How seasonless are light neutrals?

Cerinda

I'm pretty determined to keep these two pieces, purchased for an outdoor September wedding, but I'm at a loss how to integrate them into my wardrobe. I'm finding adding light neutrals to my palette a real challenge!

Fully tucked, with pearls, bone Fluvogs and tiny bone clutch, they definitely cover the event. Untucked, they check the "dressier than date night" box. As separates, the top is easy to use and the bottoms --um, not so much.

My questions: Are they necessarily spring/summer/early fall? (I wear silks year-round in this climate) How else would you accessorize them? Can you imagine the bottom with anything other than a cropped shell or cropped tonal sweater?

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9 years ago

Dressing

13 replies

Latest reply was from Firecracker (Sharan)

Anonymous

Fascinating question because just this year I started focusing on 3-4 season dressing. I feel you should be able to wear these two pieces year round by adding and subtracting layers. However, I am new at this myself and will watch this thread for Forum suggestions.

Gorgeous outfit.

9 years ago

Aida

Veteran

For the bottoms I'd go with a cropped lightweight sweater and tall boots for fall! Maybe some gold jewelry and a hat. The top looks like a great shell to wear under various jackets. Could be fun with a denim vest over the top in early fall, paired with cropped pants and oxfords/loafers.

Gorgeous color!

9 years ago

Roxanna

Veteran

Hey Cerinda, if you look through my WIWs, you'll see that these are *my* colours. My whole wardrobe for the past couple of years has been based around blush, ivory, heather gray and some touches of blac. Totally werable in winter (even here in Toronto) - just balance with Grey and black. That top would look fabulous with a sumptuous grey cashmere sweater.

9 years ago

unfrumped

Veteran

Watching with interest. I think it's possible ( the top for sure- it looks like a Basic to me) but for the bottoms I think it's possible if you have the right pieces. Or by that I mean, I struggle to get the right look and not hodge podge, as I fret over that and am not the best at inventive combo's.
I love articles on " how to transition this piece to ( fall, spring etc) but I confess I find the results mixed, with some ideas brilliant, gorgeous and
some of the fashion examples appear forced. But I like the idea of combining such bottoms with " warm" colors and textures such as fluffy sweater, toffee leathers.

9 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Absolutely as long as the fabric weights don't kill it. (For me, the skirt would only be a dressy item year round because of the fabric weight, not colour).

The top is a no-brainer. Easy peasy to wear with anything all year, just layer it under jackets and cardigans.

I'd pair the skirt with a denim shirt or cropped denim jacket. It would look great with olive and grey tops so a cropped cotton or linen sweater or lightweight cashmere or merino would also work. (I would avoid super heavy woollens because I have a *thing* about conflicting fabric weights.) You could try a plaid shirt. Or really any top with a pattern. A scarf, a hat, fall footwear -- it would totally work.

9 years ago

deb

Veteran

I would wear the skirt with a pullover sweater and tights and boots.

9 years ago

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I would try a long, long cardigan (charcoal, or whatever color you like) over the whole outfit and wear booties with it. Maybe add a scarf or long pendant. And wear on dry days only. (I always seem to splatter my light bottoms on rainy days.)

9 years ago

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I would pair both pieces with rust and various shades of brown and black. Try the skirt with boots and a cropped pullover, the top under cardigans or jackets.

9 years ago

Cerinda

Veteran

Yes, Sterling, I think it should work, but I'm having trouble getting there. Maybe it needs warm, light neutral third pieces. Maybe a dark taupe leather "jean jacket"? Sigh, Chewygirl, I'm just longing for the marketplace to turn back to brown of every shade!

Aida, what boots? Higher shaft? Knee high? In the elusive taupes/greiges? The warm taupe snakeskin booties you helped me pick at the meet-up are low, but the color is good. Have espresso high-shaft Fluvogs, but they have a western vibe. The boot should be refined, not moto-esque, right? Ooh, I hadn't though about mixing denim in! You and Suz are definitely onto something here! I have the relevant pieces. Pattern? Plaid? Eek, not sure I have any (except for scarves, of course).

Roxanne, good idea: I'll try charcoal and greige. I have plenty of grey; plenty of black, too, but I shy away from high contest. Newish heather grey crop sweater or older tunic? Cognac and toffee, Unfrumped? Whoa, I should be able to do that. Thanks.

Deb and Sharan: pullovers and an ultra-long cardigan sound right. But, again, what colors for boots? I think you may be enabling a search for a higher shaft greige (those bionics?), taupe or bone.

9 years ago

VioletMyra

Active Member

I have a summer pencil skirt in a cream colour that I transition by wearing rust coloured boots and a top in any autumn or dusty tone that takes my fancy that day. I add a scarf to tie the colours together. So far I've been happy with my top choices except for one which I changed once I looked in the mirror. (I look at the colours in my scarves for ideas.)
HTH
Best wishes for the enjoyable ensembles to come.
Denise

9 years ago

Aida

Veteran

I was thinking knee high but I'm sure booties would work too. You could do a high contrast thing with black boots and some black on top; cream, taupe, gray, tan, or cognac would all work for lower contrast options. Definitely worth trying the snakeskin booties! I vote bare legs or nude knee highs in that case.

9 years ago

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I really think light neutrals are 4 season colors. At least, this feels right to me in California. I don't think that's a great answer though. How I make light neutrals work for me is in adding the right layers and pieces to complete them. For example, I have a lightweight bone cardigan that I wear with a matching long sleeve top in mild winter or fall/spring weather. In summer, I wear it with a linen tank. It doesn't work with very hot or very cold weather but it's great for moderate temps which pretty much describes a lot of west coast cities, year round.

ETA -- thinking again about your question. In your case, I would look for a few extra pieces with a fairly exact color match. A topper to start with (cardigan or jacket). Then, a longer sleeved top. Finally, a pair of pants or jeans. Then you have a capsule right? A scarf, bag and shoes complete things if you want to go that far.

9 years ago

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Cerinda, I would go with taupe or gray, because that's what I have and like. But you could wear cognac, navy, or any color that picks up on the cardi color (to me even black would look great, if you're wearing something black on top).

9 years ago

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