Garbled greys...and I'm blushing! - YouLookFab Forum

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Garbled greys...and I'm blushing!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

So...here I am breaking all the rules.

The old Zara pullover and GAP skimmer jeans are both cool blue greys. But the only boots I wanted to wear today are warm taupe grey. Plus, with the straps and buckles, they have a lot going on for moi. Risky combination. I am hoping that adding the mixed grey scarf (cool and warmer) helps to unify it all.

Also, this is the second outing of the gorgeous blush jacket that I now own, courtesy of Dee.

The jacket is delicious. Lovely soft leather, and the fit is perfect. Believe it or not, this is my first "moto" anything. LOVE!! (And thank you Dee for generously offering it on Style Exchange).

Having said that, blush isn't my best colour. This one is quite a cool pink blush so it is better for me than some others. Yet it's still rather pastel for my complexion. I'm wondering if it would work better with grey hair (when that happens) or with darker hair -- what do you think? (My hair is bleached unusually light right now due to some beach days in August.)

I also find the blush a bit difficult to style. What can I wear with blush besides black (probably too harsh a combination for me)? Burgundy or dark red, I know -- but believe it or not, I don't have any burgundy tops or bottoms!!

Styling ideas for blush welcome.

Also, can leather be dyed successfully? I absolutely love the fit and style of this jacket but wonder if it would get more wear for me in a different colour. Danier might do it for me, since this is one of their own jackets.

On the other hand, as Angie wisely says in the blog today, not everything has to be a workhorse. I guess the issue is this: now that I finally have a moto, I know a moto in a neutral like navy would be a total workhorse for me. So I am wondering if I'm wasting closet space. Mind you, the price was right, thanks to Style Exchange, so it's not like it took a huge chunk of my budget.

And thank you!

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Georgia lamb leather biker

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1969 always skinny skimmer jeans

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Franco Sarto 'Linden' Leather Bootie (Women) (Nordstrom Exclusive)

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'Luxe Animal' Challis Scarf

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58 replies

Latest reply was from Ingunn

Anonymous

I think this looks great - and leave the jacket alone ! How great is it to have a really different, interesting colour that isn't the workhorse of the wardrobe. I think it works beautifully with your hair as is. You might find yourself wearing it alot once you get the styling down pat. I would try denim blue, taupe, maybe a top with a plum print.....I agree black might be too much. How about your cream cords, the boots, and a denim shirt, or a plaid shirt in a soft colour. Or your cranberry knits - you have a few, right? And I'm laughing at your freaking over too many buckles and straps and a lot-going-on. You should see what I'm wearing today! Stripes, studs, skulls, safety pins, denim, patent leather ......all at once - lol.

unfrumped

Veteran

Embrace your inner pink!
I also need more of a "mauvy blush," but here you've also got your blonde thing going for you. Remember that pink blazer you considered?

I think you've "mitigated" it with the darker grays, and you could go further by trying which berry shades go best with it, so yes, you want to skew it toward the cooler palette, and not too washed out, but otherwise I would just approach it they way you would winter white-out or gray-out, for a great change of "color density". It lets you use some standard silhouettes but the effect is much different than when you are wearing very deep colors.
Prints may work great as bridging pieces, as is hinted at by the scarf.

catseye

Veteran

This shade of pink is so versatile. Don't die it!

Pink and gray is one of my favorite color combinations. I love this outfit. But I will have no trouble seeing it with black, olive, navy.

JAileen

Veteran

What a beautiful outfit. You look wonderful. I think the jacket makes all the grey work. Don't mess with it!

KikiG

Veteran

There is nothing I don't love, and nothing I would change. You look awesome.

Sal

Veteran

Don't dye it - it looks wonderful on you!!

I see it being like the wonderful apple green moto I received from Annabelle - a piece that I now wear about once a fortnight. It is not the most versatile piece but how fun as a change up.

I LOVE it with the grey, would also mix in well with denim, taupe, cool olive green (not sure if you have this colour) and the right whites/creams...and it would work with a column of black as another option.

Stephanie

This looks super - you were smart to choose that scarf as it balances the top/bottom of your outfit.

I love the blush on you! Personally, I treat blush as a neutral in my wardrobe. It looks great with burgundy as you already mentioned, but I also wear my blush tops with bright orange, black, patterned trousers and denim. I imagine this jacket would look great with the right olive colored pieces as well. My blush top is a bit lighter/muted, so maybe not all of those color combinations will work, but they're worth a shot!

I think this could be a potential workhorse for you especially in the spring, but with the right fall colors you can make it work this season. Love it!

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

You glow in that jacket, Suz. I would leave it just as it is. This outfit is a perfect background for it. I bet you could put together a stunning look with it, paired with white jeans, too, especially with your current hair color. Embrace the light.
And this mixing of grays just goes to show the versatility of taupe (the booties, even though they may be called "gray"). It all works splendidly.

Gail

Veteran

I like the jacket color it is interesting. I wear a blush blouse I have with some rust cropped flares and believe it or not it works pretty well. I have lightish hair , well at least I did until today when I went for color and it came out darker grr, but blush can also work with brown or navy.
The jacket is fabulous by the way.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Thank you all for these terrific suggestions.

I think the reason I'm having trouble with it is that it seems a bit "sweet" with denim blue for some reason (although maybe not with a dark wash) -- and guess what? My wardrobe is hugely weighted towards denim and other mid blues! Ha!

LisaP, I don't have the berry tops any more -- I passed them along to Anne in Oz. I felt she would get more wear from the shirt in her office capsule and as for the sweater, I had worn it and loved it a lot so felt ready to try something new instead. Plus, it was more suited to her milder climate anyway.

I can definitely do white or cream with it, Sharan. A column of neutral like this grey one. I think I might like that better in spring but I'll probably wear it at least once in the fall like that.

Stephanie and Sally -- olive is a fantastic idea. I don't have a single olive item. I guess because most olives skew warmer toned or work better with warm tones -- but actually, I can look good in the right olive so it might be worth a look. I think what I like about this idea is it wrings a bit of the "sweet" from the pink.

unfrumped, I think prints are a great idea also. Apparently I don't have the right ones in my current wardrobe. Oh, no...I'll have to shop!!

In all seriousness, you wonderful ladies have just convinced me that I need another moto, this time in navy or grey!

Ginger

Veteran

I really like this! The boots are SO different from the blue-greys that it doesn't read so much "off" as "deliberate contrast."

And personally, I think blush can go with just about anything. (Well, maybe not yellow and orange. That would be tough.) But it's kind of a "near-neutral" in my opinion, so red/burgundy/purple/maroon, as well as greens and blues, and greys/browns/blacks. Medium grays and navy/indigo are particularly good.

Another aspect of combining colors is to balance the "weight" of them. I love color, but it doesn't make me as happy when I mix the same weights without any contrast. They seem to go all muddy together. So like when I wear a dark color, I don't want to add in another dark color; I want to add a mid tone, or a pastel. Or, because two pastels is too bland or sweet, I pair one with a more intense color. Then I get the visual interest of both color and contrast.

Blush is a very light color, so I like to balance it with a more saturated mid-tone or dark color. Like medium denim or your greys, or navy or spruce green.

Interestingly, the only true neutrals (black and white) are exceptions to my "rule." I don't mind mixing them with similar intensities. White with a pastel tends to punch up the pastel, and black lets even a dark color (like navy) display itself.

Wow, I didn't mean to write a blog on your post!

Jules

Veteran

We are jacket twins!!!
I love mine. It doesn't go with everything, but it goes with enough. It is more of a special item for me than a daily workhorse but I love creating an outfit around it. Tomato red? Cranberry? Ink? Olive? I've worn mine with a white and blue striped scarf, I believe you have blue and white patterns as well? Definitely love it with grey.

It does *not* work well with a sheer ivory item I have, makes it look aged and dirty. I can totally see the right cream working however, so I think that'll be trial and error.

Alassë

Veteran

The whole outfits works together well, imo. I also like the sound of blush + white-out as Firecracker suggested. (And Suz doesn't have burgundy?! )

Jules

Veteran

Oh definitely white out, also faded blue denim.

abc

Veteran

Here is my board for styling a white moto, but maybe you can get some ideas since blush isn't that far off from white:
https://www.pinterest.com/ange.....hite-moto/

Below are some specific pins I made when I was lusting after that exact jacket you're wearing.

I vote NOT to change the color!

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Suz

(website)

Veteran

abc, that is so helpful! Of course Angie has a blush moto. DUH!! And Aida has one too. I'll bet she has a zillion ideas for styling it.

Alasse, I know, eh? Crazy. Obviously I have to shop!

Jules, honoured to be your jacket twin! And thank you for the great suggestions.

Ginger, that's helpful also to think in terms of contrast.

claire

I haven't read the other replies yet but Suz, don't you dare dye that jacket! You look great in blush, it's so different for you and it might not feel totally "you" but I think it looks great with your coloring and your hair even if you think the cool/warm thing is a little off. Don't even think of dying it. I think you'll find blush easier to style than you realize. Or send it my way.

Beth Ann

Veteran

Love abc's contribution! I think this might be one of those items that gets you thinking "outside the box" in a good way. I suspect you're craving some peaceful order right now, so perhaps that's not so appealing!

I like the blush on you -- I find it calming and peaceful, more than sweet. I think it may well earn its keep in March, when you're sick of dark tones. I like the idea of brown and olive with it for winter. I have one pair of olive "camping pants." I'm thinking about another pair of sleeker olive pants or jeans, to give an earthy "grounding" to my burgundies, blacks and greys.

Mixing the greys? No problem at all. Rules are just guidelines, really!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Beth Ann, that is so true -- by March it will be a gift.

You're right, too -- I'm thinking these days of reducing and simplifying vs. proliferating, esp. the colours -- but I can probably make this work anyway.

And duh, look what I found from Angie: http://youlookfab.com/2013/10/.....lush-pink/

celia

Veteran

I know that photos can give the wrong impression but that blush looks very good on you.
I love all the suggestions already made and think you will use your moto a lot this winter.

Anonymous

I could see this with a graphic black and white t-shirt and darker grey jeans.
I could see it with hoop earrings Not sure you're willing to go there.
What about purple?
I agree with others that this is really cool as-is.

Sal

Veteran

I fought all shades of pink for years after overdosing in the 1980s. And lots of young girls wear a LOT of pink.

However I have worked out that it is a good colour on me now, and have several pink items that get a lot of wear. I have pink sneakers, a pink hoodie, tank, jacket, shell tunic and sweater, in shades from blush to crayon pink to fuchsia.

I think the key is to not have it in "sweet" styles. So I would wear a fit and flare dress, but not in pink. And I would wear stilettos - but not in baby pink.

A blush pink moto is not too sweet!

Dee

Veteran

Suz, the jacket looks amazing on you! I'm so glad you got it and I hope it works out. I think it works well with the cooler greys you have here. My hair is a bit darker than yours, but the scarf you're wearing gives some nice contrast. And I always liked blush with grey, navy, olive and white/cream.

shedev

Veteran

I really like this with the greys. Other colors you could pair with, charcoal, navy.

Word Lily

Veteran

I feel like it's all already been said, but you look great here! The grey mixing is not a problem at all, and is aided to smoothness by the scarf. And the blush looks great with the grey and great on you! I don't think I'd dye it, at least until after you've seen how you feel about it in, say, March. Duplicating in a different color makes more sense to me, even though that might feel crazy.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I love it, and I don't notice any dissonance with the boots. I also have the tendency to blend in with blush tops. Oddly, some days they are great and others I just don't like that. I have this scarf I use with blush pieces. The colors work well.

Nicole Miller Artelier Nicole Miller 'Snake' Scarf

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Anonymous

Is it too pastel-y over the Vince dress?

Anonymous

I was wondering that too...

Elly

Veteran

Love the moto-- it is a great style on you. I just don't know about the blush-- it doesn't look bad, it just doesn't seem very you.

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