Burda Style tops 10-2012-118 and 10-2012-114, Wardrobe Sewing

Thank you for the kind comments about the SWAP for my daughter. At the tail end of making that two capsule collection, I have also been making a wardrobe capsule for myself, inspired by my new favourite skirt, the red denim Biegnet via Paola. I am finding it fairly tricky.

I am using EJVC's "summer" 6PAC  (now running at the USA based Stitcher's Guild as a sewalong) as my basis for this  subtropical autumn/winter capsule.

EJVC's plan is:
1 a jacket or cardigan that will set the tone for the whole collection - in neutral
2 a pair of trousers or shorts or a skirt in the same neutral (but not necessarily EXACTLY the same -- can vary in shade or texture)
3 another bottom in the second colour
4 an underlayer top in the neutral
5 an underlayer top in the colour
6 an overlayer top in a linking print or in the colour 



As I must regretfully admit that I would not feel at all comfortable in a pair of red trousers, this being EJVC's excellent criteria for chosing a neutral, I have probably started with item 3 - another bottom in the second colour, and am considering this latest  top as number 5, as it is nearly red,
After this latest top, I am thinking that picking red for a second colour, which according to the plan should be chosen as if it could be a "neutral" was not a good idea for my personal style, which tends more to the understated and un-noticeable. This style could also be called dowdy and boring, so I am wary of my natural tendencies to tree and dirt colours  ;).

 The top pattern is Burda Style 10-2012-118A, I had previously made the dress version, so I was too lazy to check the adjustments did not have to do too much adjusting (this is probably why it is slightly too tight across the bust, sigh). I cut the sleeves on the bias for ease of wear, but shorter than the pattern, due to fabric limitations. 

I did make earlier a purely red t shirt from Burda 10-2012-114, just to see if I could bear it as an outfit with the red skirt but it was far too post box (these are red in Australia)  for me to wear in real life, although the teenage fashion panel think it could work with a contrasting jacket, scarf and stockings.

 Instead I wear it with my printed denim skirt, but this is not a  t shirt pattern I will be making again unless I get rid of the stomach ruching which I find unflattering.

So now the problem is, from what neutral should I make the cardigan/jacket and other skirt?
What earthy neutral looks good with red and can be worn as trousers? I may need to abandon the plan.


Stashbusting statistics 1.3m rayon charmeuse, The Fabric Store, Surrey Hills 2009 - strangely, the fabric I used for the dress version of the pattern was from the same purchase. Maybe I just have a 3-4 year maturing rate in my stash?
+1m of cotton with lycra jersey, Stretchtex, 2012, which contradicts my maturing rate theory.