Tampabay.com
NOVEMBER 19, 2009

Move over brown and black. Gray and navy want a turn in our closets.

Grayloft I'm feeling blue these days. And gray. Very gray. But that's not a bad thing.

Lots of us rely on brown and black as our staple neutral palette. They are safe, comfortable and convenient.

But this fall, navy and gray are jockeying for equal play in the world of neutrals, and I'm totally embracing them in my wardrobe. Both colors are versatile. They look great layered together or as backdrops for bursts of color. Neon, anyone?

Gray, my personal favorite of the moment, offers a softer touch to an outfit than its darker brethren. I love how rich pinks and purples really pop against it. Try a patterned scarf over a gray tee. Throw a navy cardigan over a silky gray blouse and vice versa. Confused about what color shoe to put with? Consider brown, silver or burgundy. Or pink. Okay, yeah, I'm obsessed with that color, too.

Deal Diva Colleen

(Photo: Like this look? You can get it at the Loft. And click here for 30 percent off your purchase!)

Join the discussion: Click to view comments, add yours

About the bloggers

Looking for shopping deals in Tampa Bay? The Deal Divas are on the prowl, sniffing out hot fashion finds that won't leave your wallet in ruins. Now you never have to miss a shopping deal! Sign up for weekly Deal Diva Alerts by e-mail. by e-mail. And check in often for the lowdown on local bargains, as well as fashion advice, fun photos and style news. Because shopping should be all about the Washingtons!

Disclaimer: The content of this blog is produced by the editorial staff of the Times and is not tied to advertising.

Meet the authors
E-mail us ideas you'd like us to write about.
Follow us on Twitter!
Join our Facebook page.

Advertisement

THE AUTHORS

Stephanie Hayes came out of the womb wearing high heels. While other kids were reciting multiplication tables, she was learning to calculate an extra third off the half-price discount during buy-one-get-one week. She loves animal prints, black mascara and anything that sparkles. She objects to visible panty lines, Crocs and anything that costs more than a car payment. And she doesn't drive a nice car. She can be reached at (727) 893-8857 or shayes@tampabay.com.

Emily Nipps As a sullen teenager, Emily Nipps refused to wear anything but black, olive green or burgundy, preferably ripped. She has since added color to her life but still experiments with her dark streak. A product junkie, she has tried tons of overpriced face creams and hair products but loves drugstore brands that work the same. She's an Aries and a bassist in a punk band. She has a pet pig, seven chickens, three cats and a rabbit. And just as many lip glosses. She can be reached at (727) 893-8452 or nipps@tampabay.com.

Kameel Stanley has never encountered a thrift store she didn’t like. Her mother taught her that the true value of clothes isn’t how much they cost, but how many outfits one can create from them. Having grown up in Michigan, she was delighted to learn upon moving to Florida that she almost never needed to wear socks or boots again. There’s a lot of turnover in her closet, and she’s obsessed with dresses, necklaces and wedge heels. She can be reached at (727) 893-8643 or kstanley@tampabay.com.

A disciple of the little black dress classics school, Letitia Stein stretches her budget by looking for styles with staying power. She lives for 80 percent off shoes at DSW, floral sundresses and bohemian chic tops. She confesses to being a bit of a snob when it comes to handbags and jewelry. She can be reached at (813) 226-3400 or lstein@tampabay.com.

Coming from a long line of fashionable women, Kim Wilmath considers herself lucky to fit into their hand-me-downs. Her wardrobe staples include her grandma's vintage blouses and her mom's funky jewelry. When she's in the market for "new" items, Kim hits her favorite thrift stores -- a habit she also picked up from mom. But when circumstances require a visit to the shiny stores in the mall, you'll find Kim at the sale rack like a good little diva. She can be reached at (813) 661-2442 or kwilmath@tampabay.com.

Registration FAQ

Read our Frequently Asked Questions on how to register to comment on the site.