Olive Green for Fall

Olive Green for Fall

Olive knits, army green jackets and trousers, and olive shoes and bags for a softer alternative to black and brown this fall.

Olive is the colour I reach for when I am tired of black and brown but do not want anything loud. It is earthy and soft, it goes with cream, camel, denim and even navy, and it looks especially good in autumn light.

The shade matters. I prefer a muted, slightly grey olive over a bright green, because it behaves like a neutral. A dark olive knit with blue jeans or a camel coat is one of my favourite easy outfits.

Arch4's ribbed Ariana turtleneck is $450 and their softer Ivy crew in sage olive is $795. Róhe's wool blend turtleneck, at $830, is a warmer, khaki olive. La Ligne's Solid Lean Lines, at $295, is the cheapest. Ralph Lauren Collection's cable knit is $990 and Gabriela Hearst's ribbed Peppe is also $990. Khaite's open-knit Wendy, at $1,280, is the lightest and prettiest.

Olive also sits beautifully with gold jewellery and tortoiseshell sunglasses. Ulla Johnson's cropped Ronan, at $490, has an open knit that looks great over a white tee.

Mood grid of olives in a bowl, an olive green velvet chair, olive knits, bags and flats, and an olive grove
Olive, worn like a neutral.

Olive knits

Olive has its roots in military and outdoor clothes, so jackets are where it feels most natural. A waxed jacket, a parka or a bomber in army green looks right with almost anything.

Barbour's Cottingham waxed jacket, at $480, has a corduroy collar and a tartan lining, and it is the classic. Nili Lotan's Victor bomber is $1,090 and the Lucienne parka is $1,390. Jamie Haller's York Robe, at $695, is a long belted coat in cotton twill. Nili Lotan's Howard overshirt, at $690, is the lighter layer for early autumn.

For trousers, I like olive with a cream knit or a white shirt. TWP's Slouchy BF is $530, Veronica Beard's Kenneth wide leg in stretch crepe is $390 and Citizens of Humanity's Velha, at $280, is a relaxed cotton and linen pair.

The easiest outfit here is an olive jacket over a cream knit with blue jeans and brown loafers. It is relaxed, it works in the country and the city, and it takes no thought at all. Veronica Beard's Kenneth is the dressiest pair, with a crease down the front.

Jackets, coats and trousers

If a full olive outfit feels like too much, shoes and bags are the easiest way to try it. They sit well with black, brown and camel, so they slot into what you already wear.

For flats, Le Monde Beryl's Stella Mary Jane is $605 and JW Anderson's ruffled ballet flat is $790. Roger Vivier's Gommettine, with its buckle, is $945. Mansur Gavriel's Ruched Loafer in moss croc suede, at $545, is a deeper green that looks great with jeans.

For bags, Tory Burch's Romy bucket bag, at $395, is the most affordable. Liffner's Belted Bucket in suede is $795. Bottega Veneta's Nodo in dark green woven leather is $2,400, and Alaïa's Delta, at $3,200, is a neat structured shape.

An olive bag is also a lovely alternative to a brown one. It gives an all black or all camel outfit a quiet bit of colour without looking like you tried too hard. Le Monde Beryl's Stella is soft leather with a strap, so it stays on while you walk.

Shoes and bags in olive

Our honest take

If you take one thing away, let it be that a muted olive can do the job of a neutral. We would start with one olive knit or a waxed jacket and wear it with the camel, cream and denim already in your wardrobe. We would skip bright kelly or emerald if you want it to feel like autumn, and avoid olive head to toe on day one. Barbour's Cottingham and La Ligne's sweater are the easy start, and Khaite's Wendy is the special piece. It is the calmest way to add colour to an autumn wardrobe.