For this week’s One Item, Five Fashionable Ways, I am going to be introducing a new classification of dressing called the “novelty basic” by styling five coral sweater outfits using this piece by Rosie Neira and available from Anthropologie.
Yet, before I do, I have some business to take care of. For last week’s post in this series, I featured the Vera Coastal Wrap from Coolibar. In addition to showing five ways to style this piece, Coolibar also asked if they could give away the Vera Coastal Wrap to one lucky winner. As promised, I am announcing the winner in this post. And the winner of this cardigan is Terra Berning! Congrats to you!
Okay, let’s talk about this week’s sweater and what exactly a novelty basic is. A novelty basic is a term I created to describe items that act like a basic but look like a novelty item. In most wardrobes you have basics that are typically timeless and classic items that may be low on the wow factor but that will get you tons of mileage. Picture basics like your stalwart and reliable friends who would bail you out of Mexican prison. You know, those tried and true friends who are always there for you. Novelty items, on the other hand, are fleeting pieces that are a lot of fun, add flavor, trendiness and now-ness to a look but aren’t exactly reliable. Comparing to a friend, a novelty is probably the friend that you can’t count on and who is probably the reason you’re in a Mexican prison in the first place. Yes, a novelty item may be good for a hoot or two and a few hazy nights that you look back on fondly, but don’t expect them to last that long or to be there when you’re sobbing in the middle of the night.
Now, let’s discuss a novelty basic. A novelty basic is unique to everyone’s wardrobe. While it looks fun and fleeting because it is pretty, it actually gets you a ton of mileage if you take the time to style it. Novelty basics are probably the most important items you can own in your wardrobe because they serve a dual purpose: they’re highly wearable and really fun at the same time.
I find this coral sweater from Anthropologie to fall into the novelty basic category because it is a really versatile piece but not your typical snoozy piece. It has interesting stitch detailing on the sleeves and shoulders, a functional wrap and shaping details on the body. To show you how much mileage a novelty basic like this can get you, here are five outfits using this one piece. As usual, and to give this series a realistic spin, you will notice that I also repeat additional items in the looks from this post as well as week’s past.
Five Coral Sweater Outfits
Look #1
Coral is known as a universal color, which means that it not only works beautifully with all neutral shades but it also is universally flattering, or flatters every skin tone. If you are wondering whether or not coral is a shade that will look good on you, unless you are from a far-away planet and are martian green, coral will flatter your skin.
In this outfit, I paired it with grey, which works beautifully in making coral look richer for autumn. The skirt is by J. Crew and the shoes by Nine West. Lastly, for that third pop of color, I chose teal, another universal color and a color that complements any color it is paired with while also complementing any skin-tone. With a teal necklace from Stella & Dot and a bag by Kate Spade, the whole outfit works harmoniously for the office. Because I prefer to use smaller earrings when styling an outfit with a statement necklace, I chose a simple pair of stud earrings by Kendra Phillip.
Look #2
Coral and navy is another color combination that works beautifully together. Here, I chose a pair of basic Ann Taylor pants and popped a softer tonal blue lace detailed tank by Uniqlo under the sweater to add a pop of color. The outfit remains office-friendly with sensible navy peep-toe pumps, a colorful yet work appropriate handbag by Fossil and a pair of Janna Connor earrings.
Look #3
Don’t forget this sweater on the weekend. This is definitely a piece that can go to work and be worn casually, as well. I love the way it makes a basic pair of jeans look more interesting, especially when paired with this fun scarf from Fab.com, a pair of rhinestone ballerinas from Sperry and the same earrings and handbag used in earlier outfits.
Look #4
Casually speaking, you don’t have to limit this top to just jeans. Using gray again, I paired this coral sweater with a bootcut moleskin pair of pants from Boden. I used the same ballerina flats from the earlier look and, this time, used a green handbag from Modcloth, another versatile color to use an accent. Lastly, a pair of dangle coral earrings, also from Modcloth, casually completes the outfit.
Look #5
Bringing this sweater back to the office, a sweater like this is a great way to warm up a short sleeved or sleeveless dress. Remember, you can treat a tweed like a solid color. Here, I used a tweed dress from Boden and paired it with the same gray heels as used in an earlier look. To accessorize the outfit, I used a long gold necklace by Stella & Dot, a gold metallic handbag from Perlina Cassidy and earrings from One OAK.
