Going Green

If your closet is mostly black, cream and denim, a green sweater is the simplest way to add color without feeling loud. Deep greens act almost like a neutral, and they look rich next to brown, navy, grey and camel.

The shade changes the mood. Olive and moss feel earthy and relaxed, pine and forest feel classic and a little preppy, and bright kelly green feels playful.

I split the edit into two groups: crew and V neck sweaters first, then turtlenecks, mock necks and collared styles for colder days.

These are the sweaters you will wear on repeat. The pine and forest cashmere crews look polished with grey trousers, the moss V neck feels soft and slouchy with jeans, and the cable knits add texture without being bulky.

For a brighter take, the kelly green crew and the cropped cable knit look fun with a black skirt and loafers.

My fitting room test: try it on with the jeans you wear most. A crew should hit at your hip or just above, not halfway down your thigh. What I would skip: very fuzzy yarns that pill after a few wears.

When it gets colder, a green turtleneck looks great under a camel or black coat. The ribbed mock necks feel slim and easy to layer, while the slouchy wool turtleneck is the coziest pick here.

The collared sweaters are the most polished. Wear them tucked into a skirt or trousers for work.

What I check: the shade under indoor light. Olive can look brown and teal can look blue, so look at it in a mirror before you buy. What I would skip: thick turtlenecks if you plan to wear a scarf every day.

Pair a pine or forest crew with chocolate brown trousers and gold hoops, or wear an olive turtleneck with grey jeans and a black coat.

Green and burgundy is my favorite fall pairing, so try a wine colored bag or loafer with any of these.