Ah, let’s add some accessories to yesterday’s black and beige travel capsule wardrobe, shall we?Remember, we started with this outfit, to which we MUST add shoes. There aren’t a lot of wardrobe essentials in the world, but shoes, when traveling, might qualify:
Tee – L.L.Bean; pants – L.L.Bean; cardigan – Missoni; top shoes – Shellys London; middle shoes – Trotters; bottom shoes – Steven by Steve Madden
And I always like earrings for travel – they can be out of your way, but still add a nice touch of ornamentation to your outfit, and draw some attention to your smiling face.
Tee – L.L.Bean; pants – L.L.Bean; cardigan – Missoni; top earrings – Mela Artisans; middle earrings – Phillip Gavriel; bottom earrings – Khun Boom
Oh yes, and a scarf can be very handy if you’re going to be on an airplane or train which might be freezing cold!
Tee – L.L.Bean; pants – L.L.Bean; cardigan – J. Crew; top scarf – La Fiorentina; middle scarf – Nordstrom; bottom scarf – Givenchy
Some people never wear watches, and many of us wear some sort of step-measurement device. But I think watches look really nice, so I think that they deserve to at least be considered…
Tee – L.L.Bean; pants – L.L.Bean; cardigan – J. Crew; top watch – Cluse; middle watch – Cluse; bottom watch – Steven Alan
Bracelets are often forgotten in the potential array of jewelry, and I think that’s a pity – you’d be surprised how very often someone will notice your bracelet, if you remember to wear it!
Top – Max Mara; pants – L.L.Bean; cardigan – J. Crew; top bracelet – Gorjana; middle bracelet – L. Erickson; bottom bracelet – L.Erickson
We could discuss how many pair of shoes you want to pack until the cows come home, but I think we can easily agree that you need at least 1 pair of VERY comfortable shoes. And if you can find a pair that combines your 2 neutral colors, all the better!
Cardigan – Simply Be; tee – L.L.Bean; pants – L.L.Bean; top shoes – Arcopedico; middle shoes – Vince Camuto; bottom shoes – Taryn Rose
A tote bag might be something to carry onto the plane (or whatever), or it could be something that you flatten down into your suitcase to have available for when you’re walking about on your travels. Nothing makes you look LESS like a tourist than carrying a shopping bag of fresh produce… (you just have to be staying in an apartment, in order to make this work!)
Top – Max Mara; jeans – L.L.Bean; top tote – Danielle Nicole; middle tote – SensiStudio; bottom tote – Amuse Society
I personally REALLY like to have at least a couple of pair of earrings with me – they’re light, they’re small, and they make me at least FEEL different when I’m wearing the same core of clothing day after day. Here, I tried to find earrings with a touch of black in them to unify them with the clothes.
Cardigan – J. Crew; tee – Current/Elliott; pants – L.L.Bean; top earrings – Freida Rothman; middle earrings – Jules Smith Designs; bottom earrings – Freida Rothman
Don’t forget – with a monochromatic wardrobe, you can include scarves in any pattern/color that’s compatible with your neutrals! While these scarves aren’t going to work particularly well with this blouse, they would be idea with any of the solid garments. There’s no reason you couldn’t pack all of them, if you wanted to go a bit overboard…
Blouse – Tibi; cardigan – Simply Be; pants – L.L.Bean; top scarf – Hermès Mythiques Phoenix Coloriages; middle scarf – Hermès Cavaliers du Caucase; bottom scarf – Hermès Jardins d’Hiver
Maybe you can fit a pair of dressy shoes into your bag? Nothing feels prettier, but do consider what will make your feet happy; travel tends to do mean things to feet…
Blouse – Tibi; skirt – NIC+ZOE; top shoes – J.Renee; middle shoes – Nina; bottom shoes – Pelle Moda
With simple, uncluttered clothes, a necklace can have a lot of impact. It’s another one of those things that takes up no space at all, but can really change the appearance of an outfit. Make certain that you’ve figured out a way to pack necklaces so that they don’t tangle; nothing is more maddening than trying to untie a wee bit of chain when you’re running later for dinner!
shirt – Adam Lippes; pants – L.L.Bean; cardigan – J. Crew; top necklace – Soko Tepe; middle necklace – Chico’s; bottom necklace – Nakamol
And you must have sunglasses. Always. No matter what time of year…
Sweater – J. Crew; blouse – Tibi; pants – L.L.Bean; top sunglasses – Illesteva; middle sunglasses – Givenchy; bottom sunglasses – Dior
A small, pretty bag could be used during the day, and then also in the evening as a sort of clutch purse. If you choose one that’s relatively understated but nicely made, it will fit in anywhere.
tee – Current/Elliott; skirt – L.L.Bean; top bag – Rebecca Minkoff; middle bag – Brahmin; bottom bag – MCM
A 4th pair of shoes might be complete overkill for many of us, but I would always try to find a place to tuck a pair of ballet flats. I find them VERY comfortable, and after a long day I would welcome a chance to slip them on with my dress, or one of my skirts.
Dress – Dorothy Perkins; cardigan – Simply Be; top shoes – Jimmy Choo; middle shoes – Diane von Furstenberg; bottom shoes – Jimmy Choo
I think that the collected wardrobe shown above could take you to almost anything that travel threw into your path, don’t you? And I find the strongly neutral palette very restful… These are good days for restful!
love,
Janice
If you're traveling in a place like Paris, accessories can really make you blend in like a local. The little details that elevate your look–what Parisians do daily. And jewelry and scarves take up so little space in the baggage. On the other hand, they are perfect souvenirs to buy during your trip.
Agree with almost all of your suggestions – as always! :-)
I love earrings, have umpteen pairs and wear them every day.
Love the look of bracelets but don't wear mine as much as I should – wear them to wrk and take them off when I'm on the pc.
Never wear a watch although I love the look – I have weird body chemistry & they always run slow & then stop
Have become a total scarf fanatic since reading this blog
Ballet shoes are my favourites and so easy to pack – wear my nice sensible walking shoes & I'm good to go
I think the best compliment when I'm travelling is when another traveller, or even a native asks me for directions or speaks to me in their language, assuming that I live there – clothes make such a difference – I want to blend, not stand out like a sore thumb!
I've been known to kill a watch or two as well! My dad went through watches like crazy. He'd just buy cheap ones and wear them until he killed them. I like to tell people it's my magnetic personality.
I used to laugh at my mom when she told me that I had "too much electricity in my body" but apparently it is something along those lines! Who knew! I've tried cheap watches and expensive watches and it makes no difference – Thankfully I've managed to acquire a really good sense of time and I'm never late! :-)
Janice, as your brilliant posts always make clear, the three most important things about a well-planned wardrobe are accessories, accessories, accessories.
Another bonus of traveling with a completely neutral wardrobe is that you can wear your accessory purchases immediately, no matter what the color!
This is a great wardrobe, and once again you have proved that you are the best accessorizer(if there is such a word!). Well chosed pieces that make these simple outfits sing. Great work.
Cornelia
I am an earring person. My work requires me to wear a uniform of sorts, but when I change earrings every day, I find that this offsets any monotonous feelings.
You are so restrained with the jewellery choices. I end up taking more than I wear just in case!!
Shoes are a big challenge because they are bulky and heavy but I think a minimum number is 3, one to wear and 2 to pack. They are so fundamental to a good holiday or trip. Making sure they all work with the majority of your looks is also a challenge for me. I sometimes think I should just dress like a man. It all seems so simple and straightforward for them!!
Deb from Vancouver
I take more jewelry than this. Probably too much! I usually wear earrings, bracelet(s) and a necklace with every outfit. If my blouse is busy or has a lot going on I don't wear a necklace. Today I have on earrings, bracelet, necklace and a watch! Hmmmmm….LOL! I Love your choices here, as usual! Such an inspiration! Thank you!
The accessories make a lovely capsule really outstanding – and so versatile too!! – nancyo
Perhaps at least thinking like a man isn't such a bad idea when packing. This winter, my husband's wardrobe has 2 pairs of shoes, 4 pairs of trousers, 8 shirts, 3 jumpers, 1 scarf and 2 jackets, all inter-wearable despite being in a range of colours. It seems to me in the spirit of Vivienne's wardrobe and some mornings I envy him.
But I wouldn't give up my bijoux nor my scarves for anything. This plan of Vivienne's shows beautifully how the details of accessories lift an already elegant, practical wardrobe or travel capsule into something special. Aren't they lovely?! Scarves and/or jewellery are so light to pack, yet lift our spirits and add chic to any outfit.
Robyn in Tasmania
One way I have read of keeping necklaces unknotted is to thread one end through a drinking straw and then hook the clasp before packing. This will not, however, fit into even a large pill holder if you pack your other jewelry that way.
Wisconsin Peggy