winter white, sort of

Balenciaga bag, Eileen Fisher knit jacket, Frye ankle boots
earrings | scarf (similar) | jacket | bag (similar) | bracelet | bracelet | tee (similar) | jeans | boots

This Eileen Fisher knit jacket (or cardigan, depending on your POV) is actually bone not white, but I’ve seen so many different interpretations of “winter white” recently that I figure it will fly under the radar. 😉  Mine’s a couple of years old and was part of my 12-piece travel wardrobe for Scotland and England in 2013.* I like how it lightens up my dark neutrals and works with both casual or dressier looks. Still available here, in Women’s and Petite sizes as well. The scarf is a couple of years old, originally from J.Crew.

Balenciaga bag, Tory Burch wrap bracelet, Aurelie Biderman cuff

I picked up these Frye ankle boots a few months ago, but this is the first time I’ve shown here as part of an outfit post. I love the style and color, but after the first few wearings learned that they scuff very easily, and are probably just destined to be distressed.

Frye "Reina" boots

Today is “How I Wear My: Winter White” at The Rich Life On A Budget and Everything Just So. I’m looking forward to seeing how everyone works this trend.

Linked Up: Throwback Thursday at Happiness at Mid-Life, Visible Monday at Not Dead Yet Style, Share-in-Style at MIS PAPELICOS.

Do you have a favorite winter white/bone/cream/ecru/ivory piece?

*You can see more of my travel wardrobes here, or click on the “travel” image in the right sidebar.

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77 Comments

  1. In Chicago, winter white would probably be defined as the color of snow, after 2 days, when it’s mashed down into slush and turns a gruesome grey! But your cardigan is beautiful, and looks great with your outfit!

    1. Janice, oh yes, I remember that shade of ‘white’ from working in New York for a couple of years! Thanks!

  2. The boots make the day!! White is tricky but really a nice change as it lights up the wearers pretty face!!!

    1. susie, thank you. I do find that cream/ivory/bone shades are a little easier to wear than pure white. The trick is to find the shades that work with your skin tone.

  3. Frye boots do scuff and it’s part of their charm. At first with just a few scuffs, maybe not so charming, but after awhile, the patina is lovely. As I’m letting my hair come in silvery, there are a lot of colors that are no longer good on me, winter white being one of them. Your outfit is great on you.

      1. As I remember, I used to put saddle wax on my Frye boots a lot to soften them up and to just sort of blend the scuffs and scratches into the nice patina.

  4. Such a great look on you, I love winter white with leopard! Thank you SO much for linking to us. We really appreciate it! XO, Jill

  5. I think the leopard scarf makes this outfit pop but it also unites all these pieces.
    Loving those Frye boots! My daughter has several pairs of Fryes and she loves the comfort and style they offer. I think you will be very glad that you bought a pair…

    1. Hostess, thanks! Yes I love the comfort of Frye’s and they just seem to get better the more broken in they are.

  6. I like to move to light colored Winter weight clothing, usually tops or jackets because of the slush problem, after Christmas. I have a lot of Browns in my Fall line-up so White and Cream are easy to switch in.

  7. A structured knit jacket is a power piece in a capsule wardrobe. It takes up less space in the luggage and usually wrinkles less than a blazer. It is way more comfortable on a plane. It slides between formal and informal, depending on how you dress it up. If you substituted a pair of black pants for the jeans it would be a totally different look. Change out the boots for heels and the purse for a clutch and you could go out to the opera.

    1. Lady Light Travel, exactly! I wore this out to a nice dinner in London with black pants and my dressier pair of boots and felt perfectly appropriate.

  8. Virtually every light or soft color I’ve seen you wear is so becoming, and harmonious with your coloring! Great look.

  9. How timely…I just now picked a Nordstrom delivery off the porch…a winter white pea coat from Michael Michael Kors. Where I live (southeast TX) it never snows, and isn’t usually cold enough to even need a coat. But I have been thinking about getting a pea coat, and recently saw a soap opera actress wearing a white one in a scene, and immediately loved it! (Slightly embarrassed to admit how suggestible I am). So the new coat fits perfectly and is very cute! I may change out the buttons though, since they are bright gold and I think a duller gold (brass?) would look better.

    1. Jill Ann, if I hadn’t already picked up the navy J.Crew peacoat last year, I would have sprung for their bone version this year when they went on sale. (Can’t justify two peacoats with our weather.) I think brass, or even pewter or horn buttons would probably elevate the look of the coat.

  10. My Acne pistol boots are the same colour, 3 or 4 years old, and I actually love the way they’ve scuffed up — my hair stylist has Fryes cimilar to yours and hers are wonderfully aged after 2 or 3 years. To me, they make an outfit look real. A good thing.

  11. I love this look on you. The winter white sweater really pops against the leopard. Very casual, yet elegant. And yes to the chocolate brown bracelet.

  12. I love it all!! I have been looking for a whilte jacket for spring, but yes, it has to say white or something to the effect , otherwise it is winter white. I love this one on you, this against the leopard, and the quality of your gorgeous bag and boots!! fabulous!
    from the link up
    please stop by, jess xx
    http://www.elegantlydressedandstylish.com

    1. Jess, thank you! I find this softer color easier to wear than pure white, but everyone’s skin tone favors different shades.

  13. You look great in the EF bone, which did not work for me at all. I finally donated my EF bone long sweater( which was lovely and open and lacey) to their recycling project which gives the donated $5.00 credit. It is interesting to me that colors are so subtle and certain shades work for some, but not for others.

    1. Susan, thank you. I was surprised as I don’t think this color on the hanger is particularly alluring, but I love how it works with my coloring.

  14. I am actually on a look out for a white sweater to wear with my white jeans this season. It has proven to be a challenge looking for white sweater somehow.. there are a lot of off white but white 🙁 Anyway, I love the leopard print scarf on this combination as it adds character to the whole look

    1. Mrs. C, Thank you. I’ve seen a few Vince and Theory sweaters recently that look more white than off-white, might be worth a look.

  15. Very nice combination. Thanks for the inspiration. I have an off-white Acne tunic which serves me as winter white, and I have one terrific combination with it for winter (still to be photographed). Like Mrs.C, I cannot find a nice big cream sweater. Finding one is even more of a challenge as I find wool to be very itchy. So it needs to be either cashmere or cotton. Pffff.
    Your boots are beautiful. Even if they become distressed, they will still be beautiful.
    I saw on Mrs.C’s blog that you are planning on going to Amsterdam in May. Perhaps I can meet you for a coffee? And if you want a preview of Amsterdam, in the top navigation of my blog (No Fear of Fashion), you can click on the tab Amsterdam. There are quite a few posts there. Might give you ideas?
    Greetje

    1. Greetje, thank you and yes I would love to meet up! I will definitely check out your Amsterdam posts. I’m getting so excited about visiting there!

  16. Very classy look – I especially love the pairing of leopard with soft white/bone. They look gorgeous together! And the Frye ankle boots – sigh.

  17. Is there any chance you could picture anything else than narrow jeans with a shapeless top on the same street and place every time? Upside down triangle is not inspiring

    1. Hi bored, the clothing I show on the blog is what I wear in real life. (Work full-time, special-needs teenager to care for at home.) I focus on simplicity and ease of getting dressed, which I know a lot of people find boring. Someday when life is simpler perhaps I’ll be more creative. 😉 You might check out Advanced Style; they have some very creative folks in all kinds of locations.

    2. Dear Bored,
      Is there any chance you can get some manners? Why on earth would you even leave this comment? Do you realize how hurtful comments like this are? Would you say something like that to a friend or acquaintance in real life? She is dressing for herself and if someone else is inspired by her style then I’m sure she is happy. There is no way any one blogger can please everyone. Also, as far as where her photos are taken, I’m sure it’s somewhere convenient for her and her photographer. I find the location beautiful and why should she have to change that so that you are not bored? She has a full life and we are lucky enough that she takes the time to share what she does with us. Une Femme you are beautiful and I hope you don’t change a thing! x

  18. Great outfit!

    I liked the Eileen Fisher knit jacket so much that I ordered it, as well as the companion pull on skirt.

    They just arrived. This will indeed be a versatile set to mix and match or wear as a set. I look forward to constructing outfits with different accessories, shoes and bags–these pieces will take me from winter through spring.

    Thanks for sharing.

  19. Gorgeous shape, color and texture … very you in it’s sophisticated ability to hang with the more casual pieces without losing it’s elegant vibe! You look quite beautiful in it, and makes one want to reach out and touch it’s softness … beware of harmless strangers like me suddenly wanting to rub your arm! It could happen!
    You’re so right about how it lightens your tan and blue tones up, vibe-wise!

  20. Are those the brown or the camel frye Reinas? I’ve been wanting them for a long time now, but I just can’t make up my mind which color I prefer. Yours look great! I think I want whatever you got 🙂