6 Scarves 2021: December Additions, #3 Navy & Grey, Lily

For an introduction to the 6 Scarves 2021 project, see this post.

For a description of my method, see this post.

Today we are adding our last items to the capsule based on this cool navy and grey color palette.

Our garments for December will bolster the grey portion of the Lily wardrobe with a skirt, vest, and jacket. The dark lavender sweater adds another shade of purple to the capsule.

Dark lavender pullover sweater - St Johns Bay/JCP - 3X - $9.99 - 12/2019

Dark grey puffy vest - Waterproof/Kohls - 2X - $19.51 - 11/2018

Dark grey skirt - thrifted, Evan Picone/Goodwill - 22W - $4.99 - 9/2019

Graphite marl knit moto jacket - CJ Banks - 3X - $21.60 - 2/2021

The new accessories for the month hew closely to the grey and purple color scheme of the garment additions, but I like that the print scarves and multi-color DIY bead bracelet are introducing some additional accent colors.

Lavender ombré scarf - thrifted, ThredUp - $4.80 - 12/2019

Burgundy/magenta floral scarf - Target - $9.99 - 11/2016

White/orange/purple elephant scarf - Charming Charlie - $10.00 - 4/2015

Olive/rust/yellow/purple 6mm gem bead bracelet - made by me - summer 2021

Purple pumps - thrifted, Goodwill - $5.00 - 12/2014

Dark grey crystal earrings - ?

For the outfit building exercise, it will be very easy to put our grey skirt + lavender sweater + purple pumps (and grey tights) combination through its paces, showing variations as the weather gets colder. In Outfit #1 the base pieces are lightened and brightened up with the elephant scarf and bracelet. I really like the addition of orange as a strong second accent color (note: violet and orange are part of a triad on the color wheel).

Outfit #2 is stylistically a bit of a mish-mash with the sleek pumps and the sporty puffy vest...I wouldn't be surprised to see a pair of tall flat boots substituted in for the pumps when wearing this outfit. Every time I see this floral scarf, I am really drawn to the rich, saturated pink and purple colors in it.

Outfit #3 adds the knit moto jacket to the base outfit and is accessorized simply with large grey stud earrings and a shades-of-lavender scarf. A knot moto jacket makes a great alternative to the more classic leather version...it's softer, more comfortable, and readily lends itself to wearing indoors, which the leather version sometimes doesn't.

For today's OOTD feature, I'm starting with the dark lavender sweater that I have only taken one photo wearing. This is a January outfit with a lot of layers...button up shirt, sweater, and quilted vest. I like the play of colors and textures in this outfit, which has a lighter-than-usual-for-winter look with the white vest and floral skirt with a white background. The skirt is a simple cotton skirt made for summer, but with the warm tights underneath, it works for winter also.

Next are two outfits featuring the dark grey puffy vest. This WFH outfit from last February consists of multiple shades of teal and grey. The combination of ankle pants with a puffy vest may seem confusing, but it was quite comfortable in my apartment. For those who run a bit colder, grey trousers socks can easily be worn with ankle pants and ankle boots...and I would typically do so working from the office.

Finally, this March work outfit is based on the neutrals of grey and white, which always feel seasonally appropriate to me in that late winter/early spring period, livened up considerably with the addition of a bright salmon pink knit skirt. Consider how easy it would be to keep the rest of the outfit the same and switch out a different colored skirt...I'm not sure there's an accent color that wouldn't work with grey and white. I know a lot of people feel self-conscious about wearing a bright color on their bottom half, but I think a colorful pants or skirt can help visually balance a bulkier/more layered top half, and when worn in a skinny silhouette, actually draws attention to the sleeker part of the outfit.

However, many people would nix the idea of a puffy vest due to fears that it will make them "look bigger," but I personally am not going to hold my comfort and style hostage to an over-riding concern with looking as small as possible in every situation. It's winter in Minnesota, it's cold, I'm wearing a puffy vest that everyone knows adds bulk...it's not like people are going to think my actual torso expands and shrinks in size from day to day...it's obviously the clothing! Everyone gets to set their own priorities, of course, and while the specter of the Michelin Man has not scared me off puffy vests, I have my own idiosyncrasies...such as avoiding certain tucked-in shirt situations that draw attention to my middle and give my silhouette a look too reminiscent of Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum or Humpty Dumpty. (Where chubby Disney's Alice in Wonderland cartoon characters are concerned, I'm much happier with a Walrus look instead.)

Now for our last rabbit addition to the Lily menagerie: Velma the Velveteen Lop! This ultra-soft floppy-eared bunny is quite new on the domestic rabbit scene. Development of the breed started in 1991 by crossing the Rex and English Lop rabbits to create a plush-furred lop-eared rabbit, and the Velveteen Lop was accepted by the American Rabbit Breeder Association for showing very recently...in 2019. They are still not fully recognized by all registries and are not allowed to compete for Best of Show. They are still rare on the show circuit, and I have seen only a couple Velveteen Lops showing at the state fair. But this beautiful rabbit is a welcome addition to Lily's capsule!

Would you wear an accent color skirt/pants with a neutral outfit? Would you wear a quilted or puffy vest/jacket?

In my next capsule post, we will take look at the December additions for our fourth wardrobe: #4 Olive & Beige, Kiwi.

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