Ifyou’ve been around here for very long, you know this is one of my favorite color palettes: Cognac brown, smokey black, and shades of white.
If you were to look around my house, you’d see that I decorate with essentially the exact same colors. Plus a bit of green (house plants) and faded rust (old brick floor, kilim pillows).
Anytime I feel like I “should” wear more colors, I just look at my house. Sometimes it gives me a new color idea (like how I’m trying to incorporate some faded rust into my fall wardrobe), but most of the time it just reminds me that I love layered neutrals, and that it’s okay to stick with what’s working.
Styling notes:
Layered necklaces / The knit vest gives a little nod to boho style, so I though I’d play it up a bit by layering a long and a short necklace. I don’t often layer accessories, but it’s a simple styling trick that’s fun to pull out every now and then.
One cuff / Yesterday, I cuffed my jeans twice — today it’s just one cuff. Apparently, I’m into the thick cuff right now. I’m sure I’ll try a messy roll soon. I’m sure I’ll wear them completely cuff-free soon. But, the point is, there are plenty of ways to give your skinny jeans a different look.
What grade does this outfit get? I’d give it a B+. It definitely feels true to my style because it’s made up of neutrals and I’m wearing my favorite colors. It’s functional because I’ve got a warmer layer I can add or remove. And it gains even more points in the functionality department, because those jeans are impossible to mess up. However, on the flip side, this outfit loses a few points because that silk white shirt is so delicate, and those shoes, while fine for a few hours, aren’t made for a ton of walking.
With the silk tank and heels, this outfit is more of a going out / evening look for me. Yep, this is about as fancy as I get in my everyday life. I’d wear it out to dinner with Aaron, or to a friend gathering.
So tell me, do you have a go-to color palette? And how’s you’re remix challenge going? Feel free to Instagram your second outfit and tag it #unfancyremix.
And in case you haven’t started yet, don’t let a late start hold you back — it’s never too late! Jump on in, let’s do this together.
See you tomorrow for the third outfit!
• • •
Liked today’s outfit? You can shop it and support Unfancy at the same time by using these affiliate links:
01 | Silk cami by J.Crew | similar (made responsibly)
02 | Black jeans (old) | similar by Mott and Bow (made responsibly)
03 | Necklace in Yellow Raw Diamond by Julia Szendrei (handmade in USA)
04 | Necklace (old) | similar
05 | Bag by ONA
07 | Vest (old) | similar
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xo,
I love both yesterday’s and today’s outfit! :) I’m like you and have found myself with the exact same color palette in both my wardrobe and in my home. Shades of white, cognac brown, charcoal + black, navy + light blues with pops of earthy greens and off hue reds. It’s actually been interesting to see how clarifying my sense of style in my own wardrobe has clarified designed choices we continue to need to make in our home — and how much more confident I am in those decisions.
And I’m with you! Any amount of fuss (even what some would consider no fuss) get points dinged for me too. :)
Yes Laura, isn’t is cool to see when everything comes together in that way? I love it! :) xo, Caroline
Hello! I’ve really enjoyed reading your blog. I was wondering how you switch up your bag so often? I literally have one purse for a couple of years (always a shade of brown) and never switch out unless I’m going to somesort of outdoor event/festival where a small bag works better for lugging around.. I actually picked out a purse from FashionABLE for my birthday that’s coming up this week (LOVE everything they make). I know having one purse for two+ years is a great thing in terms of simplicity but it might be fun to mix it up more often…however transferring my stuff to a new purse/tote/bag often seems tedious (or maybe I’m just too lazy lol) Do you try to just keep minimal items in your purse? It might be a silly question but you may have some insight/tips :-)
Love that your back to posting more, and remixing outfits!
I live in New York, but I think it’s great that you’re authentically posting fall for your season. I give this outit an A.
Take care :-)
Woohoo! Thank you Jodie! :) xo, Caroline
Loving this outfit a day thing, reminds me of original Un-Fancy! My color palette is all neutrals with a splash of blue and red. But fall changes everything. I reach for oxblood, cognac, and deep green which I keep stashed until late October (you’re in Texas, you know summer continues until around Halloween!) and put back into their little fall box once February rolls around.
Seriously enjoying seeing more from you!
Kate
Kate in the Classroom
Hi Kate! That color palette sounds awesome for Fall. It’s nice that you can switch things up like that for a couple months :) xo, Caroline
So glad that outfits are back! This used to be my daily dose of inspiration to use and remix what I already have. Thanks for bringing it back!
Loving the direction of these new outfit posts! The tips on the pros and cons of the outfits are great!
That outfit looks so nice. I really love that colour palette. Recently, I’ve been loving this cognac colour. I bought a tote this colour, and it looks so nice with any outfit.
Personally, my colour palette would be more like navy – grey – black and some white. The only touch of cognac for now is my tote, but I’m considering buying matching shoes.
Xx
Renaud – http://xxmuchlove.blogspot.com
wow, the best outfit in the history of this blog. You look totally lovely.
H! Whoa! Thank you so much! :) xo, Caroline
Love your blog, you are such an inspiration to me! Love this challenge and the daily outfits too! I have a wildly colored wardrobe with lots of crazy prints, so quite the opposite to yours. It’s funny, I feel like I fade into the wall if I don’t wear at least one item that has a bolder color. I favor greens, blues, burgundy and that burnt yellow tone that you see all over this fall. And greys! A calmer color palette looks great on you, so I just might try and add a bit of that to my wardrobe. Greetings from Stockholm, Sweden. Keep up the great work!
Hi Anna! I love that! You make the wardrobe your own. That’s the way to do it. :) xo, Caroline
Am I seriously the first one to comment? Wow that’s kinda exciting… I’ve been reading your blog for about a year I think and I’ve never posted a comment before because anyway you get so many and I mostly agree with what others have posted.
I love the daily outfit posts! My personal style is quite different from yours but I really love seeing the different combinations you make from your pieces. This skill is so useful especially when travelling, which is my favorite thing to do! ! And actually my travel style is a lot more casual than my everyday style, which is something that personally works for me very well. I have my put together business self and then my easygoing travel self. I like the contrast and in a way it makes the holidays feel even more like holidays when you don’t wear your everyday work clothes.
Hey Jonna, I love that you find a way to make the wardrobe work for both areas of life. That’s awesome :) xo, Caroline
I love this fall look. I live in Oklahoma and it’s still 95 degrees right now. It’s hard to balance fall style and not die of heat exhaustion. thanks for the ideas as always. Love your style.
Quick question about undergarments: what bra do you wear with a silk cami like that? Or do you go au naturale? My “ladies” are pretty big so I could never go braless and I feel I could never buy a cami like that with such thin straps because I don’t know what bra I would wear! Love the look though!
Hey Kelsey! I just wear a nude strapless bra with the cami. But I got so many questions about this, I actually did a whole post on it! You can find that here: http://www.un-fancy.com/beauty-confidence/creating-and-organizing-a-useful-panty-drawer/ :) xo, Caroline
My issue is in finding quality strapless bras. A lot of them tend to slip down. Do you have any suggestions for a brand that has great strapless bras? Price is not an issue as this is a splurge worthy piece
Hey Jenny! You can reference the post above for a couple options. This is the strapless bra I use and love: http://bit.ly/2dhkxMH :) xo, Caroline
So cute. I wish I could dress for fall the way you can, but Montana has a slightly (ha) different climate than Texas.
A similar responsibly made tank can be found at Grana.com
It’s at a better price point then the one you linked, and they have more colors!
Ack! I’m from Montana too!!!
Hi Caralee, I’ve been hearing about Grana a lot lately. Thanks for the tip! :) xo, Caroline
Ohh, digging the widger cuff on your jeans.
http://www.allergictovanilla.com/2016/09/street-style-copenhagen.html
I love your shoes!
Mireia from TGL
https://thegoldlipstick.com/
I have a question about shoes: Every time I wear peep-toe booties like yours (or mules, or even some peep-toe sandals), my foot slides forward and the top of the peep-toe cutout digs into my toe cuticles. It turns into a bloodbath real fast. I know you mentioned insoles in your last post, so I was wondering if you use insoles (or anything else) to make those booties and other peep-toe styles more comfortable? (Or maybe it’s just me who has this problem!)
Hey Monika,
The insoles might help with your foot slipping because they have a tendency to keep the foot stuck in place, but there’s a risk that it could also make them feel tighter. It sounds to me like they need to be broken in. Have you tried maybe wearing them around the house with socks? It sounds ridiculous, but might help stretch them out a bit.
Another option would be to try something like a friction block on your toes (http://bit.ly/2cvup6W) You’d have to reapply it somewhat often, but it might give you that relief you need until they are broken in!
Hope that helps!
xo, Caroline
Since I have been following along, you have continued to be a style and life inspiration to me :) Thanks so much for bring back the daily outfit concept, if only for 10 days. It is SO MUCH FUN!
Also, thank you so much for how you’ve jumped into the world of responsible/ethical shopping. The fact that you have found alternate options that are ethically made makes it easier someone like me who is just starting that journey.
Hi Taylor! So glad to hear. Thanks for the sweet comment! :) xo, Caroline
I love the outfit, especially the knit vest– it adds so much interest and texture! One of my go to colors at the moment is blush pink! I find it so flattering, and it almost works as a neutral which I love. :) I love it paired with black!
-Lauren
http://www.chic-ethique.com/
I love the connection you draw between personal style and your home. I’d love to see more photos of your home!
I try not to fight the colours I’m drawn to, because when I’ve tried to deliberately impose a colour scheme in the past I’ve ended up feeling uncomfortable and inauthentic. So although my colours, by and large, are totally un-fall-y…I’m embracing them. Shades of white, ivory and cream, lots of blues, shades of green with a special nod to my favourite mint, and blush pink. All of them basically act as neutrals (mint aside). I’ve said in previous comments that I’m not a fan of black on me, but I do like black accents, which come by way of opaque black tights and black ankle boots. And I have a couple of black bottoms, a solid wool mini (for contrast) and a pair of dark charcoal skinnies (for depth, but not as much contrast). It’s been a headache making sure all my bases are covered for my first capsule (as far as I can foresee) but I’m having so much fun!
I pretty much do a 10×10 daily with my work wardrobe…which is head to toe black (not my idea!) I have 2 dresses, 2 skirts, 2 short-sleeved tops, 1 sweater, 1 blouse, 1 pair of ankle boots and 1 pair of ballet flats. I’ll have to revisit the formula when winter hits and our building freezes, remove the flats and short-sleeved tops and add more long-sleeved layers with different details and necklines.
Hey Clare, I think that’s smart to embrace the colors you love. Makes getting a dressed a heck of a lot easier and more fun! Thanks for sharing your process :) xo, Caroline
I’m in the market for a black Jean, but the pair I found recently picked up fuzz within minutes. Do all black jeans do this? Wasn’t that on your list “blacks that don’t show lint/dog hair”?
Hey Ashley, black jeans are tricky! And you’re right — I’m trying to avoid black that shows too much dog hair because I don’t want to spend a lot of time with a lint roller. There’s hope — somehow dog hair doesn’t stick to the pair I have (old, from Joe’s Jeans) — but the only problems is that I’m not sure why. So it’s hard for me to tell you what to look for. If you’re buying online, don’t take off the tags until you’ve run it through the lint test. But if you’re buying in the store, try tossing the jeans on the floor to see if any bits stick. Hope that helps! :) xo, Caroline
I love the neutral palette of this. My home is more cosy, warm colours (winter in the UK can be cold) but I find I am turning to more neutrals at home and in my clothes!
It’s still quite warm here, what we call an Indian Summer, but I’m turning towards darker blues, washed black jeans, shirts and tunic tops still with an optional extra layer of light jacket or knit. Love your sleeveless knit, so useful and stylish.
My fall color palette starts with a black as a central color, with oxblood, mustard yellow, viridian green as secondary colors, and pops of that cognac brown to warms things up. When in doubt, I rock all black. It makes me feel chic and badass! Throw in a dark fall lip color and I can take over the world. Speaking of, I’d love to hear if your makeup and hair style sees changes in the fall, I know mine does!
Also, so stoked to see more outfit posts! Our personal styles are very different, but your looks always manage to inspire me to look at pieces differently and try new things!
Hey Willow! My hair and makeup doesn’t really change for the seasons — especially the makeup. I pretty much wear the exact same makeup year round. But I am trying to introduce a little more variety into my hair besides the loose waves or top knot look. I’m working on braids and messy low buns right now :) xo, Caroline
Love today’s outfit! I’m so excited for your posts the next 10 days, I have a lot of similar pieces and I’m excited to see how you’re going to put them together. I spent years acquiring the wrong types of clothes and am working hard at remixing things I’ve squired over the years vs going out and immediately buying something new because I have “nothing to wear.” I’m definitely going to be using this outfit for inspiration for a dinner out/friend gathering. I love the way you always come up with something cute and casual – but not too casual, exactly what I need in my daily life :)
I’m terrified of white! I grew up in the country with hard water that turned anything white into yellow in time. On top of that, my mom pounded into my head that white is so easy to stain, so to this day I stay away from it! Patterns are also difficult for me. I’m tall and not super skinny, so I always feel so in-your-face when I wear them!
I’m having a lot of trouble with my wardrobe at the moment, so I’ve been loving your new posts! Your approach is so gentle. What I realized I needed to do was list the main activities and events in my life and go through my closet and if I never grab an article of clothing for one of those things (casual work, nice work, yoga, family dinner, etc.) then it probably shouldn’t be in my closet!
Caroline, can you remind me where that vest is from, just in case I ever find it thrift shopping? Was it American Eagle? Ecru/light tan cardigans was one of the top things on my year-round list: ecru vest for summer, ecru boyfriend cardigan for fall/spring, and I have the ecru wool fisherman cardigan for winter. I wear/buy so much gray that things were getting way out of balance on that front. Anyway, to my tremendous surprise I found a perfect short-sleeve cardigan by Banana Republic thrift shopping last week. I’ve worn it daily and it works perfect right now. If I find a vest it would be icing on the cake! (And I just ordered the seedstitch cardigan by Madewell – on sale!, as I am not finding much in this color elsewhere (in what little I shop).)
I love your outfit! My instinct would be to add a tiny pop of red, like maybe a Native American-inspired beaded necklace (b/c that’s my thing). I do not wear red at all in spring/summer, but I can’t wait until it gets cold enough (October) to break out my red plaid flannel shirts. (I admit I have a small collection of them). There are a zillion ways to style them, modern, campy, preppy, blacked out, oh I swoon! They don’t need ironing and don’t show stains, and are so sturdy….I really do not need any other shirts once it’s red flannel season! :)
Hi Lynn! It was from Urban Outfitters. That Banana Republic cardigan sounds like a great thrift find!! :) xo, Caroline
Thanks! I love that you actually reply to comments – most bloggers don’t seem to take the time! :) By the way I’d been wanting to mention that I adore the black clogs and black bag you were eyeing for fall in your post a couple weeks ago. I’d be all over those clogs if that heel fit into my lifestyle.
But the long sweater – those were in a while back – late 90s maybe? (In fact, I had a wool one in oatmeal from Urban Outfitters! With a hood! lol) Since you are talking here about delicate clothing not holding up… I decided back then I would not be buying any more sweaters that are so long that I actually have to SIT on them (barring the remote possibility of one in black). Pilling, wear, grime, wrinkles, ugh, that’s what jeans are for. Plus, it drove me nuts that I had to wear a very long winter coat over it or it would hang out underneath (not that you couldn’t put a moto jacket over it these days and call it styled, I suppose). But for me, it was just too much: pretty in pictures, but not in life. You’ve probably already thought of that, but just wanted to warn ya in case! :)
Hey Lynn! Good to know — I guess I’ve been lucky with this vest as it has help up pretty well. But I appreciate the tips! :) xo, Caroline
Love the color palette and texture plus it does the whole ‘bulk on top, skinny on bottom’ uniform flawlessly. I’d give it an A!
I don’t think silk is delicate. It is very strong, one of those strongest. I also don’t find it hard to maintain. Dry cleaning is a LIE. Hand wash in the shower with gentle soap.
Guess what. I decided to go for it with the colorful 10 outfit mini-wardrobe. Hehehehe. So much fun. Red and green jeans. Grey (gotta have SOMETHING neutral) and periwinkle tees. Seafoam and peach cardigans.Magenta dress. I posted my first outfit on instagram today. To be honest, I already know that I will be pretty happy to wear plain blue jeans again after 10 days, but this is still a super fun experiment. :D
Ladylyn! Great! I’m so glad you’re doing it. I mean, why not?! :) xo, Caroline
Is there are a way to infinite scroll full posts and/or flip through the full content chronologically? Would be useful for catching up with the higher volume of weekly posts now :)
Love the site! Just starting my ‘fit kit’ and feeling like I’m almost getting to that sweet spot with my wardrobe and belongings. Thanks for the great resources and inspiration!
Hey Lauren! I think the easiest way to see everything in one place is probably Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/caroline_joy/ Hope that helps you get an overall view! :) xo, Caroline
The jeans that you’re wearing are lovely and sleek. I’m very much a colours and patterns person. I wear bright colour all year round and my neutrals are black and grey with a bit of navy that I wear with all shades of red and yellow, my favourite colours. Various shades of green and blue also happen as well as generous lashings of orange. I also can’t be without patterns, especially with neutrals. I just can’t wear plain black or grey anymore. Once I discovered patterns…
For years I bought bright colors because they were fun to look at but not necessarily on me. I’ve finally after 27 years figured out my color pallet. Navy, military green, khaki and black. And that’s 90% of my closet haha! Loving these posts!