Anyone want to play Garb Matchmaker?

[gem]

I've been thinking a thread like this might be useful (and fun!) for a while, now, since we sometimes get "what can I wear with this?" questions here. Do you have wonderful garb that doesn't seem to go with anything else, and you're not sure what to wear it with? Let's post them here and see if the forum members have suggestions! H/A or not, Fairwear or fantasy, throw some pictures on up here, and share your ideas for others!

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I'll go first!
My pink linen damask corset is in its third season now, and I still don't really have anything it goes with! I made it pretty, so I *could* wear it as outerwear if I wanted to, and I do... but I've been pairing it with just a navy blue skirt I already had. It looks fine, but I know I'm not doing it justice. I'm not a pink person--AT ALL--so working with this color scheme is stumping me. (I do know it doesn't work well with a slightly darker berry-colored skirt I also have, and I don't care for gold and pink together.)

Here's the mystifying item:


What do you think? It's a very bright, deep pink, with black microsuede binding. The damask pattern is sort of taupey--not really grey, not quite beige.  What else would look good with this?

Gramercy!

[Lady Nicolette]

I think a deep dark grey chemise (dress length) with a maroon/dark burgundy overskirt would look really pretty with that corset...

[Anna Iram]

I feel your pain. I have a blue bodice I just love that matches nothing! I'll post pics this week to see what you all think.

I'd go with black. Maybe a nice corduroy for texture and to pick up the piping. Maybe also make a black chemise like the one you have in white. Top it off with a cute little flat cap or italian bonnet in black with a pink feather.

[Adriana Rose]

A plummy purple would look great, or even a more purple purple would work.

[Athena]

Hmmm...I would say brown, perhaps a milk chocolate or mushroom color? Never underestimate the power of pink and brown together! 

[Lady Nicolette]

Great idea, Athena!  Pink and brown are indeed lovely together...

[DonaCatalina]

Hmmm...I would say brown, perhaps a milk chocolate or mushroom color? Never underestimate the power of pink and brown together! 

Great suggestion, I like the idea of chocolate and coffee colors with the pink.

[McGuinness]

I like pink and brown too. Maybe a nice patterned skirt to complement it, somethink like brown and gold or black and gold-ish vertical stripes?

[Anna Iram]

Brown would indeed be pretty and softer than black. Gem, like I always say, take the bodice to the fabric stores and hold it up to anything and everything. You might find a surprising match in something you never even thought would work. Maybe even a pattern as Colleen suggests with a hint of pink in it.

[Rowan MacD]

   I agree.  Chocolate brown with pink is particularly good with warm coloring-(Autumn or Summer) with auburn/brown hair and warm skin tones.  
  If you have black or blond hair/pale skin (Winter or Spring) go with charcoal, gray or black.  

[operafantomet]

Hmmm...I would say brown, perhaps a milk chocolate or mushroom color? Never underestimate the power of pink and brown together! 

Agreed, that's a yummy combination! If you want to keep it fairly period, try the colour pavonazzo. It's a maroon/purple brown nuance. I think such a purple undertone in a brown fabric would accent the corset's pink shade well. It's a shade I tried to simulate in an underskirt I made some years ago:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/operafantomet/pavonazzo/peacockandfriends.jpg

And also the favourite colour of Eleonora di Toledo, something in the line of these:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/operafantomet/renaissanceportraits/firenze2/bronschooledt1550s.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/operafantomet/renaissanceportraits/firenze2/bronzinocopycincinnati.jpg

[Lady Nicolette]

Love that color!  I have a chemise in that shade, it's one of my favorite pieces.

[gem]

Thanks, everyone! I do *dearly* love chocolate brown (as you know), but somehow hadn't considered it as a pairing for my corset. I'm intrigued, considering how popular brown-and-pink damask has been recently.

...But a chocolate brown what, is the question? Maybe a skirt and doublet? I want to stay kind of middle class with this. Renaissance Fabrics has some chocolate brown wool flannel, although I'm also sort of in love with these two colors:

 
(Although side-by-side they look kind of dreadful!)

And I also have that pinked microsuede I got for such a steal this summer, which is kind of the mushroom color Athena suggested:


Any other ideas? I thought I was leaning toward the grey/violet/?? side of things, because the pink is sort of cooler.

[Rani Zemirah]

I think that deep bronze in the portrait Anea posted would be incredible with that pink! 

[isabelladangelo]

For the pink pair of bodies, a mint green skirt.   Either in a damask print with a darker green or a black and mint green.  With the black, it will bring out the binding nicely.  I've learned before, taupe is impossible to match.  Just don't even bother.  Ignore the taupe in it.  Stick with the pink and black and try to find nice contrasting colors that work well with it.