Hardly Muted

My professional wardrobe has undergone a lot of transformations within the past year. When I first started out, I used to wear one brightly colored item swathed in darker tones. I wanted to use colors to reflect a sense of youthfulness without looking juvenile or, heaven forbid, unprofessional. Nowadays, the color palette is far more subdued; some would even say muted. Maybe my clothing choices reflect a growing sense of seriousness as I take on more responsibilities, but I refuse to succumb to looking generic. Instead, I try to make statements with subtle details--something that stands out without being brash. A quiet dignity, if you will.

In a world of dark suits, I sometimes stand out in jackets and sweaters that are the same cut as the rest, but in off-white or beige. To top it off, I'd wear a dark shirt with that beige blazer. Inverting the color scheme is one way to play with a conservative swatch without looking, well, too conservative.

Another way to stand out, ironically, is to wear a couple of different dark colors together. While many people automatically think of pairing contrasting colors, run in the other direction--wear a combination that seem to blend together...but not really. It keeps people guessing what makes something that appears to be uniform throughout look just a little different. Last weekend, I found a couple of items that embody this principle.

The stores on Melrose Avenue are usually too rich for my blood, though I would go out there once in a blue moon if there was a really good sale. This time, I was enticed by a really good sale. Creatures of Comfort is a store that admire for the selection, but it is mostly in the "look but not touch" category due to budgetary reasons. A 60-90% blowout sale, however, made past-season merch fall into the "more affordable" range.

The two things I got had green backgrounds and barely discernable details in black. This Rachel Comey jacquard skirt is the perfect escape from the generic dark pencil skirt. The pattern is distinguishable, yet subtle, which makes it a perfect candidate for spicing up the suit jackets, black cardigans, or beige shells. The pattern on the is just gorgeous. Since the fabric is thick, it holds its shape well and keeps me warm on a cooler day.

[Gap fleece peacoat, Gap t-shirt dress (worn as top), glass and pearl necklace designed by me, ring from American Eagle Outfitters, Rachel Comey skirt, Capezio boots]






I also found an Emma Cook dress that I knew was mine the minute I laid eyes on it. The fabric drapes just right, gathers in the front just so, and the bib front was just done to perfection. Leather and lace is not a common combination, and it is difficult to make it work, but this achieves the purpose--the dress is very feminine and flattering, but there is a bit of toughness behind the charm. I wore it with an ivory cardigan, but it would work just as well with a dark blazer.

[Emma Cook dress, Sublet cardigan, American Eagle Outfitters ring (they had a buy-one-get-one-half-off deal, so I got to bring home both rings I loved), Target tights, Modern Vintage pumps]