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…
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
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. :))
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. :)
Who couldn't use that blouse. It looks wonderful with any color!
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.
It seems the Uniqlo link may be broken. Error code.
fixed – thanks for letting me know!
Janice
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!
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
I love cobalt – one of my favorite colors.
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.
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….. ;-)
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
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.