6 Scarves 2021: Jan-May Recap, #5 Brown & Black, Nelly

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

For a description of my method, see this post.

Today we will be reviewing the capsule based on the least summer-friendly color palette in the project. This brown, black, and deep jewel tone palette is a wonderful fall and winter palette, but I struggle to think of it with summer in mind. Partly it's that the inspiration scarf features such autumnal gold foliage (as well as fantasy foliage, of course), but the association for me between dark colors and cold weather is strong. What's that you say? There is white in the palette, and what could be a more appropriate neutral for warm weather than white? And there is no 6 Scarves Project rule that says all versions of the colors added to the wardrobe have to match the palette tones exactly, so we could bring in lighter shades for summer? Hmmm, good points!

As we turn to reviewing warm-weather outfits that include May additions with the existing wardrobe, I have to say, the garments I've added so far do not lend themselves to creating warm-weather outfits! You'll see what I mean as we go through it.

Let's start with a straight-up, no-question warm weather outfit using the teal tank, black open weave short-sleeved cardigan, and teal ballet flats added in May. This skirt has an autumnal feel to me but can readily be worn all year long. Neutral jewelry in a range of metallic colors finished off Outfit #1.

Outfit #2's inclusion of this heavy motorcycle jacket is enough to make me sweat, but this outfit could easily work without it. The outfit as styled here would work for late spring, when the mornings are still cool. For a warm day, leave off the jacket and substitute the teal flats above for the ankle boots, and you're in business.

Outfit #3 is another transitional outfit that could be adapted for warmer weather by leaving off the burgundy vest and rolling up the sleeves of the blouse. I do like the non-traditional suit-ness of the vest and skinny pants, however.

So...wait, that's it? Yeah, that's it. One warm-weather outfit and two transitional outfits that could be adapted is all I've got for you here. (I mean, there are literally more outfits that could be put together, but they would be variants on the theme of #1. I was able to create a lot of cold-weather looks, however, that we will peruse at a later point.)

It's time to look over the entire wardrobe and see what would be useful for the coming summer. Clearly this wardrobe desperately needs warm-weather tops! There are a couple of long-sleeved Ts that could be worn with scrunched sleeves but other than the May additions, it's slim pickings. We have a good number of print skirts that would work well for summer, so solid tops is a priority. That white in the palette we were talking about before? Nowhere to be seen. Some white garments would really lighten and brighten up this dark collection.

As for our accessories, a pair of neutral flats would be quite versatile. I like the maroon and teal a lot, but I'd like to include a less eye-catching option that could be worn multiple times per week without anyone even noticing. We have a start on a necklace collection, but these are dark and/or neutral; colorful necklaces are a fun option for the warm weather. I would like to see more white here also, perhaps in the form of a necklace or lightweight scarf.

Our garment spotlight today features this classically autumnal-colored floral skirt I bought in July 2020 that is definitely a four-season piece but that I have only worn for cold weather so far. Let's take a look. For its debut in December, I went for a simple print mix using this olive striped sweater. I highlighted the orange-y and burgundy/maroon-y colors in the skirt with this two-tone ombré scarf, fastened using the old "elastic through the shank of a button" trick (gold-tone to work with the warm undertones of the colors).

When winter hit in January, I bundled up with a sweater, quilted vest, and pashmina using the easiest color formula in the world: pulling various colors from the print. Bridgette Raes calls this Road Map styling, and while nothing #fashion is absolutely fool-proof, of course, it's a very straightforward way to create a cohesive-looking outfit color-wise. (Check out all four of Bridgette's color formulas with copious examples here. It's good stuff, my friends!)

After reviewing the almost oppressively dark capsule garments and accessories, this rabbit menagerie is such a pleasure! Nelly the brown dwarf and Tanya the Tan are both deep, rich colors, but the other three have a light and bright quality. Now Nora the Angora is probably ready for a shear; that wool in full fluff is pretty hot for summer-time.

Do you wear more white in summer? What colors say "summer" to you?

In my next capsule post, we will look at the last of our Jan-May recaps: the #6 Grey & Navy, Sophia wardrobe. Then on to June and summer wear!

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)