This is the step in which each capsule wardrobe is going to start taking on a distinct personality, based on personal needs, preferences, and desires. I’m adding a complete outfit to each of the various wardrobes, based on a variety of scenarios that might be possible.
Cardigan – Joseph, white tee – Majestic, navy skirt – Nina Ricci
Cardigan – Joseph, white tee – Majestic, navy skirt – Nina Ricci, grey hoodie – Uniqlo, shoes – Reebok, floral blouse – Parker, earrings – Majorica, sweater – Dear Cashmere, navy and grey scarf – Hinge, lavender blouse– Marni Edition, pastel scarf – Twisted Muse, silver grey tee – Hallhuber, pink top– Velvet, lilac tee shirt – Nougat London, grey cashmere cardigan – Jaeger, watch – Fossil, bracelet – Majorica, navy cardigan – Dorothy Perkins, white cotton shirt – Diane von Furstenberg, necklace– Saako Design, pink shirt – Fenn Wright Manson, silver grey trousers – Viyella, grey jeans – Rebecca Taylor, navy trousers – Jacques Vert, skirt – Marc Jacobs, bag – CK Calvin Klein, wedge pumps – Trotters, navy ballet flats – Geox, tasseled flats – Trotters
Conversely, our Lady Caramel and Black is longing for something edgier – a leather jacket? A simple turtleneck and jeans let the jacket really stand out, and provide useful and versatile pieces for her evolving wardrobe.
Leather jacket – Jaeger, black turtleneck – Uniqlo, black jeans – R13
Here’s where she is right now – a nice assortment of softer looks to contrast with the great leather jacket. If you’re going to buy something “investment-ish” like a leather jacket, it pays to have in mind a number of ways to wear it, so you’re sure to get your money’s worth, and have plenty of opportunities to enjoy the beauty.
Leather jacket – Jaeger, black turtleneck – Uniqlo, black jeans – R13, black jacket – Minimal, canvas shoes – A2 by Aerosoles, floral tee – Jason Wu, earrings – Max and Chloe, blouse – Closet, dark scarf – Erfurt, caramel tee – Hallhuber, blue tee – Majestic Filatures, coral tee shirt – Warehouse, caramel wool and cashmere cardigan – Customer Lovers, bracelet – Tiraphan Hasub, watch – Fossil, light scarf – Play Mantero, ivory silk top – Jaeger, black trousers – Mint Velvet, skirt – French Connection, bag – Dorothy Perkins, black cardigan – Michael Michael Kors, carnelian, quartz, amethyst, lapis necklace– Ritu, blue linen shirt – Jaeger, coral silk blouse– Equipment, copper twill trousers – Lands’ End, caramel jeans – Toast, pumps – Sole Society, black ballet flats – Armani, brown ballet flats – Frye
Dress – Sea, cardigan – Labo Art, tank top – Oasis
Dress – Sea, cardigan – Labo Art, tank top – Oasis, navy and tan jacket – Madewell, canvas shoes – Wanted, floral tee – MSGM, earrings – Dorothy Perkins, yellow sweater– Woolrich, pastel scarf – Collection Weekend, navy silk tee – Theory, aqua tee – Reiss, navy wool cardigan – Miu Miu, bracelet – Brooks Brothers, watch – Anne Klein, beige and navy checked scarf – Aquascutum, green shirt– Silvian Heach, navy blouse – Vince, tan pants – Uniqlo, skirt – Hobbs London, white silk blouse – Nic + Zoe, silk necklace– Saako Design, yellow tee – Warehouse, beige cardigan – Marella, navy trousers – Viyella, navy jeans – Uniqlo, bag – Halogen, pumps – Jimmy Choo, ballet flats – Me Too, black penny loafers – Cole Haan
Cardigan – Distante, shirt – Zanetti 1965, jeans – J. Brand
Cardigan – Distante, shirt – Zanetti 1965, jeans – J. Brand, beige hoodie – Uniqlo, canvas booties – Matisse, top – Dorothy Perkins, wooden earrings – Hring eftir hring, zigzag infinity scarf – Brazen, Turquoise angora sweater– Roberto Collina,khaki tee – Target, jasper and pyrite necklace– Nangara by Julia Fusinato, turquoise blouse – Ralph Lauren Black Label, tan cashmere cardigan – La Garconne, watch – Armani Exchange, bracelet – Chan Luu, ivory silk blouse – Jaeger, striped scarf – Missoni, olive tee – Shu Moriyama, olive cardigan – Merona, tan trousers – Hallhuber, beige jeans – Morgan, olive trousers – Isabel Marant Etoile, skirt – Vicky Tiel, bag – Longchamp, maroon tee shirt – Linea Weekend, blouse – French Connection, penny loafers – Cole Haan, wedge pumps – French Sole, olive ballet flats – Chloe
Skirt – Desigual, black v-neck sweater – Vince, red scarf – Isabel Marant Etoile
Skirt – Desigual, black v-neck sweater – Vince, red scarf – Isabel Marant Etoile,black denim jacket – J. Brand, red loafers – Robert Zur, abstract tee shirt – Balenciaga, earrings – Toosis, nautical scarf – Brooks Brothers, striped top– Malene Birger,black white red scarf – Vince Camuto, black tee – Hallhuber, blue shirt – Uniqlo, black cotton and cashmere cardigan – 10 Crosby Derek Lam, watch – DKNY, bracelet – Simon Sebbag, white cotton shirt – Diane von Furstenberg,grey tee– T by Alexander Wang , black sweater – Hobbs Londonnecklace– Lamprini, red blouse – Cutie, grey cardigan – Mango, black linen trousers – Viyella, black jeans – Current/Elliott, grey pleated trousers – Alberto Biani, skirt – Joseph, bag – Gregory Sylvia, pumps – Trotters, grey ballet flats – Café Noir, pointed toe loafers – Kelsi Dagger Brooklyn
Light blue sweater – Dear Cashmere, khaki skirt – Merona, shirt – Equipment
Light blue sweater – Dear Cashmere, khaki skirt – Merona, shirt – Equipment, tan jacket – Lands’ End, suede oxfords – G.H. Bass and Co., brown patchwork tee – Szen, earrings – Kasturjewels, brown blouse – Alberto Biani, square scarf – Radical Chic, brown cotton tee – Uniqlo, yellow top – Uniqlo, chocolate brown fleece cardigan – L.L.Bean, necklace– Givenchy, floral blouse – Topshop, light blue tee– Velvet, watch – Timex, beaded bracelet – Chan Luu, blue and brown scarf – Paola Pecora, blue blouse – Uniqlo,beige pants – The Row,skirt – Precis, ivory silk blouse – Jaeger, tote – Coet, pumps – Vaneli, tan marled cardigan – Junarose, brown twill trousers – Lands’ End, brown jeans – Viyella, tan ballet flats – Michael Michael Kors, tassel loafers – The Flexx
love,
Janice
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Quick comment before I study this some more: outstanding! I did, by the way, splurge Ina very expensive leather jacket a few years ago, and it has coco me my favorite pieces to jazz up a plain white shirt or a pencil skirt. Happy 4th!
I'm so enjoying this "start from scratch" series! Is there some link, or similar, where we can create our own color wheels? Thanks!!
I actually create graphs in PowerPoint to make the color wheels, which is WAAAY too much work unless you love PowerPoint, and graphs, as much as I do! I'll dig around the internet and find someplace excellent, and do a post on color schemes soon. Thanks for asking!
Oh thank you Janice! I would love that too. I've been searching around a bit on the internet but to no avail. It doesn't even have to be a wheel – just a tool whereby we can create our own personal colors. Fun!
Here's a few cool links:
http://www.december.com/html/spec/colorhex.html I just love to feast my eyes on these colors…
http://www.colorcodehex.com/ this one has tools to create all kinds of color combinations (complementary, triadic, analogous, etc.)
http://www.color-wheel-artist.com/
http://www.thedressspot.com/seasons and this one to help find clothing in your season colors (if you place the cursor over each color it will give you the color code. You can them use it on the sites above to create your best color schemes/combinations)
Enjoy!
This post absolutely is brilliant, Janice. When we thought the capsules couldn't get any better, you pull this one off! Well done!
Thank you, Janice and Luna!! This is great!! Now, to go explore these links, and look for Janice's updates!!
I’ve followed your blog for years and, thanks to you, have a wardrobe that’s basic, practical and “me”. But then you throw in a remarkable post like this – building on a base of purpose and color, tweaking for whim and whappage (acknowledging that this does happen and it is a GOOD thing) with a series of visual examples. No one else I’ve read explains and illustrates the basics so clearly, then does – this. Bravo and thanks so much, Janice.
I am loving this … it's interesting to see how each "step" clarifies a distinct style. I started out thinking the brown and beige would be "me," but now I see the khaki and olive ….
I wonder if, down the line, you might do a post on how you chose the accent colors? My guess is you started with the gorgeous scarves. Also, maybe some guidance on how to choose the two neutrals?
As if you didn't have enough on your plate.
And happy Fourth!
I'm clearly going to have to do some thinking about color schemes, and do some posts on them. It's pretty much just a choice of things that I think look pretty, and/or colors that readers have specifically requested.
thanks!
Janice
Really loving this series. I sew, and really attempt to keep my fabric/color choices within a "family". You are SO helpful! I will be re-reading this series many, many times.
Thank you – and have a glorious Fourth!
JoyceP in WI
I've been away all week, and am so impressed with how this has developed in those few days! Love especially today's post, with the personal touches. I'm looking forward to mapping my own clothes against these, will give me a lot of insight into what could be thrown away, and where there may be gaps.
Thank you for all your hard work on this
Alice
Bravo! What a terrific addition- can't wait to find one!
Hi – I want to tell you how I am loving your "Starting a wardrobe from scratch" series. I hope you are going to put this in a book? For my own use, I have isolated all the 'black, grey with accent' pictures with your text and made my own reference book – not entirely my colours ( I may substitute dark grey for the lighter shade you have used, and purple instead of the blue) but you have made me want to come out of my "black and white" shell and experiment a bit. Best wishes – R
I am loving this series! I too would be interested in posts on color schemes. Thank you so much for your work on this!
I want to join the list of those loving this "Start from scratch" series! Love it. So much. Thank you. Would also love to see a series on color combos and schemes.
–LindaC
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