Mixing warm and cool tones of the same colour in one outfit?

[MoetUndChandon]

OK, this is a little bit niche and not the sort of thing that anyone I know in real life would have any opinion on whatsoever, so I’m coming to the women of Style & Beauty hoping that you will have opinions on this.

So, I have come to the conclusion that I like fairly soft cool tone colours in my wardrobe: taupes, greys, blues, etc. I’ve bought some really lovely neutral or cool toned dark brown accessories like a beautiful Steve Mono bag from toast, and some lovely brogues.

I’ve been looking for some sandals, or summer shoes and have bought some tan coloured fisherman sandals that I really like from Russell and Bromley. However, these are a pretty warm tan. and I have heard a style rule of not mixing warm and cool tones of the same colour in one outfit. In which case having the warm tan alongside cool tone browns is a no-no.

As shoes, they are too far away from my face to worry about them not suiting my colouring, but if they disrupt the harmony of the overall colour palette, should I steer clear?

Should I return these sandals, or am I being too ridged sticking to rules like this? Is tan such a classic that it almost counts as a neutral anyway?

I am sure some people will say if you like them wear them, but I am torn. They are £275 which is too much to spend and regret.

Here they are: https://www.russellandbromley.co.uk/siracuse/124320?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20821020445&gbraid=0AAAAADoNT5L5SprLP-Yg_iRR-dfH4_g0Z&gclid=Cj0KCQjwiqbBBhCAARIsAJSfZkbFJMYU6zXAdv_Z3gQT9rH3XEZisrRY81HMBZEyLBX8XhoCHXS1vJQaAp_2EALw_wcB

I think the "colours" thing is a restrictive and limiting way of choosing clothes.

The colour would be great as a flat boot or a closed ballet pump but I wouldn't wear something so dark as a sandal. That's got nothing to do with colours and tones, just that they would feel and look to me as too heavy to be summery

I have these which are more summery.

Fisherman's sandals

Those are lovely, I had a bit of a Google, but I couldn’t seem to see anywhere they are available in the UK?

I mix warm and cool tones. They bring vibrancy and grounding to an outfit. I have seen some colour mixes in fabrics that expertly mix the two. Good luck choosing your sandals!

These colour rules are nonsense, you see people in lovely outfits breaking all the (made-up) rules.

I do believe in colour theory to an extent. There is a shade of every colour to suit everyone and the aim of colour theory is to have clothes that you want to wear everyday because you know they work for you. Rather than over buying clothes because "nothing works or suits you".

Have you tried them on with any of the cool-toned items that you have already? Particularly trousers or dresses? They will be closer to the sandals and you'll see if they work well together. If your overall palette is cool toned, you may find the disconnect in colour tone to be too much and it'll make your teeth itch! You will not wear them as often as you think.

Its not just the colour temperature that's important when considering harmonious outfits, it can also be the intensity of the shade. If you're palette is light soft tones and you wear a medium darker toned colour it can feel unbalanced. A good example is on the thread where the poster is wearing clumpy black sandals and heavy Mary Janes with clothes that are light to medium in value. The tonal clash is not quirky but makes the overall look unbalanced. It's why I don't believe that "black goes with everything", it definitely doesn't!

I bought them last year from this shop. They don't have them this year. The Bilbao seems to only be available to order from France.

Surely, if you're cool-toned, then the tan sandals wont go with your skin tone either, let alone the rest of your wardrobe?

it can also be the intensity of the shade.

I agree about the intensity of the shade. I like the colour of the OP's dark tan sandals. I have a long, cotton Cabbages & Roses dress I wear with flat lace up boots in a similar, even darker shade, but I wouldn't wear sandals in that shade with it. I wear the Paraboot sandals. The boots make it an autumn outfit- but dark sandals would look too heavy.

But the rest of "colours" sounds like restrictive mumbo jumbo.

Yes, but that doesn't matter so much if its not near your face an hair!

I’d be happy to cogitate on this important matter … but I’d need to see the other elements of the outfit.

Generally if I’m uncertain about colours of as yet un-bought items I make a photo montage on my phone with things I already own. (Don’t need another app in my life, but others might prefer that.) If I already own all the pieces I find trying them on together is … definitive.

I agree that there is a lot about the colours stuff that is mumbo jumbo, the number of people who've been told one thing, then another is testament to that!

So this is the bag that I would typically be using.

And here they are in between another of my bags, and a scarf.

Okay … I wouldn’t choose the first (leather) type of bag to wear with the shoes. They’re calling out for something in straw or canvas - that would matter more to me than colour. (It’s a nice bag - but the pairing would be awfully staid!)

Not sure about the second bag and knitwear with the shoes. The combination is all a bit too … tasteful.

Put them with some of the trousers or skirts you wear. Just putting them with other accessories doesn't work. If you were actually going to wear a wintery cashmere scarf with summer sandals it will look incongruous regardless of colour. A silk or chiffon scarf would be more in keeping.

I agree with a PP who said the sandals would work better with a straw bag.

Your original question was will the warm toned sandals work with the rest of your wardrobe. At the moment I would say no, you will wear them occasionally and always slightly fret that something is off.

Have the courage of your convictions and return them.

Interestingly, Cordera, who I generally trust, disagrees with me on your chosen bag / sandal scenario!

https://cordera.es/products/cotton-stitched-top-brown-ss25

🤷‍♀️

But I’d strongly recommend their entire site for colour combination inspiration.

@SurpriseSparDay The bag/sandal combination works in the Cordera outfit because the other items have some formal structure, the top is structured not floppy, soft, drapey linen. The straight stitching lines on the top complement the structure and straight lines of the bag. The colour tones are all cool brown though, no clash of warm and cool.

I have just tried them on with todays outfit (lots of grey) and they look like orange clown shoes on the bottom of my legs. Was wearing denim when I bought them.

I think they are far too warm, and dare I say it, too orange. Black, taupe or a pinky shade would be better.

Return them. Unless you regularly wear denim blue, cream or olive on your lower half. There's no point in having "unicorn" items in your every day wardrobe. Unicorn items - items that are fit for one occasion or purpose and then sit there unworn. That's why there are so many party dresses on Vinted.

Right. They've gone back. Shame because they were beautifully made. If anyone can recommend any grey/taupe fishermans sandals that would be great, I like the Paraboot ones IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle posted, but I wouldn't want suede.

Put them with some of the trousers or skirts you wear. Just putting them with other accessories doesn't work. If you were actually going to wear a wintery cashmere scarf with summer sandals it will look incongruous regardless of colour.

Agreed- the accessories are irrelevant. I would and do wear boots and pumps in that colour with denim dresses, red, navy, all other blues other than pastel, dusky pinks, deep pinks, orange, greens other than pastel, multi colours, prints and florals.

I don't think I'd wear sandals in that colour as they're not summery enough but I'd need to try them out. I've got a red cord dress and a red cotton skirt which could be made less wintery with them and an ancient Laura Ashley summer dress in orange and orangey brown which could be toughened up with them.

Not sure I’m seeing exactly what you want, but

Hereu Studio

generally has a slightly wider range of colours than most places.

Wow. I could bankrupt myself on that Hereu site! Really lovely.

Lower price bracket but you might like these:

https://www.hush-uk.com/leather-caged-fisherman-sandals-stone/013037-0331.html