Turtleneck Times: Down With Brown

Last time I talked turtlenecks, I discussed why merino is the best yarn for the dapper sweater.  I sported a Uniqlo merino turtleneck once again yesterday, this time in a camel color that contrasted well with the fall foliage.  Yet I wore it in an outfit that mixed three different shades of brown, a risky move I dare you to try at home.

For the uninitiated, pairing several different shades of brown (or any color) might result in a disaster.  If the shades are too close, the garments clash with each other and create a color-blocked travesty.  The key to pairing hues from one color family is incorporating several different shades (instead of one or two) and throwing another color in the ensemble for contrast.  With this in mind, getting down with brown is as easy said as done.

I built a series of darker hues around my camel-colored Uniqlo turtleneck.  With the exception of white pants, I find that wearing lighter colors on top is sartorially appealing due to both the influences of classic modes of dress and the increased layering possibilities light colors allow.  The ribbed texture of my dark brown J. Crew corduroys was the ideal foil for the luxurious merino wool, and the slim silhouette worked well with the sweater’s trim cut.  I balanced out the light and dark browns with my cigar-colored Red Wing Beckmans.  The hint of red in the profile contrasted with the neutral shades of brown that defined the turtleneck and corduroys, and allowed the boots to pop without screaming above the rest of the outfit.

I anchored the three browns against a dark blue backdrop.  Since I like the way turtlenecks pair with collared jackets, I threw on my cherished Levi’s Made & Crafted trucker jacket to lend the worldly turtleneck a subversive edge.  After stepping outside yesterday morning, I felt like I blended in with the world, one with nature and one with the winds of change that give fall its romanticized reputation.

Sweater: Uniqlo, Corduroys: J. Crew, Jacket: Levi's Made & Crafted, Boots: Red Wing Heritage