My mom is gonna send me a seldom-used caramel-colored leather handbag of hers that I’ve been coveting. And as I was busily fantasizing about wearing my caramel-colored leather oxfords when I carry it, I thought about the boundaries of matchy-matchy.
And this morning, as I put on my brown sandals, red pants, brown v-neck top, and cherry quartz necklace, I thought about them again.
I definitely tend toward the matchy-matchy end of the spectrum. I mean, clearly. It supports my desire for an orderly universe, and is easy to fall back upon when I wake up and simply can’t be fussed to be fashionably creative. But have I crossed the line? Am I, once again, veering into old-ladydom?!?
Let’s find out with a little Already Prettypoll.
1. Do you wear black and brown together?
2. Yellow gold with silver?
3. Would you match a handbag to shoes?
4. Shoes to a top? Or dress?
5. Earrings to a necklace?
6. Earrings to a necklace AND bracelet?
As for me:
1. Yes, but only within the past 3 years.
2. No, but mostly because I don’t own (or like) any yellow gold.
3. Yes. See above.
4. Yes. And didn’t think twice about doing so until I saw this post from fellow Minnesotan FutureLint yesterday.
5. No. I’d want them to be complimentary (as in, both made from brushed metal, both featuring green stones, etc.) but not truly matching. Similar, but not congruent. I recently bought a necklace that came with matching earrings, and I CANNOT force myself to wear them together.
6. Not a chance. Even I have limits of matchy-matchydom.
OK, now you.
And feel free to weigh in on that burning question: “Has Sal Achieved Old Bat Status at 31?”
Image courtesy my girl Natalie Dee.
{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
1. As a brown top with black jeans, yes. But I’m phasing out brown as too touchy to coordinate into full formal work outfits.
2. Yes if (a) the gold and silver colors are on the same piece of jewelry or (b) we’re counting belt buckles, as mine always seem to be silver-colored but my necklaces are often gold.
3. Does it count if both are black? I only have black shoes but do have colored handbags.
4. If my shoes have non-black trim, the non-black color will show up somewhere else in the outfit, though on me that’s more likely to be a scarf or cardigan than a blouse.
5. Not unless we’re talking rhinestones for evening. But I rarely wear both earrings and a necklace anyway.
6. Never.
I prefer not to match–I feel too “done” in matching pieces and also I think there’s more stylistic expression and maturity found in coordinating pieces.
1. Yes, also black with navy.
2. Yes, yellow gold always with some silver.
3. No.
4. Yes to a top, no to a dress unless it’s black.
5. No.
6. NO.
Take my answers with a grain of salt as I’m well into my old batdom!
1. Yes, but it took me a while to reach a comfort zone with the whole black/brown thing.
2. No, but, like you, mostly because I just don’t care for yellow gold.
3. Yep!
4. Yes, but sparingly.
5. Come look at me today.
6. Nope. That offends my delicate sensibilities.
1. Yes, if is the right shade of brown.
2. Always. I actually really like pieces that incorporate both into them, too, but I think I might be the only one in my generation to like yellow gold.
3. Not intentionally. I usually rotate bags every few weeks so if the bag I’m using happens to match, it is not on purpose.
4. I try compliment, not match.
5. No
6. Never. My sweet, 65 year old neighbor from Columbia always does it and it freaks me out. She will even add a matching broach to the trio (gasp).
As usual, I agree with Enc. I’m not particularly matchy-matchy unless I’m doing it ironically.
Hi Sal-catch up with Savvy Gal as her post today is how to mix brown and black-haha!! Well, back to business! 1.Yes, I will match brown and black in autumn, definitely. 2.Yes, to mixing yellow gold and silver. 3.Most probably not on purpose, but if it happens, then fine. 4.Yes, I’ve done that, more so with a bag to an outfit! 5.Haven’t any matches here. 6. Same as 5. A great post, I must admit, I’m more of a contrast girl as opposed to a matchy girl, ie-red bag against a navy and white outfit! And Sal, you’re certainly not at old bat status yet!!
1. nope! unless it just happens to be a brown bag and i'm wearing a black coat. but that's only temporary and i can deal with that
most of the time, yes. it depends really. on the outfit.
2. nope. not unless i'm going for a certain look that requires mixing metals.
3. yes.
4. yes
5. no! that's just tacky
6. TACKY.
lovely blog! please visit mine & comment!
http://la-couturier.blogspot.com
1. Yes
2. Sometimes, depends on the balance in the outfit.
3. Used to, not so much anymore. Bought a bag I love and hate not wearing it – and it seemingly goes with everything. I hate when shoes and bag match too closely. It is unavoidable with black though – most casual shoes are black, most day bags are black = matchy default
4.If there is a pattern I am trying to pick up. But if dressing casually/without thought – yup. This is just laziness though, not intent.
5. Don’t wear earrings anymore
6. Hmmm. Sort of – I never match entirely, but there is a “goes with” vibe, generally related to scale or style.
1. Yes.
2. No – don’t think I own any yellow gold! I think it looks nice on some people but personally I wouldn’t do it.
3. Yes – I don’t set out to match them but I wouldn’t change to avoid them co-ordinating!
4. Maybe.
5. No – unless only wearing silver/white gold counts as matching!
6. Noooo! I rarely wear all three together anyway – feel too dressed up!
I’m not very matchy-matchy. I never consciously think about whether things “go” together. I love black and navy together and will definitely mix silver and gold. As for matched sets of jewelry: never!
1. I wear every neutral with every other neutral and wear something black almost constantly. It’s my fallback for the areas I’m trying to de-emphasize at any moment in time.
2. No yellow gold ever. Looks bad with my gray streaked hair.
3. I try not to, but the tote bag of office necessaries is usually black so it matches something,unavoidable.
4. I would pick shoes that pick up a color somewhere else in my outfit, and I try to limit those colors to red, green, purple or neutrals.
5. I always wear silver or white gold so things do coordinate, not matched sets.
6. Rarely wear necklaces but always wear a bracelet or multiples and a titanium watch. Love to have bright colored bracelets on all the time!
OHHH a poll! FUN! Ok…
1. Yes, just did so yesterday actually.
2. I tend not to wear silver. and the gold i wear is more of a ghetto gold. but i don’t like them together.
3. No, typically not. In style, yes, but not in color.
4. I like things to “go”, not necessarily match. (thank you WNTW)
5. I typically won’t wear earrings and a necklace together – I usually do one or the other.
6. Never. I’ll either do earrings and a bracelet or a necklace and a bracelet. never all three.
1. Yes.
2. Yes.
3. Not necessarily.
4. Yes, and Maybe.
5. Perhaps.
6. Probably not.
Back in my day, matching was important. I think matching is fun if you like it, and you can skip it if it’s not. Now, I think things just need to look like they make sense together.
I get exceedingly uncomfortable if I’m matching. In fact, I can’t concentrate and have to go home–from wherever I am–and change. I can’t even bear to wear my engagement and wedding ring on the same finger!
my answers are basically EXACTLY the same as yours. To the T.
1. I don’t like black with brown, basically ever, unless it’s like, brown pants, black teeshirt, or something completely plain and solid.
2. Never ever ever.
3. Sure, i’m not against it.
4. Yes, more likely to a top than a dress.
5. I refuse to wear any pair of earrings with any necklace, I prefer one or the other, so no.
6. I rarely wear bracelets, though I have been lusting for some lately, but again see #5.
PS: Mind if I link you on my blog/wanna trade links?
hi there!
i can’t remember if i’ve ever commented here before, but i made my way over via (into) the fray. love your blog.
let’s see…. um.
1. oh yes. out of necessity. sometimes the shape or texture of something brown is just begging to be worn with black… or black with navy—eeek!
2. totally, though i would NEVER have done this five years ago.
3. perhaps, though it’s not my goal.
4. i really don’t like doing this. for some reason, it makes me feel like i’m wearing garanimals or something… i take that back…. when i’m rocking the monochromatic look, then yes. otherwise, absolutely not.
5.i don’t think i have any jewelry that really matches. oh wait, i do (gift), and i never ever wear them together. ever.
6. hells no.
old bat?? heck no, sister!
1. YES. Love all the dark together.
2. Yes, but I’m a little squeamish.
3. Sometimes. I wouldn’t obsess about it.
4. Yup.
5. Yup.
6. …Probably not.
1. Do you wear black and brown together?
Yes, nearly daily.
2. Yellow gold with silver?
Yes, but only if I’m combining several small pieces, or I have some of the other metal in each piece. It’s gotta look right!
3. Would you match a handbag to shoes?
Nearly never. Makes me feel like a church lady. As long as they compliment eachother or are in a similar color family.
4. Shoes to a top? Or dress?
Mmm… no. I find that wearing, say, a red top and red shoes has a shortening effect.
5. Earrings to a necklace?
Nope, never had a matching set, and would only ever wear one, possibly to an extremely formal event.
6. Earrings to a necklace AND bracelet?
Hecky naw!
The one thing I do tend to match, if ever? Belt and shoes.
1. yes.
2. no, but mostly bc I don’t have a lot of yellow gold.
3. if I can manage it yes… but I tend to stick to one purse for ages…
4. complimentary, not matchy.
5. again, complimentary, not matchy.
One weird matchy thing with me is that I tend to coordinate my underwear with the top I’m wearing… hope that wasn’t too much info!
1. Do you wear black and brown together? Yes… brown top – black shoes, why not?
2. Yellow gold with silver? No
3. Would you match a handbag to shoes? No
4. Shoes to a top? Or dress? Shoes to everything (it’s easier to catch you 2 yo before she runs out into the street in shoes than in heels)
5. Earrings to a necklace? I’ll wear same-metal-jewellery and then really don’t worry about it – or I’ll wear glass or plastic-cut outs with whatever else I feel like
6. Earrings to a necklace AND bracelet? I’ll wear it all – but not in a set or matching way…