You Have, You Need: Camel Sweater Edition

In the name of fiscal responsibility, I’m taking a shopping respite through the end of the year.  When you write a fashion blog, not shopping is like being a person on a diet who moves into a McDonald’s.  But I’m determined to flex some self-discipline now that my holiday shopping is done.

This shopping moratorium has led me to start thinking how separate influencer shopping is from how most women shop.  We don’t buy new pieces every week.  We don’t wear new outfits every day.  We repurpose and restyle what we already own and repeat outfits as often as necessary.  And thus, the return of You Have, You Need — a feature designed for women who want to augment their existing pieces with a handful of thoughtfully chosen pieces.

Camel Sweater // Do you own a camel sweater?  Yeah, me too.  This one from LL Bean is the perfect staple.  One of my good friends owns this sweater in multiple colors because she swears LL Bean is making the best cashmere available in 2023.  The sweater also comes in petite and plus.  Looking for a more affordable option?  I love the slouchy, slightly oversized collar on this Quince sweater.

Red and Leopard // Repurposing your camel sweater with red separates is a great look for every cold-weather day, but especially the holidays.  The color combination is classic and delightfully bold.  It’s one of my favorites.

This red pencil skirt from Boden is a fantastic choice for you winter styling needs.  Prefer an a-line?  Ann Taylor has a gorgeous option for under-$75 (also in petite). Plus-size ladies should try this pleated option from J.Crew.  If pants are more your speed, try these red high waisted pants from Anthro.

Of course, I wanted to pick my beloved Rothy’s big cat flats for this post.  I adore them and wear them constantly.  Prefer that look for less?  Try Zappos.  Both pairs go well with camel or black.  Want a shoe that isn’t knit?  Try these chic d’Orsay flats from Franco Sarto.

The temptation with this look is going to be to wear a red lipstick.  In my view that might look a bit costume-y.  Instead, try a nude-to-you, matte or light gloss lip color like Gucci Call It a Day.

Silk Scarf and Textured Hoops // As I’ve mentioned before, I have a wool allergy that is getting progressively worse as I age.  To wear my cashmere turtlenecks without itching, I’ve taken to wearing them with a silk scarf underneath.  In addition to keeping the scratching to a minimum, they provide a welcome burst of color and texture.

Don’t believe me?  You can view the look here, or here, or here.  Not into the scarf tied around the neck?  What about around your ponytail?

To match the color palette, I chose this scarf from Amazon (seriously, there are so many incredible prints for just $20).  I also like this floral print and this poodle print (tied up you’ll just see the color mix).  Also, this champagne-themed scarf would look phenomenal with a black turtleneck.

To complement the scarf detail, add a textured hoop earring.  These hoops from Amazon are so fabulous.  They’re very substantial but fit in a huggie style close to the ear for those of us who don’t like too much dangle.  I also like these thin croissant hoops from Quince and these chain hoops from Bloomingdale’s.

Now, here is a look where you could wear a red lipstick and it would pick up the pop of red in the scarf.  I’d pair all of this with jeans for a relaxed look or camel pants for a monochrome palette.  And obviously, hair up.

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