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Home » Common Capsule Wardrobe Colors: Cobalt

Common Capsule Wardrobe Colors: Cobalt

August 7, 2014
 

How maddening….  This is a great shirt.  At a great price.  And the way Uniqlo shows it on their website (with a superimposed color swatch) makes it look like there’s something defective with the left sleeve.  Really, do you NEED a swatch, in blue, overlapping a blue shirt.  Did we think the shirt was really, surreptitiously, pink?Ahem…

I love this color.  I wore it in the ’80’s, as did many of us.  Maybe you can’t shake those memories, but I’d encourage you to consider a little bit of bright blue…

Earrings – Dorus Mhor, shirt – Uniqlo, bracelet – George J. Love
 

I loved this color with brown and beige WAAAY back when…

Earrings – Dorus Mhor, shirt – Uniqlo, bracelet – George J. Love, brown jeans – Viyella, brown fleece cardigan – L.L.Bean, brown twill trousers – Lands’ End, khaki skirt – Merona,  beige pants – The Row

 

This is how I wore it back then, and how I’d wear it now!  With shorts, the sleeves MUST be rolled.  Layered over a white tank would be an option, too.

Earrings – Dorus Mhor, shirt – Uniqlo, bracelet – George J. Love, black cotton and cashmere cardigan – 10 Crosby Derek Lam, black linen trousers – Viyella, grey pleated trousers – Alberto Biani, grey cardigan – Mango,  grey skirt – Diane von Furstenberg

Here’s a case where that bright caramel color looks great with our chosen accent.

Earrings – Dorus Mhor, shirt – Uniqlo, bracelet – George J. Love, black shorts – Hallhuber, caramel wool and cashmere cardigan – Customer Lovers, copper twill trousers – Lands’ End, black cardigan – Michael Michael Kors, black skirt – French Connection, black jeans – R13

Not sure about the olive… what a tough color!  But it’s so rich looking, and pleasantly uncommon.  Just have to work harder if it’s one of your favorites, I guess.

Earrings – Dorus Mhor, shirt – Uniqlo, bracelet – George J. Love, beige hoodie – Uniqlo, ivory shorts – Erika Cavallini, khaki cashmere cardigan – La Garconne, beige skirt – Vicky Tiel, beige jeans – Morgan, olive cardigan – Merona, olive trousers – Isabel Marant Etoile

To wear cobalt successfully with navy, I think the navy has to be rather dark so that there’s a definite contrast.  If your navy is bright, it might look as if you were trying to match garments and failed dismally.  To me, darker navy looks more elegant anyway!

Earrings – Dorus Mhor, shirt – Uniqlo, bracelet – George J. Love, tan shorts – A.P.C., navy wool cardigan – Miu Miu, beige cardigan – Marella, tan pants – Uniqlo, flaired skirt – Hobbs London, navy trousers – Viyella

I love the way cobalt changes to look of grey – grey is so versatile in that way.  The difference between this blue and a soft powdery pink is like night and day.

Earrings – Dorus Mhor, shirt – Uniqlo, bracelet – George J. Love, navy cardigan – Dorothy Perkins,navy trousers – Jacques Vert, navy skirt – Nina Ricci, grey cashmere cardigan – Jaeger, silver grey trousers – Viyella, grey jeans – Rebecca Taylor

 
love,
Janice
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08.07.14 13 Comments

Tags: blue, Common Colors, Starting from Scratch
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Comments

  1. Cornelia says

    August 7, 2014 at 10:59 am

    I too have fond memories of cobalt. My mom bought me a cobalt sweater on my last trip home. I wore it proudly on my first day back to the office. On my way, I stopped at a big box store and realized that I matched the uniform of the store of my adopted state of AR!!! Oh well, at least my cobalt is top notch quality. :))

    Reply
  2. cheryl :) says

    August 7, 2014 at 1:02 pm

    I love this color and would like to add it to my wardrobe in the form of a top and maybe even a pair of bootcut jeans or cords. :)

    Reply
  3. webb says

    August 7, 2014 at 3:18 pm

    Who couldn't use that blouse. It looks wonderful with any color!

    Reply
  4. Beckie says

    August 7, 2014 at 3:26 pm

    I loved that bright blue with black back in the day.

    Olive is one of my very fav colors and I pair it with red (always my first choice), peach, cream, ballet pink, grey and even orange. I think of greens like this: every flower that grows has a green stem, therefore, green is neutral. It is just a matter of matching the feeling the green gives you when you pair a color with it.

    ps: I am new to your blog (and I am currently reading back through your archives) and I have to say, you are truly gifted. Your blog is an absolute delight to read.

    Reply
  5. Anonymous says

    August 7, 2014 at 7:17 pm

    It seems the Uniqlo link may be broken. Error code.

    Reply
    • Janice Riggs says

      August 7, 2014 at 8:05 pm

      fixed – thanks for letting me know!
      Janice

      Reply
  6. Sandra L. says

    August 7, 2014 at 9:29 pm

    Hi, Janice: I remember cobalt well! I had a soft leather purse in that color in the '80s, and a shaker-knit sweater. Remember those?

    I wanted to ask you s/thing but couldn't find an email address for you. I posted this a day or so ago but on a June post, so you may not have seen it. Do you have any idea where I can find a loose-fitting, button-down cardigan that can be worn on its own? I have s/thing called an Empire Cardigan from Ulla Popken (I bought their smallest size, which is very loose on me–I'm a 14) but it's been discontinued. I like to wear it in winter with a mock turtleneck, on its own in early fall or with a long-sleeved tee. I've been looking everywhere but can't find anything.
    Thank you so much!

    Reply
    • Janice Riggs says

      August 8, 2014 at 2:03 pm

      Dear Sandra,

      Have you checked onestopplus.com? They have a bunch of Ulla Popken sweaters, including one called the Gathered Cardigan Sweater, which could easily be worn on its own.

      good luck searching!
      Janice

      Reply
  7. Grasshopper says

    August 7, 2014 at 10:16 pm

    I love cobalt – one of my favorite colors.

    Reply
  8. Madame Là-bas says

    August 8, 2014 at 2:42 am

    Cobalt was one of my favourite colours in the 80's. I am working with the Starting from Scratch worksheet and will definitely purchase a blue shirt to go with the grey/navy for fall. I just ordered the House of Fraser cardigan which they are shipping to Canada for 7 pounds. Things are starting to take shape! A couple of long-sleeved tees and I should have my day-to-day wardrobe complete. Merci bien.

    Reply
  9. Aless says

    August 8, 2014 at 4:15 am

    Just adore cobalt- my dearest has always said he loves it on me! Thanks for the earrings link- got to show them to the aforementioned….. ;-)

    Reply
  10. Anonymous says

    August 8, 2014 at 11:42 am

    VF fans—nominate The Vivienne Files as one of the 100 best blogs for women at http://www.forbes.com! Let's give Janice the recognition she deserves.
    Teresa

    Reply
  11. Eleanorjane says

    August 8, 2014 at 8:22 pm

    I'm a big cobalt fan myself – bright clear colours like that suit me. I usually wear it with black. I don't remember it from the 80's, but I was a child/teen at the time, so I was more into pastels, acid wash demin and fluro etc.

    Reply

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