I've been doing the 'sew your own wardrobe' for a number of years now, and the one thing that has continued to trip me up is the whole idea of a neutral.
Almost every wardrobe plan has a variation of: Sew a neutral base and add colour to it. Inside column, outside column, capsule, all of them use neutrals as the base.
But--what is a neutral? And would I really wear it?
Some people would say that it is a colour found in your eyes, hair or skin tones. There are a lot of great references for this idea, not the least of which is 'Triumph of Individual Style' (love this book; if you don't own it, you should get a copy!) and Nancy Rix's blog and wardrobe ideas. Even so, I have hesitated to really use the idea until today, reading on Artisan's square, when I came across this comment: would you sew trousers in it?
There are lots of colours I love. Seriously love. Like red and white and electric blue. White is the one that really stands out to me--it is a neutral. Lots and lots of people wear trousers in white. Not me though. For my wardrobe, if it won't pass the trouser test, it isn't a neutral. Neutrals are deep and dark in my world--dark denim, grey, black and if I really work at it--deep plum, and navy. But I have to work at the last two.
So, what colours, dear reader, are your neutrals? And, would you wear trouser in them??
