Inviting myself to the tonal dressing party! Thanks to SarahD8 for getting the party started here. I watched the video she shared and found it fascinating, if a little difficult to imagine translating to my wardrobe. But Sarah and other Fabbers, including Angie, have given a lot of inspiration on the forum for putting the ideas into use.

I took an outfit that I have worn before, a pullover and cords that I bought separately but that coordinate almost as if they were made to go together, in shades I would describe as eucalyptus. (These pieces are almost monochromatic, I would say? But not dyed to match.) Then I experimented with different coats, footwear, and bags.

1) the basic outfit, blue-green pullover (Everlane) and cords (Lucky), with gray booties (Mephisto)

2) with gray tweed-pattern puffer (OSKA), stone belt bag (Everlane), gray micro-check wool cap (Boston Scully), gray gloves

3) same as 2, but swapping the stone bag for dark green leather cross-body (Biba)

4) same as 3, but swapping the puffer for a long teal coat (made by me, reverses to black)

5) same as 4, but swapping the coat for a short eucalyptus-colored raincoat (Patagonia) that matches the cords

6) same as 5, but swapping the coat for dark olive puffer (Lauren Ralph Lauren) and the booties for dark olive suede ones (LaCanadienne)

7) same as 6, but swapping the bag for dark olive bag (AllSaints)

8) the coats, bags, cap, gloves

Some thoughts on the experiment: Without thinking about tonal dressing, I wouldn't have reached for the dark olive puffer for this outfit, nor would i have paired the olive booties with it. (I credit Brooklyn for planting the idea of using adjacent colors to invent tonal looks.) And I wouldn't have put the dark green bag with the olive coat, because they don't match. However, with the eucalyptus outfit under the coat, I quite like the more blue-ish green bag. And maybe it helps create a tonal vibe, rather than simply a teal + dark olive look.

The gray coat and booties is my first impulse. While I like the long teal coat as a color option, it's not an everyday pick, because of its length. And the Patagonia coat in eucalyptus isn't a common pick for me, either, unless I'm doing errands by bike or going for a walk or something. It feels sportier than my usual style. It's so odd how I latch onto these ideas, and they limit what I consider putting together in outfits!

The cap is in each outfit, from necessity: the chill today makes it hat weather.

I'm interested to hear your thoughts.