July 11, 2013
Now that I’m home during the day, I’ve found that I don’t need to dress like a serious business executive all of the time, and I’m able to indulge my fondness for ballet-ish garments, and a lot of dark neutral colors. I find that being able to have a simple, monochromatic wardrobe makes sense for me…
This month’s additions: the most excellent Preloved tee shirt that I bought in Toronto, a charcoal tank top from Eileen Fisher, and a pair of black skirted leggings. You either LOVE, or HATE, skirted leggings. I’ve found that I love them – they’re comfortable, flattering, and just unusual enough that they make me happy.
This was what I was using for Project 333. I found that I just NEVER reached for the pink and turquoise tee shirts – they’re just too bright for me right now. Substituting black print and solid grey made me really happy… And my black silk skirt finally broke down – sort of a simultaneous failure of multiple seams. I wore it, until it wore out. That was a source of great satisfaction…
This is how I’m situated right now for summer clothes. I couldn’t be happier.
Is anybody else in the process of Project 333, or something similar, that limits your wardrobe choices? More information about Project 333 is available here.
love,
Janice
Janice
I was just thinking about your project and if you were keeping to it since you are free-lancing now.
Are you someone who always gets "dressed' or do you have days where you stays in your PJs til lunch?
I live in FL and 95% of what you've picked would never work for me here. I live in shorts and t-shirts most of the year. We're going on a few cruises coming up and I'm so excited to get to dress up again.
Just yesterday as I was perusing your files, I wondered how you now dress regarding P333. My wardrobe choices are fairly limited right now, because I shrank out of many of my clothes too much to have them altered well. So, out they went and a few lovely EF pieces took their place, and all is well right now. Amazing, how many outfits one can create if most everything plays well together in the closet. I noticed those leggings when I ordered my clothes and had the same reaction as when I saw the harem pants the first time… I have to think about that. Congratulations on finding a sponsor. Only yesterday I thought how much good advise to leave for us every day, and I for one have very much profitted rebuilding my wardrobe after weightloss. Hmm, a skirted legging? :))
I am thrilled that you are getting compensated now. Such great news and well deserved. You are getting their products out there AND doing a service for your readers.
I would consider skirted leggings–no matter what anyone says–especially for my lifestyle which is part homemaker, part out at our farm. Your summer wardrobe looks like it is very versatile.
I just found your blog and I'm really enjoying it. What is Project 333? I've gone through some of the older posts but can't seem to find out. I'm intrigued. Thanks you.
Go to Labels on the right side of your screen and you will find Project 333.
The idea is to pick out 33 items for your wardrobe at the start of each season (the original concept was inclusive of garments as well as accessories–Janice does only garments) to wear over the next 3 months. You can find the original blog at theproject333.com.
Dear Cornelia and Patricia – thanks so much for answering her question – I have been blocked from leaving comments (ON MY OWN BLOG!!!) for a few days. Google is truly an embodiment of all that is evil…
Your summer-at-home (yay!)wardrobe looks simple, personal, flexible and fun. Mine is undergoing a radical change. I simply don't feel happy in black pieces in our tiny rural village in the summer, except at night. So I switched to vintage denim pieces from Orvis (on clearance) in different styles: drawstring lightweight pants, straight denim knee-length skirt, longer swirly skirt. Added to already-owned jeans in dark denim and white and a number of blue and white tops, I'm set and I'm happy too! My antique turquoise and coral jewelry, worn everyday, make it all mine. Oh, and sandals in the same colors. I spent a total of $98 on the additions, so it's all good. I might consider skirted leggings…
I am still culling my wardrobe and taking my time. When I pull out a piece and try it on, I am very critical. I have found a certain amount of discomfort when I wear printed tops. So, they are going out. Trying to find the time to take them to consignment. I have a lot of clothes from my "shopping" days, but I don't want to be too hasty in downsizing because I am actually just becoming comfortable identifying my style.
Yesterday I was fretting because as I cull my summer wardrobe down to the items that make me happy, there doesn't seem to be any cohesion. However after I look at your P333, I see that what I actually have are some neutral basics and several accent colors (much like yesterday's travel capsule). Thanks for showing us how to build a workable P333. And congrats on the sponsorship. Yay!
I'm also doing Project 333, with some adjusted summer rules to accommodate casual vacation wear (I'm a high school teacher). I love the skirted leggings! The 2-for-1 quality is very appealing. Do they fit well and stay up? Skirted running shorts and capris often fit weird in the waist because the weight of the skirt pulls them down…
Way to go on the sponsorship!
I noticed you have way more tops than bottom pieces in your wardrobe. It seems out of balance to me. Was that planned?..or did it just work out that way?
Congratulations on the sponsorship. It's very well deserved. I love the skirted leggings but couldn't get the link to work. I will try again later as my computer just acts wonky sometimes.
WOO HOO on the compensation for the leggings. I adore Eileen Fisher pieces. They're absolutely wonderful. I actually have your same gray silk flowy tank in black–it's a few years old–and I wear it constantly.
I have learned two things recently from you; just because something is in your wardrobe and you *should* love it, that doesn't mean that you *do* love it. I tried on two cute, summery skirts today, intending to wear one and feeling like a cow in it, I pulled it off. I tried on skirt #2. Again. Moo! Just didn't feel pretty, or comfortable or slim in them. I did realize, however, that even when I was 10 pounds thinner, I *still* didn't reach for these skirts. They were too big before. Now that they theoretically *do* fit, I still don't feel good in them. So, off to the church thrift shop they go. I feel hopeful that they will go to someone who will feel better about them than I do. It really just goes to show that a piece (or two) may be in great shape, by a good brand and be adorable in the abstract sense, but if we don't wear the darn things, what's the point of taking up closet space with them?
The other thing I learned from you, and recently took to heart, is the the idea of the 4 x 4 capsules. And feeling really awesome in the 'accent colors' in those capsules. This was a gut instinct piece for me. I learned that I do not like navy blue. With the exception of denim and chambray, I simply don't feel good in it. However, put me in coral with my one of my khaki 'base neutral' colors and I just intrinsically feel 'better'. So…there really is a fair amount of what 'speaks' to you, in the form of a visceral dislike or a sigh of comfort/relief, when creating these capsules. Or, in my case, paring down to the pieces I do love and adore and reminding myself that, no matter how chic, classy and downright wonderful a piece is, if I either avoid reaching for anything in that palette, or I feel cruddy in it, it's to be avoided on future shopping trips.
I just gotta ask, where would anyone wear the skirted leggings? What would you put on top? Is the skirt really as short as it looks in the picture? I think they are cool, but I can't imagine them on anyone over the age of 30, regardless of how fit they are.
I think on someone young and lithe (or with happy memories of ballet classes and good genes), these skirted leggings would be darling. And they seem just the thing to make sitting at a computer all day working on a book manuscript feel fun. (I tend to do this in my cowgirl pajamas, but different strokes for different folks.)
It's great you are finally being compensated for all the well-deserved publicity you give Eileen Fisher, Janice. (And I'm not surprised you withdrew the bright pink tee, which seemed a discordant note, someone not the person I've come to think of as you, even on the screen.)
Happy skirted tights to you.
I want to hear more about these cowgirl pajamas! (Says Renee the native Texan!)
I love this blog ! However, I feel you have moved far away from your original premise – a 'french' style wardrobe built on a few tasteful (expensive !) pieces. If I read the original Vivienne pages on here I see a very different way of dressing from your current ideas. Has this been deliberate ? I used to really like the posts built around a designer dress, for example. Any thoughts ?
I'll have to second this, so many bloggers who find a wonderful niche but then expand to a generic platform and risk losing their panache.
Funny how at first, 333 seemed so extreme and exotic. Now, when I look at your collection, I think wow, so many clothes – you could make so many outfits with them for years and years (some people might get bored of the plain dark colours, I guess)… obviously my perception has altered while perusing 4 (yes, really!), 6, 8, 10 or whatever x-piece capsule wardrobes!
My own has been seriously pared down and much is discarded – these days I have to love it, wear it and really feel comfortable in it for it to stay, and it has to wash well. Sometimes that is after only one wearing and/or washing, which is a bit annoying, but you don't really know till you've really worn a garment for a whole day, and someone else can profit if the garment survives, I suppose! And btw, I find this "trial" with both lower and higher grade items – I have cheap H&M classics that have been washed and worn for years and still look good and designer stuff that disintegrated on my body…
Anyway, I still think I could do better with reducing my wardrobe to what I really wear. The skirted leggings are fine for around the house casual or grocery shopping, I don't think anywhere else. They wouldn't suit me – I do wear a short jersey dress over jersey capris a lot these days (similar lifestyle to you) and that takes me anywhere, including a normal restaurant (with nice sandals or ballerinas).
I'm not actually doing Project 33 but I feel that my wardrobe is as simple as it can get yet be totally workable and loved . I have a total of 68 pieces. But when you consider that this includes clothes for casual, work, formal, working out, and technical items for hiking, snowshoeing, , climbing, and things like yard work, and takes me through all four seasons, I'm pretty happy with where I'm at. My accessories add the panache.
May I answer the "over 30 leggings" question? I am a 57-year old full-time yoga teacher, and I live in skirted leggings. I don't like running around in the ubiquitous (and unflattering to anyone over 30) yoga pants, but I have to take care of errands between classes and it's impossible to change clothes.
Janice, would you do a post on the leggings? Thanks to your inspiration, I've combined them with t-shirts and scarves, my linen jacket and even a vest. I'd love to see what you would do!
Are the skirts on your leggings as short as this one looks? I don't think I wore skirts that short even back in the day. I used to wear leggings and tunics a lot to work, but a tunic would be longer than this skirt appears to be, so what's the point to the skirt?
I love that tank top. And if I buy via this link, can you promise I'll look like this lady?
Can you tell me about your lovely shoe selections here? And the black bracelet!
I'm curious: is your sponsor Eileen Fisher or Nordstrom's or both? Since my wardrobe is probably 40% EF now, I might be clicking on some of those links in the future. However, I won't be wearing the skirted leggings, and more power to those of you who can!
First, I ordered the skirted leggings through your link. I love the idea of them (and I'm 56). Echoing some of the earlier comments, I'd love suggestions or a dedicated post on what tops to pair them with.
I like the idea of the skirted leggings! I love leggings but hate the way they look on me without a long enough tunic top, lol. Going to try these out. Congrats on the sponsorship. Nordstroms is a great store, lovely staff, incredible returns policies, and they carry a very nice selection from mid to hi, but not the stuff that is usually out of reach for most of us.