6 Scarves 2021: Jan-June Recap, #4 Olive & Beige, Kiwi

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

For a description of my method, see this post.

I am always interested to check in with this unusual scarf and color palette.

Here's where the Kiwi wardrobe stands at the end of June:

It's time to create some warm weather outfits using the entire wardrobe, and though usually we focus on the June additions, Outfit #1 doesn't contain any of them. Instead, I put together a black and (soft) gold/beige outfit with the tropical bird blouse introducing the only color. I think that for me to wear it, I would like to have a giant pair of aqua or cerulean blue statement earrings to bring in a bit more color!

Outfit #2 pairs the cheetah blouse and salmon cardigan from the June additions with our stand-by asymmetric black skirt. June's black flats and a range of gold and rose gold accessories completes the look.

Outfit #3 is another black-skirt-based outfit that relies heavily on our previous additions, including the red top, earrings, and necklace from May and a butterfly scarf from March.

Outfit #4 is probably my favorite of this set because it brings together a range of pink tones, including the lighter watermelon pink skirt and darker watermelon pink top that I have never worn together but that work beautifully because both pinks are muted and are on the warm side. (This reminds me of Beth T.'s comment about blending muted tones with each other rather than mixing bright and muted; we can see that approach working well here.)

Finally, in Outfit #5 the same skirt and ivory lace jacket is used with an apple green tank. Actually, there's no reason the scarf from Outfit #4 couldn't be worn with this outfit too, but for variety, the chunky gold/faux pearl/bead necklace from the June additions is brought in instead.

Today's focal garment is the beige striped top that is one of My Print 12 pieces that I would definitely keep if I were starting over from scratch. I bought this top last summer from Lands End for $36, which is more than I would typically pay for a shirt that doesn't even have rabbits on it. But I just fell in love with the vertical stripes in such pretty, muted colors on the linen fabric and decided to give it a try. The boxy-but-not-oversized cut is quite comfortable in the heat and makes for a really nice stand-alone summer top.

By stand-alone top, I mean a top that I absolutely don't need to wear with a cardigan, jacket, vest, etc. on top of it. It is both interesting enough to stand alone and is cut/shaped/sized in a way that I am physically and psychologically comfortable and appropriate wearing it on its own. You all get what I mean, right? There are tops that are great for layering because they are plain, made from smooth thin fabric, and sized very close to the body so they don't bunch up weird under your cardigan. There are other tops which are very big but you can rein in the volume with a jacket or a belt. There are sleeveless tops or button up tops that always want to show the world parts of your bra so you put a layer on top of them to wear in public. There are tops that fit fine but are very boring so you feel like you need to jazz them up with layers and scarves and so on. Then there are stand-alone tops which you put on and they are already complete and ready to go. A good stand-alone top is a true prize.

I wore this top 13 times last summer, which is a high level of repetition for me! Here are three examples.

This May outfit is on the dressier end of the summer work spectrum for my workplace with the nice skirt, nude wedges, and a simple but interesting gold-tone circle necklace, but for WFH I didn't bother ironing this top...and not just for this particular outfit; I didn't iron it all summer. Let all the linen wrinkles do their thing! The skirt color isn't present in the top, but because there are so many different colors in the top, and they are all muted, a surprising number of other muted colors coordinate with it.

Just because it's a stand-alone top doesn't mean I can't layer with it, but due to the boxy sleeves, a vest works better than a cardigan. In this July outfit, I pulled the pink in the vest and necklace from the pink stripe in the top, then put on dark grey bottoms (another "color not in the top but coordinating with it" option).

In this early September outfit, I wore the boxy top with some super-comfy skinny knit pants for a definitely-WFH outfit. (In public, I will wear these almost-leggings with a longer top or topper to cover the rear view.) This time I went more matchy with my colors: the beige/taupe pants and smoking slippers align well to the beige stripe, and the coral scarf is a darker version of the peach stripe.

Now let's review our rabbit menagerie. After hearing about the indignities forced on their compatriots in the previous 3 capsules, Kiwi and friends absolutely refused to have anything to do with this beauty bundle accessorizing human nonsense. So we will admire these rabbits in their natural state that is, after all, as close to perfection as we get in this world.

Do you have any garment pairs that you like to wear together over and over again with a different third piece/accessories? These could include column, twin set, or "suit" pairs in the same/similar colors, but also pieces in very different colors or prints like the ivory jacket + pink skirt that allow you to insert a number of different tops and scarves to create new looks from the same base pieces.

I think people are more likely to recognize these useful pairings when the pieces are matching neutrals (of the column, twin set, or "suit" variety) or very basic combinations like a white T + blue jeans or white button up shirt + black pants. But there's no reason to limit our go-to pairings in that way; any two pieces that work well together can be a Pleasing Pairing. And once you've identified a Pleasing Pairing, you can try that pairing with a variety of other pieces and multiply your outfit options quickly. (Yes, I made up the term Pleasing Pairing just now.)

Color plays a big role in a Pleasing Pairing, of course, but I think this is where the cut/shape/silhouette/proportions of your pieces can make such a difference. For example, you may love your oversized chambray button up shirt worn as a jacket with your black skinny jeans but not so much when you try it with your black straight leg or wide leg jeans. So the chambray shirt + black skinny jeans could be a Pleasing Pairing that you could wear with pretty much any color (or print) of knit tank or T and accessorize with a variety of different scarves, necklaces, and shoes.

In my next capsule post, we will look at the Jan-Jun recap for our fifth wardrobe: #5 Brown & Black, Nelly.

I link up with:

Shelbee at Shelbee on the Edge (2nd Monday; 3rd Thursday)

Mica at Away from the Blue (Mondays)

Debbie at My Random Musings (Mondays)

Leelo at Beauty by Miss L (Mondays)

Roxanne at Glass of Glam (Mondays)

Laura at I Do deClaire (Tuesdays)

Emma at Style Splash (Tuesdays)

Jess at Elegantly Dressed & Stylish (Tuesdays)

Gail at Is This Mutton? (Wednesdays)

Shelly at The Queen in Between (Wednesdays)

Jodie at Jodie's Touch of Style (Thursdays)

Carrie at Curly Crafty Mom (Thursdays)

Ada at Elegance and Mommyhood (Thursdays)

Jacqui at Mummabstylish (Thursdays)

Suzy at The Grey Brunette (Fridays)

Nancy at Nancy's Fashion Style (Fridays)

Michelle at My Bijou Life (Fridays)

Erika at A Little Bit of Everything (Fridays)

Rena at Fine Whatever (Saturdays)