Monday Musings: Neutrals, Needles, and a Little Bit of Madness

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.

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?