Gray Is Hot!
Gray is hot this Fall. I’m not talking about which actors will star in the movie 50 Shades of Gray. I’m talking fashion. Gray is one fashion trend I’m happy to embrace! It’s frugal and trendy at the same time. How often does that happen?
Just think of gray with any color—it works in most cases! After all it’s a combination of black and white. Every color that looks good with black or white looks good with gray. And some that are not that good with white or black work well with gray.
It’s smart to buy some basics in gray to multiply your options and looks. I’d start with a pair of gray pants, but a jacket or cardigan could be a good item too. My mom says you can never have too many pairs of black pants, but in my experience a pair of good medium to dark gray pants will serve you well!
Ways to Enjoy Gray:
1. Gray with pastels looks polished and professional. Think pearly pink with medium gray. A light blue is classic with gray.
2. Gray with brights is fun and lively. Think cherry red, bright blue, spring green, hot pink, and orange. This is a more casual look, but you can tone it down with a gray cardigan for work.
3. Try different textures of gray for interest when paired with solid colors. Even a black and white tweed looks gray overall. A black and white houndstooth tweed pencil skirt can look professional at the office, yet look sexy at night with the right top.
Gray with Silver
4. Gray with other grays plus silver jewelry looks chic and understated.
Gray with White Looks Fresh
5. Gray pants or skirt with a beautiful white shirt and gold jewelry looks rich and confident. The same outfit with silver jewelry looks fresh to me.
6. A light gray in a silky fabric catches the light and looks very sophisticated. A soft blouse or loose pants look beautiful in this fabric. Gorgeous for the holidays.
7. Gray looks wonderful with autumn tones of honey, caramel, cognac, and even rust. You can’t always make those colors work with black, but they are beautiful with gray.
8. Gray handles jewel tones better than black does. A scarf or shirt in jewel tones is dramatic with gray, but never eye-startling. Think of how gorgeous a colorful painting is against a gray wall. That’s the effect you’re getting. Wine-colored accessories are beautiful with gray. Plum is gorgeous with gray.
Gray with Red and Denim
9. Charcoal gray pants have the same slimming effect of black pants. They give some variety to your looks if you wear black a lot.
10. You can even wear light to medium tones of gray year-round. Light gray pants can be worn the same way as white pants in the summer and they transition between seasons easily.
So try out your shirts, jewelry, scarves, shoes, and bags with something gray. I think you’ll be happy with how many looks you can make without having to buy a lot of new items.
And, yes, I bought my husband 2 gray ties. Hey, they were on sale, 2-for-1 and he needed them for a wedding.
By the way, I haven’t read 50 Shades of Gray as it’s not my cup of tea.
maggie says
Thanks so much, Corina! Scarves are so much fun and can add personality to a basic outfit. They are much more affordable than most larger items and can go with many outfits. I hope you find some looks that you love!
Corina Ramos says
Hi Maggie…
I love the outfits you picked out…great taste girlfriend!
I’ve always loved the color gray and mixing it with white and silver accessories…i feel confident and yes even sexy :)!
I try to use lighter colors but that’s just not me…I stick to gray, black, and red. 🙂
Love your suggestions…definitely going to give those a try, especially the scarves.
Happy Friday, have a wonderful weekend!
maggie says
Hi, Bren! Tan & black are great neutrals. You can stay with all neutrals, but add a pretty scarf to change up the look. Try a teal top with gray pants. Add a black cardigan & a necklace. Or experiment with a white button down shirt as a casual jacket. Have fun with it!
maggie says
It IS a totally good excuse to shop! It might be trendy, but it’s a true classic that you can just about wear forever. It looks great in various textures too. Have fun, Tanya!
Bren says
I have a few grey pants and capris and am always lost as to what to match up with it. White and black and light pink. I have experimented with any other colors yet. I’m more of a tan or black wearer. 🙂
Tanya @ Eat Laugh Purr says
LOL! I love the title!! 🙂 I don’t have a ton of gray in my closet. It appears that play it safe and stick with lots of black! But it does make a clean background to play off other colors or accessories. I’ll have to see if I can find a nice piece to add to my wardrobe – because I totally need an excuse to shop!! Have a great weekend, Maggie!
maggie says
Red and pink do look great with gray! For some strange reason, gray near my face makes my complexion look better. A gray sweater or scarf are faves of mine because of that. I have a pale gray sweater with a tiny bit of mohair in it & it looks great with almost any necklace. Thanks for your comment, Shannon!
Shannon @ The Heavy Purse says
I love gray! It’s a nice change of pace from black, which I used to wear more frequently when I still working in Corporate America. I love how red and pink pop against gray.
Miss Daja says
Gray is the new black this Fall/Winter! Love it.
Sicorra says
I completely agree, gray does work so well with so many other items. And I love the combination of gray and silver. Many years ago I had a gray suit (jacket and skirt) and while it was very conservative looking it was perfect for interviews and corporate office jobs. And I could easily add bright colors to liven it up if I wanted to.
maggie says
Thanks so much! I love to save money, but fashion can be a lot of fun! Thanks for stopping by!
Welcome Home Moms says
Ohhhh my! Your title is very clever. Great fashion suggestions! Beautiful pictures, too!
maggie says
I love bright colors too, Roberta. Enjoy them! But for those who work in conservative offices having a few gray items can really save money by multiplying their work wardrobe options. Thanks for commenting!
Roberta says
Oh that looks so Ohio State University ‘s scarlet and gray.
Gray is nice, but I much prefer bright colors – yellow, bright green, purple – especially during the dark, drab, and dreary days of winter. It cheers me up.