Wearing it Now: Necessary Neutrals

As the temperatures are quickly dropping and the last bits of fall are fading fast it’s time to pile on the layers. I dress in monochrome a lot sticking to one main color scheme, however one of my favorite and coziest ways to layer is different textures in an assortment of neutrals. On a cold, windy day these necessary neutrals mean hats, scarves, knits, coats, and boots in camel wool and canvas, taupe suedes, corduroys, vibrant plaids, and denim.

fisherman sweaterI’m a big proponent for wearing a breton tee as a neutral in the spring and summer, and in the cooler months I wear striped knits like this fisherman sweater in the same way. Fisherman sweaters are my absolute favorite type of sweater. The thick cotton knit is toasty warm and has a rich, elegant texture. Added bonus, the machine washability puts it leagues ahead of my dry clean only wool sweaters that with two toddlers in the house are now reserved for weekend nights out sans babies. If you’re in search of a good fisherman, check out L.L. Bean’s signature collection. They have an assortment of beautiful colors that come in either a long or cropped fit. I prefer the cropped myself because it has a more feminine silhouette than the traditional loose fisherman sweater that sits very well with high waisted trousers and is the perfect length for layering over a button up shirt.

fall layering

fisherman sweaterThis canvas barn coat is an old favorite that I found on sale at Lands End years ago. Barn coats are the perfect coat for transitioning from fall to winter. It’s a little bit thicker than a denim or field jacket and keeps you warm while running errands, walking the dog, or at the playground with the kids. Since I’m on an L.L.Bean binge, below is a link to a great Bean barn coat available now.

necessary neutralsBlanket scarves are one of the most versatile cold weather accessories you can have. Used as a scarf, shawl, head wrap, blanket, or warm layer to throw over the baby in the stroller just to name a few, the options are endless. I’m quite picky about the texture of my scarves and knitwear, and didn’t have the time to shop for a good blanket scarf in person so for the time being I went with this bargain from Amazon. While I don’t think this scarf will last a lifetime, it certainly will do the job until I find my perfect blanket scarf.

ankle boots

fall layeringSpeaking of useful accessories, you can’t ever go wrong with a good hat. I have light skin and spend a lot of time outside, so it’s really important for me to wear hats as much as possible. My hat collections runs the full gamut from ball caps to bakers boy hats, but one of my favorite styles is the short brim fedora. It gives your eyes shade, but isn’t so big that you can wear it casually and still have good visibility. J.Crew hats rarely disappoint, and they typically have a great selection of wool fedoras. This one is from a couple of years ago, but they have grey and green ones available now.

blanket scarfThe icing on the cake for pairing neutrals is a red lip. I like to think of a red lip as an accessory that unfailingly adds a chic finishing touch to an outfit. For lipsticks I prefer a formula that is part lip balm part lipstick. After a lengthy process of elimination, I discovered Glossier’s Generation G lip stain. The formula is moisturizing, stays put for a few hours, and comes in a number of shades that enhance your natural lip color.

 

fall layering
Hat- J.Crew, Coat- Lands End, Scarf– Amazon, Sweater- L.L. Bean, Denim- J.Crew, Boots- J.Crew

Shop the Look:

fisherman sweater
Striped fisherman sweater
wool felt hat
Short Brimmed Wool Felt Hat
lip stain
Glossier Generation G in Zip
blanket scarf
Blanket Scarf
barn coat
L.L. Bean Barn Coat

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