For an introduction to the 6 Scarves 2021 project, see this post.
For a description of my method, see this post.
Janice fortified the neutrals in her grey and navy wardrobe with a grey top, navy pants, and grey accessories. What colors will we see in the print skirts being added to the Sophia wardrobe?
Navy and pink were the main colors from the January additions, and February is continuing this theme. We are back to the now-familiar (and accidental) "one simple print, one complicated print" skirt phenomenon with blue crosses on a navy background and a busy, faded paisley/floral print in indigo, navy, pink, a pinkish coral, and a pale green. Both of these prints seem fairly low contrast and have the soft feeling that I am going for in the Sophia wardrobe. Two solid colored sweaters with a bit of texture will top off these skirts.
Dusky pink pullover sweater - Loft - XXL - $24.75 - 10/2016
Soft indigo paisley/floral skirt - thrifted, Lularoe/ThredUp - 3X - $7.10 - 8/2020
Navy pullover sweater - Karen Scott/Macy's - 2X - $17.99 - 12/2019
Navy/soft blue cross skirt - thrifted, Lularoe/ThredUp - 3X - $9.00 - 7/2020
A pullover sweater doesn't automatically need a top layer, but in February, a quilted vest is typically not a bad idea at all. I like that this soft blue one is not dark and somber; that shade of blue feels cheerful, clear skies (which admittedly in Minnesota in February means totally frigid), and spring is on the way. We'll also top off our sweaters with a trio of very different scarves: a casual warm sweater knit infinity scarf, a lightweight blue scarf with a muted leaf/bicycle print, and a silky dark navy ombré scarf with a geometric print.
Soft blue quilted vest - thrifted, Avenue/ThredUp - 22/24 - $15.49 - 8/2020
Blue/pink bicycles scarf - Kohls - $9.18 - 11/2018
Pink/magenta/grey/navy knit infinity scarf - thrifted, ThredUp - $3.59 - 5/2020
Dark navy/blue-grey/white silky geometric scarf - thrifted, ThredUp - $3.59 - 5/2020
To supplement the tall boots from January, we will add two pairs of ankle boots now in maroon and navy suede. A comment on ankle boots in Minnesota winter: these are NOT boots that you wear outdoors! I wear snow boots to work and change into ankle boots in the office. You quickly get used to the idea that you'll need a bag to carry your shoes in, so it's not a big deal. (For tall flat boots, I do wear them on my commute; I weatherproof them and dry them off when I get to my desk. There definitely are times when regular boots won't do and I want snow boots for my commute; those end up being ankle boot days.) To round out our additions, a pair of white pearl studs is nice. I bought these and two pearl necklaces to celebrate my first post-grad-school, now-I-have-a-job birthday in 2014. (Note: a December birthday has many disadvantages but at least it's well-aligned with the Christmas fine jewelry sales.)
Maroon ankle boots - Dolce Vita/Nordstrom - $93.76 - 11/2014
Navy suede ankle boots - Seychelles/Zappos - $140.00 - 10/2014
White pearl stud earrings - Macy's - 12/2014
The outfits almost build themselves this time, don't they?
Outfit #1 is a study in shades and textures of navy/blue. I like that the scarf and the coordinating white pearls add some lightness around the face.
The ombré scarf with the blue reminds me of an outfit Bridgette Raes showed earlier this month in a post about monochromatic dressing; it's Outfit #2 here. Obviously the details are quite different (and I never dress as elegantly as Bridgette's sophisticated clients do!) but it has some similarities, don't you think. Does it seem odd that when looking at this outfit today (which I put together when it was still actually February, haha), I immediately was reminded of Bridgette's post? Well, Bridgette's outfits have a way of sticking in the mind because they are beautiful, unique-yet-completely-appropriate, and built from drool-worthy pieces. And with my love of ombré, that lovely sweater struck a chord. And if you hesitate to read a style blog that is targeting a lifestyle you don't have, do not let that stop you from reading Bridgette! Much of what she writes is widely applicable to anyone who puts outfits together (i.e., almost all of us), and her work with color is beyond masterful.
For me, the print mix in Outfit #2 works surprisingly well. I don't think it's too much to wear the scarf long and show off the print, but a person could tie it into a necklace to tone that down if they wanted to. It's a little eerie how well the colors of these two pieces match up, considering they were not bought with each other in mind. Were I a more planful, disciplined shopper with a defined color palette, you might say, Well, of course, pieces blend very easily when you are mindful of your colors, style persona, etc. But in my case, this was just luck! I am actually trying to be more mindful these days, and I did buy that skirt thinking that it would coordinate well with the more muted colors I'm slowly accentuating in my closet, but the scarf was definitely an "oh that's pretty and has an interesting print" purchase.
Outfit #3 has such a snuggly feel with the warm textured sweater, a comfy knit skirt, and a sweater knit scarf. I like the variety of pinks here!
I am happy with how this wardrobe is starting out. Despite my uncertainty about the soft blue/slate blue combination, having a versatile, basic navy trio of top, cardigan, and skirt to hand makes getting dressed a lot easier than it would otherwise be.
For the seasonal wardrobe matrix, recall that in each season, for each color category, I can mark what has been added each month:
x = solid piece
T = tonal piece (i.e., tonally works with this color though it is a different color)
O = ombré piece
P = print piece (not ombré)
Do you ever dress monochromatically? I used to think that meant that everything was the exact same color, like head to toe salmon pink, and that didn't sound terribly appealing. But dressing in tones of one color can make for a very interesting look.
In my next post, we will recap the #1 Black & Grey, Gina wardrobe to date and explore some additional outfits!
I am linking up with:
Laura at I Do deClaire
Emma at Style Splash
Jess at Elegantly Dressed and Stylish