Color palette discipline epiphany

I may be having a color palette/tone epiphany, or at least a focus of sorts.

First, thanks to all who liked the linen pants but I think they are not going to fit in as I'd hoped.

I have always liked medium to light-colored pants for some reason (along with tweeds, checks, houndstooth and other patterns) as a change from black. It’s a challenge to find the more interesting fabrics and patterns, but typically I’ve always had some in a khaki-type color, maybe almost came, beause those are more common and I liked to combine with black tops & shoesl. I’ve generally maintained pants in casual versions (as in chino-type)—and in work trousers, in either wool or some dressier fabrication. I’ve just always looked for these colors and kept some. Since I’ve not been a light-colored shoe person at work, and still don’t aspire to that, I wear either black shoes or use the khaki/camel with some kind of brown shoes and related colors in tops.

Well, this isn’t working in the work capsule much anymore. First, I don’t like the black shoe/light pants look as much now. I still love all kinds of browns, but the shades of brown/khaki/tan are all over the place, and my “real” wardrobe palette should run cooler, I think, more taupey-gray to go with raspberry, fuchsia, pinks, cooler reds, some teal. So I’m challenged to have warm browns in multiple shoes (flats, boots, good ‘ole Clarks) plus black, and yet I still have a wardrobe hole for shoes in medium tone of cool brown or taupe or warm gray or combo-colors that go with my other colors . So my wardrobe bottoms and footwear have become too complicated, with more orphans and single-outfit combos than I would like.

I’m going to try to really focus on dark to medium-dark tones like charcoal, taupes or patterns (with black) in my not-black work trousers and resist buying cream, khaki, camel, or warm browns in these items.

It still works fine to have light-colored casual pants, as I am happy to wear lighter or fun-colored shoes in my casual wear--they are more available & less expensive, more suitable for whims or seasonal updates, more summer-oriented, plus, casual outfits are more forgiving in color coordination, to my eye. Light-colored casual pants are often in a more comfortable fabric for hot weather than jeans, so fill a need.

This may seem like a small discovery, or maybe the wrong approach, but in my recent wardrobe reviews I’m seeing a lack of outfit color “tone” focus for ease of coordination-- top + bottoms + footwear--that is more burdensome than issues of quality or quantity per se.

At least that’s what I think today. Tomorrow may be different!

11 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

I think the colour update would work really well!

Liz A.

As long as you don't cut out browns completely, because they do seem to suit you!

texstyle

(website)

I think updating your shoe wardrobe with more color will help a lot in this color transition you are describing. I've been working on this too and so far I have added a dusky blue and a deeper red pair of shoes (sandals in my case sense my predominant season is summer). I also have one pair of light tan (taupe) sandals but they are not very comfortable so I'd like to find a replacement when I can. Esp. when wearing white or light pants like you mentioned, I find more mid-tone or lighter color shoes feel almost essential. I will wear brown sandals with my white summer pants but I don't like the way black works on me with white pants unless I'm wearing a black in my top or something -- (maybe because my hair is so light?)

I had really focused on mostly browns/blacks for many years prior to YLF and then realized that I was being too restrictive and boring with that habit. I saw so many here wearing great colorful shoes and began searching too. Now I have a feeling I will own many more colorful shoes in the future.

unfrumped

Liz, thanks, I waffle back and forth between more focus and more colors. At one point I thought I would change my work wardrobe neutrals to browns--give up black- but for pants and shoes, there is so much more selection for picky pants fit and fussy feet.
texstyle, I hear you. I got my burgundy/cordovan oxfords as a great not-black, almost-neutral, and blue& black reptile print ballet flats as well, so they go with multiple pants colors. For work I still favor fairly subdued shoes that don't scream look at me, but I'm keeping my eye out for the subtle but interesting option. Also looking for color combinations to bridge colors, but in lower contrast--like a black and dark taupe instead of black & white, or 2 tones of same color.

Mia

I think this is very astute. Warm toned pants of any shade usually mean closet orphan for me. I do get lots of use out of ones that are neutrals and this is where I use olive for example which is not great by my face.

Vix

Hi Unfrumped --

I think this move will help you (hope so!). If you're not big on statement-colored shoes then -- I'm not either, I've tried but they just ain't me 99% of the time -- then it makes sense to have pants/shoes in the same color tones.

I'm with Mia in that olive (and stone and pewter) pants are neutral enough to go with cool-toned shoes...they keep me from drowning in black/charcoal/lighter grey/navy.

Are subtle cool-toned metallic shoes out for you at work? I find pumps/wedges/sandals in those shades create a good bridge between the darker cool-toned pants and the lighter neutral ones.

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