Frustrations finding white vs. ivory sweaters and tops - YouLookFab Forum

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Frustrations finding white vs. ivory sweaters and tops

Preppy Pear

Veteran

I was wondering if anyone else has been finding it harder to find white sweaters and tops vs. ivory at retail lately? Or perhaps, maybe you have been delighted to find more ivory tops and you avoid white?

Is ivory a neutral? Is it the same as cream? Am I splitting hairs? I feel like I look better in brighter whites, though some ivories can work if they aren’t too yellow.

If you’ve bought white or ivory tops and sweaters this season, please share!

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30 replies

Latest reply was from Susie

Elizabeth P

Veteran

I always find white hard to find in the winter. Yeah, sure, maybe it's warmer and cozier, but it makes ME look like death! Give me a bright white any day!

RobinF

Veteran

It seems like the stores carry one or the other like they are interchangeable but they really aren't. When I need white I need white and when I need ivory it has to be ivory (in my mind cream and ivory are the same).

Helena

Veteran

I find it hard to tell one white from another, although I can generally can tell a warm white from a cool one - I suspect that shift towards warm white is also a reflection of the earth tone trend, although as Elizabeth notes, it also reads warmer for winter.

Good luck in the search!

Chris987

Veteran

I too am not seeing many tops in ANY of those colors for winter. I prefer ivory but am ok with white too. Some lightweight blouses, and some white/cream backgrounds on prints, but no basic solids that work for me for my climate. I don't remember looking specifically other years but this year I am and it's really slim pickings. I get that a lot of major retailers sell to a wide geographical area so they carry cold and warm weather stuff all year, but why so few solid white/cream light or mid weight sweaters or tops at this point in the year? Maybe the maximal trend is over shadowing lighter neutrals.

nemosmom

Veteran

Angie's pick this morning had a version in white!

Banana Republic

Washable Merino Ribbed Sweater

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22

Christina F.

Veteran

I have that BR sweater - it's closer to ivory IMO.

Boden has had actually white in the past, but right now it seems more like the offerings are ivory.

JAileen

Veteran

Yes, I’ve been having trouble, too. I want a slightly off white sweater. Not bright white, but not pale yellow either. It’s impossible to tell the color online. I’m in a cycle of order and return.

nemosmom

Veteran

Boo for bad stock photos!

Christina F.

Veteran

if it helps, Anchie is wearing the sweater in this post:

https://youlookfab.com/welookf.....-seattle-1

slim cat

Veteran

I gave up on white sweaters entirely - need true/bright white and then afraid I'll mess it up with my lipstick or sandwich or something else. Got soft grey cashmere sweater some time ago at BR and do that instead of white.
There is one I like at Lucky Brand however it's more soft white - cream color.
https://www.luckybrand.com/and.....52094.html

Marilyn

Veteran

Whites are tough and I find I really need to see them in person as there's so much variation. I like a soft white/winter white for this time of year....not a bright white but no yellow in it either. For summer, a bright white tee fits the bill.

You're definitely not splitting hairs, Preppy Pear. Everyone has a shade/shades of white that flatters them best so why settle for something that isn't quite right.

Irina

Veteran

I wear a lot of bright white in the summer but not in the winter months. First of all, it is impossible to find a true white in knitwear unless it’s cotton. I have one old cotton thick white sweater from Gap. What I see sometimes in retail today is thin white sweaters, more spring than winter. Secondly, I find it looks too bright against my winter pants and coats. I prefer to wear a white shirt to add contrast but stay with light cream in sweaters.

Ginger

Veteran

Yes. True white sweaters are very hard to find. I don't think it's this year in particular; ivory and cream and winter white are always far more common.

Preppy Pear

Veteran

That BR sweater looked a little too yellow on me, sigh. Just a little off.
Color is just hard.

kkards

Veteran

hmmm...i grew up with something that was called "winter white", it was white, not quite ivory

but not an optic white...i always assumed that it was because it was hard to get wool to be a "true" optic white...but that was just my guess...interesting

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

White is hard! I think that’s one reason I shy away from it (the other being clumsiness and stain potential). My preference is for “soft white.” Not optic white, not a yellow tinted ivory or cream. It’s almost impossible to judge online, and sometimes difficult even with retail lighting!

Sal

Veteran

I agree that white is tricky.

Pure white
Chalky white
winter white
Ecru
Ivory
Cream

I see the progression as above and prefer the winter white to ivory shades. It does vary from season to season - I suspect in natural fibres it is a bit tricky to get optic/pure shades too.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

You look soooo good in earth tones. I can't imagine you not looking great in cream and off-whites!

Roxanna

Veteran

I find this same problem with creams. I like a deep French vanilla cream, but what I usually get is ivory. And then my creams don’t go together, which drives me nuts!

elpgal

Veteran

An ivory sweater is a HEWI for sure. If you find something, please post!

Anonymous

To me, white of any type is the hardest color to wear. It can have just about any undertone, so you really have to compare them to each other if you can.

Preppy Pear

Veteran

Thanks so much for the input. I have always struggled with colors in general, and often question my own perceptions and fussiness.

Angie, thanks for the lovely compliment! (Beams.). I don’t think I wear earth tones well, unless they are pretty close to neutral - camel and taupe. I feel good in winter whites - but not whites with a yellow undertone.

So, the BR sweater (that Anchie modeled so beautifully!) feels too ivory for me. Next time I’m at BR (way too often these days!), I’ll see if I can take a pic in decent lighting and see what you all think.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I hope you find your sweater, because I'd like to see you combine it with your camel and taupe to do an outfit like today's post.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Preppy Pear, you can remix earth tones with cool tones like blue quite effectively - which I'm sure you already know

JAileen

Veteran

I found a nice off white cotton sweater. It’s called winter white, but is off white, not yellowy at all.

https://www.macys.com/shop/pro.....cm_mmc=Ops=

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Janet

(website)

Veteran

Whites can be so tricky! I can do a simple cool white and a softer white, but nothing too yellow/beige, and a truly optic white is a bit harsh too.

lyn67

Veteran

Yes really frustrating! To my opinion cream is a yellowish shade while ivory more beige- and off white I feel it the closest to the snow white (but still not that) and unfortunatelly they all can look bright white in picties- because of the flash or other artificial light conditions but they are quite different to me.

LaPed

Veteran

Whites are so hard! Not sure what they're stocking this season, but I really like Everlane's "bone" colour. It's an off white, but not too creamy or yellowed.

The Soft Cotton Square Crew

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Irina

Veteran

I once used a trick on a cotton cream sweater from COS. In the store it looked Ok but at home with a daylight the color was deep cream with a yellow undertone, a no-no for me. I soaked with a non chlorine bleach and it considerably lighten the sweater to a softer cream. That sweater was a final sale item so I took a risk.

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