Monday Musings: Neutrals, Needles, and a Little Bit of Madness
Happy Monday, ladies. I hope your weekend was calmer than mine, which involved more muttering than knitting and one too many rounds of ripping stitches out. I picked up a new sweater pattern a few weeks ago…something to stretch my brain a bit. And it’s doing exactly that.
Every time I think I’m on track, I catch a mistake a few rows back and have to frog the whole thing. Apparently, this pattern is considered “easy” by other knitters, which has only made me more determined. With over fifty years of knitting behind me, I thought I’d sail through it. Instead, I’m questioning my eyesight, my attention span, and whether social media has completely fried my ability to focus. But I will finish it. It’s a gorgeous soft taupey gray, and I keep telling myself this is probably good for my brain, even if it’s not doing much for my blood pressure.
And while we’re on the topic of gray, I think I might be officially over it…at least for now. Maybe it’s the sweater, maybe it’s just mid-September fatigue, but gray suddenly feels a little… flat. Black isn’t always the answer either. Lately, it’s started looking a bit harsh against my complexion, which seems to be getting fairer by the year.
What is calling to me? Rich, ashy chocolate brown. There’s something quietly elegant about it, and it offers the contrast I’m craving without going full drama. Cool browns like this are surprisingly flattering on cooler-toned complexions, and thankfully, they’re everywhere this season. I spotted this beautiful bag over the weekend…with silver hardware, no less. It’s not quite cool enough for my persnickety self, but there are so many options this year, I’m hopeful I’ll find one.
My love affair with raspberry is still going strong…it’s the one color I keep coming back to, and now it’s followed me into the makeup drawer. My daughter and I went on one of our lipstick expeditions (also known as “poking around Sephora without adult supervision”), and I found a Rare Beauty lip oil stain in Wonder.
I use the Crazy in Love lip pencil from Charlotte Tilbury first to define the edges…which also helps keep the stain from settling into those not-so-fine lines around my mouth, and then apply the stain all over my lips. It gives lasting color with a soft, slightly glossy finish, and it really hangs on. Honestly, it’s one of the better combos I’ve tried in ages. These shades are technically in the rose family, but I’m so fair, they look raspberry on me.
Back at our condo…the floors are still. not. done. The project has dragged on with one delay after another, and I won’t even say how long it’s been because frankly, it’s embarrassing. We’re living with chunks of concrete showing and a sense of optimism that’s starting to feel… fragile. Let’s just say I’m one warped board away from cracking.
And lastly, I dipped my toe into the oversized trend this weekend. I tried on a few jackets that looked great on the hanger and even better on someone else. But on me? Not so much. I’m bigger on top than on bottom, so those exaggerated shapes just made me look top-heavy. I love the look, but some things are better admired from a distance.
Further down the mall, I spotted this gorgeous navy coat, which is a much more flattering shape on me. I would need the sleeves shortened, but it’s really pretty nice. It has the illusion of being double-breasted with a single button closure.
This week feels like a strange little cocktail of persistence with yarn, curiosity with neutrals, and just enough vanity to justify a new lip stain. Some things fight us, some things flatter us, and some things…like living with bare concrete floors, simply test how long we can stay sane.
So tell me, are you rethinking your neutrals this fall? Or have you already found a color that feels like it’s perfect on you?
Remodeling is a nightmare for sure. I’ve decided the older I get the less patience I have for chaos in our home. I’m really turning to chocolate brown and red. Raspberry is great too. Good luck with your knitting project!
Dear Jennifer, after reading so many sites about personal colors, I have found my cool colors also give me the compliments saying, “you look so rested and lovely”. My compliment getters are blue under toned jewel colors and taupes, and blue greens. Not beige or brown or even dark black, but deep grey-blacks. I’m British descent, in my 70’s now YIKES, with fair skin and dark brunette hair (before miss Clairol”) and have a short stature with wide shoulders and hip structure, short waist and petite at 4’8’ and 88 lbs. everything must be a try on due to finding clothes that balance me, hit me at waist and skirt or pant lengths which don’t make me “drown in the clothes”. I think classics and non fussy styles are my best choices. You hit all my targets every post! Keep staying true to yourself and encouraging us to do the same. Love your ideas so much.
Sandra Winfield
Ah, those colors are so lovely. If I could choose one favorite color (after blues) it would be cool taupe…the color my hair was under all that bleach I subjected it to in my youth. Hindsight is 20/20. Have a great day.
What have you done with items from 50 years of knitting?
Many were gifts or for loved ones. My favorite personal successes have been worn until they’re shabby.
Love the navy coat! You know what would make it look fabulous? A raspberry scarf! It is definitely your color. Your face lights up in every photo I’ve seen of you in a bluish red layer near your face. I gave up black years ago because my skin also gets fairer and fairer. There’s nothing I can’t do with a good blue, though
It would!
After 5 years of wearing lots of color, I really feel the need to go back to basics. My silver white hair reacts well to black and all forms of gray. But I plan on adding more taupe if I can find a grayish one. I’m actually changing over my wardrobe (slowly of course) because when I retired I went all in on leggings and colorful tops. Now I prefer to get my color from jewelry, shoes and bags. Weeding out the flowy sweaters, long tunics and skinnies. It’s a process.
I love the sound of what you’re doing with your wardrobe. I only have one colorful bag and it occurs to me that since most of my wardrobe is neutral, I should play with color in accessories more often.
I’m turning away from my love of navy blue to camel and chocolate browns. It’s been a nice change for me. I like what they do for my skin tone.
That’s fun!
What is the new makeup you are using?
It’s this No Makeup Makeup. Really love it.
The sweater project is AMAZING! I love to knit cables but that many would “put me over the edge” – congrats on doing it – can’t wait to see finished project! Raspberry color is great too!
As a fellow knitter, I’m curious as to the name of the sweater pattern?
As far as neutral goes, I recently purchased some camel-colored pants. I’m too cool-toned to wear that color closer to my face, but the color feels classic to me.
It’s called Simple Cable Cardigan. I found it on Ravelry. I love camel, ditto near my face. I look like I have the flu when I wear on top.
Good Morning Jennifer: I’m so impressed with your knitting skills and love the color of the yarn you picked. Being a blogger, can we please blame social media! 🙂 I’m shaped like you, so the bomber jacket would have to be a firm “no” for me also. And you look fabulous in that Dickie coat! Regarding neutrals, I’ve found myself buying more rich browns this season. Not sure I’ve seen any ash browns. I’ll have to pay more attention. Thanks for a great read today. Always look forward to your posts.
Yes! It’s social media 🤣
First let me ask what wool and colour is that? I would love to do something with it. Secondly, I spotted that brown you spoke about in some pants at Old Navy. I’m definitely going back to get them.
Hang in there, I’m sure your floors will be beautiful when they are done.
There’s a link under the photo. It comes in lots of gorgeous colors and mine is “clay”
I’ve been struggling with the “is black too harsh now, but what is better besides navy?” conundrum recently too. But, not ready to do a massive closet changeout. I don’t buy much in the fall-winter because the fabrics are usually too heavy for Florida life. So I guess I’ll hang onto my Eileen Fisher gift card awhile longer (it’s burning a hole in my pocket).
I did try a new lipstick…the Wonderblade lip stain, in Romance shade. Quite like it and it does last longer than others I’ve tried, but definitely not “all day” as advertised.
I’m not a knitter, so can give you zero advice there. But I admire your persistence!!
Jennifer, I look forward to your Monday musings every week because of your sense of humor! I think you’re a really good writer. I am strangely comforted when hearing about your trials and tribulations. it actually helps me deal with my own frustrations with a lighter heart.
I am also questioning neutrals as I’m finding that I really need some color or I just feel / look flat.
I’m so glad to hear that. It’s exactly why I share my personal life. Happy Monday!
Nope, not falling for the brown this time. Not even the cool tones ones. Never kept any if it the last times it was in style. Sticking with my black, navy, gray core and feeling some of the beautiful navies and dark wash denim.
Normally, I stay away from browns, but the dark chocolate slacks, shoes and handbags are very tempting… and who can resist chocolate? My neutral has been navy year-round. I still love it; it’s just that every fall I want something new. So far, burgundy has dripped into my closet, and I think dark brown is going to be next. I also feel like grey drains me, so I only wear it for accessories and slacks.
Hello! Thanks for the great information, I seem to be tending toward a dark chocolate brown and a navy blue color as my neutrals. I’m too pale for black, and too clumsy for white lol.
lol!
Hi Jenifer, I love your posts. They are full of insight, as well as good fashion for us older women. I have ordered a couple of your suggestions after seeing them on you.
Sister knitter here- I feel your pain. Wow. I can see why this is causing grief. I think it will get better once you get in the rhythm of the increases and cable pattern. Really beautiful though.
I’ve been on an (almost) everything navy kick for the last year.
I hope so. There seemed no rhyme or reason to it until just the last two rows.
I absolutely love the navy coat! Also the brown bag, and that lipstick!
I am loyal to black but am thinking of branching into some chocolate brown this fall as well. So many shades to choose from, it can be tough to find the right one.
I am in awe of your knitting project. I cannot wait to see the finished sweater. i bought a learn-to-crochet kit that is essentially collecting dust at this point, but you have given me motivation to start it.
That sounds fun. I never could crochet
Everything blue again! Deep dark indigo with a few cheap necklaces to brighten..,,I did order three neutral tops from Quince that fit beautifully and at such a great price! And with our very warm fall- so far- just perfect!
You know I adore blue!