How to Wear Rich Neutrals

This post is inspired by an Instagram message my client Mrs. Wonderful and I had after I posted this photo to my Instagram Story of my client Mrs. Delightful.

The conversation went like this:

Mrs. Wonderful: That is gorgeous. The sweater would make me look ill, but the combo is gorgeous. Me: Right? Me and like 2 clients are like the only 3 people people in the world who can pull that yellow off. (side note: that other client is Ms. Sophisticated) Mrs. Wonderful: Yep! But the color combos are great! Me: Totally! Color is the best way to make the regular look interesting...as you very well know. Mrs. Wonderful: Funny, today I am in terra cotta, taupe and oatmeal. Not a lot of color up in here. (Mrs. Wonderful sends me this photo) Me: Oh but there is. You are rocking the rich neutrals. So chic. Mrs. Wonderful: Ohhh. I have to hang onto the phrase "Rich Neutrals." Me: Oh yes. My life is all rich neutrals. Mrs. Wonderful: Yes. But you live in New York. People expect color (with jazz hands) down here.

For the record, Mrs. Wonderful lives in North Carolina, a part of the country known for colorful clothes.

How to Wear Rich Neutrals

As I said in my thread with Mrs. Wonderful, my life is all rich neutrals. It has been well established on this blog that I don't wear black. I also don't wear a lot of bright color either, particularly in the fall and winter. The colors of my wardrobe has been settled strongly in neutrals like navy, grey, olive, brown, camel and cognac. When I do add in colors, I choose what I refer to as colored neutrals, like burgundy, teal, deep plum, earthy greens and yellow.

If there is anyone that can illustrate how to wear rich neutrals to create sophisticated outfits it is me. What I love about rich neutrals is they mix-and-match and blend together effortlessly. Below, I have put together three looks to give you some ideas and to show how colorless outfits aren't boring ones.

Outfit #1

This first outfit I styled with olive pants from Banana Republic, an ivory sweater from Nordstrom, printed scarf that picks up the colors in the outfit, cognac booties from TOMS, taupe bag from Botkier and earrings from Halogen.

Outfit #2

Rich neutrals aren't exclusively warm or autumnal in tone. I styled this putty colored sweater from L.K. Bennett with a warm grey pencil skirt from Reiss. I finished the look with fawn colored boots from Bella Vita and, for a colored neutral, a burgundy pendant from Panacea and bag from Sole Society.

Outfit #3

I would live in this last look. I was so bummed out that the yellow heeled loafers from Cole Haan were sold out in my size. In addition to the yellow, the burgundy cardigan is a colored neutral that blends beautifully with just about any rich neutral, like this olive top from Lafayette 148. I styled the look with jeans from J. Crew, an investment bag from Chloe and necklace from Karine Sultan.

Tired of black but don't want to add a lot of color to your wardrobe? Don't forget rich neutrals for your wardrobe.