The fall foliage has peeked here in Cincinnati, and I’m enjoying the radiant and varied color. The many hues we see around us in nature can certainly serve as inspiration when it comes to getting dressed for our day. But, while I enjoy wearing multiple colors in my outfits occasionally, I favor the elevated effect of a monochromatic outfit. Even the most casual outfit will look a little more sophisticated and polished in a tonal combination. These chic combinations don’t need to be reserved for dressier looks. Even if you have a very casual lifestyle, it’s smart to learn the secrets to creating an elegant monochromatic casual look.
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Today I’m sharing an elegant monochromatic casual look from L’AGENCE. The Scottie wide-leg jeans in biscuit and the soft ivory Sterling sweater were gifted to me by the brand so I could share them with you. And they are very special and lovely indeed. The other elements of the outfit are my personal purchases. Still, this is definitely a pricey outfit, and I acknowledge that. But I’ve discovered that we can often find the best inspiration from brands such as L’AGENCE because they have invested in the details that make elevated style a little easier to accomplish. So my hope is we can all get a little style inspiration from this outfit and take it back to our personal wardrobes to spark a little creativity. And I’ve linked a Kay’s Look for Less at the bottom of this post.
Tips for How to Style an Elegant Monochromatic Casual Look
Tip #1 – Choose a neutral or color that works well for your coloring, especially near your face.
You can create an elegant monochromatic casual look with absolutely any color or neutral. I love wearing head to toe red, teal, grey, black or green. The key is to choose a color or neutral that works well with your coloring. And you especially want the hue to be just right at your face.
Tip #2 – Choose various pieces from your closet in that same color to combine together.
The garments and accessories don’t have to be the exact same color. Slight variations actually add depth and richness to the tonal look. My biscuit colored wide-leg jeans and ivory sweater are both an “off-white” at the core, but the shades are definitely different. I generally like to wear pants or jeans that are at least slightly darker than my top if possible. I find the darker bottoms and lighter top work best for my body shape.
Tip #3 – Choose pieces in a variety of textures to create interest and depth.
In the base outfit I’m only wearing three textures. My sweater is a premium knit with a hint of silk. It’s soft and only slightly textured. Then I’m wearing denim jeans and have suede accessories. But those three different textures are enough to add depth to this tonal look.
Tip #4 – One or two pieces with interesting details will help elevate the monochromatic look.
As you can see in the photo above, my sweater has beautiful jeweled buttons and a soft, structured collar. Those are small details but they go a long way towards creating just enough interest in this tonal outfit. You don’t want every piece of your outfit to have “bells and whistles,” by the way. Then you lose some of the subtlety of the monochromatic combination that makes it so appealing.
Tip #5 – Coordinate your accessories with your tonal outfit.
I was actually inspired to buy these Michael Kors boots and purse when I received these beautiful, soft pieces from L’AGENCE. When I ordered the jeans and sweater I hadn’t put much thought into what shoes I would wear with them. But when they arrived I knew I would need soft toned boots, and the hunt began. I purchased the bag first, so when I discovered Michael Kors had boots in the same shade, I ordered immediately. I’ve worn these boots with so many things since then.
Tip #6 – You can also add prints to your tonal look if the shades are still in that same color family.
This year I’m seeing so many of these Fair Isle style cardigans. The textured print in this beautiful Lauren Ralph Lauren Adirondack wrap cardigan brings a rustic charm to this otherwise solid outfit. As I mentioned in yesterday’s YouTube video, I’ll be sharing more about how to style cardigans in an upcoming video. But this wrap cardigan is very on trend this year. I think the key is the wrap tie. And you can remove the tie to belt the sweater, too.
Might you create a polished and slightly elegant monochromatic casual look from your closet today? It’s such an effective outfit formula that helps you look a little more pulled together, even on the most casual day. I’ve linked the outfit I’m wearing in the captions of the photos and in the shopping widget below. You can see a Kay’s Look for Less HERE. And if you enjoyed today’s post you might want to see two other ways I wore these jeans in this blog post.
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Blessed for My Day
Sometimes we receive hard assignments. At the time it may not seem fair; it certainly doesn’t feel pleasant. We may be afraid and we may not feel up to the task. But the difficult assignment falls on our shoulders all the same.
If you know that God has given you a hard thing to do, then you can also know that He will equip you. He will walk you through it step by step, and He will lead the way. He will energize you and give you rest along the way. Not only will He see you through the hard task, but He takes ultimate responsibility for the results. He only expects you to be faithful; He is responsible for the outcome. But the Lord does indeed call you to obey. Yes, to trust and obey.
Then He said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet that I may speak with you!” As He spoke to me the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet; and I heard Him speaking to me. Then He said to me, “Son of man, I am sending you to the sons of Israel, to a rebellious people who have rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day. I am sending you to them who are stubborn and obstinate children, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ As for them, whether they listen or not—for they are a rebellious house—they will know that a prophet has been among them. And you, son of man, neither fear them nor fear their words, though thistles and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions; neither fear their words nor be dismayed at their presence, for they are a rebellious house. But you shall speak My words to them whether they listen or not, for they are rebellious. ~ Ezekiel 2:1-7
Very cute sweaters and outfit. I searched for Kay’s outfits for less at the bottom of the post and could not find anything. Please advise. Thanks
There is also a link in the text of the post
Hi Sherry the link is in the last paragraph but here it is too. https://shopmy.us/collections/2789385
That fair isle belted cardigan took me right back to about 1976 or 1976 when I started buying my own clothes from my babysitting money. We all have certain garments we’ll never forget. The only difference was mine was in a Southwestern pattern but the colors and style were exactly the same. I loved that cardigan. I wore it with turtlenecks and jeans and corduroys. Come to think of it I’d wear that same exact combo today! I’ve always leaned into the Ralph Lauren aesthetic. You look very chic in this outfit!
I love monochromatic. Are your biscuit jeans more of the cement color from Frank and E or do they have a more yellow base? What is sizing like? I see they are quite long. Thank you
Hmm. They are a creamy color. Really the photos are pretty true to the color. I think I’ve sized up to a 31, but they are roomy and I wish I had my TTS 30.
I’ve purchased a couple of pairs of wide leg jeans and love them. However, I’m struggling to decide if they are too long. What length should they be? I’m wearing them with flat shoes for now, but may transition to low heeled boots for winter.