One of you has fallen in love….With a cardigan! And you’re somewhat concerned that you won’t wear it enough to make it worth the purchase…
This is the winsome object of her affections:
cardigan – Lands’ End
She assures me that she really loves the yellow, but has never worn it. And she’s very devoted to her black and white neutrals:
cardigan – Lands’ End
I don’t think she’s going to have any problems at all – realistically, I think she need to maybe buy 1 thing for each of these outfits to pull everything together.In these first 2 outfits, she’ll want to grab those delicious sandals, and the bracelets will be essential…
Sunglasses – Ray-Ban; Earrings – Passiana; dress – Lands’ End; cardigan – Lands’ End; sandals – Marc Fisher Ltd.; tee – Uniqlo; bracelets – Zenzii; Sandals – Hush Puppies; shorts – Marks and Spencer
Another pair of yellow sandals might be overdoing it. Maybe. And the yellow tee shirt – assuming she can find a yellow that’s close enough for clothes – would be genius.
cardigan – Lands’ End; cami – Lands’ End; watch – Kapten and Son; shorts – L.L.Bean; Sandals – Daya; earrings – Gianluca Anzani; Tee – J.Crew; jeans – L.L.Bean; bracelet – Ngural Gede; loafers – Børn
For air-conditioning, I think a yellow wrap would be handy, as well as pulling together the outfit. And if she’s feeling REALLY bold, she could go with a striped top under the floral cardigan. (I like to toss out some wild ideas, from time to time!)
cardigan – Lands’ End; scarf – Carte Blanche; Tee – L.L.Bean; skirt – Lands’ End; Tote – BP.; flats – Børn; Striped tee – Etoile Isabel Marant; pants – L.L.Bean; Flower bracelet – Charming Charlie; shoes – Trotters
Overall, these six outfits might require her to buy one or two new garments. Doesn’t this look like it might also make a great travel wardrobe?
Accessories might be a bigger investment, but she could certainly manage with just one pair of yellow sandals… then a scarf and a set of bracelets – that’s not a big “color experiment” if you truly are tempted by yellow. I’m assuming that she already had a penchant for the floral, and already owned the flower jewelry…
Now, you might absolutely detest this sweater – I can appreciate that. But I think the lesson is still valid – if you’re madly tempted by something that works 80% with your wardrobe, ask yourself if you’re willing to invest your wardrobe for warm weather in experimenting with that 20% that’s new and fresh. It might be a different way to liven up your neutrals, and maybe discover a new accent color for long-term!
love,
Janice
p.s. I’m not quite back on my normal “5 day a week” posting schedule, but I’m getting there soon!
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Some really good principles here that could be applied in many ways. The striped t-shirt and floral cardi look great together- maybe I should take a look at some of my florals and stripes and see if they could play well together.
I also like the striped shirt and floral cardigan.
Doesn't Land's End have basic black pants?
I'm sure that they do, but they photograph their pants folded over, or only on models. Drives me crazy, because I'd love to be able to use pants from them on The Vivienne Files…
hugs,
Janice
Janice,
Sometimes I learn more about myself from your examples. For my own travel wardrobe , I would need to add a white or black cardigan here. As much as I enjoy print and pattern, I need the relief of solid colors too to give my eyes a rest . I have also learned that I really prefer two accent colors , while I know that is not the point of this post. Thank you for helping me along the paths of my own personal discoveries !
Learning your personal preferences and pleasures is the ONLY point of The Vivienne Files – no matter what post you're reading when you realize things that you need to know!
I don't care if I ever have an accent color in my wardrobe, and I only learned that after frittering away WAY too much money trying to find the "right" color that would make me happy. When I realized that I shouldn't depend on clothes for happiness, and that I'm just fine always wearing black and white, my mornings got easier, my budget was delighted, and my psyche quit second-guessing itself!
hugs,
Janice
Great capsule, even tho i would never wear yellow! But, i liked it enough to check what else Landsend had … and there are several other prints on SALE if anyone is interested in following your guidance in other colors.
I'd love to do another wardrobe with one of these cardigans… if you find one you like, let me know! (this goes for anybody – email me at [email protected])
hugs,
Janice
Yes!! I don't wear yellow (it looks dreadful on me) but there are some lovely lovely prints in this cardigan!
I love this concept, and have been working on winnowing out my accent colors pieces. I don't need ten burgundy tops, but I have a print Lands End sweater from last season that I adore. I haven't tried it with my navy/white striped top, but I now I think I should.
I have a Charter Club navy/kelly/white cardigan from a couple of years ago that will be one of my stars this spring. I have a kelly shell and some kelly bracelets and shoes, so I should be all set.
Thank you, Janice, for demonstrating once again that one can go far with a few well-chosen pieces and a core of neutrals.
Just had to take a look, and the sweater I adore is one of the choices for the "Dandelion" sweater. I thought it was rather autumn-ish, but I may take another look at it for spring. It's the "Bavarian Creme Tossed Floral" print.
Not a bright yellow wearer, but love the concept. Also: besides accent colors, your blog has helped me winnow and balance my neutrals–just put the last brown top in the donate bag, having gradually, per your methods, switched over to loden/olive. With a big sigh of relief.
BTW, those yellow flowers look like California poppies to this gardener's eye.
I think that they ARE poppies! But Lands' End referred to it as the dandelion dress, so I'm going to leave it just so people will remember what the sweater is called, if they think of it later and want to find it.
Good eye – I love a talented gardener!
hugs,
Janice
This collection really has me looking forward to spring! I love the dandelion cardigan, and I too think the striped tee and floral cardigan look great together (I enjoy your wild ideas)! With the yellow accent color you don't even notice that most of the apparel is actually black, a color I normally do not associate with spring. Great post as always, Janice!
I could see me using this capsule as a basis for my own warm weather travels. I've got a Kelly green cardigan I could see as a jumping off point with either navy or black. You've giving me some solid inspiration.
As I pondered what to wear this morning, I opened your blog to look for an answer. Well yellow was not going to be it, but it brought to mind a robin-egg blue cardigan (my very first EF purchase) that I have had for abjout 10 years. I paired it with dark gray slim pant and a silk top, accessorised it with a great scarf, and voila, you have inspired me once again. :))
This lovely, bright yellow certainly cheered me up on a very grey day here in Toronto. I think I love the idea of yellow more than the actual fact – although when I find the right tone of yellow it does call to me. I have quite a bit of black and white for the Spring and Summer and one lovely yellow cardigan that I bought last year – also have earrings and a bracelet. I think I'll look for something in a stripe (but couldn't be persuaded to wear stripes with a print) and perhaps a colour blocked top in black or white with yellow. Just those few extra pieces would allow for much more wear of the accessories.
Interesting and practical exercise – although I don't like any of the cardigans (they read "cheaply made in China" to me), this could easily be adapted to a sweater in an accent colour you fall in love with.
What a fun capsule – very crisp and fresh for Spring. I have a few patterned cardigans from Garnet Hill and some from Target, and they are a fun way to introduce a new color or pull together solid wardrobe pieces. – nancyo