Summer Knitting, Part 2: Vibrant Vibe
Q: I love to knit garments in vibrant colours for summer. But somehow they never look as fresh and ‘happy’ as I envisioned! Have you any advice for how to put together outfits with this in mind?
I have a sense that many of us struggle with this one. Knitted garments, even in lightweight yarns, already tend to have a heavy look to them. We try to make them fun by knitting in ‘summer colours,' only to discover that the only obvious things they match with in our closet are black, and sometimes denim. And that the combination often looks either to officey or too messy.
The solution I’ve found is actually very simple. The key is to stay away from black, and instead opt for brown or light coloured bottoms and footwear.
If you are able to wear white, cream, ecru, or that oatmeal/ lineny sort of colour, that is ideal for bottoms. If not, try light shades of khaki, olive, caramel, mustard, grey or taupe.
For footwear, any shade of brown, straw, canvas or metallic will do nicely. And if you wear handbags, same with that. Try a simple canvas tote instead of a black handbag. Or if you prefer leather, go for brown.
Black, as in true jet black, has the tendency to either ‘deaden’ vibrant colours, or to make the overall look feel too heavy. Which is the opposite of what we typically want for summer.
And while denim works with some vibrant colours, more often than not the overall effect is lacklustre. While we tend to think of denim as neutral, it actually isn’t. It is some shade of blue. So when you wear blue jeans with an already colourful top, you are introducing yet another colour into the mix and diluting the impact of the upper garment. This is why the overall look can feel messy or tired.
Branching out from black and denim can be difficult; it certainly was for me. But acquiring even one pair of bottoms to experiment will be worth it. Pair it with all of your vibrant summer handknits, and see how you like it. This will then inform you, whether this is the right direction for you.
Patterns, Left to Right:
Transu Tank
Timepiece Pullover
Criostal Blouse
Seaside Disco T
