The Art of Being Neutral

No, I’m not talking about Switzerland, I am talking about the kind of neutral that resides in your closet. For the longest time, I thought neutrals equated to boring and bland outfits. But over the past few days of scrolling through fashion ads and images, I’ve surprisingly been proven wrong. Maybe it’s the winter months or watching Home Alone over the holidays that has caused me to rethink neutral color palettes, but I’ve come to the conclusion that neutrals are no longer a hallmark of the 1990s. In fact, they have been slowly creeping into my closet this year. 

So, what’s so great about neutrals? How do you wear multiple neutral pieces without looking like you walked out of an episode of The Golden Girls? How do you prevent giving off that matchy-matchy vibe? And, how do you avoid looking like a monochromatic blob?

Here’s a few tricks for creating a neutral look that is effortless and classy:

Incorporate Structured and Non-Structured Pieces - There is a reason why turtlenecks were seen under every coat and blazer in the 90s. Those soft, non-structured pieces pair incredibly well with items that have defined lines and shapes. Combining these two contrasting types of clothing is key to neutral dressing. The same goes for flowy, draped dresses underneath a blazer or jacket. To flip the order of operations, try wearing a structured suiting dress underneath a long and loose oversized cardigan or sweater coat. Throw on some stiff booties or tall slouchy boots for a finishing effect. 

Keep it Street and Modern - If there is one thing that Zara, H&M, and other fast fashion stores do well, it’s current trends. More modern, “street” looks are perfect for mastering a completely neutral outfit without looking like your eighth grade math teacher. Think puffer coats, teddy jackets, tailored pants, beanies, oversized tops, and even chunky scarves. Sheer fabrics, silk, leather, fringe, and cutouts can also break up a solid look with on-trend touches. For example, try pairing a puffer coat with a thin turtleneck and a silk maxi skirt with combat boots. These more modern, minimalist details will help keep your monochromatic look fresh and fashion forward. They will also help you build a versatile outfit that can go from work to after dinner drinks. 

Throw on the Jewels - Jewelry will instantly break up a monochromatic look by adding gold, silver, and other metallic tones. If you are wearing browns and creams, go for gold. If you are wearing navy or grey tones, try silver or rose gold. And you know what they say about black or white, anything goes. You can even mix and match metals. Jewelry will take a streamlined outfit from ‘plain Jane’ to dressy with little effort. Just make sure you don’t go too crazy to the point where the jewelry overpowers your clothing (maybe not a ring on every finger). 

Layer with Accessories - Ah, the transformative power of accessories. I don’t know about you, but I cannot resist a good belt to cinch in and define the waistline. Belts are so under-rated, and the perfect accessory for any neutral outfit. Wear them over dresses, long shirts, blazers, and, as Carrie Bradshaw taught us, even coats. They can literally pull your outfit together while adding a detail, texture, and oomph to your look. Scarves can also add another fun element to a neutral look. Just make sure the color isn’t too far from the main palette. Go for a scarf that is a few shades lighter or darker to add some contrast without losing the consistency of the outfit. Other accessories like sheer tights, knitted gloves, and fuzzy vests can add depth and texture to the overall look, too.

And, finally, why neutrals at all? If you are someone who struggles with putting an outfit together or who doesn’t want to do a lot of thinking about what to wear in the morning, these uniform looks are perfect for you. Neutral outfits are actually easy to compose, but make it appear as if you’ve spent a lot of time thinking through what to wear. No matter the occasion, I find these styles are always a win for looking classy and composed.

From Mary Kate Olson to girls the street, check out the looks below for neutral outfit inspiration!