Blazer, GAP (thrifted); top, Joe Fresh; skirt, Anthropologie (via eBay); shoes, Stuart Weitzman; bag, YSL
Blazer, GAP (thrifted); top, Joe Fresh; skirt, Anthropologie (via eBay); shoes, Stuart Weitzman; bag, YSL

I’m a redhead who is not afraid to wear pink, but coral is usually where I draw the line. Thing was, this Gap blazer fit so nicely, and seemed like such a great summer piece, I decided to set aside my prejudices. Well, coral is still not my colour, but this outfit turned out nice enough. The coral in the blazer picks up the same shade in the skirt, and my teal Muse II adds a bit of a colour contrast (along with the blue in the skirt). I defaulted to boring black for my shoe choice, mostly because navy pumps continue to elude me, and I’m afraid I need to add nude ones to the list too.

Are there any colours you guys avoid? Have you ever broken your own “rule” and been pleasantly surprised with the result?

redhead in coral ... a dicey proposition?
redhead in coral … a dicey proposition?
blue, white and black go with everything!
blue, white and black go with everything!

12 Comments on Coral Crush

  1. You can definitely rock the coral! 🙂 Is that a plain Joe Fresh tee underneath? I’m on the hunt for a nice white tee…

    • Yes, it’s plain white, although it does have a lace hem, FYI. I would say, overall, it’s ok. I like that the neckline is not too low, so it’s work appropriate. The quality is so-so. It’s not fully opaque, but it’s better than a lot of white tees I’ve tried. Because I’m so pale, with a nude bra, it’s opaque enough as a layer under blazers and cardigans.

      I’ve given up trying to find really good white tees. I did score a James Perse one at Winners for under $30, and the material is fantastic (thick, fully opaque, with a bit of stretch but without any “riding up” issues). The problem? The V-neck is WAY too low for work. So I can only wear it on weekends. If I ever find another Perse tee for a similar price but with a more acceptable neckline, I would buy it in a heartbeat.

      • I ordinarily go for black tees, but this summer I feel like adding some white in. Thanks for all the tips! I’ll be checking out Winners just in case. 🙂

        • I used to avoid white like the plague because I’m clumsy and spill-prone, but I’ve grown to love white (and cream/ivory) as a colour for tops. When you’re as addicted to prints as I am, it’s a perfect grounding element.

  2. I’m Asian, so obviously I have yellow undertones to my skin. As a result, I never wear green or teal, because they tend to really highlight those undertones in my opinion. Over time, I’ve learned that some shades of green are acceptable, like olive green or turquoise. Basically warmer-toned greens instead of cool-toned greens, and nothing too dark. I didn’t know redheads needed to stay away from corals!

    • I think the conventional wisdom is that redheads should not wear pink. Personally, I think cool toned pinks look fine on me. Warm pinks, like orange, are trickier for me. I feel like they just don’t work with my hair colour (which is definitely more ginger than auburn), and my skin tone. I don’t know … maybe it’s all in my head.

  3. I think you look terrific in the coral jacket and the whole outfit is awesome. Glad you put aside your aversion to coral.

  4. I can’t wear blush colored things due to it being the same color as my skin… I don’t look that great in mustard. I don’t own much orange, red or coral but this looks great on you so I’ll have to give it a try! I wish I had your thrift store shopping skills. 🙂

    • I used to shy away from blush for the same reason, but it’s such a versatile neutral that I started to wear it from time to time. It’s probably not ideal for my skin tone but, oh well! The older I get, the more I like to break the rules 😉

  5. There isn’t anything I tend to avoid and I have no idea if there is anything I should avoid with my skintone / hair.

    I’m not keen on black though! Avoid black as much as possible really. Also not a huge fan of beige or grey but that’s just because I see them as boring!

    • I never thought about it before, but it’s true … I rarely see you wearing black. Black is totally my crutch, hah!