The Colors of the Season: Casual Finds

Jewel Tones. Splendid mixes a rich shade of pine green with black and shades of grey for the perfect weekend tee. The contemporary fit is relaxed and easy in this style. We’re showing you the back so you can see how perfect it is for your favorite black leggings, and the front is just as good with a cowl neckline (click through the ‘shop it’ button to take a look) that adds just the right touch of style to what is sure to be your new favorite weekend staple. They are known for their super soft tees, and this is no exception.

Denim Blues. Nic + Zoe is one of our favorite resources for knits in fabulous patterns and an easy fit that is always weekend right. This open sweater jacket uses a beautiful shade of denim blue with black for a versatile layer you’ll want to reach for any relaxed day. This shade of blue works with any pair of jeans and a simple white tank or tee underneath, as easily as it works with a black top and casual black ponte pants for a bit more polish. You can even wear a tunic-length tee underneath and a pair of black leggings when you are running errands. The chunky knit is very on trend for the season, but it’s made of a cotton blend so you won’t get overheated in this one.

Shades of Grey. J.Crew shows how beautiful grey looks with another must-have color of the season – cognac brown. The leather panels give this basic wool v-neck a stylish twist for an update on an elbow patch that is modern and clean. (Most dry cleaners should be able to care for this, so don’t let that deter you). J.Crew’s typical modern fit, in XXS-XL, ensures a weekend right shape that is relaxed and easy with your favorite jeans or corduroys in any of the season’s rich colors. While you can certainly match the leather to your shoe choice, you don’t have to - any shade of brown or black will work with it.

Shades of Grey. Washed shades of grey and black denim are signature to an updated look this season, and this pair from Joe’s Jeans has a higher rise that offsets the always popular skinny fit to elongate the look of your legs for a truly slimming look. The waist hits just at/above the belly button, so you can avoid the dreaded muffin top and love handles, too. If you haven’t given a higher rise a try yet, this is the perfect place to do it. Joe’s contemporary fit is not as trim as some other brands, making it a favorite for ladies of all shapes and sizes. This shade of deep grey is super flattering without much distressing and has a nice amount of stretch for a soft feel. Wear them with anything and everything, just like you would blue denim. They have an edgier feel that will transition to a casual night out with ease.

Rich Reds. Vince uses 100% luxe cashmere to create one of the best sweaters of the season. It’s the perfect shade of red – deep without too much blue or orange undertone to it, so it looks great on most every skin tone. And just like Vince’s timeless aesthetic, it’s a shade that will never go out of style. The subtle change in stitch direction sets Vince apart in their attention to detail. Click through the ‘shop it’ button to get a better look at the back. The hem is longer – perfect for skinny jeans and leggings – with a horizontal stitch to make it polished and stylish. It is sized in Vince’s typically relaxed and easy fit, in XXS-XL. Size down if you are between sizes, but the arms are slimmer in fit than the body so it won’t look over-sized or sloppy. A true dream, but if we can’t convince you to try the rich red, it comes in charcoal grey, too. If your size is sold out at Nordstrom through the ‘shop it’ button, try Vince’s website.

Rich Reds. All shades of red work this season, and more classic reds are especially popular when used in plaids. Sanctuary provides a great alternative to the basic plaid shirt with this top, and does the tricky work of layering for you. The shirttail hem is flattering with skinny jeans or leggings, and you can unbutton the bottom button for a casually relaxed look that is easily completed with your favorite flat knee high boots or lace-up ankle booties. The solid black finish perfectly balances the red plaid so it doesn’t feel like “too much”. And the sale price certainly doesn't feel like "too much", either.

Salt & Pepper. White + Warren uses a mix of black and white to create colorblocks that look like variations of grey. You’ll love the weighty feel of the cotton fabric that won’t get you too hot, but will keep you feeling cozy all weekend long. The modern fit is easy, in XS-XL, with a split hem and longer back that works with all of your favorite weekend bottoms. Yet, it does have a polished enough feel that it can also be worn to the office with simple slim black pants. We’re sending you to White + Warren’s own website, with free shipping and returns - and a great sale price.. Known for their sweaters, we don’t think you’ll be sending this one back.

Salt & Pepper. Another favorite resource for knit casual wear, Velvet’s contemporary cardigan has a loose and relaxed fit that looks great over a plaid button down, simple tee, or even a turtleneck. We love the single front button closure – so you can actually keep it from flying open. If you are wearing this with leggings or skinny jeans and a fitted tee or tank top, this little feature can be a lifesaver to give your middle a little coverage. Their use of black & white has just the right balance to show off the color combination without looking too dark or too light. There’s even a pullover version with equal ease.

Luxe Camels. We are always careful about using color in our bottoms, since we always want to ensure every lady can feel slim and confident when she steps out. This deep camel pair of James Jeans is one of the right ways to do it. The front pockets are faux, so there is no added bulk and you don’t have to worry about the pocket fabric showing through around the hips. The fabric is very stretchy and very soft to both suck you in, and make them so comfortable for a weekend of casual style. The neutral color looks great with a denim shirt, an ivory cable knit sweater, a plaid shirt, or any neutral casual top or sweater. The contemporary fit has a rise that hits just below the belly button and a slim leg that isn’t too skinny at the ankle, so you can wear them over the top of your booties. This color looks just as good in these lightweight corduroy skinnies that feel like leggings.

Pastel Accents. Shades of pale pink, blue, and yellow help to create the retro paisley print of this amazingly fluid top. Unlike the way the picture may look, this style is not completely open – it has ties just at the top for a blouse (the bottom is closed) for an easy, relaxed shape that is even better than what’s shown. All you need is a simple cami to wear underneath – a turtleneck will really play into the throwback feel in a very cool way. Anthropologie always does a great job in finding wonderful prints and this one represents the inspiration of the season without feeling too ‘70’s, if you know what we mean. The result is just a pretty print that adds a pop of style to your favorite jeans (skinny to flare all work) for a great brunch look – or any fun activity.