Camel is my favorite neutral color because it goes with everything from colors to stripes and even animal prints.  

 A little fashion story from my past:

 About 15 years ago I fell in love with camel after seeing a Marc Jacobs camel pleated skirt paired with a grey sweater on the cover of Vogue Magazine.  I copied the look with a camel pleated skirt from Club Monaco.  But this is the thing….up until that point, I thought camel was a boring color and too “plain jane.”  But not anymore….now I see it as a very classic color!

So let’s talk about some of the many style options to pair with camel. Since we are in the middle of springtime, one of my favorite looks is camel and white.  I love the picture of the beautiful camel cape, white slacks, and stacks of gold bracelets on our Pinterest board.  Another fabulous combo is suede camel culottes, and a beautiful Victorian white blouse worn with snakeskin pumps.   A look to keep you warm on those cool spring evenings is a Catherine Robinson cashmere wrap in camel…of course.  Shoes in a nude or animal print are the perfect combo for a camel and white ensemble.  For drama, add a bold statement necklace or stacks of bracelets.  Does that sound classy or what?

Since we never know what the weather will be like from one day to the next, we still need to think about light-weight spring coats and sweaters. Again, this is when camel becomes the perfect spring transition piece. What is more classic than a trench coat?  If you said, “nothing,” then you are right!  Whether worn with slacks, leather pants, or jeans, a classic trench coach gives any outfit a sophisticated look. Even think about adding a matching scarf to give your outfit a monochromatic look.  If your wardrobe is more on the causal side, this is when you will want to wear your jeans and camel coat or jacket with a pair of sneakers. Such a great way to transform a classic piece of clothing into a trendy look.  

Another great look to pair with camel is animal print.  Animal print will take your classic camel outfit for a walk on the wild side.  Okay…maybe not too wild, but it will add a little spunk to your outfit!  Think about incorporating animal print into your camel ensemble with a handbag or scarf.  Both accessories will go with your jackets and white pieces.  Also, consider adding animal print with your shoes.  There are so many choices; heels, flats, and sneakers.  If you are really daring, wear a pair of animal print pants with your camel trench coat or jacket.  And to that, I say…you go girl!  

A look I love is camel with stripes. That kind of sounds French… doesn’t it?  Ines de la Fressange, French model, style icon and former muse to Karl Lagerfeld has that chic French look that I adore. Be sure to check out my Pinterest board, “Ines,” to study her effortless style.  She is also the author of Parisian Chic, which includes all of her favorite haunts in Paris. I’m pretty sure you will want to add her book to your reading list.  The best thing about a chic French look is that it never goes out of style because…just like camel…it’s a classic.

If you love color, just know you can pair every color with camel. My favorite combo is paired with red.  You can add red with a pair of pants or a dress topped off with a camel blazer or sweater.  A subdued option would be to add a hint of red with a handbag or shoes.  The good news is this….whatever color you choose to pair with your camel ensemble will be the perfect pop of color for you.

 

Ines de la Fressange defines her book in three words: “eclectic, honest, and happy.”  That’s how I see the color camel…eclectic, honest, and it makes me so happy!

Holley Williams is a personal stylist specializing in closet inventory, seasonal shopping, closet organization and wardrobe consultation. Contact Holley at [email protected].