Popularity of Beige--How Do You Wear It? - YouLookFab Forum

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Popularity of Beige--How Do You Wear It?

gradfashionista

(website)

Veteran

From reading YLF, I get the impression that more people than not avoid beige due to the "death/washed out" look. If beige isn't flattering for so many women, why is it so popular as a trench coat colour (over blue/navy, for ex.)? How do you wear your beige?

Dressing

21 replies

Latest reply was from

san

Veteran

Beige, camel, and caramel are close but I get the impression that the caramel is the more desirable.

krishnidoux

Veteran

You have warm beiges and cool beiges, and it depends what you wear best. If your complexion is warm, if rich, deep, golden colours suit you, then sure, a cool beige will wash you out, but the same cool beige will be perfect on a cool coloured complexion.

A beige trench is useful to wear with brighter, spring colours. So is a blue one, but so often the blues are so dark they look black.

Anonymous

I think is the classic "khaki" trench color that's most problematic. A cream trench is fab!

milehighstyle (Linda)

Veteran

I wear it in skirts or pants with color or prints on top. My trenchcoat is more of a cream than beige. I have a couple beige blazers, but with a brightly colored blouse or scarf they become more face flattering.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

And, as Angie points out, there's a world of difference between cream or ivory and stone...and stone is tough to wear even on a cool-complexioned person. She warned me against it, much as I wanted to try it.

Some people don't care whether the colour flatters them; or don't know that it doesn't. That's how they wear it. OR they always wear it with a more flattering colour close to the face, in the form of a scarf.

Wearing your less flattering colours is generally easier when you are younger. It gets more difficult as we age. Some colours become too harsh, too pale, too bright for our skins (depending on our complexions).

K. Period.

Veteran

Wear it? I buy it, then it sits in my closet forever until I pass it along to someone else.

I've tried again and again, different tones, but beige is really challenging. The closest that I've come to success is a nice warm light tan deep v cardigan sweater, which I always wear with something like navy that gives me a real complexion boost. Otherwise, I wear it bottoms only.

I also second Suz's comment. The older I get, the more color makes a real difference on me. The right colors make me glow. The wrong ones make me look really tired. And I have two little kids, so really tired is really really tired.

Amy

(website)

Veteran

I don't wear it, warm cool or otherwise. I think it looks nice on others, but I haven't yet found a shade of beige that doesn't make me look ill. Moreover, it just doesn't mesh with my personality. I like strong colors.

I imagine beige is popular because it's perceived as a neutral and is supposed to go with everything.

Victoria

(website)

Veteran

to be frank, I don't think beige is universally flattering color and personally, I woudn't pick a trench in beige. To me beige is rather boring by itself and needs other colors to spice it up, otherwise it tends to look rather blah.
When it comes to trench coats, its much more practical to choose a darker color especially if you wear it a lot, live in the city and take public transport because beige will show every drop and stain while darker shades, whether black, navy, maroon, grey, plum, etc, will last a long time without staining and can go from day to evening. If I had to wear beige anything, I would pair it up with brighter colors whether in accesories or other pieces of the outfit

missvee

Veteran

I love wearing autumn colours, so beige is one of my 'go to' neutrals along with khaki, brown, and olive green. I look for warm beiges ranging from winter white to ivory to oatmeal. But I tend not to wear an all beige outfit because I think it looks a bit blah. Interestingly I don't have a beige trenchcoat, partly because I'm afraid it would be constantly at the cleaners, and also because I like a pop of colour on a grey, rainy day. I think the popularity of beige for trenchcoats is a spillover from menswear - my husband has had a beige raincoat for as long as I can remember!

christieanne

Veteran

I like a creamy beige as a highlight color but it wouldn't make an entire outfit. When you put on beige (or white - sometimes there are variations in white) is might look good, or not. On me it's a know it when you see it thing.
I have a light beige sweater I love but I typically wear some color with it - a necklace with colored stones or something.

The beige trenchcoat started in the military I think. Then it became a classic in civilian wear. That doesn't mean it's good on everyone

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I really love it with black and gold or brass. I don't know why, but it's one of my favorite combos.

Aziraphale

Veteran

While it's true that beige is not a universally flattering colour, it works for me. It doesn't suck out my soul! I don't own a beige trench, but I like them. I think they're classy, not boring.

taylor

Veteran

Ditto Khris and Elizabeth!

http://artofthetrench.com/

Anonymous

I have no problem with beige either. Just like any other color I look for the right shade for my skin tone, but I haven't had a problem finding ones that flatter.

I love my classic beige trench coat

Jilly

I think it depends on how u wear it. I have a favorite studded pair that I wear a lot because they go with everything. I don't usually wear it next to my face unless I have brighter make-up on, or a colored necklace.

velvetychocolate

Veteran

While I love the look/idea of the classic khaki/beige trench coat, I don't think that colour looks all that great on me, so when I do decide to wear someting beige-ish, it's stone/mushroom coloured pants or a taupe-ish handbag.

That said though, as someone earlier in the thread mentioned - it depends on the shade. Believe it or not, there *are* certain shades of camel that look nice on me, but in general, beige-y tones are not all that great.

I've got blonde hair, fair skin, blue eyes. If it's just plain beige, and close to my face - it kind of washes me out.

I do have a casual beige-ish summer skirt, I've got stone/mushroom-y dress pants, and a stone, or "greige" summer handbag. I would love to have a classic beige/khaki coloured trench coat, but the thing is - it would take some serious looking to find just the right colour, so I haven't bothered. If I found a coat that I loved, and it was just the right shade, I'd certainly buy it, but because "beige" is a difficult colour on me to begin with, I don't really go looking.

One last thought - I just realized that the only time I wear any shade of beige/khaki/stone/mushroom or similar colour is during the late spring and throughout summer. It's a way to lighten up my wardrobe without going full on into white.

I really think it depends on your colouring - if the typical beige/khaki type trench coat didn't wash me out so much, then I'd definitely be buying one. This is one of those 'classic' and timeless items that I'd love to have - it's just that the colour is hard for me to work with, so beige/khaki/and all other similar shades are usually worn away from my face, and further - these types of colours are usually only worn during late spring and throughout the summer.

Not sure if this helps you at all in terms of deciding which classic and fabulous trench to go for, but thought I'd throw my two cents in anyway.

Sarah A

Veteran

I don't consider beige a great color on me, but I have been told I can wear it. I have medium to fair cool skin and dark hair with blue eyes. My trench is beige because it was a hand me down.. If I was buying new I think I would choose differently. I typically wear it open and this helps the color from my outfit reflec t up to my face as well.

anne

Veteran

Good question!
On a personal level beige doesn't look good on my olive complexion - but it is only one of many colours that don't

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I think Beige, like Black and Grey, is an excellent neutral to tone down an otherwise loud outfit. Although I have never worn a head-to-toe outfit of beige, I do like wearing the following beige items.

My main strategy is to wear beige with bright and/or bold colors. I like the way beige goes with coral, navy, black and brown. I am seeing a lot of coral displayed with beige at retail.

- Sandals (own 2 nude pairs).
- Cardi -- I have a spring cardi in taupe that goes with everything
- Trench -- one is more cream colored (Emporio Armani, almost 10 years old), the other is a little darker and from London Fog (just acquired).
- Camis -- I have two beige ones

On my Spring list:
- Nude/beige pumps (ordered from Amazon today)
- Beige/khaki jeans (ordered from Macy's but returning, still looking)
- A beige/khaki tee -- if I find a great one
- A beige/khaki shirt -- if I find a great one

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Beige just does not love me so I don't wear it. My light spring trench is light caramel and it is leather - so not a classic beige trench at all.

Anonymous

I can't wear beige. It does awful things to my complexion. I don't even have it in my wardrobe.