Plum and Cream Outfits to Try This Fall

For Fall 2012, Victoria Bartlett at VPL made back-to-front color-blocked pieces, including a longish dress that Vogue described as shiny plum jersey in front and matte cream jersey in back. Shine against matte is the whole idea, and the colors are the reason it works so well.

Plum is deep, a little purple and a little red, and cream is the soft thing that keeps it from looking heavy. Black and plum can look like a mourning outfit. Cream and plum look like a dinner party, like something from a film where everyone wears velvet and talks about art.

A quick test: put a plum sweater or scarf next to a cream coat in natural light. If the plum looks rich and slightly jewel-like instead of flat, and the cream looks soft instead of yellow, you have a pair.

This grid is the accessory table. Bottega Veneta's Cherry 45 boots are burgundy Intrecciato leather and Proenza Schouler's Trap 60 boots are burgundy stretch velvet over the knee, so you can pick a dark wine boot in either direction. Jimmy Choo's Amita 45 slingbacks are ivory and pearl-embellished, and Toteme's Threefold clutch is off-white satin. The burgundy is a close cousin of plum, and next to the ivory it reads as a very deep wine. What I would skip: the over-the-knee boots with a dress that is already long.

Allude's turtleneck is plum cashmere, snug at the neck and soft in the sleeve, and Citizens of Humanity's Faye jeans are a cream mid-rise straight leg. Le Monde Beryl's Petra 100 pumps are dark purple velvet and Alaïa's Le Teckel is a small ivory leather shoulder bag. How to wear it: this is a very simple outfit that looks finished because of the velvet shoe, so keep jewelry to one pair of earrings.

Posse's lace-trimmed wool sweater is cream, with a little lace at the neck and hem that keeps it from being plain. Proenza Schouler White Label's Aria trousers are burgundy twill with a wide leg, and Le Monde Beryl's Olympia ballet flats are dark purple velvet. Bottega Veneta's Campana is a small burgundy Intrecciato shoulder bag. The burgundy and plum are close enough that the whole outfit looks like one deep color with a cream accent.

Victoria Beckham's gathered jersey midi dress is burgundy and has a slight cling that is flattering without being tight. Auralee's coat is a belted wool and cashmere-blend corduroy in ivory, and Nodaleto's Dona 50 ankle boots are burgundy leather. Saint Laurent's Cassandre bag is a burgundy matelassé shoulder bag. The corduroy gives the soft ivory a texture that holds up next to jersey, so the coat never looks thin.

Nour Hammour's Blaise coat is paneled cream shearling, big and warm and slightly dramatic. Fforme's Lilah blouse is cream satin with a tie, Altuzarra's Rudy pants are burgundy wool in a straight leg, and Toteme's scarf is cream cotton jersey. Wear the blouse tied loosely and the pants hemmed to just touch the shoe. It is a mostly cream outfit with one dark anchor, and it is the one I would wear to dinner.

The one rule I follow with plum and cream is to keep the plum deep. Burgundy, aubergine and wine all go well with ivory and ecru, while a bright purple fights with cream. Put plum on the bigger pieces, like pants and sweaters, and let cream sit near your face. If you only have one of the two, start with a plum sweater, because you almost certainly own something cream.