march newsletter

khaki is not the new black, or navy - or whichever color reinvention we're currently determined to love more - but it is definitely one of the season's most important colors. If you've been to the shop recently, i've probably batted my eyelashes, trying to get you into a pair of cropped chinos or a safari inspired vest. while some reviews have been positive, i have a lurking feeling that the majority went home to wash off any memories of double pleated dockers shorts or the gap circa 1995 (the latest comments have involved "grandma moses" and "the boy scouts of america"). so, a new perspective on khaki.

why khaki is so great. first, it is in the range of our skin color (which i realize is sometimes a complaint in itself), so any other color put back to it pronounces itself in a distinct but soft way. this is not true of other neutrals. white and black tend to feel stark and polarized against other colors while gray is visually diluting. against this truly neutral backdrop, a cerise pink scarf is transformed from its former life as a winter accoutrement; white is given new dimension; blue eyes dazzle.

similarly, khaki has different personalities. depending on the garment and its application, it can read "annie hall", "urban safari", or "holiday in nantucket". meaning, it has a way of conveying a specific and amorphous perspective at the same time. khaki shirt dress with an aggressive ankle boot, magic. khaki trapeze top with skinny jeans, fireworks. relaxed khaki chinos rolled up with a fitted tank and your gladiator sandals of choice, ethereal.

another reason. khaki is a more durable color. when black and white fade, even a little bit, it loses its depth of color so both must be replaced frequently. khaki has a nearly indefinite shelf life. wearing and washing does not make it look tired or old, but rather, it develops character that will change over time. your khaki blazer for work fades and becomes your go-to piece for weekend dinner parties. then the perfect throw on for running errands or traveling.

but my favorite reason to reconsider khaki: it can feel elevated or casual, androgynous or supremely feminine, but it is always, always refined. whether a trench coat, a sheath dress or slouchy chinos, khaki is perennially elegant and sophisticated. it speaks to tradition and history but asserts itself in a fresh, expansive and energetic way.