto something in terms of looking for some "upscale" items in bright or saturated colors.

Many well-constructed, tailored or even avante-garde pieces are done mostly in neutrals. Or, one might tend to purchase them only in neutrals, thinking the item has to be, well, neutral! to be versatile.

Hence, trenches in beige or black; blazers the same.

I have a discount-priced trench coat in a raspberry color that I just love, and every time I wear it I feel happy, even though I'm only in if for the commute time. This year I tried out a BR wool blazer in sort of a similar color, but it didn't have the right feel. But, that was part of my attempt to add color in another type of garment, not just a sweater or blouse, which is where I usually wear it.

So, you might keep on with your analysis of whether the items in your current outfit-faves feel "good" because of the neutral colors, and you like that look more than you think, or if you're just really happy with the fit and construction. this might not be just a photo-decision, but a "feel" decision of how you feel when wearing the outfit, since we really don't "see' ourselves that much. If the latter, that would be a clue to browse brands that are very well-made but occasionally offered in a punchy color, and go for it.

rachylou

Veteran

Your closet is amazingly tidy! I'm impressed!

Interesting about the colour. I really like you in colour. I do see the formality of the greyscale outfits, which is automatically more sophisticated. Maybe it *is* the season. I think both are equally valid.

Helena

Veteran

hi, well i am going to be contrary (not on purpose!). you do look beautiful in color - but i am exactly like you in the fact that, despite how much color i try to play with, i am always happiest with the neutral outfits - there is an ease to wearing them that i just never feel in color.

so - given that you are clearly gorgeous in whatever you wear - if the evidence shows you favoring the more neutral outfits, go for it! no right or wrong on that one imho

if you love color though and are missing it, then your neutral outfits definitely could easily incorporate some color pieces.

and agree with the comments about the closet - it's awesome!

Jeanie

Veteran

You look lovely in colors. I see a lot of elegance in your outfits and sometimes I find elegant, dressy with color to be hard. I could see you doing what Angie calls "a column of color" (the same color from head to toe) in dress wear. Or jewel tones for the winter, like in the Fall Tory Burch collection. I dare you to give it a try! Maybe you will find you really do like neutral dress wear better but I'm guessing not given that fabulous teal jacket you have!

carter

Veteran

Jewell, I do feel good in colors, even in the winter. I wore a hot pink sweater with jeans today to run errands. I'll keep trying in work outfits.

Lyn67, I think you hit on something. As I've been thinking about 2014, one of my goals is to add more texture. Maybe that thought is what's driving the appeal for me with these more textural but neutral outfits.

Meli, I'm going to try!

Unfrumped, I do feel happy when I wear colors, but I didn't feel or look as sophisticated in colored outfits as I did in the neutrals. However, thinking about your "fit and construction" comment, I think that's a key element that's present more in my neutrals than in my colors. I'm going to have to investigate that.

Rachylou, my closet and my pantry are always uber organized. Now the rest of my house...

Torontogirl, neutral does feel like a nice change for me, but I will try to incorporate more color while keeping the same feel of the neutral looks.

Jeanie, a column of color! I will see what I can come up with tomorrow. Pretty sure I can do red. Maybe purple, if the top and bottom work together. Possibly a slightly more casual teal, and scary as it might be, I can possibly do hot pink on a not-so-cold day. I have some colored jackets that I could potentially do with neutral columns. I'll have to see if they're too dated.

Thank you all for your great ideas! I will give it a shot.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Wow, now that is a tidy closet.

I don't have much to add - just wanted to say that I feel that I like quirky prints too, and they don't actually feature that heavily in my closet. The more neutral pieces will allow your colourful items to shine

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

I also love color and found that after joining YLF I had a major switch to neutrals for a while. Now I am bringing color back because it makes me happy.

carter

Veteran

Good point, Lyn*. I will try to let them shine.

Sveta, do you know why you shifted toward neutrals after joining YLF? How long did your neutral period last? Long enough to add more neutral pieces, or short enough to just wait it out?

Carla

Veteran

Thanks for bringing up a thread in which the use of colour can be discussed.

Black, grey, navy (and denim), cognac (close to my hair colour) and white make up the backbone of my wardrobe...but I also need colour to be happy. However, I also want a small, and hardworking collection.

Purges resulted in editing out a lot of colourful items that were just worn out, and some brown and beige items that weren't doing me any favours. I ended up with only a little bit of colour.

Mo wrote recently about having a wardrobe of her personal neutrals and 2 or 3 other colours. (I think she picked pink and pale blue.). By limiting her choice, it would be easier for her to mix and match her outfits. This had resonance for me, so I decided to follow suit. Purple is my signature colour, and I was wearing cobalt and red with success, and yellow (summer items only, however). Purchases in last shopping trips have been purple and red items (which I have been wearing the heck out of over the holidays), with a little tangent into blush/pink.

This is kind of regimented, but I know that if I stick to items in my colours, any new items will likely work well with things I already own. If I get tired of a colour, I can always phase it out and audition another.

Your closet looks good, and your palette of colours IS controlled. It is a puzzle why your more colourful outfits don't make your favourites list!?!?

karymk

Veteran

Carter, I think the reason you like the neutral outfits is that they go seamlessly with YOU. I see an amazing consistency in your look, enviable. Your jacket and coat collection is just superb. I really like the one photo where you've got that lovely blue jacket over the neutrals. I don't see your bags and shoes in the closet very well, but I'm thinking that you can stick with the neutral clothing items and then get a purse say, in that teal color. Shoes in pink. (JCrew Cece flat, ebay!) Yes, color in accessories!

You look super pulled together, perfect for your job. Like I said, I'd want you to sell me my dream house.

Now, for the casual side. Where are your dungarees? Do ladies in the south wear them? Would you dare to wear sneaks? How do you "let your hair down" when you are not working? What do you wear out on date night? To have a latte in town? To visit a neighbor up the street?

karymk

Veteran

Not done yet. Okay, when I further analyze your neutral pics, I see that your shoes are all dark loafers or flats. Why couldn't those be teal, plum, pink? You don't necessarily have to match a purse to the colored shoe. But if you have a capsule of colored shoes and bags going (and even the statement necklaces you love) you can mix and match at will while keeping the actual clothes in the neutral vein.....

also, yesterday at Neiman Marcus I perused the Equipment line. They had some great neutral blouses and pullovers with pattern going on. Snakeskin, etc. Have you tried on this brand? They are also fab with colors. Seems very you.

Catnip

Veteran

I love the way you're dressed in both slides, but have a slight preference for the outfits in slide #1 because of the color. In each of these outfits, only one item is a color vs. a neutral. In other words, you're not wearing color top to bottom. I would encourage you to continue to wear color. The colors you have selected look lovely with your complexion and make you look vibrant and interesting.

But let me repeat that I also love the outfits in slide #2. Also, that is one beautiful, well-organized closet!

kkards

Veteran

carter--for what its worth. what i saw as the common denominator on your favorites slide was jackets, but there were none on your other slide. so maybe part of what you need is colored jackets. i also really like karymk's idea of colored footwear.

carter

Veteran

Runcarla, you do look outstanding in reds and purples. In all of this year end review food for thought on the forum, I'm starting to think that it's the brightness of many of my colored items that just isn't wearing as well on me as it once did. I still like very deep, rich, saturated colors, but I need to rethink some pieces on the intensity of the brightness with my 50 year old skin tone. I will definitely focus on this in 2014, because I really enjoy color.

Karen, you make a great point about colored shoes and bags. I could and should do a much better job at incorporating color through accessories. For daily handbags I have soft pink, hot pink, tomato, cherry red, muted blue, deep orange, lime green, and cream with a tomato stripe. In totes I have hot pink, cream with yellow, cherry red. (Most of these are not in the closet pic since I have them stored on the other side where I keep my out of season clothes.) I use all of these Spring through Fall, but for some reason, I have resorted to only black, chocolate and cream for Winter. I'll change that.

On the shoe front, I really do need to figure it out. My right foot and my back are so particular about what works for a day of showings. I tend to find a shoe that works, then buy it in every color, whether the color works or not. The shoe situation is one of the things I plan to focus on in 2014. Heading over to check out the J Crew pink flats in a minute...they sound right up my alley.

I have tons of jeans, and I do wear them. However, I have to keep them on the slightly more refined end of the spectrum when I leave the house so I'm always prepared to go show a property or run into a client. I never really get to be super casual unless I'm home and can easily change if necessary. That means no sneakers, except for working out. Adding some of my casual errand-running outfits below. I wouldn't wear any of these if I were dressing for work, but if someone calls for a last minute showing when I'm at the grocery store, I could show up like this if I had to.

I haven't tried Equipment, but I'll be looking it up right after the J Crew pink shoes!

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carter

Veteran

Catnip, thanks for the color love! I will continue to wear it. I just need to figure out why I suddenly don't think it's working for me at the moment so I can fix it.

Kkards, I love the structure, texture and "completeness" of jackets. I haven't been wearing them as much I used to because I am running so darned hot these days. Hoping that will pass soon. I think you're right that I need a couple very striking jackets in color. Pink for sure. Maybe a cherry red or deep purple as well?

Alassë

Veteran

Lovely, "you" closet, great neutral outfits, and flattering pink tones. I think the others have given you some great ideas to explore on fit/feel, so I'll look forward to hearing what you find out.

karymk

Veteran

I get what you are saying about being ready to show property on the fly. And the comfort of the shoes for sure must trump style in your case. I grew up the daughter of a realtor and my mom was always dressed to "go show". I cant remember her in jeans anywhere but in the garden or on vacation.

The CeCe flat I wear from jcrew is not very cushioned so I don't know if it's right. But it feels comfy for errands and all day wear for me, and I have a bunion on the right foot.

Helena

Veteran

That first sweater, the sort of muted-raspberry / burgundy (can't quite tell) one is really gorgeous and very sophisticated-looking.

Do you mind me asking where it's from? Sorry if you mentioned somewhere already.

carter

Veteran

Karen, love that your mom was a realtor! You do get my dressing and shoe dilemmas.

Torontogirl, interestingly enough, that sweater is made by Parkhurst, a Toronto-based company. I found it this summer in a little boutique at the beach. I love the fit and the color. It's also not scratchy at all. I call it kind of a heathered cranberry color.

Helena

Veteran

very cool - thanks!!

Windchime

Veteran

No advice from me, Carter, but I'm following this with interest. I've always loved rich, vibrant colors--in my clothing, home, and garden. My current, "bleak midwinter" capsule contains as little color as I've worn over any three month period in my life. It's mostly black, grey, and white, with some navy and turquoise and a bit of pink. I let myself wear red a few times during the holidays and really appreciated it since it hasn't been in my capsules for several months now.

I don't think it has to be an either/or situation. I'm thinking of how Angie wears beautiful colors in an incredibly sophisticated way.

As I said, no helpful advice; just me thinking out loud. And your closet looks amazing, by the way!

carter

Veteran

Windchime, hopefully we'll figure this out together!

Karie

(website)

Veteran

Interesting difference between the first and second group of photos. What about the outfits in the second set made you choose them for your favorites? I would have chosen some of the outfits from the photos in group 1 over some of the pics in group 2. The pics in group 1 are much more casual than those in group 2, do you feel you look best in dressier outfits? I would absolutely try including more color in your favorite outfit group - scarves, necklaces, footwear can do the trick - I'll bet you'll like those outfits even better!

I LOVE your closet!

Anonymous

You have a dream closet! I'm so envious.
I'm wondering if the neutrals you wear for work are your attempt, on some level, to not clash with the decor of the houses that you show clients. You look wonderful in both neutrals and color. Jackets and a trench in colors seems a great way to go. So would trousers or a skirt in a color. I can see you in cobalt pants with your black and white coat.