Sweater – Romwe
Sweater – Romwe, earrings – Shamballa,
scarf – Ascher
Knightley, socks – Fair+True, tights – Gap
scarf – Ascher
Knightley, socks – Fair+True, tights – Gap
grey boots – Pas de Rouge, pumps – John Lewis
Scarf – Hermès,
boots –
Balenciaga, penny loafers – Church’s
boots –
Balenciaga, penny loafers – Church’s
Since you are a numbers girl: I wonder, how many items do you plan to buy this fall/winter (if any?)
Probably four or five: a sweater, a dress, a pair of loafers, a pair of jeans, and… I'm not sure – probably a second sweater. Averaging one per month. Actually, I think one purchase per month might be my plan for next year. Give a healthy and good-condition base of garments, that should work just fine for me!
I'm confused. You have 5 bottom pieces (skirts/trousers) and you could build an outfit with any of them, although to my eye, they all look basically the same. Are you saying a top must layerable to make the cut? Or at least a memorable top (the bright blue) must be able to be worn with a 3rd piece over or under?
It's a grey area – you're right. I think my ultimate hesitation with this one is it's memorability. Any sweater's going to be tricky with tee shirts or dresses, so I'm pretty much relying on being able to wear them with the pants and the skirt. The pants are varying degrees of dressy – the two seasonless pair are super-versatile, and can dress up quite a bit. Cords are a step down, and then of course jeans are the least dressed up.
Maybe what I'm looking for in a sweater is less of a statement, and more of a base for accessories…
Thanks for asking – I need to be held accountable for my inability to articulate my "pause" on this choice!
I really like the color of the sweater-I picked it up for myself in a cardigan to accent my core of navy and black basics. Looks like you could use a cheery bit of color with your core. Since you are thinking about a new pair of jeans, why not plan for this sweater and a pair of jeans in the same color? They would be amazing as a column of color and the jeans would work with all of your tops. For the scarf, I would go with a royal and black based print in a stronger, more sophisticated graphic that polishes the look when needed. Alternately, if you don't feel this color, another way to go would be with a sweater in the lilac-amethyst family and a scarf with lilac, accented with a deeper jewel tone purple and a touch of black-this would be so pretty with your grays and blacks!
I love the color but I can see why the sweater is tricky. It's boxy, so you can't layer it under anything, and it has a high neckline so you can't really layer it over anything that'll peek out, except maybe a turtleneck. A collared shirt or blouse may look odd with the shape of this sweater.
I also find that bright colors are tricky to wear with just black. This may just be my aesthetic–I find it easier to wear brights with black if other colors can come into the mix, via layers or accessories.
Maybe the same color in a slim-fitting deep v or cardigan?
Is the image of the grey dress from your collection or is something available on the market now?
that dress is a "stand-in" for my grey sleeveless dress I bought from Lands' End two or three years ago. My two dresses are identical, and they are WORKHORSES of clothing. Dresses from Lands' End, and from L.L.Bean, might be considered frumpy by many people, but I find them very versatile, and super-durable.
Thanks so much for your response & tip! There are two sleeveless options and a 3/4 sleeve runner up that look great on the Land's End website right now.
The sweater really is beautiful and quite a pop of color! I don't understand why that sweater would not have a lot of mileage. I'm also interested in how you make that decision. It doesn't happen often, but occasionally I am surprised by the mileage I get from an item. I have an Eileen Fisher sweater in a warm, midshade of green 4 years ago. Thought I might have difficulty integrating it… it has turned out to be a f? Not a cardigan? Is it the shape?
The Land's End dresses are really beautiful right now. I am wondering how you might style: http://www.landsend.com/pp/StylePage-422477_AD.html?CM_MERCH=Shopping_Cart The Women's 3/4 knit pleat front dress (in bittersweet) — beautiful color, but really wondering how you would style it with that neck line.
Susan (Minneapolis)
With that particular neckline – bracelets and earrings. The 3/4 sleeves will show a bracelet to great advantage. I wouldn't monkey with a neckline that's so pretty….
Thanks!
I like a bulky sweater with a straight jean (I am tall) and the color is beautiful with black, grey, or navy. Together with one of your scarves I thinks it will work beautifully.
I am still finding my way thru the concept of a curated and distilled wardrobe, but I really like Anne's reply about the shape of the sweater and her alternative suggestions.
I bought a cotton cashmere V-neck cardigan in this same color, and had a hard time working it into my wardrobe of black, white, red, and grey (with some lilac and icy blue). Black, white and blue and blue, white and grey looked fine, but it even with accessories, I couldn't stretch it further. (Now, if I only had red jeans!) I couldn't find a patterned sleeveless blouse or tank with same shade of blue — and the near miss of the blue in blouse and sweater were very jarring. Plus, I don't have a lot of patterned clothes. I love the color and could match it with black skirt, black pants, grey pants, and dark wash denim — 4 items.
Dillard's has opened an outlet store in the nearest large town. Unfortunately, I lost my wits at the store and walked out with every Eilleen Fisher item that fit. I know that I will enjoy them and wear the tops and sweaters, but I showed very little restraint . I guess I have much more learning to do. It is a quandary to me. I am going to try and adopt the one item per month for the next 12 months.
Thanks,
Karen
I think you are drawn to the vibrant color and with good reason. But if you have a hesitation (and that is a clue since your choices are always so confident), then I would rethink its purchase. What if there were a cardigan in this color? Would you still like it? Could you pair it with your dresses in addition to the pants and skirt? Just thinkin'.
Your hesitation speaks volumes. Sounds like something about this is not sitting well with you and trying to warn you of a potential waste of money.
The irony is, the ensembles you posted are all quite chic. But I would go with my gut, if it is not screaming I LOVE THIS AND IT WORKS WELL WITH MY CORE WARDROBE, then something is amiss.
YES!!!! I'm pretty sure it's the boxy cut that's making me pause, but it doesn't matter if I can EVER put my finger on my reasoning – the hesitation speaks for itself. All human beings have well-developed instincts in all sorts of situations, and this is not an exception. Thanks!
Lands End has a knit jacket that I purchased in a lovely shade of blue.
http://www.landsend.com/pp/womens-2-button-double-knit-jacket~242239_48.html?bcc=y&action=order_more&sku_0=::NRU&CM_MERCH=IDX_women-_-jackets-blazers-_-petite&origin=index
I was hoping for a pop of color to accent my grey/navy/eggplant/french blue based wardrobe. I sent it back for the same jacket in navy. The blue would have worked for me I think with a different base color mix. My husband liked it but he won't be wearing it. I did keep a lovely cardigan in a berry hue that does push the colors up just the way I was hoping the jacket would.
Cute jacket! Grey/navy/eggplant/french blue sounds like a great mix too!
Thank you. I am really pleased with those colors so far. The jacket is really nice. A nice weight and really nice details. I think I will probably get the grey one with the navy trim as well. I have had a great deal of luck with Lands End clothing. They fit me well and hold up and their return policy is wonderful.
Love this post; lots of food for thought about buying, wearing, curating. Went out to the Romwe website, looking for more details, but couldn't find this sweater. Lot's of this color blue, just not this model. Please help, what am I missing in my search? Kudos to you and your wonderful organizational esthetic!
Well, the sweater is sold out. That settles that!
:(
Wow, what a lot of great comments on this post; very helpful to hear from both Janice and all the readers. I love that electric blue. It seems like turquoise to me — both colors of blue most anyone, skin tone and/or hair color, can pull off. This is a really good post among so many.
Thanks for your thoughts on how to add pieces to ones wardrobe.
Bonjour Janice !
Just discovered your blog and I already love it.
I think there are many ways to create different looks from just a few basics. Remove all the clothes you have in your closet and pair them differently from what you would usually do. Avoid routine. It's very much a question of trying and daring !
Sometimes an accessory will be enough to change a look !
Think scarves !!! It's a truly magical accessory ! I am addicted to scarves (Hermes mainly) and, believe me, there are many many ways to style a scarf to enhance your outfit and make you look different every day. I created a scarf CD (if interested you are welcome to visit playingwithscarves.com)where I share 50 (!!!) styles with lots of personal tips and advice. Check it out if you have time :-)
Go scarf !
All the best,
Anne T.
Interesting read as I am in the process of getting rid of clothes I don't like and putting together garments that can make outfits. I find I have block neutral trousers/jeans/skirts, a lovely grey 'pea jacket' coat and a black padded coat. I shall go for pretty colours to go with those by way of tops and scarves, beads and whathaveyou!
So useful to know how other people approach these pesky essentials we call clothes!
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I did a post on my Fall transition wardrobe using cobalt blue as one the secondary colors in my wardrobe. I have a base of black and white with additions of cobalt, camel, and bright green. It is really a fun combination to wear…
http://goodlifeofdesign.blogspot.com/2012/08/my-transition-wardrobe-from-summer-to.html
Thanks for asking – I need to be held accountable for my inability to articulate my "pause" on this choice!
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