Camel cords – L.L.Bean; turtleneck – J. Crew; jeans – Austin Reed; cashmere long-sleeve t-shirt – J. Crew
There are a lot of neutrals that work here – I could easily have used black and grey, olive and brown etc etc.
navy vest – J. Crew; navy hoop earrings – Chico’s; plaid scarf – Neiman Marcus; navy gloves – Halogen; navy boots – Lucky Brand; garnet stud earrings – JCPenney; dark berry vest – Eddie Bauer; ikat scarf – Epice; maroon gloves – Orciani; maroon boots – Bella Vita
Camel is also very versatile with bright colors; I chose these mostly because they’re rather uncommon, and I like to give you ideas that you might not have otherwise considered!
Green vest – L.L.Bean; green earrings – Topshop; green plaid scarf – Look by M; green mittens – Coal; green loafers – Paul Smith; purple earrings – Alexis Bittar; purple plaid scarf – Sylvia Alexander; violet vest – L.L.Bean; camel mittens – Echo; purple boots – Hunter
Muted colors are also pretty easy with camel, because it has an inherently soft quality. And I’m still showing how very useful that white vest can be for most of us!
Ivory vest – Lands’ End; pearl bar earrings – Paola van der Hulst; floral scarf – Gretchen Scott; cream gloves – Halogen; ivory loafers – Tod’s; blue oval earrings – Kate Spade; dusk blue vest – L.L.Bean; scarf – Missoni; blue mittens – Acne Studios; boots – Ugg Australia
As with muted colors, pastels are also well-suited to wear with camel. I still haven’t found a pair of mint green shoes that I consider worth the bother, so I’m sticking with grounding our outfit with classic camel chukka boots. When in double about an accent, always remember that you don’t have to find EVERY piece in your accent color, and you certainly shouldn’t wear too much of the accent at one time. How do you know what is TOO much? When you aren’t comfortable! Your mental comfort is paramount…
(I love how the mint vest is described as a “gilet” on the House of Fraser website; it sounds so much more elegant, doesn’t it?)
Blush quilted vest – Viyella; pearl earrings – Aurelie Bidermann; marled scarf – J. Crew; blush gloves – New York & Co.; patent loafers – Tod’s; green earrings – TrinaTurk; mint vest – Olsen; silk scarf – Hermes Jardins d’Hiver; mint gloves – Johnstons of Elgin; chukka boots – Tory
I’m still looking at taupe, maroon, slate/denim/petrol blue… and maybe purple as a neutral? Other suggestions?
love,
Janice
Dear Janice, we receive your blogs while others are asleep! I find it intriguing the wonderful what you put aside personal preferences. A wide range of colour opens! Thank you once again. I've decided to stick to personal preferences, but if starting again, so many options! I love the mint. So cool. Not much seen in Queensland but I'm sure it would accent nicely with navy…X Chris from Australia
I love the navy and maroon…I think I just like the richer colors best. Since you are asking for suggestions…..I wear a lot of rust. I have quite a few rust tops, and I was considering buying jeans or corduroys in rust, but am not sure if it is worth it. If you were to feature rust as your base, I am sure it would be helpful. I know it would most likely be difficult, and that it is probably not widely popular, but I would appreciate you considering it. Thank you
I would also like to see rust as the core.
I also love rust or brick (and it's cousin, muted coral in the summer) as an accent …haven't thought about it as a base, mainly because it is so difficult to find.
Gorgeous! The last two panels are my favourites.
Gwendolynn
Loving these colour-combination. I never did understand the point of the quilted vest though. It might be the climate that I live in, but when it is cold enough for me to want to wear one of those on my torso, I would definately also want sleeves. Why would one want to have freezing arms? When on earth do people wear these?
I don't really get them either. I'm mostly looking at the scarves and earrings, and enjoying the pretty colors :-)
– Kaci
Ditto, but I do see them being worn in my cold climate. But then, I'm cold year round and wear a top layer of some sort except on the hottest of Summer days.
I do wear a fleece vest indoors on chilly days over a long sleeved tee so that dish washing is less messy and my torso is still warm. I am using Janice's wonderful posts for color combinations and accent cluster ideas
I like the vests, here's how they work for me: the days that are too cool for just a top and sweater, but too warm for my winter coat. When I'm doing something that requires physical labor (hiking, moving lumber, whatever) and I want warmth but need to have removable layers so I don't get sweaty then chilled – plus they don't bind up at the arms if I'm doing something using arm swings. When it's really cold I layer them under a winter coat – again, more warmth without hindering arm movement. The last one isn't always so attractive, but when it's that cold I don't care. (I've often said I'd wear my down comforter walking down the street if I wasn't worried about it getting dirty.)
But, some people just aren't into them (like my mom) and that's fine too. The idea of using one kind of like an apron is brilliant!
For those of us who get cold arms in vests, there are many short quilted jackets available that resemble many of the vests Janice is showing.
Dishwashing when it is cold – don't get sleeves in the water and chest is kept warm. When dishes finished the vest is off and jumper/jacket back on. Carol S
Love vests here in the cold Midwest! They're a neat accent over turtleneck cashmere sweaters when it's miserable. I wear to my fairly dressy job as well, especially a dark brown leather one I got at Talbot's this season. Sharp with a blouse and trousers or a skirt. They're surprsingly useful.
Love that leafy green color!
– Kaci
Janice, I would so appreciate seeing petrol as a neutral base!
What color is petrol ? I have never seen this used in the USA. Is it a gray-blue or a teal ?
Janice,
These color posts are so much fun ! I eagerly look forward to all of your color combo posts each day ! Seeing them illustrated is sooooo helpful !
Janice,
These color posts are so much fun ! I eagerly look forward to all of your color combo posts each day ! Seeing them illustrated is sooooo helpful !
What color is petrol ? I have never seen this used in the USA. Is it a gray-blue or a teal ?
I have seen it as a dark blue-green akin to teal, but have also seen pastel versions. Color names can be so elusive. Lesley
I have really been looking forward to theses posts too….and I love the vests…..or gilets as we call them in the UK…..they are worn a lot here.
I love everything about this blog. It has really changed how I view my wardrobe and the colours that I buy and wear. Doing Project 333 (ish) for the first time….fab
Hi Janice,
I just bought these awesome oxfords – dark brown back and tip, with a leopard-on-white print in the middle. I would love to see what you do with them, maybe an ROI post. If you're potentially interested, there's a link here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/281621982959 or I could also send you the pic if you have an email address I can send to. If you're not interested, that's cool.
Thanks,
Kaci
The mint gilet has a great shape and I am really enjoying these posts. The colours are so uplifting.
Deb from Vancouver
Please show camel with rust or turquoise. I have a wardrobe of camel, chocolate and cream and my accent colours are rust and turquoise. It's not everyone's thing but I am a "warm spring" so it works for me!
would love to see indigo, rust, and maroon. They sound like useful new options.
Another vest lover here – as Ann in MN explained sometimes they are just the right layer to provide a little extra warmth without bulk. I do wear them with long sleeved shirts, occasionally with light sweaters.
I was picking up a gift at Talbots today and I had to ignore the pale blue vest, matching sweater and beautiful plaid cashmere scarf adorning the mannequin.
Mary mcm
One more neutral please: toffee/caramel/cognac, whatever color that is that is between chocolate brown and taupe or camel in brightness, with yellow undertones
Can you do cream/off white/sand as a neutral base? Thanks!
I love camel! I am trying to incorporate more of it into my wardrobe.