Q re colors and capsules - YouLookFab Forum

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Q re colors and capsules

abc

Veteran

Hello YLF!

Janet recently posted about some cognac footwear and asked how it may combine with her mostly cool colored wardrobe.

I am in the same situation.

I just pinned a look on Pinterest (see pic1 below) -- camel coat, cognac boots.

I have nothing in camel but I love the richness of this look. I do have cognac booties! Most of my wardrobe is cool tones and I have a lot of bright colors too.

I am realizing I **can** wear these colors, but maybe they don't cross pollenate with the rest of my wardrobe so well.

So does that mean I need separate capsules that work with these "odd man out" colors?

Example: I had the olive green old navy vest (pic2). Bought it and it was orphaned for a LONG time. Recently I've discovered 3 tops it combines brilliantly with - a navy 3/4 sleeve tshirt (that was also orphaned bc I usually wear dark denim but recently added a midwash jean it works well with), a breton stripe top (navy/white) and a oatmeal color sweater. Now I have 3 options for this vest and it's great, I'm wearing it all the time!

But if I stray from my color palette I am pretty much limited to making a capsule that works for THOSE colors, right? Meaning less mix and match-ability? I guess I have to be ok with this to take on the new color and that needs to be my main concern when adding new colors?

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Dressing

22 replies

Latest reply was from unfrumped

Elly

Veteran

I think camel and cognac look great with blues, purples, and greens. However, you have to be okay with the contrast that will create. I'm "neutral to warm" toned and wear a lot of blues, black, charcoal, and navy and wear red, camel, and cognac--- but I don't mind the contrast.

Ankita

(website)

Jeez Louise I'm in love with #1...such an awesome outfit! I say give it a shot abc!

abc

Veteran

I know Ankita, saw it and was like OMG LOOOOOVE but how it applies to ME, not sure yet .... many times I get hung up on the idea of an outfit but in real life it ends up not working for some reason (in this case, probably due to the color palette)

Word Lily

Veteran

I think in general things like the cognac booties and camel coat (as long as the colors are ok/good for you generally) will pair well with a cool wardrobe, as long as you're good with the attention the essentially contrasting/complementary colors will draw, like Elly said.

Cerinda

Veteran

Seeing a lot of high contrast black and cognac in local street style. Probably the best festival garb I spied all summer was cognac boots, black maxi, and cognac bag; very severe, no detailing. Loved it!

What you say about building capsules to stretch your palette makes sense to me; it will be interesting to see shat wisdom the forum has to offer.

abc

Veteran

Elly, I don't mind high contrast. I feel a little lost in all neutral outfits. I usually dress in pretty high contrast so that won't be an issue. Thanks for your wisdom.

Word Lily, I'm ok with the contrast Just have to think really hard if adding this color will work or not.

Cerinda, you just described my shift in style, I believe. I used to wear a lot of pattern. Lately, hardly any. I'm on the eternal quest for the perfect cognac bag (if you see one let me know). I feel it adds such a richness to the outfit that means you don't need anything else.

carter

Veteran

I would wear cognac shoes with all washes of denim, navy, gray, black, burgundy, olive, white, cream, red, plum...and I'm sure if I had a box of crayons in front of me, I could go on;-). I think the key is to add some other item that brings the cognac in naturally. Think gold belt, gold jewelry, patterns or color-blocking with some warm tan, leopard belt or scarf, cognac handbag, etc.

JAileen

Veteran

Angie did an ensemble that included several neutrals, and it really spoke to me. Although she mentions brown, cognac really pops out at me, in the bags and also the chelsea boots. I really like this because since I went grey I've added a lot of grey to my wardrobe. But I already had tons of brown and cognac. I even have that identical duffle bag which I love and don't want to give up.

http://youlookfab.com/2014/07/.....and-black/

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abc

Veteran

Yes, JAileen I am loving the cognac shoes and accessories. I need a cognac bag ASAP but am not finding exactly what I want. Or I find it and it costs $$$$$.

Anonymous

I had trouble with this last winter myself. Based on all of the YLF hype over cognac, which I do like, I bought a cognac bag and booties. I found them harder to wear , or want to wear, than I expected.....for the same reasons you mentioned. Not sure what the answer is, but I will watch this thread closely! I invested a bit of $ in the colour and now need to find better ways to tie it in my with winter wardrobe.

abc

Veteran

lisap, thanks for sharing. I own cognac booties and don't reach for them too much, but figured it was bc I didn't have a 2nd piece to bookend (a purse/bag). You wear mostly cool colors, too, right?

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

As someone who is a deep winter, I'm going to still wear my camel coat and brown as well as cognac boots (both are amongst my favourite winter pieces). I'm going to add a bright blue/black or red scarf that is close to my face for some brightening effect and hope to god that does the trick!

I have 2 cognac handbags. I use them a lot too. I don't think footwear and bags really counts towards good/bad colours. And since these are neutrals, they work well with everything. I love them with black, navy, ink and burgundy --- all good on those with cool skin tone.

Ok this here is a very bad photo and everything is wrinkled since I clicked this pic when I was pulling out winter wear last year....but that's my coat and those are my boots...and I'm wearing them! I'll keep you updated when they actually come out of storage and I can style them. I didn't know I was a winter or what my 'good' colours were before YLF, so I have invested in these pieces and I refuse to let them go.

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abc

Veteran

Manny I love that color coat on you. So rich. You're smart to keep it and wear it happily.

Now if I could just find the right cognac bag...!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I think it all comes down to having something to bookend with the cognac (or camel). I just bought cognac sandals and I'm wearing them a lot -- often with my cognac belt as the "bookend" but later I'll use leopard print, I expect.

I live in blues and cognac is a good accent with those, with black, with grey, and with cream/ white.

I am looking for a cognac bag and some boots or booties for this year.

Anonymous

abc - yes, I wear mostly cool colours. I can make the bookending work with my hair...and there is no reason we can't pair cognac with navy and even grey, but for some reason it didnt' happen often. I think it's because I wasn't in love with the booties enough to begins with and they weren't edgy or interesting enough for my liking. I think I bought them because I THOUGHT I should have sensible cognac boots, and they are boring, really. Ugh.

deb

Veteran

I gave my cognac to my daughter because I could never make them work with my wardrobe. They looked too orange against my blue toned clothing.

abc

Veteran

Suz, I am in the same boat, I think I need that second piece of cognac to tie it all together. I don't semi tuck much so the exposed belt is pretty much out for me. I am on the hunt for a cognac bag. I also LOVE those new cognac sandals you got. Of course I wanna copy you haha.

lisap, interesting. I get in that trap of "must have" too - hence this thread! LOL I do have the cognac booties and they are quite boring but my dressing is not as edgy or cool as yours, so hopefully I can make mine work. I think I am more modern classic than you.

Uh oh, deb, that is what I worry about ... thanks for chiming in. Good to hear honest stories of when stuff doesn't work.

Susie

Veteran

I don't have cognac boots but I do have a more caramel color boot. I wear them mostly with navy, cream or denim. I would have a tough time wearing cognac with most of my winter wardrobe....black and gray are much easier to work with. Though I did wear my cognac sandals a good bit this summer.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

I don't think you need a whole new capsule to be able to wear the cognac booties. It pairs quite well with navy and black and gray... I'd think they'd go with any of those combinations you mentioned with the olive vest. Maybe you just need another flash of cognac to make you feel truly pulled together. If a belt won't work for you, what about a cuff like the Nickel & Suede ones? Or, if you're a hat person, one with a cognac band?

Thistle

Veteran

I love cognac, and frankly, I have steered away from it because I feel like it would need its own capsule. Like you, my wardrobe is mostly cool colored. The orange undertones of the cognac, while gorgeous, don't lend themselves to what I already own.

I have been enjoying the trend from afar.

Aida

Veteran

(Gosh all you gals who are managing to find those really orange-toned cognacs need to trade places with me! I never find warm enough cognacs for my taste )

unfrumped

Veteran

I think yes and yes, or no.

Meaning--some of those colors can mix in really well but in general olive and cognac aren't a classic really cool -toned palette. But they are fabulous for adding depth and interest, richness to an ensemble.
I have this same issue because I like some olives even as face colors. I'm not huge on cognac footwear because it's almost too light, but like bags and belts. Love camel also for its richness and sometimes wear it as JFE on top because it goes with a lot, and many pants and skirts are darker colors. Both go with black but that gives a different vibe.
So, I've managed to work some of these together as fairly versatile neutrals. IT DEPENDS on actual tone, fabric.

OTOH I have also created small individual capsules around a few of these colors when I found some good-fitting items, because I like them for fall and to go with white in summer as opposed to more sugary colors, for work. It's not much different from having a capsule based on certain proportions--not all my tops go with all bottoms, for example.

What helps is to not be totally random. I have to think how a certain color will fit into a capsule vs. become an orphan. You may find something in those colors that's just exceptionally versatile, or you may build a small capsule for the fun of wearing some colors to their best advantage.