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Considering wildcard teal cardigan

Chris987

Veteran

Speaking of wild cards, I recently found a really lovely open cashmere cardigan (like a mid thigh length duster) that is a very good length on me. This is a style I've been wanting to try. It's a mid weight cashmere so a bit too warm for transition seasons but perfect for winter.

The thing is, it's a rich warm teal, which is a color I wasn't looking for. The color works well on me and I have worn it on the past. In the photo it looks a tiny bit more blue than IRL. These days I prefer teal with black, white, browns and golds of all kinds, but almost never with blues so it would not work with most of the denim jeans that are my wardrobe staple for bottoms. Maybe the very darkest wash ones would work.

I have zero pants or skirts and close to zero tops in browns or golds ...but I was thinking of building a chocolate brown capsule this fall. I do have footwear and bags in cognac and taupe.

I don't have a long list of wants for fall so finding some supporting acts for this sweater seems doable and would give me some focus to keep the magpies at bay. Also the colors is want would generally work well with the rest of my wardrobe.

I don't see many browns in the stores yet and not a lot online either but maybe that will change. I think I'll give myself a 4-6 week window to look for supporting acts before I make a final decision. I'd love to find some utility pants In a mid to dark brown...and I've seen some pretty teal /brown print blouses on Pinterest....

I'm feeling very inspired by Angie's olive capsule story:

Would love to hear any advice or suggestions, oh wise fabbers!

NOTE: did not intend to include the olive shirt....can't seem to remove it so just ignore it

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21 replies

Latest reply was from Chris987

Barbara Diane

Veteran

Very pretty. But I'm biased, as it is one of my favorite colors.
Have you tried it on with your denim? Some shades work, it can take a few minutes for your eye to adjust.

Laura G

Veteran

Brown is my main neutral and I haven't seen much of it in stores for a long time. I'm hopeful for this winter but not holding my breath.

But blue denim is a neutral, right?

Anonymous

It is a gorgeous color. I am a little concerned that you are not comfortable wearing it with denim which is your wardrobe staple. Like you, I find coordinating some blues with denim to be challenging. I just can't seem to make it work.

Anonymous

Another teal-lover, like Barbara Diane. Also, like her, I find I can wear it with certain blue denim, usually the really dark ones have a bit of a black or brown cast to them.
I'm with you in hoping that brown will come back into circulation. IMHO, it is terrific with teal.
I really like teal with olive, too. Is that a color you wear?
I bet that sweater is terrific on you - I can imagine that it really flatters your coloring!

Style Fan

Veteran

I love teal but I never wear it. I own a great teal top that never makes it out of my closet.
I never think of something matching denim. Have you tried the sweater with your jeans? I find some denim is warmer in colour than others. I prefer that denim. I also like denim that has copper stitching. That denim might work better with a warm teal but I always think of denim as a neutral.

Chris987

Veteran

Thanks Barbara Diane, I have done a very cursory try on with denim but need to do it more thoughtfully, good suggestion

Laura G I agree, there has not been a lot of brown in recent years. a little camel, taupe, mushroom.....but not enough and not much chocolate brown. I do find more online which is ok since I don't mind shopping online. Yes, Blue Denim is a neutral, I just don't like
a lot of the variations with teal.

Sterling yes that "can't make iet work" thing is what I'm thinking about. That's why I'm thinking it needs new supporting acts.

Ryce, good suggestions about dark denim or denim with a little black. That olive shirt was a mistake, didn't mean to include it in this posting. I do wear olive, but I don't think I'd like it with teal...hmm maybe I should give it a whirl.

Style Fan I have had a similar experience with the teal I've had in the past, which is why I want to make sure I can find some supporting acts to go with it.
Blue denim will never seem quite perfect even though some may be fine. I do have black jeans and those would go with teal with no issues.

Nomad

Teal and olive are a great combination! I have a scarf that's half olive and half teal/turquoise, blending together in the middle. Definitely give them a chance together.

Anonymous

I absolutely love the color, and I'm an enabler. If you love it and it fits well, then by all means get it!

Laura G

Veteran

Chris987 (and anybody): where do you find brown clothes, online or brick and mortar?

Srah: Hmm...I would never have considered teal with olive, but I own a lot of both. Maybe I'll give it a try...especially if the brown doesn't materialize (again) this year.

Style Fan

Veteran

Laura G if you are comfortable shopping online you could find brown at places like L L Bean and Lands End. Also, Nordstroms has brown options online. I have been looking for a pair of brown corduroy jeans to replace my current ones and those retailers have them.

Bijou

Veteran

I like teal with light colours, cream, white, blush and dove grey are all colours I love to team with teal, especially in winter. Teal and black is also a go to combination, but I love almost anything with black. Teal is a great colour because it works with both warm and cool colours. Teal and brown, olive and cognac are all lovely combinations.

Staysfit

Veteran

Funny that you have the olive shirt, because I love teal and olive together. It's one of my favorite color combinations. I also like teal with Bordeaux or teal with dark aubergine. I even like teal with navy. Looking at something bolder, you could pair teal with yellow or chartreuse.

I kind of think of teal as a neutral. It may even work with orange and red depending on the shades.

I know you are thinking utility pants, but I am thinking of accessories. LOL! I'm not much help! Sorry!

Jane

Veteran

i like teal and especially with jeans, but I would be slightly concerned about it becoming an orphan...especially as you don't think it will go with your jeans?

Chris987

Veteran

hanks Srah, I will do that.]

Thanks BC, Appreciate the enabling, always so fun

Laura G I have found brown at quite a few online retailers. Style Fan gave three great suggestions. BTW by "brown" in terms of working with teal, I mean a wide range of colors from very light tans to the darkest chocolate browns...I'm considering them all. I have found brown pants online by doing searches for "brown pants" or "brown jeans". Start with a basic Google search, which will lead you to some choices although it's not very accurate. Macys is always one of my must-look online retailers, since I know their brands pretty well. They tend to have jeans/pants that come in a bunch of colors and I'm seeing some browns now.. For example I just ordered two different .Style & Co jeans one in a dark brown and one in a lighter "Jacquard" print. I see far fewer choices in brown tops even at Macys, and they ones they have are a bit to casual for what I want.

In B&M stores it's hit or miss, I just keep looking when I'm shopping. Brown does not seem to be an "in" color this fall in the stores around me (maybe that will change as the season progresses) so the trendier stores may not have it, but the more traditional/classic ones might.

Bijou, thanks for the great color ideas. I'm in the "everything goes with black" camp too.

Staysfit, I guess I must try the olive/teal combo. And I could see doing teal with bordeaux too but it feels a little bit lke too many colors for one outfit to me. Hmmm. Love the accessory ideas too,that is always a great way to think about colors.

Right Jane, that's why I'm going to see about getting some new supporting act items to go with it, in non-blue denim colors. If I'm totally unsuccessful I'll just return the sweater.

unfrumped

Veteran

If non- denim color is a direction you want to go& expand to more bottoms, there are so many color options, as others have pointed out- from cream to gray to taupe to all the darker browns & olives- so you should be able to find a style that eirks, too. It's also likely you could find a scarf that mixes teal, blues and another color and makes the jeans work. That could really be worth it to give you a blue denim jeans option you like. What color tops would you wear if you had brown or olive pants? And would they be long sleeved, knits or wovens?

anchie

Veteran

One thing I noticed regarding Angie's olive capsule is that she had alraedy many items in her wardrobe that she could wear with olive. And it seems that you are starting from scratch with this new cardigan. But FWIW I think that teal goes nicely with navy, so why not with denim too?

krishnidoux

Veteran

Enthusiast teal wearer here.
I find the more I have accumulated teal items of different shades in my wardrobe, the easier it is to wear it and pair it.

If you do get it, I think it would work well on lighter denim.
Any day you could see me wearing a cardigan this shade with denim: dark denim, light denim, beat up denim, chic denim... that's me though.
Do you have metallic accessories or footwear?
The color looks good with black too, and this one would look fantastic over those latest hues of black denim that are very very dark and that you see everywhere.
If you like a peek of bright, try it with an apple green top.
Orange also works, but it has to be a special kind, with more red, and more pigment in it.
It was mentionned, but teal and navy works well... if the teal is light. The one here is warmer and darker (actually my personal favorite), and I'm not sure I'd pair it with navy.
Try it with cream color tops. It would bring out the cream's vibrant quality. Then it would beg for a necklace I think.
You mention teal and bordeau... which is a combination I admit I am not all that familiar with. So I have to go try it!

Anonymous

I quite like teal, but own nothing in that colour. However......my house is full of it right now I spent the weekend getting some rooms restyled and cleaned and set up for fall, and I am really happy with how teal (in different shades and depths) is working in my living room . The room is in two shades of grey, has 2 pieces of dark brown leather furniture (ugh, I know, but it's too big to move and too expensive to replace so this was my solution ) , a teal/peacock blue chair, mongolian hair rugs , concrete coffee and sofa tables and pillows in teal, grey, white, black and other bits of black and white in textiles /throws. Could you wear your sweater with grey jeans, grey suede boots ( cognac or deep brown suede would work too) an ivory silk shell, a scarf with a bunch of those colours (teal, grey, brown, cognac, ivory ,black etc) and a grey or cognac handbag? Add on some heavier weight silver jewellery (maybe with leather ) to add more depth .

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Laura G

Veteran

Thanks Chris and Style Fan. Looking into your suggestions for clothing in brown.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Nice cardi, Chris. I find it cool toned, and not warm though. I vote wear it with black, grey and purple.

Chris987

Veteran

Unfrumped, thanks and I agree with all the color options out there, even with my own preferences I ought to be able to find things to work. And definitly a scarf with teal and other colors is on my list. I'm thinking of tops in either the same tones as the pants (column of color) or lighter like bone, camel, etc. Not sure yet about the style...one choice is a simple long sleeved T style or a soft blouse without a collar...knits or woven, no preference yet. Even in deepest winter this sweater will be pretty warm so i want to keep the layer under it a bit lighter in weight.

Anchie you are right that Angie already had a lot of colors that worked wiht olive when she started adding olive. pieces, which made adding a bunch of olive things easy from a color perspective. I have a SMALL number of pieces that teal would work with, but the colors I'm thinking of adding to work with it are colors I alreayd wanted before I found this sweater, so I'm willing to invest the time in seeing what I can find.

Krishnadoux, very interesting comments on light vs dark teal and denims, it really does make a difference doesn't it. As far as brights...apple green looks horrible with my hair color but a reddish orange is a great idea although I think I'd prefer it as a color in a print rather than a solid with teal.

Lisap what a lovely design sense you have in your home! (Isn't your business related to this?) The colors are really gorgeous. I would not have thought of mixing light grey with a medium brown, but it looks really good with teal in your decorating scheme. The different textures really make it work. I LOVE your outfit suggestions,and I could put together a few of them,or close.

Thanks Angie, maybe it is cool toned or maybe the photo is skewed. In any case I'll try it with both warm and cool combinations. Thanks!

Thanks so much everyone! I plan to take sometime this week to try some outfits with stuff already in my closet. I promise to post photos.