Learning to Love Neutrals 

By Charlotte Powell 

As the seasons change, so does our wardrobe. As a Southerner from North Carolina, I feel like my wardrobe has changed double. I’ve never really needed a real winter coat, but now I watch as my puffer jackets overtake my closet space. I find myself pulling out neutrals and basics, definitely a lot less bright colors. I’ve noticed a lot of differences between Southern winter attire and New England or “Northern” winter attire. 

I worked at a boutique in high school where “sweater weather” carried a whole different meaning. 60 degrees was sweater weather. A slight chill or breeze on a sunny day was sweater weather. We sold sweaters that were colorful and I mean COLORFUL. For Thanksgiving, a lot 

of girls wore bright pink and orange sweaters because those were “fall colors” for us. I even remember my manager saying, “Everything needs a pop of color!” It would be rare to see someone wearing all black or all neutrals. 

Here in Fairfield, Connecticut, the winter and fall fashion is very different. It’s actually completely normal and common to wear all black or neutrals. Browns are a huge thing too, and grays, navy blues, creams, and whites as well. You can never go wrong with a solid neutral long-sleeve shirt or bodysuit paired with jeans and a black puffer jacket or even an oversized blazer for a more chic look. Cable-knit sweaters are a great option too, but never eye-popping designs or colors. The Northern girls seem to have a mutual respect for the neutrals and I’ve learned that the basics are oftentimes the best. I feel like I have way more things to pair together now, as opposed to trying to style a sweater that has all the colors of the rainbow on it. I like simple pieces that can be spiced up and have personally been LOVING navy blue for a cleaner look when paired with cream, grey, or white. 

I do always appreciate a little pop of color and have recently incorporated a few yellows, greens, and pinks in my outfits, just more subtly. I don’t think I’ll ever be the dressing-in-all-black type, but I do like the New York and New England fashion a lot. I enjoy how I can incorporate both Southern and Northern qualities into my style today!