November 6, 2015
She loves Paris, and she loves Monet, and she loves these colors…
Arrival of the Normandy Train, Gare Saint-Lazare by Claude Monet
Just three colors here, but WHAT colors…
Softly shaded colors, blended shades, and a few touches of a grid pattern to do homage to the glass roof of the train station. These subtle shades aren’t easy to find. Happily, they can be blended, rather than having to be perfectly matched!
The Trains are Essential
She has a list of destinations. She’s planned VERY carefully, studying train maps at length. While she understand that schedules might change, she’s confident that she will make it from city to city with no problems. Taking trains is truly the only way she can make it work!
metallic tee – J. Crew; pearl earrings – Majorica; pants – J. Crew Factory; cardigan – Uniqlo; scarf – Valentino; watch – Seiko; driving mocs – Tod’s; tote bag – Charles Jourdan; suitcase – Tumi
A little bit dressy, a little bit casual, and everything comfortable. She knows that laundry will be essential, but it’s worth the effort to keep things streamlined!
teal turtleneck – Ann Taylor; silver grey scarf – Chan Luu; grey cardigan – L.L.Bean; fringed blue scarf – Chico’s; blue chalcedony earrings – Effy; chambray shirt – J. Crew; foldover clutch – Bungalow 20; green shirt – Lands’ End; corduroy pants – L.L.Bean; green cardigan – J. Crew; sweatshirt dress – Topshop; fleece cowlneck – L.L.Bean; pleated skirt – Uniqlo; stone necklace – Lagos; bias plaid skirt – Eastex; grey loafers – J. Crew; blue flats – Sam Edelman
She will have plenty of options, even when a piece of two of clothing is at the laundry:
She’s keeping things light, because she knows that she’s going to carry her own bag – on and off of LOTS of trains. Yes, it’s always nice when someone helps, but it’s folly to go through life expecting the kindness of strangers.
That said, she does expect to meet some very kind strangers….
love,
Janice
So subtle – I could stare at the 'Whatever's Clean' for days…. Love the silver, green and blue and subtle differences in depth of colour. Wondrous and cosy train trips. A beautiful painting to start with. Carol S
This is an excellent post for my own travel report. We returned a few days ago from a five-week trip to Western Australia and the south island of New Zealand. I took a Whatever's Clean 13 with one or two extra tops. The weather varied from almost freezing to the low nineties. The occasions varied from church services to light "tramping". For about half the trip we were staying with family and had access to a washer and clothesline. During the smaller "half," we did laundry once in the middle. I was so absolutely pleased with how it all worked out. I wore everything, but I realized I could have done without those two extra tops. Thank you so much, Janice — you taught me a new way to think about my wardrobe and I am the happier for it!
Janice, I hope you are feeling well again.
You are such a particular person, such an eye for detail. Thank you for your blog
Lovely painting, lovely subtle colors. Just curious-what does she do if it's raining heavily when she'd she gets off the train?
I loved the scarf from yesterday but couldn't find it on the site. Was it a one off?
Chris from Australia
You could have reached into my closet to create this wardrobe and I couldn't be happier with it. Thank you for your instruction along the way that makes getting dressed every day a joy.
My colors! And comfort level. Just need to switch the long skirt for pants.
My colors! And comfort level. Just need to switch the long skirt for pants.
From Margie in Toronto – Love this colour combination – I'm so happy that I've opted for a good base of grey in my wardrobe – I never thought that it would allow for such a variety of other colours.
I always love these colors. So pretty.
Trains and muted tones! I love this to bits :) Can you do something dressy with these shades? Maybe something for a very romantic anniversary?
Such soft mysterious colors! Wonderful inspiration here, Janice.
Truly, I don't think I've ever actually seen these colors before. I'm mesmerized. On whom do you think they'd be flattering? Eye, hair color?
Monet is my all time favorite – thanks for using his work as an inspiration. His art is mesmerizing – it pulls me into the scene like no other. I'd love to visit his garden at Giverny….some day.
Just discovered your blog and have greatly enjoyed browsing. Especially like your using art as inspiration–something I've long done, having spent many happy hours at the Art Institute. Inspired by your blog, I just went and bought two scarves. Have always loved this painting and often wear similar colors–and prefer train travel, too.
This is so harmonious and subtle. It is also unusual which makes it even more "luxurious". This woman knows her colours and takes her time finding the right pieces. I do agree with jazz. I really want her to have a fabulous trench coat and boots. Not beige or black.
Deb from Vancouver
It's this whole issue of living or visiting a place where the weather can swing wildly. A plastic poncho doesn't do it, but a lot of outerwear is so bulky that it could overload that small bag. In New Zealand a lot of the light weight raincoats are made for hikers- very practical but not streetwear.
Love, Love, Love these colors. Have been trying to figure out what colors I really want to live with and this post helped me find them. Thanks for all of your hard work. Liz from California.
Gosh, this is just beautiful. I don't know why I'm surprised – maybe it's just that these are really difficult colors (for me anyway – I never know what to do with 'muted') and you've put them together so elegantly. Lovely as always – you are a real talent.
Carrying your own bag on a train resonates with me, because I just did that. A dear friend and I took a three week Amtrak train trip across the US, with a side cruise to Alaska, taking only a carry on bag and a large tote bag. We had to adhere to the size restrictions for those times when our connecting trains were coach, as opposed to the sleeper car. It was a total minimalist travel trip using Janice's capsule wardrobe inspiration. Between layering, leggings, basic colors, scarves, statement jewelry, and panty liners, we enjoyed some relaxed days playing scrabble on the train, formal nights on the cruise, wet & cold adventures on Alaska excursions, walking all over the Seattle street scene, and being touristy in San Fran, LA, and St. Louis. A fun time was had by all!
I love your posts. I look forward to them every day. I have learned so much from you through the years.
You really do know how to inspire me! I love the painting, the colors, the wardrobe! As I age and my hair & skin have lightened, I find myself drawn to softer, more subtle colors than I used to wear, and grey is now my "go to" neutral. The idea of matching the scarf to the blouse/top is new to me and I find it to be very classy and subtle. Thank you for continuing to illustrate how many lovely ways there are to present ourselves to the world. Mary
So beautiful. I could lose myself in these colors and the pieces you chose. i think that as my hair greys more and my skin tone continues to fade and cool, my navy/charcoal/deep green/burgundy could become THIS soft grey green, grey blue, grey fog, with with a soft muted rose. Something to look forward to.
Anonymous in AZ
so beautiful…and just the colors I wear. Love your posts. It's like playing with paper dolls and then drawing my own when I was a young'n… Thanks.
I must have done something wrong – I thought I had posted this comment earlier this morning but it's not here……Hmmm – perhaps the internet elves are up to their mischief again. I'll try again.
Thank you for using Monet as your inspiration today. There is something mesmerizing about his scenes – the colors, the composition, the atmosphere. They draw me in. Someday I will see Giverney. You've done a masterful job of recreating his tones in the wardrobe you posted today. Perhaps that's why I am so drawn to them – almost as if they speak to me.
I love Monet, the painting and the wardrobe!! Such beautiful colors. I would love to take such a trip by train. How romantic!
These are my colors! Grey, shades of blue (teal in the winter and turquoise in the summer), but I also wear darker blue/navy, as well. Funny enough, yesterday I bought a skirt almost exactly like the Eastex one at a consignment store. I was SO excited to find it and am delighted by the fact that it goes with SO MANY pieces that I own. So then I sit down on my Sunday morning to catch up Vivienne files and I see this skirt. I guess reading these posts over the past few months has paid off – I'm starting to put things together that are similar to what I see here all on my own! ^.^